Rev. Stephen Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Vinton, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 11:1-16. Jesus’ raising of Lazarus serves as a climax within the Gospel according to St. John. Mary, Martha, and Lazarus were all loved by Jesus, yet when Jesus found out that Lazarus was ill in Bethany, He did not go right away. Nonetheless, the Lord’s love for these three did not change. Instead, Jesus was doing the work that the Father had given Him to do. When Jesus tells His disc...
Feb 28, 2023•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 John 10:31-42. When the Jews are ready to stone Jesus for stating that He is one with the Father, Jesus calls attention to His works from the Father. He points out the way that the Psalms speak of those whom God appointed to offices of leadership in the Old Testament; so much more can Jesus, as the One consecrated...
Feb 27, 2023•55 min
Rev. Dustin Beck, pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Warda, TX, and Rev. Michael Newman, president of the Texas District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, join host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 10:22-30. Though Jesus continues to face opposition in Jerusalem at the Feast of Dedication, He continues to call out to the Jews so that they might repent and believe in Him. In response to their request for a plain and bold answer, Jesus points to the works He is doing in His Father’s name...
Feb 24, 2023•56 min
Rev. Chris Hull, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Tomball, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 10:11-21. Jesus continues His discourse to the Pharisees by identifying Himself as the Good Shepherd. Whereas even the best leaders of Israel could not live up to all expectations, Jesus is the One who does all that we need. He ultimately shows Himself to be the Good Shepherd by laying His life down on behalf of His sheep. The hired hand, someone who leads people away from Jesus, may talk ...
Feb 23, 2023•55 min
Rev. Sean Daenzer, Director of Worship for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and chaplain at the International Center in St. Louis, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 10:1-10. Jesus continues speaking to the Pharisees who claim to see but are actually blind. Using the imagery of a shepherd and his sheep, Jesus calls the Pharisees robbers who do not direct people to Him. When Jesus calls His sheep, however, they recognize His voice and follow Him. He is the door for the sheep; only ...
Feb 22, 2023•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 John 9:24-41. As the Pharisees continue their investigation into Jesus’ healing of the man born blind, their mind is already made up. They attempt to get the man to join them in their unbelief, but his eyes continue to be opened spiritually as he sticks to the simple truth of what Jesus has done for him. When the Pharisees cast the man out of th...
Feb 21, 2023•55 min
Rev. Shawn Linnell, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Blair, NE, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 9:1-23. When Jesus and His disciples pass a man born blind, the disciples ask a question with incorrect assumptions. Jesus corrects them and invites them to see how God is at work for this man as Jesus gives the man the ability to see. The ensuing investigation into Jesus’ act includes the awe and wonder at the neighbors of the man, who begins to have his eyes of faith opened to Jesus....
Feb 20, 2023•54 min
Rev. Doug Griebenaw, mission advocate for KFUO Radio in St. Louis, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 8:48-59. The Jews disputing with Jesus attempt to insult Jesus by labeling Him a Samaritan, and they attempt to discredit Jesus by saying He must have a demon. Jesus tells them that He does not have a demon, for He only honors His Father, who is the Judge. Those who keep Jesus’ Word, however, need not fear judgment, for they are saved from death. Those listening only become further ...
Feb 17, 2023•56 min
Rev. Mark Squire, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in St. Ansgar, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 8:39-47. The Jews disputing with Jesus insist that Abraham is their father. Jesus tells them that if that were true, they would follow in Abraham’s footsteps of faith. Because they are seeking to kill Jesus, the One in whom Abraham believed, they cannot be true children of Abraham. They insult Jesus’ supposed lineage before claiming for themselves the Old Testament truth that God i...
Feb 16, 2023•54 min
Rev. Brian Flamme, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Roswell, NM, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 8:30-38. After Jesus says that He will be lifted up on the cross, many of those listening believe in Him. Jesus tells them that to be His disciples truly, they must remain in His Word which alone gives the truth that brings freedom. When the Jews dispute that they need such freedom as offspring of Abraham, Jesus declares that they are slaves of sin. The Son must be the One to set the...
Feb 15, 2023•54 min
Rev. Joel Heckmann, pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Okarche, OK, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 8:21-29. As Jesus’ dispute with the Jews continues, He reveals that the heart of sin is unbelief; this is the true problem His audience has. Because they do not believe in Him, they will die in their sins. Though they ask the right question concerning Jesus’ identity, they do not believe the answer Jesus has been giving. This answer is centered in the fact that Jesus will be lifte...
Feb 14, 2023•54 min
Rev. Nate Hill, pastor at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Winchester, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 8:12-20. Jesus takes up a Scriptural theme that stretches from Genesis to Revelation when He declares: “I am the light of the world.” As Old Testament Israel followed the LORD in the pillar of could and fire, so Jesus calls His people to follow Him as His disciples. The Pharisees are unwilling to believe Jesus on His own testimony. Jesus insists that His testimony about Himself ...
Feb 13, 2023•54 min
Rev. Sam Wirgau, pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ossian, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 7:53-8:11. Although manuscript evidence leads to questions as to whether or not this text belongs in this particular spot in the Gospel according to St. John, the text does record an event that occurred during the ministry of Jesus. While Jesus is teaching in the temple, the scribes and Pharisees attempt to trap Jesus by bringing before Him a woman caught in the act of adultery. They a...
Feb 10, 2023•55 min
Rev. Matt Ulmer, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bishop, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 7:32-52. When the Pharisees send officers to arrest Jesus at the Feast of Booths, His teaching leaves them amazed so that they don’t take action. The crowd continues to misunderstand what Jesus means when He teaches, and they are divided concerning whether Jesus is the Prophet, the Christ, or someone else entirely. Opposition to Jesus continues to build among the Pharisees. For His part...
Feb 09, 2023•57 min
Rev. Sean Kilgo, pastor at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Lawrence, KS, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 7:14-31. During the middle of the Feast of Booths, Jesus begins to teach in Jerusalem. The Jews there marvel that Jesus can teach such things though He has never studied formally from any of their rabbis. Jesus identifies His teaching with His Father’s teaching and once again reminds His hearers that Moses taught the truth about Him. Jesus’ teaching prompts even more questions about w...
Feb 08, 2023•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 John 7:1-13. After the Bread of Life Discourse, Jesus continues His ministry in Galilee because the Jews in Judea were ready to kill Him. When the time for the Feast of Booths arrives, Jesus’ brothers show their misunderstanding and their unbelief when they urge Him to go to Judea and make a name for Himself. Jesus replies by ...
Feb 07, 2023•56 min
Rev. James Uglum, pastor at Chapel of the Cross Lutheran Church in St. Peters, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 6:60-71. The crowd recognizes Jesus’ words as difficult, yet He does not back down from the truth. He tells the people that they will only have life through the work of the Spirit in His Words; in this way, the Father draws people to Jesus. Tragically, many of Jesus’ disciples turn back. When Jesus asks the Twelve if they will also go away, Peter makes the good confessio...
Feb 06, 2023•57 min
Rev. David Boisclair, pastor at Bethesda and Faith Lutheran Churches in north St. Louis County, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 6:52-59. When the Jews dispute how Jesus could give His flesh to eat, Jesus only doubles down on His teaching. Not only must they eat His flesh, they must also drink His blood to have life. This eating and drinking happens by faith for all who believe in Jesus, and Jesus also gives His flesh and blood for Christians to eat and drink in the Holy Sacrament...
Feb 03, 2023•55 min
Rev. Philip Hoppe, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Colby, KS, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 6:41-51. As the Israelites grumbled at Moses in the wilderness, so the Jews in the Capernaum synagogue grumble at Jesus. They think they can know Jesus rightly because they know Joseph and Mary. Jesus corrects them by pointing to His Father in heaven. Only those drawn by the Father can come to Jesus, who will raise His people on the Last Day. Those who believe in Jesus thus have eternal...
Feb 02, 2023•55 min
Rev. Jason Kaspar, pastor at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in La Grange, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 6:34-40. When the crowd in the Capernaum synagogue ask Jesus for the bread He has described, He tells them in no uncertain terms, “I am the bread of life.” Through His “I am” statements, Jesus recalls the divine name first given to Moses. As the bread of life, Jesus is the One who satisfies our every lack, not only in this life, but also in the resurrection. He will not cast out...
Feb 01, 2023•55 min
Rev. Dr. Adam Filipek, pastor at Holy Cross and Immanuel Lutheran Churches in Lidgerwood, ND, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 6:22-33. The crowd looking for Jesus begins to do the math and realizes he must have gotten across the Sea of Galilee in an unusual way. As Jesus begins to teach them in the Capernaum synagogue, He tells them that they have not truly seen the signs. They are concerned only with food that sustains this life; they should be seeking the food that gives eternal li...
Jan 31, 2023•55 min
Rev. Andrew Belt, pastor at Christ Lutheran Church in Marshfield, WI, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 6:1-21. At the time of the Passover, Jesus is near the Sea of Galilee, where He heals many of the sick. Jesus lifts up His eyes to see the harvest field yet again, and He invites His disciples to see the work before them and trust Him to provide. Philip does not yet understand, and Andrew brings a boy with a little food to Jesus, though he too struggles. When Jesus has the people sit...
Jan 30, 2023•55 min
Rev. James Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ottumwa, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 5:30-47. Jesus continues to defend Himself against the false accusations leveled against Him. Jesus lines up other witnesses who testify to the truth of who He is. John the Baptist spoke truly concerning Jesus; his testimony was not merely from man, for John was sent by God. The Father and the works that the Father gave Jesus to do testify to the truth of Jesus’ identity as the Son of ...
Jan 27, 2023•56 min
Rev. Carl Roth, pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 5:19-29. As Jesus begins to answer the objections from the Jewish religious leaders, He emphasizes His unique relationship with His Father. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. The works that the Son is doing are great, but He will show even greater works in His death and resurrection. Because the Father gives life, so the Son also gives life. This happens right now as those who hear...
Jan 26, 2023•55 min
Rev. James Yonkers, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Danville, IL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 5:1-18. When Jesus travels up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish feasts, He goes to the pool of Bethesda. There were many who were disabled at the pool, hoping to be the first one into the water after it was stirred. When Jesus engages a man who has been unable to walk for thirty-eight years, the man seems to think that perhaps Jesus will help him into the water. Jesus redirects hi...
Jan 25, 2023•55 min
Rev. Tim Koch, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Linn, KS, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 4:43-54. When Jesus travels again to Cana in Galilee, an official from Capernaum makes the journey to see Jesus. He implores Jesus to come down to Capernaum and heal his son who was at the point of death. Jesus rebukes the attitude espoused by the man and the other Galileans who would not believe unless they could see a sign. The official reiterates the request that Jesus would come to Capernau...
Jan 24, 2023•56 min
Rev. William Terjesen, pastor at the Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer in Peekskill, NY, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 4:27-42. After the Samaritan woman at the well speaks with Jesus, she goes back to the town to tell the people about Him, and they start to come out to meet Him. Meanwhile, Jesus instructs His disciples concerning His work of accomplishing His Father’s will. He sees the crowd of Samaritans coming toward Him as a field that is ready for the harvest and calls His disci...
Jan 23, 2023•56 min
Rev. Lucas Witt, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Baltimore, MD, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 4:1-26. Most Israelites of Jesus’ day would have traveled around Samaria. However, St. John tells us that Jesus had to pass through there in order to show us that Jesus wanted to reveal Himself to the woman at the well. Through this unlikely encounter, Jesus reveals that He has true living water for the gift of eternal life of those who believe. As she listens to Jesus, the woman beg...
Jan 20, 2023•55 min
Rev. Jacob Dandy, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church and School in Terra Bella, CA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 3:22-36. The ministry of John the Baptist has not ended even after Jesus’ public ministry begins. Yet John is not interested in any sort of competition between him and Jesus. Instead, John’s ministry continues in the joy to point people to Jesus as the Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. John knows that he must decrease, and Jesus must increase. Tho...
Jan 19, 2023•54 min
Rev. Jeremiah Johnson, pastor at Glory of Christ Lutheran Church in Plymouth, WI, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 3:1-21. The people of Israel who begin to take notice of Jesus include those in the higher parts of society. Nicodemus, one of the rulers of the Jews, comes to Jesus by night seeking His teaching. When Jesus speaks to Nicodemus about another birth, Nicodemus misunderstands. Jesus tells Nicodemus that this second birth comes from above, worked by God through the water and ...
Jan 18, 2023•55 min
