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 Acts 19:1-20. Paul’s third missionary journey takes him to Ephesus, as he had previously hoped. In visiting with the Christians there, he finds some who have been inadequately taught concerning the Holy Spirit and Christian baptism. Paul remedies the situation and continues his ministry in Ephesus, initially by reasoning with Jews in the synagog...
Jun 15, 2022•54 min
Rev. Shawn Linnell, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Blair, NE, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 18:18-28. Luke narrates the end of Paul’s second missionary journey in quick succession. The apostle leaves Corinth and stops briefly in Ephesus, where he leaves Priscilla and Aquila. Paul continues on to Caesarea and Jerusalem before returning to Antioch. After a while, he starts on his third missionary journey by heading toward Galatia and Phrygia to strengthen the disciples there. M...
Jun 14, 2022•55 min
Rev. William Terjesen, pastor at the Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer in Peekskill, NY, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 18:1-17. Paul leaves Athens and goes to Corinth, where his trade of tentmaking opens the door for him to proclaim the Gospel to Aquila and Priscilla. Paul’s work in Corinth followed his pattern elsewhere. He preached in the synagogue until the rejection of the Jews sent him to preach to the Gentiles. Yet the Gospel made inroads in Corinth; a Christian church was foun...
Jun 13, 2022•57 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 Acts 17:16-34. The gross idolatry in Athens distressed Paul, yet he was undeterred from preaching the Gospel there both in the synagogue and in the marketplace. His preaching of Jesus and the resurrection caught the attention of the philosophers in Athens, who desired to hear more from Paul. The apostle went to the Areopag...
Jun 10, 2022•55 min
Rev. Brian Flamme, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Roswell, NM, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 17:1-15. Paul and his companions make their way to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue. For three Sabbath days, Paul preaches to them from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ. Some believe, including many leading women. Yet some of the Jews in Thessalonica become jealous. They take some of the rabble to form a mob to attack Paul and Silas. When they cannot find Paul and Sil...
Jun 09, 2022•56 min
Rev. Joel Heckmann, pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Okarche, OK, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 16:16-40. In Philippi, Paul and Silas are harassed by a demon-possessed slave girl. When Paul casts the demon out, the girl’s owners are only concerned about their lost income, a reminder of the danger of idolatry toward money. They have Paul and Silas beaten and thrown in prison. Yet the Philippian jail becomes the place of worship and proclamation for Paul and Silas. Their midni...
Jun 08, 2022•56 min
Rev. Nate Hill, pastor at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Winchester, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 15:36-16:15. Paul and Barnabas make plans for a second missionary journey together, but they disagree over whether or not John Mark should accompany them. Their disagreement serves to send the Gospel in two directions: Barnabas and Mark go to Cyprus, while Paul takes Silas with him through Syria and Cilicia. In Lystra, they meet a disciple named Timothy. Paul desires to take him...
Jun 07, 2022•54 min
Rev. Mark Squire, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in St. Ansgar, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 15:22-35. Having reached concord under the Word of God, the church in Jerusalem sends a letter to the church in Antioch by the hand of Judas called Barsabbas and Silas. The church in Jerusalem writes for the purpose of brotherly encouragement. They honestly acknowledge that the ones who had caused trouble came from their midst, although the troublemakers had no actual authority. In...
Jun 06, 2022•55 min
Rev. Steve Andrews, pastor at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Lee’s Summit, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 15:1-21. When men from Judea come to Syrian Antioch claiming that Gentiles must be circumcised to be saved, Paul and Barnabas know that the heart of the Gospel was at stake. The church in Antioch sends Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem to settle the matter according to the Word of God. After the delegation from Antioch is welcomed by the church in Jerusalem, the apostles and el...
Jun 03, 2022•57 min
Rev. Matt Ulmer, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bishop, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 14:8-28. In Lystra, a lame man hears Paul’s preaching in faith; by the power of Jesus Christ, Paul gives the man healing. The crowd in Lystra sees the sign and thinks that Paul is Hermes and Barnabas is Zeus. Though we may see ourselves as beyond such idolatry, we still often give credit to someone or something other than the true God. Paul and Barnabas are at pains to correct the crowd...
Jun 02, 2022•55 min
Rev. Dustin Beck, pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Warda, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 13:42-14:7. The people respond to Paul’s sermon at the synagogue in Pisidian Antioch by begging him to return and speak again. However, when almost the entire city came the following week, the Jews were filled with jealousy and began to contradict Paul and Barnabas. The apostles’ response was direct; the Jews had judged themselves unworthy of eternal life, so Paul and Barnabas would g...
Jun 01, 2022•55 min
Rev. Mark Barz, pastor at Crown of Life Lutheran Church in San Antonio, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 13:13-41. Paul and Barnabas continue on their missionary journey, even as John Mark leaves them to return to Jerusalem. Paul and Barnabas make their way to Antioch in Pisidia, going first to the synagogue. There, they are invited to speak on the texts read for the day, so Paul proclaims Jesus as the fulfillment of the Old Testament. St. Paul emphasizes God’s faithfulness to Isr...
May 31, 2022•55 min
Rev. Tim Koch, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Linn, KS, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 12:24-13:12. Despite the persecution against the Church, the Word of God continues to increase and multiply. The Holy Spirit directs the church in Antioch to set apart Barnabas and Saul for a missionary journey. Taking along John Mark, the missionary team starts by heading to Cyprus, Barnabas’ homeland. There they are confronted by a magician and false prophet, Elymas. With strong words, Saul, ...
May 30, 2022•54 min
Rev. Tim Eden, pastor at Bethel Lutheran Church in Bryan, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 12:1-23. St. Luke turns our attention back to Jerusalem, where Herod Agrippa has discovered that persecuting the Church is politically expedient. He kills James the son of Zebedee and arrests Peter, putting him under heavy guard lest he escape once more. In the face of such hatred and worldly power, the Church prays, knowing that whether Peter lives or dies, he is safe in the Lord. Peter is ...
May 27, 2022•55 min
Rev. Harrison Goodman, content executive for Higher Things, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 11:19-30. The Church continues to scatter after Stephen’s martyrdom, taking the Word with them. Many Jews heard the Word, even as the Lord began to open more doors for the Gospel to be proclaimed in Gentile contexts, particularly in Antioch in Syria. When the church in Jerusalem hears this news, they send Barnabas to Antioch. He lives up to his name and encourages them to remain faithful to th...
May 26, 2022•54 min
Rev. Philip Hoppe, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Colby, KS, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 11:1-18. News concerning what happened at Cornelius’ house quickly makes its way around the Church. When Peter returns to Jerusalem, some oppose him because when he took the Word to the Gentiles, he stayed with them and ate with them. The fact that St. Luke records Peter’s recounting of the event indicates its great importance; when the Lord repeats something in His Word, we ought to pa...
May 25, 2022•55 min
Rev. David Boisclair, pastor at Bethesda and Faith Lutheran Churches in north St. Louis County, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 10:34-48. Led by the Holy Spirit, Peter proclaims the good news to Cornelius and his household. Peter preaches the good news that people are not made acceptable to God by their nationality, but only on account of Christ Jesus, who is Lord of all, Jews and Gentiles alike. God made this plain in Jesus’ ministry that Peter and the apostles witnessed, beginn...
May 24, 2022•54 min
Rev. Doug Griebenaw, mission advocate for KFUO Radio in St. Louis, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 10:17-33. While Peter remains perplexed about his heavenly vision, the messengers from Cornelius arrive. The Spirit leaves no doubt that Peter should go with these men, taking away any hesitation Peter might still have about associating with Gentiles. When Peter arrives at Cornelius’ house, the Roman centurion has gathered an entire congregation to hear the good news Peter has come ...
May 23, 2022•56 min
Rev. Jeff Hemmer, pastor at Bethany Lutheran Church in Fairview Heights, IL and assistant to the President of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 10:1-16. St. Luke introduces into the narrative Cornelius, a Roman centurion. Though Cornelius has faith in the God of Israel, he is nonetheless an uncircumcised Gentile. The Lord sends His angel to Cornelius in order to direct him to send for Simon Peter in Joppa. Cornelius listens in faith and sends for Pet...
May 20, 2022•55 min
Rev. Andrew Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in New Haven, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 9:32-43. Having related Saul’s conversion to Christianity, St. Luke now turns our attention once again to the Lord’s work through Peter, particularly as He prepares His apostle for what is about to happen in the spread of the Gospel to the Gentiles. Peter goes about the apostolic ministry by visiting established congregations in Lydda and Joppa. The work of strengthening the saints ...
May 19, 2022•54 min
Rev. Dr. Jeff Dukeman, pastor at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Gulfport, MS, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 9:20-31. Saul’s conversion has immediate effect. The one who had come to Damascus breathing threats against Jesus’ disciples now begins to proclaim that Jesus is the Son of God. Those who hear him are understandably confused, yet Saul continues to increase in wisdom as he proves from the Scripture that Jesus is the Christ. Saul’s proclamation of Jesus quickly earns him the sa...
May 18, 2022•55 min
Rev. David Appold, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Paducah, KY, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 9:1-19. Saul’s hatred for Christians had only grown since Stephen’s death. He was on his way to Damascus with official authority to imprison more Christians when the Lord Jesus Himself stopped Saul in his tracks. Jesus revealed Himself in blinding light to Saul as the One whom Saul had been persecuting. By this, Jesus preached the condemning Law to Saul, who had to be led into Damasc...
May 17, 2022•54 min
Rev. Stephen Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Vinton, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 8:26-40. The Lord continues to direct the growth of His Word as He sends His angel to instruct Philip to go to the road from Jerusalem to Gaza. There Philip sees an Ethiopian eunuch; he was a Gentile who had been brought to faith in the God of Israel through Judean refugees. As a rich official of the queen, he is reading from the scroll of Isaiah when the Spirit sends Philip to him. T...
May 16, 2022•55 min
Rev. Dr. Christopher Jackson, pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Algoma, WI and St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Forestville, WI, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 8:4-25. The Lord uses the persecution of His Church in order to cause His Word to spread farther from Jerusalem. St. Luke follows the growth of the Word as it is proclaimed by Philip the deacon. He goes to Samaria; despite the tensions between Jews and Samaritans, the Word is received with faith and joy there. Previously,...
May 13, 2022•56 min
Rev. Chris Hull, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Tomball, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 7:44-8:3. Stephen concludes his sermon before the Sanhedrin by reminding them of God’s history of dwelling among His people. Long before the temple, the LORD dwelled in the tabernacle. God’s promise to dwell among His people is what counted; apart from the LORD’s promise, the people fell into idolatry toward a building. When Stephen accuses the Sanhedrin of following in the idolatry of the...
May 12, 2022•55 min
Rev. Matt Wietfeldt, Director of Admissions and the Christ Academy program at Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 7:17-43. Stephen continues his proclamation before the Sanhedrin by focusing on God’s grace shown through Moses. Though Pharaoh intended evil against the LORD and His people, the LORD worked it for good and used Pharaoh’s own daughter to raise Moses. When Moses acted violently as a deliverer before his commissioning, the people...
May 11, 2022•56 min
Rev. Sam Beltz, pastor at St. John Lutheran Church in Oskaloosa, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 7:1-16. Stephen has been accused by the Sanhedrin of blaspheming God and Moses, so he begins his proclamation with Abraham in order to set Moses in the proper place. God’s promises to Abraham are primary over the Law given to Moses. Stephen recounts the grace of God shown to Abraham in bringing him into the land of Canaan and giving him the promised child. Stephen traces the line thro...
May 10, 2022•57 min
Rev. Bryan Wolfmueller, pastor at St. Paul and Jesus Deaf Lutheran Churches in Austin, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 6:1-15. As the Word of God continued to increase, the task of distributing to widows in the Church caused a complaint to arise: the Greek-speaking Jews were being neglected. The apostles quickly recognize the validity of this complaint, but also the necessity that they continue devoted to prayer and preaching the Word of God. They suggest that the Church set asid...
May 09, 2022•55 min
Rev. Tim Storck, pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Chesterfield Township, MI, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 5:21b-42. The Lord frustrates the plans of His enemies and laughs at their attempts to stop the proclamation of His Word. The Sanhedrin and their officers are dumbfounded to find the prison locked but the apostles gone. While the Sanhedrin and their officers fear men and act accordingly, the apostles fear God and so are unafraid to make testimony before the Sanhedrin...
May 06, 2022•55 min
Rev. Sam Wirgau, pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ossian, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 5:1-21a. The attacks against the Christian Church come from without and within. Ananias and Sapphira conspire with each other and Satan to lie to the Holy Spirit in the matter of their gift. Such a sin against God is no small matter, and the punishment He brings against this husband and wife is swift, serving as a warning to all. Signs and wonders continued as the Lord gave testimony t...
May 05, 2022•54 min
