Thy Strong Word From Kfuo Radio

Rev. David Speers, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Altamont, Illinois, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Mark 7. “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites!” Once again Jesus ☧ publicly clashes with the Pharisees and the Jerusalem scribes, this time in Mark 7 over the Fourth Commandment (in Mark 3 it was over the Third). Just when His opponents think they have Him for disrespecting “the Elders,” ☧ turns it around on them for disrespecting their own mothers and fathers. ☧ does not call them “hypocrites” for being inconsistent per se, but for shifting the focus of the Scriptures: they focus on how God’s Word might enhance their own external performance rather than what the Word teaches us about the heart of God. A sinful heart, ☧ says, is what really makes a person unclean. He then proceeds to heal a Gentile of faith made clean by “the Word,” and He heals a deaf and mute man to show that, without the Word in their hearts, the Pharisees and scribes are the ones who are truly deaf and mute.

Rev. Thomas Eckstein, pastor of Concordia Lutheran Church in Jamestown, North Dakota, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Mark 6. “They did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.” Mark 6 continues the narrative of Jesus ☧’s gospel proclamation, a real-life story laden with symbolism. What is the connection between Herod’s execution of John, the Feeding of the Five Thousand, and ☧ walking on the water? Herod shows himself to be no shepherd of God’s people. Whenever he’s placed in an awkward situation, he bends for his own selfish benefit. ☧ however acts selflessly even in impossible situations, to feed and teach His “sheep without a shepherd.” The mystery of the loaves and baskets points to the resurrection—not of John the Baptist—but of Jesus ☧ on the third day, the true King of the Twelve Tribes. He would not abandon His disciples, but before His ascension He came to feed and teach them even amidst fear and doubt.

Rev. John Shank, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Edwardsville, Illinois, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Mark 5. “Do not fear, only believe.” These words of Jesus ☧ summarize the theme of Mark 5. Although these are real-life events being narrated, this perspective on the story highlights the faith-vs-fear dynamic, showing how the Word-of-growth parables of chapter 4 play out in our hearts and minds. The Word remains central: the storm was calmed at ☧’s Word, the mighty legion of demons cower powerlessly before ☧’s Word, and even those who receive the Word second hand come to faith and salvation. When ☧ says “Your faith has made you well,” He means that the Word has borne fruit. Ultimately, ☧’s Word of diagnosis is more powerful than fear and death, to one day raise the Gentiles from their tombs and to bring the Twelve Tribes back to life in the resurrection.

Rev. John Lukomski, retired LCMS pastor and co-host of Wrestling with the Basics on KFUO Radio, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Mark 4. “To the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” In Mark 4 Jesus ☧ speaks of the paradox of faith and understanding: in order for these to be given, they must have already been received. These parables were not meant as easy-to-understand sermon illustrations. Like the injunctions of silence with the miracles, ☧ revealed Himself through these parables gradually and on His own terms—not on the terms of human initiative or wisdom. Each elaborates on the central message that, even though its growth is inexplicable and at times imperceptible, the kingdom of God is indeed being grown through the strong Word of ☧. This is finally shown when the storm calms at ☧’s Word. Amidst fear and calamity, ☧ grows His disciples’ faith slowly but surely with His teaching and rebuke.

Rev. David Boisclair, pastor of Faith and Bethesda Lutheran Churches in North St. Louis County, Missouri, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Psalm 107. “Hallelujah! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!” With these words, Psalm 107 introduces the fifth and final collection of psalms from 107 to 150. No other section of psalms contains so many hallelujahs and exhortations to praise. North, south, east, and west: mountains, wilderness, sunrise, and seashore. With the Babylonian invasion, God’s people were scattered all over, but in Psalm 107, each and every group has experienced God’s faithfulness. Parts of this psalm appear very prominently in the New Testament, especially in the Lord’s Beatitudes and Mary’s Magnificat. Jesus ☧ is the Redeemer who ties together all God’s people, feeding the “hungry and thirsty,” proclaiming liberty for the captives “in the shadow of death,” and making “the storm be still” through the power of His Word.

Rev. Scott Adle, pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Collinsville, Illinois, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Mark 3. “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” In Mark 3, Jesus ☧ heals a man’s atrophied hand in the middle of the synagogue on the Sabbath, putting the Pharisees’ hypocritical non-answer on public display. He remains tight-lipped, though His twelve-man inner circle has kingly overtones. Only the unclean spirits have begun to utter the full truth: He is “the Son of God,” the ☧ and King that Israel has been waiting for. Focused on preaching, He forces the question: what do the Commandments really mean? If the corrupt Jerusalem elite condemn the Holy Spirit’s work in Him, then they have aligned themselves against the only source of forgiveness. Like them, we naturally justify our own hypocrisy in the name of the greater good, but true virtue is obtained only in ☧ through His forgiveness and faith.

Rev. Curtis Deterding, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Fort Myers, Florida, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Mark 2. “The Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.” In Mark 2, Jesus ☧ uses the term “Son of Man” for the first time, confusing His opponents more than answering their questions—and they have a lot of them: Why does He presume to forgive sins? Why does He associate with sinners? Why doesn’t He make His disciples fast? Why does He do work on the Sabbath? As illustrated in the last episode of chapter 1 with the leper, Jesus ☧ is controlling the pace of His gospel mission, revealing Himself slowly and bit by bit. Jesus ☧ continues to show unique aspects of His authority. He wasn’t the first one to connect sin and sickness, but He was the first one who acted like He could cure both at the same time. He didn’t reject scholarship or learning, but He showed that these are all in vain if not applied in love, as He did for us in His preaching ministry and ultimately in His passion.

Rev. Daniel Olson, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Luxemburg, Wisconsin, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Mark 1. “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” Mark chapter 1 might strike us as a strange starting place, beginning with John baptizing the Lord in the Jordan and skipping over the little town of Bethlehem. But Mark leaves out these details deliberately so he can focus on Jesus ☧ as a preacher. When we think of “the gospel,” our minds tend to go to the Cross or to the empty tomb, or possibly to the Ascension or to Christ’s perfect life of obedience. But in Christ’s own words, He was sent to preach—and with authority. The authority of Jesus ties all these things together; He cannot save us if He is not our ultimate authority. He has authority to cast out demons and to control the narrative of His actions. And in His time in the wilderness, He humbly prepares Himself to speak on the authority of the Father. Do we so esteem preaching, absolutio

Rev. Rolf Preus, pastor of Trinity-Sidney & St. John-Fairview, Montana, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Revelation 22. “On either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month.” As the final chapter of the Bible, Revelation 22 takes us back to the beginning. By the tree of the Cross, Eden’s tree of life is restored in the heavenly Jerusalem. Yet the “river of the water of life” from Ezekiel’s vision also runs through the city streets. The 1400 mile–wide Jerusalem is not just a city, but one giant temple. More than that, the entire city is the Holy of Holies itself: in ☧ the High Priest, the whole twelvefold people of God are constantly in the immediate presence of God, an eternal Day of Atonement for all sins. Longing for this future, we cry “Come, Lord Jesus!” Yet we can go to this heaven every Sunday: every time we gather in ☧ for the Divine Service, heaven comes to us, as it did for John. Thy Strong Word is a daily in-depth study of the books of t

Rev. Kevin Parviz, pastor of Congregation Chai v’Shalom in St. Louis, Missouri, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Revelation 21. “I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.” Revelation 21 gives us the most vivid picture of “heaven” in the entire Bible. But what does it mean that the old heaven and earth will pass away? Like the Lord Jesus Christ, the city of Jerusalem will one day be resurrected. Not just the people, but the city too, even with its gates and walls! Many of these things won’t be necessary, but they will be beautiful and gracious reminders to us that, in some sense, it will still be the same body, the same world, and the same city, just as it was the same Jesus ☧ on Easter. Not only will creation no longer be corrupted, but it will be better than ever, without any hint of chaos.

Rev. Waldemar Vinovskis, pastor of Concordia Lutheran Church in Macungie, Pennsylvania, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Revelation 20. “And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.” Revelation 20 re-introduces “the bottomless pit” of the abyss. Unlike chapter 9 where the angel opened it up, this time the angel imprisons Satan there. Confined to the abyss, Satan is no longer free to roam about “the seas” of the Gentiles. With the events of God’s judgment in AD 70, God brought the church back “to life” and positioned her to spread the Gospel all over the world. The 1000 years represents this current church age, even as it continues almost 2000 years later. Throughout Revelation, 1000 is a military symbol, here representing the church militant as Christ conquers the powers of darkness through her. Through the ups and downs, the church is at peace knowing her name is in the book of life and that Christ will win the final victory on the day

Rev. Chris Matthis, pastor of Epiphany Lutheran Church in Castle Rock, Colorado, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Revelation 19. “Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.” In Revelation 19, the Lord Jesus descends upon the earth, defeats the beast and the false prophet, and slays His enemies with the sword of His mouth. But how does this logically follow the mixture of lamentation and celebration over the destruction of Jerusalem? In the Old Testament, God used Cyrus of Persia to defeat Babylon and vindicate His people. Isaiah even called Cyrus “Christ.” Likewise here in Revelation, Christ used Vespasian and Titus to defeat the Beast and “Babylon,” vindicating the church from the corrupt high priesthood responsible for the deaths of Christians like James the Just and even the death of Christ Himself. Christ is our true high priest, who intercedes in the true heavenly temple of the true heavenly J

Rev. Peter Bender, pastor of Peace Lutheran Church in Sussex, Wisconsin, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Revelation 18. “Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins.” Revelation 18 takes a pastoral and catechetical focus on the idolatry of Babylon. “Babylon” does not refer to geography per se, but to the apostate element of Israel, particularly concentrated in Jerusalem. Even when things seem blessed and spiritual, they may be spiritually unclean and idolatrously aligned against God. The church literally relocated, leaving behind the wealth and influence of Jerusalem to be spared from its destruction. Like Daniel or the Christians who were martyred in Jerusalem, it is better to fall with Christ than to stand with the powers of darkness, which will fall “in a single hour.” Ultimately worldly acceptance is a sham, based only on how profitable we might be. God’s love in Christ however is truly unconditional: He loves us no matter the cost.

Rev. John Lukomski, retired LCMS pastor and co-host of Wrestling with the Basics on KFUO Radio, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Revelation 17. “The woman that you saw is the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth.” In Revelation 18, John sees a rich and powerful woman. We might quickly think of Rome, but she is said to commit sexual immorality with the “peoples and multitudes and nations and languages.” She is apostate Jerusalem, called to be faithful to God alone, but in league with Rome as she exerts dominion over the authorities in “the land” of Israel. John’s message is clear: only Jesus is Lord of lords and King of kings, and apostate Jerusalem will never prevail. The seven churches of Asia Minor were tempted to go along with the worship of the Roman emperor, but Christ tells them to stand firm and resist. Christ saw us through Nero, and He would see us through Domitian, the papacy, and every oppression until every knee bows at the name of Jesus.

Rev. David Boisclair, pastor of Faith and Bethesda Lutheran Churches in North St. Louis County, Missouri, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Revelation 16. “God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath.” In Revelation 16 seven “bowls” of wrath are poured out in quick succession, reminiscent both of Old Testament drink offerings as well as the figurative cup of wrath which the Lord Jesus drank for us. In terms of history, the first two bowls might symbolize losses on both sides of the First Jewish–Roman War, and the second two might point to judgment meted out on the people of Jerusalem, nobles and common people alike. The last three align with the death of Emperor Nero, the crowning of Vespasian, and the destruction of Jerusalem at the hands of Titus. All things are under God’s control, and no amount of earthly power can save from God’s wrath. Only Christ’s blood saves the church. Even in the face of stubborn impenitence, God faithfully cares for His peo

Rev. David Andrus, pastor of Abiding Savior Lutheran Church in St. Louis and Not-Alone.net Ministries, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Psalm 118. “Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.” “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” “This is the day that the LORD has made.” Psalm 118 feels like a Bible verse hall of fame! These verses are so well known because they were memorized as the finale of Psalms 113 through 118 sung during Passover. Israel escaped Egypt, David won countless victories, Israel returned from Babylon, and the church survived when Rome destroyed Jerusalem. God faithfully saves His people amidst chaos, most clearly seen in Jesus Christ on Easter, who fulfilled “I shall not die, but I shall live.” Christ is our Passover and our Temple, resisted and rejected by man, but vindicated by God. In baptism, we are always connected as living stones, shining in the light of the eternal eighth day.

Rev. Michael Morehouse, pastor of Catalina Lutheran Church in Tucson, Arizona, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Psalm 117. The shortest chapter in the entire Bible, the two verses of Psalm 117 are easy to overlook. This psalm however is totally unique and profound. It occurs in the exact middle of our modern 1,189 chapters, with a theme that is right at the heart of Scripture: “all nations” should praise the God of Abraham because of His “steadfast love” for Israel. But why? Whenever God saves His chosen people, He shows that He is the Creator of all peoples. Prefigured in the Exodus through the Red Sea and in the return from the Babylonian Exile, this happened most profoundly in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus on Easter morning, when salvation for One brought salvation for all. “Praise the LORD” or “Alleluia” occurs on both sides of this psalm, serving both as a conclusion as well as an introduction unlike any other. Psalm 117 is best sung, just as our Lord Himself sung Psalm 117 with the disciples

Rev. Kevin Martin, pastor of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Revelation 15. “Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues.” Revelation 15 hits the reset button, restarting the seven-part sequence. Yet, we also find some overlap with and even the conclusion to the previous chapters. The bloodshed that poured out from Jerusalem reached the furthest borders of Israel. Just outside the city, the Roman general Titus meted out God’s wrath. For the church however it was a saving flood. God’s condemnation in the flood of Noah and in the Exodus through the Red Sea are like our baptism into Christ. The sacramental blood and water that flowed from Christ’s side at His crucifixion save us from God’s judgement, and so we too sing “the song of Moses” with all God’s people.

Rev. Nate Ruback, pastor of Grace Chapel in Bellefontaine Neighbors, Missouri, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Revelation 14. “I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder[, ...] like the sound of harpists playing on their harps.” The army of 144,000 saints returns in chapter 14, singing a heavenly song that no one else can learn. This celebration represents rest, Christ’s perpetual Sabbath. Christ the Lamb gives rest from Mount Zion, unlike the false rest of “Babylon the great.” In apostate Jerusalem, the long-haired zealots promised rest through violence, and the two-faced collaborators through compromise. In faith, the church finds rest and purification in Christ’s blood shed for us, even in the face of persecution. We neither seek conflict nor do we avoid it, but we trust even amidst death and bloodshed that Christ has conquered and won for us the heavenly Jerusalem.

Rev. Nathan Meador, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Plymouth, Wisconsin, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Revelation 13. “Let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.” Does this beast and its mark foretell a dystopian future? History never fails to repeat itself, but the two beasts of Revelation 13 likely refer to the local and global authorities aligned with Satan, persecutors of Christians in the time around AD 70. The number 666 is derived from the Hebrew alphabet, in which letters represented numbers. Here the numbers add up to the same person whose image was minted or “marked” on the coins: Caesar. The corrupt leaders of Judea were puppets of the Roman emperors, who were literally worshiped as divine. Although the world still at times seems aligned against us, the church endures knowing that Christ defeated the ancient persecutors of the church, even as He defeated Satan in His death, resurrection, and ascension.