Thy Strong Word from KFUO Radio

Rev. Justin Panzer, President of the Kansas District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri District joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 7:1-14.Context is king. To read Jesus’ words can easily be used to push personal agendas while forgetting His truth and our need to humbly love fellow believers. We repent for our lack of humility when addressing sin, repent for not seeking the Lord’s will in prayer, and repent for not loving others as the LORD has loved us. The gate to Him is open by His cross and although not an easy road, His road is filled with His gifts of mercy, love, and grace. “Lord God, keep us faithful to Your Word to extend mercy to others as You extend mercy to us. In Christ, Amen”

Rev. Dr. Paul Holtorf, Professor of Theology at Concordia University in Seward, NE joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 6:19-34.We are continually growing in Christ. Jesus calls us to faith so that when we battle the idols of earthly treasures, fear of God’s providence, and our lack of seeking His righteousness. We are challenged as Jesus says, “O you of little faith.” Clearly we need to be exhorted for our lack of faith, but Jesus is encouraging us that, as His children, we are continually growing to understand how He has provided our salvation in Christ and is providing for our needs. “O Holy Spirit, fill us with faith. Bring us to repentance for our lack of faith and trust in You. Grant us forgiveness in Christ and help us to trust in Your providential promises in Christ. Lord have mercy. Amen”

Rev. Dr. Robert Sorensen, Professor of Theology and Foreign Languages at Concordia University Chicago in River Forest, Illinois joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 6:1-18.Christ is our righteousness and our holiness. The world praises us by doing righteous deeds like giving to the needy, fasting, and prayer, yet Jesus shows a fuller understanding that Christ has done for us. By the Holy Spirit, we pray, give, serve, and forgive others as our LORD prays, serves, and forgives others. “Lord God, grant us Your righteousness so that we may practice righteousness in faith. Help us to serve, pray, give, and forgive in Your name for our reward most importantly is from You. In Christ, Amen”

Rev. Doug Minton, pastor of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Milford, IL joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 5:38:48.Jesus never allows us to assume that the Christian life will be easy. He quells any extremist thoughts concerning our enemies that we are not only to turn our cheeks but to love them. We are called to follow the example of Christ, not to fear evil since He has had the victory. Jesus is Love and therefore we love as He first loved us. This calling is not easy or the cause of despair, but shows us Christ’s perfect life and love which reminds us that He will provide for all of our needs. “O Holy Spirit, help us to live a holy life of generosity, love toward our neighbor, and love toward You. Help us to turn the other cheek, to pray for our enemies, and to be perfect by the blood of Christ. In His name, Amen”

Rev. Daniel Golden, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Parkersburg, West Virginia joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 5:27-37.We are always looking for a loophole when it comes to sin. Jesus does not allow for any loopholes with adultery, divorce, and oaths as even a simple thought shows that we are completely dead in our sin. Jesus is not the addition to the law, but He fulfills the law. What do we do? Repent! What does Christ do? Forgive on account of His cross. The life of the Christian is all putting everything in the hands of the LORD not depending on the loopholes, but on His power. “Lord God, we are dead in our sin and You do not allow us to depend on the loopholes. Forgive us by the blood of Christ and by Your Holy Spirit, help us to live a decent and holy life in our words, thoughts, and deed. In Him, Amen”

Rev. Steven Theiss, vacancy pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in New Wells, MO joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 5:13-26.Fresh off the blessings of the Beatitudes, Jesus directly proclaims our identity in Him: Salt and Light. Human life is not possible without salt and light. Each person has value in Christ, joined with Him, to live according to His purposes and bring His Light to others for the sake of His glory. Our value is grounded in Christ’s work to fulfill the law fully shown with His cross. “Lord God, thank You for being our Light and Salt. Help us to reflect Your Light and be Salt through service so that people may give You all glory. Make us people of reconciliation so that our anger does not consume us but lead us to reconciliation. Lord have mercy. Amen.”

Rev. Dr. Matthew Heise, Executive Director of Lutheran Heritage Foundation in Macomb, MI joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-12. Learn more about Lutheran Heritage Foundation at lhfmissions.org.We are those who are poor in spirit and, in Christ, we are blessed. The weakest, meekest, and most needing righteousness are the greatest in the kingdom of God. In this blessed state, we mourn, seek peace, and face persecution with hope. Hope that He makes our hearts pure and provide strength even in persecution for we are blessed by the grace and mercy of Christ. “Lord God, despite being poor in spirit, You call us blessed. Shower us with Your mercy and peace to be strengthened in persecution and trial as we rejoice knowing our reward is great in heaven. In Christ, Amen”

Rev. John Lukomski, co-host of Wrestling with the Basics on KFUO Radio joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 4:12-25. Find Wrestling with the Basics at kfuo.org/WrestlingWithTheBasics.Jesus’ kingdom is clearly different. He goes to Capernaum in Galilee: Not His home in Nazareth, not where kings lived, and among foreigners. He brings with Him simple men to follow. Immediately they follow without question. He values the least of these. He not only values the diseased, sick, oppressed by demons, epileptics, paralytics, but heals them. This kingly rule of mercy is for you as well. He values each one of us by His blood and invites us to Himself. “Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for inviting us to Yourself. As You called the disciples, You called us to Your forgiveness and love, help us to rest in that grace and serve You with joy. In Your name, Amen”

Rev. Terry Forke, President of the Montana District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 4:1-11.Jesus’ temptation is not just a model of the holy life, but it reveals His authority over the devil by His Word. Jesus shows His kingly rule would be above the work of the devil, the father of all lies, by proclaiming His promises of salvation. “Lord God, help us to fight the tempter with Your Word and open our eyes to see the revelation of Christ who has all authority and rules everything by love. In Him, Amen”

Rev. Scott Adle, pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church & School in Collinsville, IL joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 3.The work of salvation begins. God begins this kingdom, through a humble prophet John, to begin with turning back in the right direction in repentance. This repentance is needed for all people, including Pharisees and Sadducees, but clearly His forgiveness is for all by faith. Slowly we are able to understand Jesus more fully by His own baptism. He not only submits to our level to receive the baptism we receive, but the Father shows us that He is the Son of God. Not only is He the Son of God, but by His work on the cross, we are considered His child and He is well pleased. “Lord, keep us from the unquenchable fire and keep us with Christ. Lead us to repent and bear the fruit of faith in You. Thank you that by the blood of Christ, we are pleasing in God’s sight, now help us to bear fruit by faith in our daily vocations. In Christ, Amen”