Rev. Steve Andrews, pastor at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Lee’s Summit, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 17:14-27. As Jesus descends from His transfiguration, He is met by a man in need of His mercy. The man’s son is suffering physically due to demon possession. Although our modern world may ignore demonic affliction, God’s Word clearly teaches that Satan and his demons attack all that God does. They delight to afflict us spiritually and physically; God’s Word and prayer are...
Mar 03, 2020•14 hr
Rev. Peter Ill, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Millstadt, IL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 17:1-13. Just as He had promised, Jesus begins to show His disciples the Son of Man coming in His kingdom. He takes Peter, James, and John up a high mountain where He was transfigured before them. Just as the LORD had so often appeared to His people on a mountain in the Old Testament, so now He reveals Himself on a mountain in the New Testament. Jesus’ transfiguration reveals that H...
Mar 02, 2020•14 hr
Rev. Brian Flamme, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Roswell, NM, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 16:13-28. The question, “Who is Jesus?” is brought to the forefront by the Lord Himself. The answers from others recognize the Son of Man as a prophet, but they lack the trust that Jesus is true God. When Jesus turns the question on the disciples, Simon Peter speaks up for the whole group: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” He confesses the truth both of Jesus’ offic...
Feb 28, 2020•14 hr
Rev. Dr. Scott Murray, senior pastor at Memorial Lutheran Church in Houston, TX and 3rd Vice President for the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, serving in the West Southwestern Region, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 16:1-12. As the Gospel of Matthew rises toward its climax in Peter’s confession of Christ, the opposition to Jesus along the way grows. Although the Pharisees and Sadducees were normally hostile toward each other, they united together against their common enemy, Jesus....
Feb 27, 2020•14 hr
Rev. Tim Koch, pastor at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Milbank, SD, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 15:21-39. Though the Pharisees and scribes would have considered a Canaanite woman the epitome of uncleanness, her interaction with Jesus shows the true state of her heart. She comes out of the city to meet Jesus and beg for mercy for her daughter from the Son of David. The disciples are only annoyed, and Jesus initially refuses. The order of salvation is first to the Jew and then to t...
Feb 26, 2020•14 hr
Rev. Harrison Goodman, pastor at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in San Antonio, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 15:1-20. Jesus’ teaching continues to grow more direct, and the opposition from the scribes and Pharisees only grows with it. They travel all the way from Jerusalem to question His failure to observe the tradition of the elders. Jesus pulls no punches. He doesn’t let His opponents determine the conversation; He reveals that they have forsaken the Word of God for the sak...
Feb 25, 2020•14 hr
Rev. Jeremiah Johnson, pastor at Glory of Christ Lutheran Church in Plymouth, MN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 14:22-36. The question, “Who is Jesus?” dominates the text. Jesus dismisses the crowds after the feeding of the 5,000 in order to give His disciples a clearer answer to this question. He sends them ahead of Him in the boat while He spends time alone in prayer. Jesus exemplifies the teaching that He has given to His disciples. After some time, He comes to them on the Se...
Feb 24, 2020•14 hr
Rev. Bryan Wolfmueller, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church and Jesus Deaf Lutheran Church in Austin, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 14:1-21. Herod’s bad conscience has him seeing John the Baptist. Even though Herod had beheaded the prophet, the king is afraid that John has been raised. The account of John’s beheading can be difficult to swallow. Herod’s extravagant birthday party and hasty oath, combined with a vengeful queen, mean death for John. Just as John preceded Jesus ...
Feb 21, 2020•14 hr
Rev. Ryan Ogrodowicz, associate pastor and headmaster at Grace Lutheran Church and School in Brenham, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 13:44-58. With two short parables, Jesus comforts His disciples that He has given His own life in order to purchase them to be His own treasured possession. Though the discipleship reading of these parables is true from the perspective of Biblical theology, reading these parables Christocentrically fits better with the context of Matthew 13. Par...
Feb 20, 2020•14 hr
Rev. Gaven Mize, pastor at Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hickory, NC, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 13:24-43. Jesus turns back to speak to the crowds with the parable of the weeds. He describes history from the beginning, when God planted the good seed of His people in the Garden, but Satan sowed the bad seed of unbelief in their ears. Throughout history, the Lord has been patient with wickedness and unbelief for the sake of gathering His elect to Himself. He continue...
Feb 19, 2020•14 hr
Rev. James Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ottumwa, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 13:1-23. Jesus’ parables both reveal and hide. Those who do not believe may understand the surface words or story of the parables, but their true meaning concerning the Kingdom of God remains confusing. Those who do believe, however, are given further to rejoice in God’s reign in Jesus. This demonstrates God’s grace and election for salvation. The disciples are particularly blessed ...
Feb 18, 2020•14 hr
Rev. David Appold, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Paducah, KY, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 12:38-50. Jesus’ ministry of teaching, healing, and exorcisms has revealed a great deal about Him, but the scribes and Pharisees ask for yet another sign out of their unbelief. Signs in the Scriptures are only beneficial when received in faith, so Jesus responds to their request by calling them out as a crooked and wicked generation. The only sign they will receive is the sign of ...
Feb 17, 2020•14 hr
Rev. Adam Koontz, assistant professor of exegetical theology at Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 12:22-37. The opposition to Jesus takes a darker turn. After Jesus heals a demon-possessed man, the Pharisees claim that Jesus is in league with Satan. Jesus responds by addressing the silliness of their claim. If Satan has hired Jesus to cast out demons, then Satan is trying to destroy himself. The truth is the opposite. Satan is not eng...
Feb 14, 2020•14 hr
Rev. Zelwyn Heide, pastor at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Hannover, ND and Zion Lutheran Church in New Salem, ND, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 12:1-21. The Pharisees’ opposition to Jesus grows as they question His disciples’ work in eating grain on the Sabbath. Jesus directs their attention beyond the outward work to the true intention of the Law to guide sinners to Him. Jesus points out 1 Samuel 21, where David and his men were hungry and freely given food that was intended fo...
Feb 13, 2020•14 hr
Rev. Shawn Linnell, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Blair, NE, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 11:20-30. Jesus has warned His apostles that their ministry would be rejected, and they have seen that rejection happening to their Lord. Jesus responds to those who have rejected Him with words of harsh judgment. Even cities like Tyre, Sidon, and Sodom, notorious for their wickedness in the Old Testament, had people who repented and believed in the true God. Yet when Jesus did the ...
Feb 12, 2020•14 hr
Rev. Paul Pater, pastor at Shepherd of the Ridge Lutheran Church in North Ridgeville, OH and Hope Lutheran Church in Sheffield Village, OH, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 11:1-19. Jesus has just told His disciples the persecution they can expect in following after Him. Now He receives a question from John the Baptist, the man who went before Him. In prison, John knows the persecution that Christians face, but this does not seem to match up with the promises he had been preaching....
Feb 11, 2020•14 hr
Rev. Chris Hull, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Tomball, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 10:24-42. Jesus tells His disciples that they will follow Him in suffering and the cross. Since the world has called Him evil, the disciples should expect the same. However, this hatred from the world need not make the disciples afraid as they proclaim publicly all the things Jesus has done in His death and resurrection. Their fear is rightly directed toward God, for He alone has power ...
Feb 10, 2020•14 hr
Rev. Sean Daenzer, Director of Worship for the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and chaplain for the International Center, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 10:1-23. After Jesus tells His disciples to pray for laborers in the Lord’s harvest, He answers that prayer by sending out the twelve as His apostles. These twelve men are sent to the twelve tribes of Israel to shepherd the lost sheep and bring in the Lord’s harvest. That work is done through the proclamation of the Lord’s Word. T...
Feb 07, 2020•14 hr
Rev. John Bussmann, pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Cullman, AL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 9:18-38. Jesus has shown Himself the greater Moses in His preaching; now He shows Himself the greater Joshua in His conquest of sin, sickness, and death. Having just spoken about the new wine He brings, Jesus shows the truth of what that means as He gives new life to a girl who has died and a woman who is dying. The woman with a discharge of blood had life flowing out of her fo...
Feb 06, 2020•14 hr
Rev. Clint Poppe, pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Lincoln, NE, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 9:1-17. As Jesus returns to Capernaum, His authority is still on display. Some people who trust in Jesus’ authority to heal bring their paralytic friend to Jesus. Initially, Jesus gives this man what he needs above all: the forgiveness of sins. Though the scribes do not believe that Jesus is God, He displays the truth by making the man able to walk once more, proving that He i...
Feb 05, 2020•14 hr
Rev. Dustin Beck, pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Warda, TX, Rev. Nate Hill, pastor at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Winchester, TX, and Rev. Jason Kaspar, pastor at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in La Grange, TX, join host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 8:18-34. Jesus calls His disciples to follow Him on His own terms. Although this does not bring the promise of all creaturely comforts in this life, only Jesus can make and keep the promise to raise His disciples from spiritual and...
Feb 04, 2020•14 hr
Rev. Sam Wirgau, pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ossian, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 8:1-17. Jesus’ Word of teaching has been effective of bringing forth the fruit of faith in the Sermon on the Mount. Now Jesus comes down the mountain to speak His Word of healing that also proves effective in undoing sin and its effects. A leper comes out of the crowd in faith toward Jesus, bowing down in worship and addressing Him as “Lord.” Knowing that Jesus is able, the leper pr...
Feb 03, 2020•14 hr
Rev. Shawn Linnell, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Blair, NE, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 7:13-29. Jesus, as the one true God, has taught His Law in the Sermon on the Mount in a way that is meant to drive His disciples to Him. Jesus is the narrow door; through Him alone do we enter life. The wide door would allow us to bring our sin and self-justification along with us, but it leads only to death. False prophets will come in Jesus’ name tempting those who hear to forsake...
Jan 31, 2020•14 hr
Rev. Matt Ulmer, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bishop, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 7:1-12. Only God stands as judge over His creation. His Word sets the standard by which judgment takes place. No Christian dare try to usurp His place in an attempt at self-justification. The posture of Jesus’ disciples toward the world and the Church, therefore, is not standing over them in judgment according to their own opinions. Jesus’ disciples first stand under the judgment of ...
Jan 30, 2020•14 hr
Rev. Joel Heckmann, pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Okarche, OK, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 6:25-34. Jesus’ gift of the Lord’s Prayer paves the way for His teaching concerning worry. Because God is their Father who provides daily bread, Jesus’ disciples have absolutely no need for worry. Their heavenly Father will assuredly give them what they need for this body and life. Jesus even gently pokes fun and gently teases His disciples concerning their worry, reminding the...
Jan 29, 2020•14 hr
Rev. Dr. Ryan Tinetti, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Arcadia, MI, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 6:19-24. Jesus continues to give us a picture of live under His reign as He speaks about His disciples’ attitude toward possessions. The accumulation of earthly treasure is not the goal of the Christian life. Though sinners default toward looking for security from earthly wealth, and the world openly encourages that sort of faith, Jesus teaches the reality that earthly treasure...
Jan 28, 2020•14 hr
Rev. Christopher Jackson, pastor at St. John Lutheran Church in Algoma, WI and St. Peter Lutheran Church in Forestville, WI, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 6:1-18. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives a picture of the upside down nature of His kingdom compared to the kingdoms of the world. Whereas citizens of worldly kingdoms seek after their own glory, members under God’s reign live for His. Whether their actions are public or private, Jesus’ disciples do not desire to have t...
Jan 27, 2020•14 hr
Rev. Dustin Beck, pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Warda, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 5:38-48. Jesus continues to sharpen the focus concerning the Law. The sort of love to which He calls His disciples is not found anywhere else in the world. The default position for people is to take revenge when they have been wronged; the principle, “an eye for an eye,” limited such revenge from getting out of control. Jesus calls His disciples away from such retaliation. Rather t...
Jan 24, 2020•14 hr
Rev. Mark Barz, pastor at Crown of Life Lutheran Church in San Antonio, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 5:27-37. Jesus does not overturn the Old Testament; He fulfills it as He journeys to His cross and empty tomb. In that context, Jesus continues to reveal the true and full intent of the Law to His disciples. Just as the 5th Commandment goes deeper than the physical action of taking a life, so the 6th Commandment goes deeper than the physical union of two people who are not u...
Jan 23, 2020•14 hr
“All Righteousness Fulfilled” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that digs into the Gospel according to St. Matthew. The first evangelist proclaims Jesus to Jews and Gentiles alike as the fulfillment of God’s saving words and acts throughout the Old Testament. As the Christ in the line of David and Abraham, Jesus is the promised King who comes to bring sinners from every nation to live under His gracious reign. Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in...
Jan 23, 2020•14 hr
