Thy Strong Word from KFUO Radio

Rev. Scott Adle, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church, Imperial, NE joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study 1 Corinthians 1:18-31.What a joke! That’s what the world might say of God’s plan to save us through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. If you’ve ever felt like society mocks the beliefs of Christians, St. Paul reveals why in this part of his Corinthian letter. The wisdom of God makes little sense to a dying world. The Corinthian congregation was mostly made up of people the world would have considered downtrodden and undesirable but God had called them to be saints. In this episode, Pastors Booe and Adle consider the status of the Corinthian saints and how society looks upon Christians today. This episode also features the first “listener mailbag,” where, every Friday, Pastor Booe reads an email or two sent in by listeners to Thy Strong Word.

Rev. Doug Griebenaw, Mission Advocate at KFUO Radio in St. Louis, MO, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study 1 Corinthians 1:1-17.The road-weary Apostle Paul gets news that the Christians in the Corinthian congregation, which he had planted less than a decade prior, were already steeped in division. As it unfolds, St. Paul’s letter will tackle issues of false prophets and wrong doctrine, sexual sins, food sacrificed to idols, abuses of the Lord’s Supper, proper worship, the resurrection and much more. In this episode, Pastors Booe and Griebenaw analyze St. Paul’s opening verses as he prepares to admonish the Christians in Corinth for their division.

Rev. James Hopkins, pastor of First Lutheran in Boston, MA and Chaplain in the U.S. Navy Reserves, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Romans 16.A list of nearly unpronounceable names concludes St. Paul’s letter to the saints in Rome. The people he mentions in his personal greetings may not be familiar to us, but their names here in Scripture remind us that the Apostle is writing to real people with lives and vivid and complex as our own. The details of their lives may be lost to history, but God has not forgotten them. In this episode, Pastors Booe and Hopkins reflect on St. Paul’s final greetings and his admonition to the saints that they cling to true doctrine and avoid those who would try to cause division in the church.

Rev. Kevin Parviz, pastor of Congregation Chai v’ Shalom in St. Louis, MO, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Romans 15:14-33.St. Paul finishes chapter 5 with an appeal to his God-given authority to call the Gentiles to faith and obedience in Christ. Interestingly, the Apostle notes he is careful to preach only where someone has not already proclaimed the gospel. “Lest,” he says, “I build on someone else’s foundation.” (v. 20) This is why St. Paul has been reluctant to visit the Christians in Rome, even though he deeply desires to. That and his mission to raise money for the saints in Jerusalem has kept him busy. In this episode, Pastors Booe and Parviz reflect on St. Paul’s authority, mission, and amazing tact.

Rev. John Shank, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Edwardsville, IL, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Romans 15:1-13.The Apostle continues his appeal for those Christians stronger in faith to bear with and uphold those whose faith may be weaker. To illustrate this, St. Paul points to Jesus who did not consider his own needs when he gave himself up for the world. St. Paul writes, “Welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you.” (v. 7) The Apostle also explains how Christ’s work connects the Gentiles to the Jews. Today’s episode has Pastors Booe and Shank reflecting on what it looks like to live in harmony with one another.

Rev. Kevin Yoakum, pastor of Christ the King Lutheran Church in Riverview, FL, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Romans 14.St. Paul writes, “One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables.” (v. 2) No, he’s not talking about vegetarians! The Apostle is referring to those Christians who, for a variety of reasons, believed it was sinful to eat certain things. Some held that certain days were holier than others. Others felt that food used in pagan rituals was off-limits to Christians. In response to this, many in Rome felt free regarding these things were being judgmental toward these weaker Christians. In this episode, Pastors Booe and Yoakum meditate on St. Paul’s teaching that Christians must not judge one another, but “pursue what makes for peace.” (v. 19)

Rev. Warren Woerth, pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Arnold, MO, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Romans 13.Over the past few years, Romans 13 has been at the forefront of the thoughts of many Christians. In this chapter, the Holy Spirit inspires St. Paul to command submission to the governing authorities as ministers of God. In no uncertain terms, the Apostle writes, “Whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.” (v. 2) Obvious questions come to mind: What about corrupt authorities and governments? What is the Christian to do when those in power demand submission to ungodly things? Today’s episode has Pastors Booe and Woerth wrestling over these questions as well as how love fulfills the law.

Rev. Thomas Eckstein, pastor of Concordia Lutheran Church in Jamestown, ND, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Romans 12.What gifts has God given you to serve others? In chapter 12, the Holy Spirit has inspired St. Paul to urge humility among Christians. There are many gifts within a congregation of believers, some more visible and seemingly more prestigious than others. Boasting in our gifts is a worldly way of thinking. Instead, the Apostle writes, “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them...” (v. 6) The true mark of the Christian is genuine love that rejects evil and seeks a peaceable life in this world. In this episode, Pastors Booe and Eckstein reflect on God’s command that we treat our enemies with grace and kindness.

Rev. Dr. Daniel Olson, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Luxemburg, WI, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Romans 11:1-24.It’s very important to St. Paul that his readers don’t misunderstand his admonishment of the Jews. He begins chapter 11 with another of his famous rhetorical questions: “Has God rejected his people?” The answer is, “By no means!” (v. 1) The Apostle points to his own lineage as a descendant of Abraham as proof that God has not abandoned the Jewish people. Not every Jew is saved merely because they descend from the chosen people of God, only the remnant of those who have faith in God’s Messiah. This episode has Pastors Booe and Olson diving into St. Paul’s illustration how the Gentiles have been grafted into the remnant—the true Israel—which has at its roots Jesus Christ.

Rev. David Boisclair, pastor of Faith and Bethesda Lutheran Churches in Pine Lawn, MO, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Romans 10.Can one give their heart to Jesus? Don’t make what is gospel into law. Righteousness based on the law is unachievable. Only righteousness founded on faith in Christ Jesus which saves. So, how does one know they have faith? The Apostle answers, “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (v. 9) Those who have not been given faith cannot confess this. Listen in on this episode as Pastors Booe and Boisclair unpack how God delivers saving, confessing faith.. Also, Pastor Booe uses an example from his childhood in an illustration which prompts a call-in to the show from his father.