Thy Strong Word from KFUO Radio

Rev. Steven Theiss, vacancy pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in New Wells, MO joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 18:1-9.Jesus patiently repeats the message of our hope in the cross and empty tomb. The disciples see the kingdom of God as an opportunity to get the highest position in the kingdom. He places a help in the midst of all to call them to repentance. His kingdom is not of this world and we become great by His Holy Spirit to believe His Word and serve others in His name. To be in His kingdom is not to neglect the seriousness of sin as God hates sin. Sin leads people from the LORD which is why He speaks of millstones, cutting off limbs, and tearing out eyes. Temptations will come and sin is real, so we repent and trust in the One who was tempted but did not sin (Matthew 4:1-11). “Lord God, lead us not into temptation and deliver us from evil. Bring us to repentance so that by grace we believe Your Word and lead godly lives here in time and there in eternity. Amen”

Rev. Dr. Kirk Clayton, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Mascoutah, IL joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 17:14-27.Do we trust Jesus at his word or not? What is the content of our faith? Jesus shows us that He has full authority, even over demons, and by faith the father comes to Jesus to seek help. This man knew that Jesus was able to extend mercy and He did. The disciples started to depend on themselves which led to them being a “faithless generation.” We can often depend on ourselves or humankind instead of the Lord at His Word. Jesus brings them back to Himself by showing us that by His death and resurrection we can trust that He will give mercy to us now. “Lord God, help us to trust Jesus in His Word. As You had mercy on the man’s son, have mercy on us. Help us to see the freedom and adoption as sons that we have from the greater Temple that we may trust and rest in You. In Christ, Amen”

Rev. Adam Degroot, pastor of Calvary Lutheran Church in Rio Ranch, New Mexico, joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 17:1-13.Jesus is the Light and He reveals to the disciples that He was the fulfillment of the Law (Moses) and Elijah (Prophets). Peter’s response might be similar to our response if we were there. We are reminded that we see Jesus when we hear His Word. When we realize our lack of worthiness, we can be terrified like Peter, James, and John, but it is Jesus who graciously says to us, “Rise and have no fear.” “Lord God, as You pulled the disciples forward to the mountain of Golgatha, keep our eyes and ears grounded on the central mountaintop experience in the Scriptures—the cross. As You remind us to listen to Christ, open our ears to hear the Word and our eyes to see. In His name, Amen”

Rev. Terry Forke, District President of the Montana District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 16:13-28.God the Father reveals the truth of Christ to Peter and us: He is the Christ the Son of the Living God. He is the Messiah proclaimed from the beginning (Genesis 3:15). He is the Son of the living God (Matthew 3:17 & Psalm 18:46) who will fulfill all that the LORD has promised. This confession reveals that Christ is our rock, He will build the church, and the devil will never overcome Christ’s forgiveness, life, and salvation. Christians are not in a defensive position, but we boldly confess the truth of this living Christ and the gates of heaven are wide open by His cross and empty tomb. “O Holy Spirit, lead us to repent so that we may be loosed from our sins by our rock, our living LORD, Jesus Christ. Help us to receive this forgiveness from our pastor in confidence that it is true also in heaven. O Holy Spirit enter in, Amen”

Rev. Scott Adle, pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church & School in Collinsville, IL joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 16:1-12.The Pharisees and Sadducees wanted a sign, even though signs were everywhere, and Jesus once again proves that all we need is Jonah. If you don’t see Jesus in Jonah’s three days in the big fish and his resurrection, one will not understand the cross and empty tomb. This is why we all need “fight the good fight” to keep grounded in the truth of Christ as our bread of life. The leaven of false teaching can grow without us knowing which is why we repeat the promises of God in Christ so that we may have the peace and joy of His sign of salvation upon us. “Lord Jesus Christ, as You are the greater Jonah, keep us from false teaching and the cares of this world. Fill us with truth that we may understand and believe in Your gracious salvation. Amen”

Rev. Tom Eckstein of Concordia Lutheran Church in Jamestown, ND, joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 15:29-39.If there were any questions about Jesus’ compassion for people in Matthew, He makes it obvious today. He heals every possible disease and no number of people are out of His reach for mercy. Jesus is clearly concerned with the whole person, not only the physical through bread, but He is the Bread of Life to save us from our sins. “Lord Jesus, as You had compassion on the needy and hungry crowd, have compassion on us in our needs and hunger for Your righteousness. Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy. Amen”

Rev. John Shank of Trinity Lutheran Church & School in Edwardsville, IL joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 15:21-28.God the Father reveals the grace of Christ in the most unlikely of people. We hear of the Canaanite woman, from the lineage of an unfaithful people (Deuteronomy 20:7), who seeks the LORD’s help in faith. Although Jesus calls her a “dog”, we must admit that we are just as unclean as anything else on earth. God’s gifts of grace are in such an abundance that He gives, in faith, His gifts to the most unlikely of people—even us. “Lord God, reveal Your grace in Christ that we may believe like the Canaanite woman. You are merciful, which is why we confess our need for Your help once again. Lord have mercy on us. Amen”

Rev. John Lukomski, co-host of Wrestling with the Basics on KFUO Radio joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 15:1-20. Find Wrestling with the Basics at kfuo.org/WrestlingWithTheBasics.The Pharisees and scribes come with accusations concerning the traditions. Jesus points all of us away from the traditions to faith in the Word. He shows us the need for a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26), as the heart, apart from faith in Christ, is full of sin (evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, & slander). This is why Jesus did not allow the arguments from the Pharisees to rule the conversation with traditions. He is the one to give us a new heart like the Canaanite woman in the next few verses to come. “Lord Jesus, we pray for a new heart. A heart that repents and believes. A heart, by the power of the Holy Spirit, fights against the Old Adam and trusts that Your way is best. A heart that finds comfort in Your unending love by the cross. Lord have mercy. Amen”

Rev. Jason Bredeson, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Sacramento, CA joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 14:22-36.Jesus comes to the disciples and tells them to take heart. Everyone must have been exhausted after the news of John the Baptist’s death and feeding the 5,000 men. Jesus’ first words are “Take heart; it is I.” In His compassion, He comforts the disciples with His identity as the great “I am.” The same God who led the Israelites out of slavery into the promised land would lead the disciples on their journey. It is clear that this King has all authority, even over the storms, and He shows that His kingly rule was that of patiently calling sinners to Himself. “Lord Jesus, Son of God, as the great I am, we come to You knowing that our eyes are not on You like we should. Immediately come to us and lift us out of the pit into Your Light. In Your name, Amen”

Rev. Bob Hiller, pastor of Community Lutheran Church in Escondido and San Marcos, CA joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 14:13-21.When Jesus’ heard the news of his cousin’s death, He went away by Himself to grieve. When He is interrupted by the crowd, instead of getting annoyed like we often will be, He has compassion on them. This compassionate Jesus is the fulfillment of Micah’s words, “He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea (7:19).” He gives His gifts of bread and fish to nourish His people like a good shepherd (Psalm 23:2-3). He is not only full of compassion, but He fully feeds His people with forgiveness, life, and salvation. “O Good Shepherd, Your forgiveness is more than my sin. Your gifts are greater than my needs and You provide everything we have without any merit in me. Provide for Your people and help us serve to provide for others. In Your name, Amen”