Rev. Dr. Adam Filipek, pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church and Immanuel Lutheran Church, both in Lidgerwood, ND, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study James 5:13-20. Patient endurance for the Lord’s coming turns Christians to prayer. In times of suffering, a Christian prays, “Lord, have mercy.” In times of joy, a Christian prays, “God be praised!” Such prayers are offered by Christians both individually and corporately. When a Christian is sick, the whole Church, including the pastor, shares t...
Jul 03, 2020•54 min
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 James 5:7-12. After warning of the danger of earthly wealth, James turns to comfort those who suffer under those who trust in something other than the Lord. Such suffering calls for patience, knowing that Jesus’ second coming is at hand. He will bring vindication to His people in His own time. This enables Christians to endure suffering in this ...
Jul 02, 2020•53 min
Rev. Harrison Goodman, pastor at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in San Antonio, TX joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study James 5:1-6. Though mammon is not the only idol that can give false security, it poses a dangerous temptation to every person. James strips away any thought that security for the future is found in earthly wealth. Wealth brings misery, not only eternally if it leads away from Christ, but temporally in a variety of ways. The truth is that earthly wealth has already rotten. It cau...
Jul 01, 2020•53 min
Rev. Hans Fiene, pastor at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Crestwood, MO joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study James 4:11-17. God is God; we are not. This is the foundation of this text from James 4. To speak evil against a brother in Christ by judging him in an evil way is not simply to sin against your brother. It is a sin against God and His Law. One who judges his brother in this way usurps the place of God as lawgiver and judge. Instead, James calls us to trust God as God to be the One ...
Jun 30, 2020•53 min
Rev. Jeremiah Johnson, pastor at Glory of Christ Lutheran Church in Plymouth, MN joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study James 4:1-10. The wisdom from below is friendship with the world; the wisdom from above is friendship with God. Friendship with the world leads to breaking the Fifth Commandment, even if physical death never occurs. James recites a familiar progression of desiring, coveting, and murdering. Each step along the way is sin, but Christians are called to repentance at each juncture ...
Jun 29, 2020•54 min
Rev. Brady Finnern, pastor at Messiah Lutheran Church in Sartell, MN joins host Rev. Timothy Appel for Sharathon 2020 to discuss the relationship between faith and good works in the Christian life. Faith and good works are both gifts from God. As God gives faith in Christ, that gift overflows into His gift of good works. Through the hearing of His Word, God gives the assurance that He is a gracious God whom we can fear, love, and trust above all things. This faith is more than knowledge; this fa...
Jun 26, 2020•57 min
Rev. Chris Hull, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Tomball, TX joins host Rev. Timothy Appel for Sharathon 2020 to discuss the way Christians speak to God and to each other. Christians learn to speak by listening to God’s Word; His Words shape our own. When we try to reverse the order, we fall into sin and evil as our speech concerning God turns to falsehood and our speech concerning our neighbor turns to judgment and gossip. As we listen first to His Word about Himself and about us, our words a...
Jun 25, 2020•54 min
Rev. Ryan Ogrodowicz, associate pastor and headmaster at Grace Lutheran Church and School in Brenham, TX joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study James 3:13-18. The Scriptural witness teaches us that true wisdom is a matter of the 1st Commandment. Only those who trust in the one true God, revealed in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, have true wisdom and the understanding to use it. This is seen in meekness, the strength of knowing one’s place before God and neighbor. James calls all Chr...
Jun 24, 2020•55 min
Rev. David Appold, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Paducah, KY joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study James 3:1-12. Faith that is active in love is given by God through the hearing of His Word, spoken through teachers whom He sends. With this authority comes accountability. Those who speak God’s Word must take care not to speak falsehood in God’s name; the power of God’s Word is seen in the fact that a sinful man can speak it truly. In this way, the tongue, despite its small size, shows it...
Jun 23, 2020•55 min
Rev. Stephen Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Vinton, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study James 2:18-26. Careful attention to context is key to seeing that St. James and St. Paul do not contradict each other. James is concerned with how a Christian’s faith is seen before the world. Faith and works cannot be separated; faith is seen by the world based on works. Faith that isn’t seen in works is the faith of demons; there is knowledge and assent, but no trust. This faith of demon...
Jun 22, 2020•56 min
Rev. Dustin Beck, pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Warda, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study James 2:8-17. Jesus’ reign as King is the overarching reality for all of Christian faith and life. When Christians look upon the world, they see all people as those for whom Christ died, those to whom love is due. Partiality toward others is antithetical to this Christian faith. The whole law is given by God; to break it by showing partiality is no different that breaking it by murder or a...
Jun 19, 2020•52 min
Rev. Carl Roth, pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study James 2:1-7. Favoritism is a stain of the world that must be avoided in the Church. This is founded upon the reality that Jesus Christ, our Brother, has shown Himself as the Lord of glory in His death and resurrection, thereby making all who hold the true faith brothers in Him. In this baptized family of God, distinctions between rich and poor have absolutely no place. St. James paints a vivid pi...
Jun 18, 2020•55 min
Rev. Bryan Wolfmueller, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church and Jesus Deaf Lutheran Church in Austin, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study James 1:19-27. The Word of God that begets Christians has ongoing effects. This Word is not heard only once. Instead, Christians are quick to listen to God. His Word produces a similar effect toward our neighbor; we are quick to listen and slow to speak so that we do not fall into anger, which would seek to justify sin instead of rejoice in God’s free ri...
Jun 17, 2020•53 min
Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor at Christ Lutheran Church in Hebron, CT, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study James 1:12-18. Christian joy in the midst of trials is founded in God’s verdict declared in Christ: “Blessed.” The tests of faith reveal what is genuine, God’s gift of His kingdom in which His people reign with His Son. These trials are not temptations from God, however. His intent is never to draw us toward base, unworthy, or evil things; He never places us into a situation where the only ...
Jun 16, 2020•54 min
Rev. Shawn Linnell, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Blair, NE, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study James 1:5-11. Christians who lack wisdom in the midst of their trials are not directed inward to themselves. Instead, St. James focuses their attention on God, who gives without rebuking His dearly loved children. This promise enables Christians to cry out to God, not as their enemy, but as their dear Father in heaven, according to the example of Psalm 73 and Job. In this God-given wisdom, ...
Jun 15, 2020•56 min
Rev. Dr. Curtis Giese, Professor of Religion and Interim Director of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Concordia University, Texas, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study James 1:1-4. After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His half-brother James and changed him completely. During Jesus’ earthly ministry, James thought Jesus was crazy. Yet the mercy and grace of God pursued James to convert him to the true faith. This resurrection reality is evident throughout the epistle of Jame...
Jun 12, 2020•53 min
“Wisdom from Above” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Epistle of St. James. Contrary to what some might claim, this short epistle does not contradict St. Paul. Instead, St. James makes different, yet complementary, points concerning the Christian life. Written in a style similar to the wisdom literature of the Old Testament, this insightful epistle comforts, confronts, and strengthens Christians to live a life of good works that flow from God’s gift of faith, even in the mid...
Jun 12, 2020•2 min
Rev. David Vandercook, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in North Little Rock, AR and Shepherd of Peace Lutheran Church in Maumelle, AR, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Romans 16:17-27. St. Paul concludes his epistle to the Romans with a firm warning concerning false teaching, a warm greeting from his companions, and a glorious doxology to the one true God. Though no particular false teaching seems to be in view throughout the epistle, the Apostle knows that false teachers still cause div...
Jun 11, 2020•56 min
Rev. Luke Zimmerman, pastor at Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mechanicsburg, PA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Romans 16:1-16. If we skip over St. Paul’s greetings to particular Christians in the church at Rome, we miss the reality of individual brothers and sisters in Christ and a portrait of the first century church. In the names of those St. Paul greets, we see the reality that God calls people by His grace regardless of their nationality or economic status. Men and women ali...
Jun 10, 2020•56 min
Rev. Brady Finnern, pastor at Messiah Lutheran Church in Sartell, MN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Romans 15:22-33. St. Paul speaks to the church at Rome concerning his travel plans. Although his missionary work in the east has so far prevented him from visiting them, he intends for that to change soon. Though he has never visited these Christians in person before, he knows that his visit will be a mutual benefit for both himself and for them. Together they will be filled by the gifts ...
Jun 09, 2020•54 min
Rev. Joel Heckmann, pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Okarche, OK, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Romans 15:14-21. Although we might be tempted to skip over sections like this text, St. Paul fills even his transition toward the close of his epistle with rich theology in Christ. The Apostle encourages the Roman Christians by reminding them of Christ’s goodness that has been given to them in the instruction in the Christian faith. His writing to them was an important reminder, for no...
Jun 08, 2020•57 min
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 Romans 15:8-13. Christ Jesus gives the united voice of praise not only to the strong and weak in faith, but to Jew and Gentile. His service to the circumcised was not due to anything inherent in them; rather, Jesus showed God’s truthfulness to save by the grace that He had promised since the very beginning. The Gentiles are united in the...
Jun 05, 2020•53 min
Rev. Nate Hill, pastor at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Winchester TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Romans 15:1-7. How ought the strong in faith regard and treat the weak in faith? St. Paul points to Jesus as foundation and example. Though the world would think the weak owe the strong, the reverse is true in the Christian church. Those who are strong in the faith are to bear with those who are weak. Rather than seeking their own good, those who are strong in the faith must instead b...
Jun 04, 2020•55 min
Rev. Matt Wietfeldt, director of admissions and director of the Christ Academy program at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Romans 14:13-23. The Christian refusal to judge a brother in Christ is more than a matter of outward harmony; it is a matter of building up a fellow Christian’s faith rather than destroying it. A Christian strong in the faith is rightly convinced by Jesus’ own words that all food is clean. Yet to exercise that freedom c...
Jun 03, 2020•51 min
Rev. Sam Beltz, pastor at St. John Lutheran Church in Oskaloosa, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Romans 14:1-12. The love that Christians owe to each other is free from judgment and despising. Whether weak or strong in the faith, all Christians are to welcome each other. Those Christians whose consciences allow them to live fully in the freedom they have in Christ must not despise those Christians who are not fully exercising that freedom. Similarly, those not exercising that freedom ...
Jun 02, 2020•50 min
Rev. Mark Barz, pastor at Crown of Life Lutheran Church in San Antonio, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Romans 13:8-14. Because their debt of sin is forgiven in Christ, the only debt Christians owe is the debt of love to the neighbor. Such love for the neighbor is the summary of the second table of the Law. Every commandment that teaches us how to act toward the neighbor is summarized like this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The commandments give shape to this Christian ...
Jun 01, 2020•55 min
Rev. Matt Ulmer, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bishop, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Romans 13:1-7. The love that characterizes the Christian life has implications for the Christian’s life under governing authority. St. Paul commands Christians to place themselves willingly under the order that God has established as the Creator of all things. He alone has authority of Himself; the authority of those governing in this life stems from His. For this reason, to resist such auth...
May 29, 2020•54 min
Rev. Tim Koch, pastor at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Milbank, SD, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Romans 12:9-21. Christians have been brought into new life in Christ Jesus completely by God’s grace. Now St. Paul illustrates what that life looks like. The commands that the Apostle recites are not prerequisites for entrance into God’s kingdom; rather, they are based upon the mercies of God that have already brought sinners into His kingdom. Jesus gives the concrete picture for each of the s...
May 28, 2020•54 min
Rev. Dr. Ryan Tinetti, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Arcadia, MI, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Romans 12:1-8. The mercies of God form the foundation for the Christian life. On the basis of God’s one-way love to sinners in Christ, St. Paul now appeals to Christians concerning their life of sanctification and discipleship. Because of Jesus’ once-for-all atoning sacrifice, Christians offer their entire lives to Him as sacrifices of thanksgiving. Though the statement is paradoxical,...
May 27, 2020•54 min
Rev. John Bussman, pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Cullman, AL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Romans 11:25-36. St. Paul continues to warn Gentile Christians against conceit. Their wisdom must not come from themselves, but from God’s Word. God’s Word gives understanding to the mystery of salvation. Though part of Israel according to the flesh has not believed in Christ, some Jews have been brought to saving faith. Gentiles too have been included in God’s promise, which means that...
May 26, 2020•54 min
