Thy Strong Word from KFUO Radio

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.

Rev. Christopher Amen, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Pipestone, MN, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Romans 9.St. Paul, who has, thus far, been fairly stern with the Jewish believers, begins chapter 9 with an emotional explanation. The Apostle reveals how he feels sorrow and anguish over his Israelite brethren. He explains that while the Jews were the recipients of God’s word, and they had every advantage as God’s chosen people, their unfaithfulness is not a failure on the part of God or his word. So, what was the problem? They rejected the spirit of God’s law which pointed to his Messiah and attempted to be righteous by works of the Law. If righteousness is by faith is a gift, why it is a stumbling block and a “rock of offense” to some? On this episode, Pastors Booe and Amen tackle that tough question.

Rev. Jacob Benson, pastor of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lovell, WY, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Romans 8:18-39.Life is filled with both joy and suffering. The joyful moments give us a glimpse into our future with God, but what about the tribulations? St. Paul contends that suffering with Christ is part of our walk of faith, but what we endure now is not even worth comparing the glory that is to be revealed. And it’s not just people who suffer, but all of creation! Despite this, God does not leave us alone to face the challenges of this life. The Holy Spirit interprets our prayers even when we don’t know what to say and the This episode ends on a beautiful Gospel note as Pastors Booe and Benson highlight God’s word which assures us that nothing can separate us from the love God has for us in Christ Jesus.

Rev. John Lukomski, co-host of Wrestling with the Basics on KFUO Radio, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Romans 8:1-17. Find Wrestling with the Basics at kfuo.org/WrestlingWithTheBasics. Chapter 8 begins with one of the most powerful statements of Gospel, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (v. 1) But more than just a declaration of good news, St. Paul describes in this part of his letter how God the Father has accomplished what no man could: he sent his Son to become one of us to fulfill the law on our behalf. The result is that those who are led by the Spirit are now children of God and heirs with Christ. This doesn’t mean there will be no challenges in life—we suffer with Christ—but we will also be glorified with him. This episode has two KFUO radio shows “wrestling with God’s strong word.”

Rev. Jim Daub, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Havelock, NC, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Romans 7.Does God’s law cause us to sin? No, but the Apostle Paul posits that our “sinful passions” are “aroused by the law.” (v. 5) Even when we know God’s will for our lives, our fallen human nature is eager to do that which we shouldn’t do. So, St. Paul asks, “What then, shall we say? That the law is sin?” (v. 7) No way! God’s law is good. It’s our sinful nature that misuses what is good for evil. Yet, there’s no reason to despair. St. Paul brings out the gospel: God saves us from our wretchedness through Christ, even if we continue to struggle this side of his return. Pastors Booe and Daub begin this episode reminiscing about North Carolina but end thoroughly convicted by God’s law!

Rev. Dr. Peter Elliot, pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church in Seattle, WA, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Romans 6.Out of his abundant grace, God forgives our sins for the sake of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. In the previous chapter, St. Paul asserted, “where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.” (v. 20) What good news! Yet, the Apostle begins chapter 6 with an admonishment. He warns those who think that they can sin all the more since God is so gracious. The Apostle’s overall message is those who are forgiven in Christ have died with him and, thus, have died to sin. The Christian is no longer a slave to sin, but an obedient servant of Christ. That’s how we should see ourselves. There remains forgiveness for sins when we fail, but if we continue to relish sin, only death awaits. Listen as Pastors Booe and Elliot explain lawlessness and how God gives us eternal life in Christ Jesus.

Rev. Robert Moeller, Jr., pastor of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Pipestone, MN and Zion Lutheran Church in Jaspar, MN, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Romans 5:1-21.Would you die to help someone else? What if they were a good person? St. Paul says someone might be willing to die to save a good person, but God is so amazing he sent his son Jesus to die for us while we were still sinners. God loves us even though we are not, according to our fallen nature, “good.” Because of Adam’s sin, we are all born as enemies of God and burdened by the desire to sin but Jesus reconciles us to God through his great sacrifice! There is no limit to God’s grace as even when sin abounds, his grace abounds all the more.

Rev. John Greene, ordained teacher and pastor serving Grace Chapel Lutheran Church and School in St. Louis, MO, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Romans 4:1-25.“Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” (v. 3) St. Paul continues to explain how God declares us righteous on account of faith, not ancestry or adherence to the Law, and that faith is a gift. In the most Gospel-drenched section of Romans yet, the Apostle builds upon his teaching that salvation is from faith alone. To prove it, he points his readers to someone he knows they will respect: the patriarch Abraham. Abraham was counted as righteous because of his faith, not his works. So, where is our faith rightly placed? Not in our own works, but in Christ Jesus “who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.” (v. 25)

Rev. Scott MacDonald, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Meridian, CT, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Romans 3:21-31.In this second half of chapter 3, the Apostle Paul clarifies that all people — Jew and Gentile — “have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” (v. 23) What is God’s answer to this predicament? The long-promised Savior, Jesus Christ! God the Father sent his only Son to be a sacrifice to atone for the sins of the entire world. Righteousness then comes from faith in Jesus. This isn’t a new teaching, even the Law and the Prophets testify to it. What does this mean for the Jew or the Gentile? Can one boast because in how well they keep the Law or in what a good person they are? Paul says no! All people are “justified by faith apart from works of the law.” (v. 28)

Rev. Curtis Deterding, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Fort Myers, FL, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Romans 3:1-20.If God shows no partiality, and no one is saved by keeping the Law perfectly, what advantage is there for the Jew? St. Paul begins this chapter by addressing this concern. With that in mind, is there any advantage to being a Lutheran? What about people who don’t believe but do good things for the world? Does that count as righteousness? The Apostle lays down the Law—literally!—as he prepares his readers with the harsh reality that everyone is sinful. Like the first half of a good Law-Gospel sermon, in Chapter 3, St. Paul uses the Psalms and Proverbs to demonstrate just how much all people need a Savior.