Thy Strong Word From Kfuo Radio

Rev. Kevin Parviz of Congregation Chai V Shalom in Dogtown, St. Louis, MO joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Ephesians 3. We love mysteries.  “Who done it?” “How did it happen?”  “Who is that masked man?”  Paul writes to the Ephesians revealing a mystery: that ALL nations are partakers in the promise in Christ Jesus.  The mystery is no longer a mystery and we have boldness and access to God the Father with confidence through faith in Christ. This solving of the mystery leads us to pray for the faith in Christ of others and for power from His Holy Spirit to be filled with all the fullness of God.  “O Holy Spirit, pour Your love into our hearts and others to believe in Christ and to give You all glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations.  Amen”

Rev. John Lukomski, host of Wrestling with the Basics on KFUO Radio, joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Ephesians 2:11-22. Listen to on demand episodes of Wrestling with the Basics at kfuo.org/wrestlingwiththebasics. Paul likes prepositions, “In Christ Jesus,” “in his flesh,” “in him,” “through him,” “in whom” and “in the LORD.”  He reminds us that we are saved through Him alone and He never leaves us.  But he also shows who we are connected with, the saints of Christ (v.19).  We are “being built together” by Christ our cornerstone as His people united in Him.  “Lord God, give us eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to have compassion on others as ones He died for and brought us together for His glory.  Amen”

Rev. Mark Jasa of Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Pasadena, California joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Ephesians 2. You were dead----dead in sin and trespasses.  To be dead takes away all motivational aspirations.  Yet, Jesus is in the resurrection business.  He has made you alive only by His rich mercy.  This new life brings comfort that we are loved by our LORD, but also leads us to do the works He provides.  Works of love towards others and in love toward Him.  “O LORD, thank you for being the only source of our salvation by Your grace by Your grace through faith.  Help us to rest in that salvation and strengthen us to be workmen in Your kingdom.  In Christ, Amen” 

Rev. Dr. Matthew Heise, Executive Director of the Lutheran Heritage Foundation in Macomb, MI joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Ephesians 1:11-23. Learn more about the work of LHF at lhfmissions.org. Paul encourages unity in the Ephesian church by clearly proclaiming our Triune God and His authority in everything.  The Ephesian church was surrounded by other gods who required complete obedience and submission for salvation, such as Artemis, but it is our LORD Jesus who has all authority and gives Himself and His gifts to you.  What joy it is to know that no matter what happens, here or around the world, our church is the Lord’s Church and He will care for us.  “O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, by the mystery of the Trinity, You show us again Your power and the gifts You lavish upon us.  Thank you for truth, salvation, the seal of promise.  Bless the Church that we may be faithful to this grace and trust in You our Head.  Lord have mercy.  Amen”

Rev. Dr. Thomas Winger, President of Concordia Lutheran Seminary, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada & the author of the Concordia Commentary on Ephesians joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to begin our study of Ephesians, chapter 1:1-14. “In Him we have redemption through his blood...which he lavished upon us…”  Paul addresses the beloved Ephesian congregation to be united in Christ and see the divine action God has on his people: chosen, predestined, blessed, forgiven, and united by His blood.  Paul’s words are a reminder that we are all united by the blood of Christ and on account of Him we are saints, just like the Ephesians. “Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for the gift of grace by Your blood that unites us with the Father and one another.  Blessed be Your name that we may ever praise You and proclaim the truth of what You do.  In Your name.  Amen”

Rev. Jeremy Klaustermeier of St. John Lutheran Church in Warrenton, MO joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Galatians 6:1-18. Do not grow weary in doing good brothers and sisters in Christ.  God will reap a good harvest by His good gifts.  The LORD calls you to bear burdens to fulfill the law of Christ, but it is not you that does it but Christ who works through you.  As a new creation in Christ, we do good to everyone, especially those closest to us (home, church, neighborhood, and community).  “O LORD, thank you for making us a new creation in Christ. Help us to humbly do good for everyone and to boast in Your cross.  In Your name.  Amen”

Rev. Ross Shaver of Zion Lutheran Church in Nampa, ID joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Galatians 5:16-26. Walk by the Spirit and not the flesh.  It is our flesh, that which is separated from Christ and the Holy Spirit, that manifest in ways that lead us away from Christ.  But the Spirit, that is the Holy Spirit, bears fruit that point us to Christ and extends that fruit to others.  Receive His Spirit, walk by His Spirit, and live a new life in Him.  “O Holy Spirit, grant us love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, that we may glorify You in our bodies and in service to others.  In His name, Amen”

Rev. Jacob Heine of Faith Lutheran Church in Topeka, KS joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Galatians 5:1-15. “For freedom Christ has set us free.”  Paul brings strong words to remind the Galatians, and us, that our confidence is in Christ, not in anything else.  To trust in anything else is to be severed from the LORD Himself.  This freedom we have on account of Christ grants us the opportunity to serve, love, and care for others.  As Christ first loved us, in love we serve one another.  “Lord Jesus, as You have set us free from sin, death, and the power of the devil, help us to use our freedom to serve others founded in Your love.  Lord have mercy.  Amen”

Rev. Ross Engel of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Middleburg, FL joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Galatians 4:21-31. Paul speaks in figurative language a very clear message: You are free in Christ so don’t go back to trying to find hope in the Law.  As a good father tells stories to his children to make a point, Paul tells of the Old Testament figures of Hagar and Sarah.  Hagar points us back to the flesh and law for comfort and Sarah points us to the freedom and promise we have with Christ.  Stay in freedom and stay with Christ.  “O LORD, you have called, redeemed, and freed us from sin, death, and the power of the devil.  Keep us from adding to the Gospel or finding our hope in other means.  Lord have mercy.  Amen”

Rev. John Shank of Trinity Lutheran Church in Edwardsville, IL joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Galatians 4:1-20. “Don’t go back to slavery” Paul exhorts the Galatians.  In the fullness of time God sent Jesus to pay the price of our adoption, so why go back under slavery?  Paul grieves if his work has been in vain.  We all have the same struggles as we serve in His name, but we stand under our current identity given by the Spirit, “An heir of all God’s righteousness.”  “O Holy Spirit, pour Your love into our hearts that we may be formed in Christ to trust in Your promises.  In Christ.  Amen”

Rev. John Lukomski, retired LCMS pastor, joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Galatians 3:10-39. “The righteous shall live by faith.”  It really is that easy!  The law does not bring righteousness but the promise of Abraham’s offspring, that is Christ, has been put on you.  We are united together in Christ by baptism, for all are one by faith in Him.  “O LORD, help us to not go back to the law for our hope.  Help us to see the promise in Christ and take refuge in that promise.  In Him, Amen”

Rev. Bryan Stecker, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Nashua, New Hampshire, joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Galatians 3:1-9. O Foolish Galatians!  Don’t go back to slavery under the law, but look to Christ in faith.  By the Holy Spirit we believe that Jesus is the Christ, the same promise and blessing for Abraham is yours.  We are reminded in our study that “in the Old Testament the New Testament is concealed; in the New Testament the Old Testament is revealed.”  “O Holy Spirit, fill our hearts with faith in the promise of Christ, that as Abraham and all the patriarchs believed and were counted as righteous, we would be partakers in Your righteousness.  Lord have mercy.  Amen”

Rev. David Boisclar of Faith and Bethesda Lutheran Churches in Pine Lawn, MO joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Galatians 2:11-21. Paul says, “I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.”  “To die for you” was Jesus’ purpose statement. Christ not only loved Peter, Paul, Barnabas, & James, but loved you in His death for you.  Don’t add to your salvation, rest in this wonderful gift. “Lord Jesus, as I have been crucified in Christ through baptism, in your giving yourself for me, help me to give thanks and rest in this grace.  Amen”

Rev. Curtis Deterding, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Fort Myers, FL joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Galatians 2:1-10. Paul tells of his travels to Jerusalem to meet with Peter, James, and John.  As Titus and Barnabas join him on these travels, they clearly proclaim that in faith in Christ’s death and resurrection for our forgiveness, and the apostles agree that they are knitted together in this work.  By this Gospel, the LORD thrusts us out to serve others, specifically the poor.  “LORD God, as You have had mercy upon us, keep us steadfast in the Gospel and help us to serve the poor and needy.  In Christ, Amen”

Rev. Philip Hoppe, pastor of Peace Lutheran Church in Finlayson & St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bruno, MN joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Galatians 1:11-24. Paul proves his apostleship, not because he was learning from the apostles, but because Jesus had revealed it to him.  He also shows how the Gospel comes to all people, all nations, and all kinds of sinners---him being the worst.  All his work was to His glory and that others would glorify God.  “Lord God, You have set us apart by the blood of Christ, to You be all the glory and we ask that others in our lives may believe and give You all glory.  In Christ, Amen”

Dr. Andrew Das, Professor of Religious Studies at Elmhurst College in Elmhurst, IL joins Rev. Brady Finnern to start our study on Galatians 1:1-10. Paul is astonished.  The churches in Galatia had heard and believed in the one true Gospel of Christ’s forgiveness for His sake, but there were some who had troubled their souls with questions concerning that promise.  He speaks directly to them that there is only one Gospel and any other gospel given leads to people being accursed.  To Him be all the glory forever and ever who was raised from the dead.  “O Holy Spirit, thank you for delivering us from the present evil age and keep us steadfast in Your Word and in faithfulness to the one Gospel.  Lord have mercy.  Amen.”

Rev. Brian Davies, pastor of Lord of Glory Lutheran Church in Grayslake, IL joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study 2 Corinthians 13. Paul ends his letter to the Corinthians with a plea to “examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith” reminding us that to be in Christ is a daily dying and rising.  He ends this epistle with words of joy, comfort, peace, love, and blessing in Christ.  “O Lord, keep us faithful to Your word and grant us repentance when we fall.  Raise us to a new life in Christ so that we move forward in grace, love, and fellowship with You.  In Christ, Amen”

Rev. Peter Burfeind, pastor of Agnus Dei Lutheran Church in Marshall, MI & Our Savior Lutheran Church in Union City, MI joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 2 Corinthians 12:11-21. Paul desires to visit the Corinthians a third time and hopes that he will find a repentant and restored church.  He cares and is concerned for them, in the name of Christ, as a father does for his children.  The Corinthian church had many issues (quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder), which all of our churches have, but Paul’s focus was on repentance and cure for their souls in the Gospel. “Lord God, grant us patience as we encounter quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, disorder, and lead us in repentance to Your forgiveness in Christ.  Amen”

Rev. Tim Winterstein, pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in East Wenatchee, WA joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study 2 Corinthians 12:1-10. In Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” he prays to the LORD to take this burden, but the LORD doesn’t always answer in the way we desire.  Instead, He reminds Paul, and us, that “His grace is sufficient for his power is made perfect in weakness.”  We will all have our thorn in the flesh moments, so we plead with the LORD to grant us contentment in Christ, who became weak on the cross  so that we may be strong.  “O Holy Spirit, pour Your love into our hearts that we may see Christ and be content in our weakness, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities.  Lord have mercy.  Amen”

Rev. Adam DeGroot, Calvary Lutheran Church, Rio Ranch, NM joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study 2 Corinthians 11:16-33. Paul lowers himself to the level of the “super” apostles to boast in his accomplishments.  This submission proves that the Christian life is not a life of perfection, but of persecution, brokenness, and pain.  Yet, in Paul’s weakness and ours, our LORD Jesus reminds us that He became weak for us and  promises to be with us.  “O LORD, be our strength when we suffer.  Grant us peace to stay with You and the hope of Your forgiving grace.  Lord have mercy.  Amen”