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 Mark 4:21-25. Jesus continues to teach in parables in order to proclaim His rule and reign for sinners. He compares Himself to a lamp that is meant to be set on a stand. Though at the time Jesus spoke the parable, His light was not fully seen, He will make Himself known as the Son of God when He dies on the cross for the salvation of sinners. Th...
Jan 28, 2021•55 min
Rev. Andy Wright, pastor at St. John Lutheran Church in Keystone, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 4:1-20. As the crowds continue to gather around Him, Jesus’ ministry of teaching takes Him into a boat to begin to speak in parables. His first parable calls those around Him to listen. He tells about a sower who casts his seed indiscriminately on four different types of soil. Only in the final soil is any fruit produced. Jesus explains privately to His disciples and those around Him...
Jan 27, 2021•53 min
Rev. Jeff Hemmer, pastor at Bethany Lutheran Church in Fairview Heights, IL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 3:20-35. Questions concerning Jesus continue to swirl as He returns home to Capernaum. In an attempt to rescue the family name, Jesus’ family claims that He is crazy. The scribes have a far more sinister accusation; they claim that Jesus is possessed by a demon and working in concert with Satan himself. Jesus reveals just how ridiculous such an assertion is and speaks the trut...
Jan 26, 2021•55 min
Rev. Sean Kilgo, pastor at the Northeast Kansas Lutheran Partnership, goes “Back to the Forge” with host Rev. Timothy Appel to discuss the seven attributes of Scripture. What do we mean when we say that the Bible is God’s Word? How does the devil attack our faith in the Word of God? Knowing and confessing the seven attributes of Holy Scripture provides a strong defense. 1) Inspiration: Jesus said it. 2) Inerrancy: Jesus doesn’t make mistakes. 3) Infallibility: Jesus can’t lie. 4) Authority: Jesu...
Jan 25, 2021•34 min
Rev. James Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ottumwa, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 3:7-19. Jesus gathers the lost sheep of the house of Israel to Himself as He preaches and teaches throughout Israel. As the crowd surrounds Him at the Sea of Galilee again, He has His disciples bring a boat so that He can continue His ministry of teaching. He continues to heal and cast out demons. He will not let the demons speak the truth of who He is; instead, He appoints twelve apos...
Jan 25, 2021•55 min
Rev. David Appold, pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Paducah, KY, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 2:23-3:6. The first round of confrontation between Jesus and His opponents crescendos on a Sabbath. Although the LORD had established this day of rest for the purpose of His people hearing His Word and rejoicing in His work of creation and redemption, by Jesus’ day, the Pharisees had made it a list of things that were forbidden. When they question Jesus concerning His disciples’ ac...
Jan 22, 2021•56 min
Rev. Andrew Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Guttenberg, IA and St. Paul Lutheran Church in McGregor, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 2:18-22. Jesus’ teaching on the forgiveness of sins has drawn questions and created scandal. Though the disciples of John and the Pharisees seem like an unlikely pair, they find common ground in questioning Jesus concerning His practice of fasting. Jesus calls both groups to remember what they had been taught concerning His coming as the...
Jan 21, 2021•55 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 Mark 2:13-17. Crowds continue to flock to Jesus as He goes to the Sea of Galilee with the purpose of calling Levi to be His disciple. Levi, also known as Matthew, is a tax collector, a seemingly unlikely choice due to the bad reputation rightly earned by men in that profession. Yet Jesus takes the initiative in calling Levi. His short command, “...
Jan 20, 2021•54 min
Rev. Shawn Linnell, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Blair, NE, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 2:1-12. Jesus goes to His home in Capernaum, a reminder that God has become fully human to save us sinners. There the crowd surrounds Him once again, but this does not deter a paralytic and his four friends. He knows Jesus preaching the Word, and he wants to hear Jesus. When his friends lower the paralytic in front of Jesus, the Lord forgives His sins. This was the comfort the man desp...
Jan 19, 2021•54 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 Mark 1:40-45. The leper who approaches Jesus was breaking all the rules. He was experiencing the physical and spiritual consequences of his uncleanness , yet he had confidence that Jesus could heal him. He prays with humility, submitting his own desire to the will of Jesus. Out of His divine mercy and compassion, Jesus too...
Jan 18, 2021•54 min
Rev. Dan Speckhard, pastor at St. Peter Lutheran Church and School in North Judson, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 1:29-39. Jesus wastes no time as He leaves the synagogue in Capernaum and enters Simon’s house. There, the disciples bring their petition in faith toward Jesus on behalf of Simon’s mother-in-law. He does not leave their prayer unanswered; He provides healing for the ill woman through His touch. She sets an example of Christian faith; in response to being served by J...
Jan 15, 2021•55 min
Rev. Luke Zimmerman, pastor at Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mechanicsburg, PA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 1:21-28. Jesus’ authority is apparent from the beginning of His public ministry. He teaches in the synagogue at Capernaum, His adopted home base of operation for His Galilean ministry. Jesus did not teach the Word as rabbis quoting other rabbis; He taught the Word as the Author. His authority is on further display as He rebukes a demon. An unclean spirit approaches...
Jan 14, 2021•56 min
Rev. Dustin Beck, pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Warda, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 1:16-20. St. Mark’s rapid pace brings us already to Jesus calling His first disciples even though he’s only just over a dozen verses into the narrative. Jesus passes alongside the Sea of Galilee and sees two fishermen: Simon and Andrew, who are brothers. Simon Peter will become chief among the apostles, and his eyewitness account to Mark shows through in this text and other places in ...
Jan 13, 2021•55 min
Rev. Harrison Goodman, pastor at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in San Antonio, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 1:14-15. John’s imprisonment points to the truth that Jesus will follow John in his suffering and death. Although John is arrested by Herod Antipas, tetrarch in Galilee, Jesus is unafraid to preach the truth in Galilee. The Word of God goes forth unhindered by persecution. Jesus’ inaugural sermon is direct and concise. In Jesus, the time is at hand because God is reigning ...
Jan 12, 2021•53 min
Rev. Jeremiah Johnson, pastor at Glory of Christ Lutheran Church in Plymouth, MN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 1:9-13. In His baptism and temptation, Jesus shows Himself to be our Savior. St. Mark introduces these events with words that recall the promises made through the prophets that the Christ would come. Jesus receives the baptism of sinners in order to identify Himself with them and to take their sins upon Himself. The Spirit comes upon Jesus to mark Him as the long-awaited ...
Jan 11, 2021•55 min
Rev. Andrew Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Guttenberg, IA and St. Paul Lutheran Church in McGregor, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 1:2-8. St. Mark opens his narrative in a dramatic way by citing the Old Testament promise that the LORD will send a messenger to prepare His way. When the dust settles, John appears as the fulfillment of that promise. He preaches repentance as the gift of God to sinners. Those sinners come from all over to confess their sins and receive ...
Jan 08, 2021•55 min
Rev. Sean Kilgo, pastor at the Northeast Kansas Lutheran Partnership, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 1:1. Although Mark’s Gospel account is shorter than the other three, the Word that the Holy Spirit inspired him to write must not be overlooked. Mark is mentioned often in the book of Acts and epistles of the New Testament as a companion and coworker of Paul and a son of Peter. It is likely this connection to Peter and the apostle’s preaching that led Mark to write the Gospel that be...
Jan 07, 2021•54 min
“The Gospel in Action” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Gospel according to St. Mark. The Evangelist hits the ground running with the very first verse of his Gospel account, and he never lets up the pace. As one deed of Jesus comes right after another, always paired with His authoritative Word, St. Mark proclaims the good news that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, revealed conclusively by His death on the cross. Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text o...
Jan 06, 2021•2 min
Rev. John Bussman, pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Cullman, AL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Isaiah 52:7-10. Isaiah writes ahead of time to proclaim the Gospel to Judean exiles living in Babylon, awaiting the news of their salvation. Having seen the destruction of their home and the temple of the LORD, they had been brought to repentance over their idolatry. Yet as they lived in exile, they would have been tempted toward the lie that the LORD was not King. Isaiah pictures a mes...
Dec 23, 2020•54 min
Rev. Tim Koch, pastor at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Milbank, SD, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Isaiah 9:2-7. The promise of Immanuel continues to dominate Isaiah’s preaching in this text. The darkness of Assyria’s devastation looms over Judah. The darkness of their own idolatry looms over Judah. Into this thick darkness, the LORD shines His light. His presence among His people gives them unreserved joy as He transforms their darkness into light. The LORD takes away the burdens upon them...
Dec 22, 2020•55 min
Rev. Stephen Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Vinton, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Isaiah 7:10-17. Although Ahaz was one of the most wicked kings in the history of Judah, the LORD is gracious and merciful in speaking to him through the prophet Isaiah. Not once, but twice the LORD sends Isaiah to Ahaz with the promise of deliverance from his enemies apart from any political machinations. Ahaz may sound pious in refusing to ask the LORD for a sign, but his unbelief is actu...
Dec 21, 2020•56 min
Rev. Carl Roth, pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Isaiah 62:10-12. The good news that dawns on Christmas is intended for all people. The gates are opened and the way is prepared as God frees His people from their slavery to sin. God lifts His banner for all to see. Jesus stands as this signal. Though a poor baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and a man hanging from a cross seem like foolishness and weakness to human eyes, Jesus is God’s wisdom and ...
Dec 18, 2020•55 min
Rev. Brian Flamme, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Roswell, NM, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Micah 5:2-5a. Micah preaches to Judah during the reign of wicked King Ahaz. In contrast to this evil king who reigns in worldly greatness in Jerusalem, Micah promises a ruler who will come by the LORD’s action from the tiny town of David, Bethlehem. This ruler will be true man, one from the line of Judah and David. This ruler will also be true God, the Son begotten from the Father from al...
Dec 17, 2020•54 min
Rev. Ryan Ogrodowicz, associate pastor and headmaster at Grace Lutheran Church in Brenham, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Zephaniah 3:14-20. Zephaniah preaches to Judah during a time in which reform among the people of God is needed. His book is filled with strong Law against the wickedness of God’s people. However, Zephaniah terrifies his hearers with the Law in order to comfort them with the Gospel found in today’s text. The silence that was commanded at the preaching of the Law in...
Dec 16, 2020•55 min
Rev. Gaven Mize, pastor at Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hickory, NC, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Isaiah 61:1-11. Isaiah preaches Jesus so clearly in this text that our Lord actually uses this as His first sermon text in Luke 4. Jesus is the One anointed with the Holy Spirit to bring about true freedom and rest in His death and resurrection. His work for us sinners removes from us the funeral garments of sin, death, and shame and clothes us in the wedding garments of joy, p...
Dec 15, 2020•54 min
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 2 Samuel 7:1-16. The LORD’s promise to establish the kingdom of David forever is a foundational Advent text. At a time of political peace in his kingdom, David sees that he is dwelling in a palace in Jerusalem while the ark of the covenant is under a tent. Thinking that the LORD’s house ought to be like his own, David t...
Dec 14, 2020•54 min
Rev. Chris Hull, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Tomball, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Malachi 4:1-6. Malachi closes the Old Testament with words of Law and Gospel. For all evildoers, the day of the LORD will come as a fire that burns everything in its path. In their arrogance, they have no fear of the LORD. Yet, for those who fear the LORD through faith in Christ, that same Day will bring the Sun of righteousness whose warmth brings healing. For Christians, then, that Day is ful...
Dec 11, 2020•54 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 Malachi 3:1-7. The prophet Malachi is the last prophet of the Old Testament; he preaches about 400 years before Christ’s birth. He foretells John the Baptist as the coming messenger who will precede the Lord’s return to His temple. The Lord’s return to His temple means that He is in His dwelling place once again; this is fulfilled in the ...
Dec 10, 2020•53 min
Rev. Sean Smith, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in West Point, IL and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Wine Hill, IL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Isaiah 40:1-11. This beloved Advent text marks a turning point in the book of Isaiah. The first 39 chapters are marked by Isaiah’s preaching of judgment against the LORD’s people; his preaching was fulfilled years after Isaiah’s ministry in the Babylonian conquest. Now the prophet turns to comfort the people mourning in exile with the Word ...
Dec 09, 2020•53 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 Isaiah 35:1-10. Isaiah preaches about the coming kingdom of Christ and His Church by picturing the transformation of the wilderness into a lush garden. The LORD accomplishes this now through the preaching of His Word, where we see His glory in Christ crucified, even as we look forward to the complete fulfillment at the resurrection of the dead. Though si...
Dec 08, 2020•53 min
