Thy Strong Word from KFUO Radio

Rev. Dr. Nathan Meador, Executive Assistant for Mission and Mercy for the South Wisconsin District in Milwaukee, WI joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.Solomon calls us not to fatalism but to faith. He describes the truth of life---everything has a season. Birth & death; planting and plucking up; weeping and laughing; mourning and dancing; seeking and losing; war and peace. Take heart, saints of our Lord, God has not forgotten you. “Lord God, sustains us in the season, as You have called us to be here now in Your grace, fill us with Your strength and love to remember that everything is in Your hands. In Christ, Amen”

Rev. Kevin Yoakum, pastor of Christ the King Lutheran Church in Riverview, Florida joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Ecclesiastes 2.In this chapter it is quite telling that the word “I” is used 31x. Solomon paints a picture of life with the LORD. He presents his life like a “pleasure research project.” He enjoyed wine, built homes, planted vineyards, possessed a huge farm, acquired more silver and gold than anyone, and he had the opportunity for pleasure without hindrance. To find meaning in these things led Solomon to say, “So I hated my life.” We are reminded that without the LORD we are “under the sun” but in Christ we are “above the sun on account of the Son.” “Lord God, keep us focused above the sun in the Son. When we hate life, fill us with Your love. When we see the brokenness of the world and ask what’s the point, once again show us our identity as ones loved by You and Your presence each day. In Christ, Amen”

Rev. John Lukomski, co-host of Wrestling with the Basics on KFUO Radio joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Ecclesiastes 1. Find Wrestling with the Basics at kfuo.org/WrestlingWithTheBasics.Solomon does a thorough investigation of his life and his conclusion? Everything is meaningless, let me say it again, meaningless. What is vanity? You name it...it’s vain. He points to wisdom, the sun, the wind, generations, and the sea and challenges us to keep our eyes focused on Christ. All of it can look like a circle of life which leads to a lack of meaning, but in Christ, we are above the sun and that our hearts are to be centered in Him. “O Holy Spirit, keep us seeing the world with Christ goggles. To see the meaning of the world to be grounded in His forgiveness and salvation and to not become overwhelmed by the vanity under the sun but knowing life above the sun in Him. Lord have mercy. Amen”

Ecclesiastes is a book of wisdom. Yet, as Christians wisdom is found in the fear of God in Christ. Wisdom is not a pursuit of information or thoughts, all of that is vanity. It is difficult to hear that wealth, the pursuit of wisdom, work, and intelligence is meaningless. Yet, when we understand that wisdom comes from Christ, we do not need to wonder if we have wisdom, but we live in freedom with His blessed words to live holy lives. “Lord God, grant us the wisdom of faith in Christ. We thank You that Christ has done everything for us and we ask that we would believe in this wisdom and live in wise freedom as His beloved children. Lord help us. Amen”

Rev. Steven Theiss, vacancy pastor, Immanuel Lutheran Church, New Wells, MO joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Psalm 140.Jesus’ prayer tells us to “deliver us from evil.” David is clearly seeking the LORD to take care of the evil that surrounds him (evil, wicked, & violent men). In the middle of his battles, David confesses that the LORD is the strength of my salvation. It often can feel like people are plotting to go against us and the Christian faith, but we confess as David, “The LORD is our protector and our deliverer.” “Heavenly Father, hear the voice of my pleas for mercy. Deliver and protect us from evil and the plots of evil in our lives. Amen”

Rev. Steven Theiss, vacancy pastor, Immanuel Lutheran Church, New Wells, MO joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Psalm 140.Jesus’ prayer tells us to “deliver us from evil.” David is clearly seeking the LORD to take care of the evil that surrounds him (evil, wicked, & violent men). In the middle of his battles, David confesses that the LORD is the strength of my salvation. It often can feel like people are plotting to go against us and the Christian faith, but we confess as David, “The LORD is our protector and our deliverer.” “Heavenly Father, hear the voice of my pleas for mercy. Deliver and protect us from evil and the plots of evil in our lives. Amen”

Rev. Shawn Kumm, Christ the King Lutheran Church, Cody, Wyoming joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study and pray Psalm 141.“Hurry, listen to me!” David pleads with the LORD. It is clear that David trusted in the LORD to not only hear him, but will answer. He asks the LORD to protect him from breaking His commands by His words, actions, and thoughts---and God provides a way. We should pray in the same way because we are tempted to fall into evil delicacies and by His grace, He will preserve us and pull our eyes back to Himself. “LORD God, help me to pray. Listen to me, for temptations surround me. Bring my eyes, heart, and ears back to You and preserve me in Your grace. Amen”

Rev. Adam Degroot, Calvary Lutheran Church, Rio Ranch, NM joins Rev. Brady Finnern to pray and study Psalm 12.Have you ever felt alone in your faith? Have you ever been on the evil end of lies, slander, and betrayal of other’s words? This Psalm is for you! In our prayers of lament during these painful times, our LORD promises to arise, protect, and purify His people. Our words are always on the edge of disaster, but His Word purifies. When He tells us that He will keep, guard, and save us---it’s true and happens. “Lord God, save us! Evil surrounds us by word and deed and we ask again for You to guard and protect us and He does. Fill us with Your pure words to be purified and saved by You alone. In Christ, Amen”

Rev. Nabil Nour of Trinity Lutheran, Hartford, SD joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study and pray Psalm 11.David prays this Psalm like the children’s song, “I am weak but He is strong.” He book-ends this psalm filling us with the identity of the LORD as our refuge and our righteousness. Although the LORD is in His temple, on His throne in heaven, it does not mean He is not graciously sustaining us in every moment. We see our God, Immanuel, who proves that He is with us to the end as our foundation and we will one day be with Him face to face. “Lord God, help us pray. We trust in You as our refuge and our righteousness, for when we are weak but You are strong. Lord help us. Amen”

Rev. Dr. Leonard Payton, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Forest Park, Illinois joins Rev. Brady Finnern to review the riches of Leviticus.The whole Bible is a love letter from the LORD to His people and Leviticus. The author of Hebrews says, “For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities.” (Hebrew 10:1). Leviticus gives us a shadow of the good things to come in Christ. The offerings, purity laws, ceremonial laws, civil laws, sabbath years, mercy to the poor, and moral laws point us to the sufficient, all forgiving sacrifice of Christ. “Lord God, as You have given us all things in Christ, give us Your comfort to understand the depth of Your love on the cross. In Your name, Amen”