Thy Strong Word from KFUO Radio

Rev. Bryan Wolfmueller, pastor of St. Paul and Jesus Deaf Lutheran Church in Austin, TX joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Leviticus 15.Leviticus tells it like it is. Uncleanness does not discriminate. It affects both men and women in abnormal and normal ways, which also affects the whole community. We need to be clean, even in private things like sexuality. As Christians we know that we are made clean by Christ through the waters of Baptism. The gift of Leviticus, in light of Christ, is that it shows us the depth of God’s love that He would take the unclean, and bring us back to Him. Thanks be to God. “Lord God, we are by nature sinful and unclean. We give thanks, that by Your grace, we are brought back to You as You make us clean by Christ. Help us to value our sexuality and to live holy lives in what we say and do. In Him, Amen”

Rev. David Duke of Concordia Lutheran Church in Newfane, NY and St. John Lutheran Church in Youngstown, NY joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Leviticus 14.***Warning! We did not get through the whole chapter. We finished the first 20 verses focusing on the cleansing of the healed leper as Pastor Duke painted a wonderful picture concerning the cleansing from the priest.We need to be clean because we are by nature sinful and unclean. Although the leper had been healed, he still needed to be cleansed with his relationship with the LORD. We see two clean birds, one sacrificed---one to live free. We see hyssop and water. We see water and oil. All of this shows God’s mercy to the most unclean people: lepers. And if the LORD would welcome a leper into His sanctuary, by Christ’s work (the hyssop on the cross, the waters and blood out of his side, the blood of His sacrifice, He also welcomes us back to Him. “Lord God, open our ears to hear Your Word. Cleanse our hands and feet to do Your work. And fill our hearts with faith that we may be made clean by You in Christ. In Him, Amen”

Rev. John Lukomski, co-host of Wrestling with the Basics on KFUO Radio joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Leviticus 13. Find Wrestling with the Basics at kfuo.org/WrestlingWithTheBasics.The LORD gave Moses and Aaron the full meal deal concerning leprosy. If one had leprosy, they were unclean. This disease points us to the need for being clean. As Christ has fulfilled the ceremonial law, we realize that, by His robes of righteousness, we are made clean. The LORD reminds us that, as the priests needed to patiently care for each person, we pray for patience as we serve and love our neighbor. “Lord God, thank You for Your robes of righteousness that covers our sin. Our sin shows us our uncleanliness, but by Your grace You wash us clean by Your blood. Help us to come to You to give thanks like the one leper and fill if with Your love. In Christ, Amen”

Rev. Warren Woerth of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Arnold, Missouri joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Leviticus 11 & 12.We all know that there are foods that are unclean, but is it really true that shrimp and pigs are unclean? Leviticus 11 & 12 remind us that we are indeed, “unworthy and unclean” before our LORD. The only hope we have is that Christ, who fulfilled the cleanliness laws of the Old Testament, will make us clean by His blood. As Christians we live in freedom to enjoy the foods of His creation (Acts 10) while giving thanks that He has made us clean. “Heavenly Father, thank You for the fruits of Your creation and that in Christ, we are made clean. As Your Son fulfilled the cleanliness laws of the Old Testament, keep us mindful of Your grace and our final hope in You. Lord have mercy. Amen”

Rev. Dr. Mark Birkholz, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Naperville, Illinois joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Leviticus 10.God is holy and sin has no place with Him. Nadab and Abihu became their own gods and disregarded God’s law---and they paid the price. Our sins have consequences, but by God’s grace He continued to provide holy offerings for the people to receive His holiness. We receive His holiness on account of Christ’s blood and by His grace He took the consequence of sin on Himself. “Lord God, we see the consequence of sin and give thanks that, by Your grace, You took the consequence of sin upon Yourself. To You be all the glory. Amen”

Rev. Dr. Brian Kachelmeier of Redeemer Lutheran Church, Los Alamos, NM joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Leviticus 9.Worship without God’s Word is idolatry. Although Aaron had an issue with idolatry on Mt. Sinai, now the LORD patiently guides him as the high priest to worship by His Word. On the 8th day, a day of new creation in the Bible, Aaron makes sacrifices (burnt, grain, sin, wave, peace) for his sins and the sins of the people. When there was atonement, Aaron and Moses, went into the tent and in their return, the people saw God’s glory. In the same way, when we receive His forgiveness on account of Christ, we see God’s glory revealed. “Lord God, keep us from idolatry by worshipping with God’s Word. As we see the sacrifice of Christ, we see the glory of the LORD who dwells among us and grants us full forgiveness by His blood. To be all the glory. Amen”

Rev. Dr. Kevin Golden, associate professor of Exegetical Theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Leviticus 8.God’s people needed to be purified and in His wisdom set aside priests from Aaron to bring His holiness to people. The ordination of the priests, just like ordination of pastors today, are never really about the priests, but show us the holiness of God and the grace, mercy, and forgiveness He gives by His Word. “Lord God, as You set aside priests to bring Your holiness, we set aside pastors to bring Your grace, mercy, and forgiveness by Your Word today. Bless Your church and keep her holy for the sake of cleansing Your people by Your blood. Lord have mercy. Amen”

Rev. Dr. Timothy Saleska, professor of Exegetical Theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO, joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Leviticus 7.The guilt, peace, burnt offerings are not only a law for the people to follow, but also a promise of God’s grace. Moses gives a general overview of all the offerings to show us again the way that a Holy God gives holiness to His people. In thanksgiving and joy, God’s people brought their offerings to Him and were able to eat with the LORD. They fully knew that they were unclean and needing forgiveness, but in faith they knew that the LORD who dwelt with them would provide for all of their needs. We have that same promise and ask for the same faith in Christ. “Lord Jesus Christ, we come to You unclean and unworthy. By Your final sacrifice, we know that You dwell with us and fill us with Your forgiveness and grace. In Your name, Amen.”

Rev. Chris Biernacki of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Florence, AL joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Leviticus 5:14-6:30.Guilt and shame overwhelms us. Sometimes guilt is justified because we have broken God’s commands, but sometimes guilt is a tool of the devil to keep us away from the LORD. The LORD provides His grace to those with guilt over intentional & unintentional sins through the sacrifices of a Ram without blemish. In Christ, without blemish, he takes all of our sins and the work of the devil who attempts to remind us of sins that went to the tomb with Christ. “Heavenly Father, take our guilt and shame on account of Christ and fill us with our identity in Him. As the ram was costly, Your Son’s blood paid the high cost of our trespasses and took our guilty conscience upon Himself. Thank you for this gift. Amen”

Rev. Gregory Alms of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Catonsville, MD joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Leviticus 4-5:13.Sin needs forgiveness. We often speak about sins of commission or omission. There is a tendency to try to justify unintentional sins as opposed to the ones we knew what we were doing. Whether it was the high priest, congregation, leaders, common people, and anyone who sins---there must be atonement. In God’s grace, He gives instructions on how to receive forgiveness for ALL people by the blood of bulls. For us, He shows us where forgiveness is for all people by the blood of Christ. “Lord God, all sins need forgiveness and by Your grace You provide the needed sacrifice. In the Old Testament You graciously gave bulls, goats, turtle doves, and grain so that all would receive forgiveness, but now we know that Your son’s sacrifice is all we need for forgiveness. Help us to see our sin and finally receive forgiveness from Christ. In Him, Amen”