Rev. Shawn Linnell, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Blair, NE, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Revelation 3:14-22. Jesus writes the the church in Laodicea as the Amen, the One whose words are entirely true. He criticizes them for their lukewarm faith, neither hot nor cold, good only to be spit out. They must recognize their true spiritual poverty and blindness and look for riches and sight through Him alone. Though Jesus’ Words are severe, He calls them back to Himself in repentance ...
May 19, 2023•55 min
Rev. John Bussman, pastor at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Cullman, AL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Revelation 3:7-13. The letter Jesus sends to the church in Philadelphia commends them for their patient endurance. He stands before them as the Holy One who holds the key of David. He has placed an open door before them. He has brought them through that door into eternal life. As they proclaim the message of salvation in Christ alone among those who have not received Jesus as the Promis...
May 18, 2023•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 Revelation 3:1-6. The letter Jesus sends to the church in Sardis is the strongest call to repentance so far. He identifies Himself as the One who sends the Holy Spirit to bring the hope of repentance to this church. Though they have the reputation of being alive with good works, truly their faith is dead. The gift of repen...
May 17, 2023•55 min
Rev. Luke Zimmerman, pastor at Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mechanicsburg, PA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Revelation 2:18-29. The city of Thyatira was known for its commerce and trade, yet Jesus as the Son of God whose feet are like burnished bronze has authority and wealth far above anything else. The church in Thyatira is commended for their love, faith, service, and patient endurance; they have grown in this sanctification. But the Lord Jesus critiques their tolerance of...
May 16, 2023•54 min
Rev. Jason Kaspar, pastor at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in La Grange, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Revelation 2:12-17. Jesus speaks to the church in Pergamum with the sharp two-edged sword of His Word. Though the church there dwells in the shadow of rampant Roman idolatry, they have not fallen for Satan’s lies. Instead, they have been faithful even to the point of dying for the faith. Yet false teachings reminiscent of Balaam have arisen in the church there. The need for repentanc...
May 15, 2023•55 min
Rev. Dr. Christian Preus, pastor at Mt. Hope Lutheran Church and School in Casper, WY, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Revelation 2:8-11. In His letter to the church in Smyrna, Jesus identifies Himself as the first and the last, the Crucified and Risen Savior. He knows the tribulation that the church in Smyrna has endured at the hands of both Romans and Jews; this was evidenced in the life and martyrdom of Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna. Jesus calls His people in Smyrna away from their fear, ...
May 12, 2023•57 min
Rev. Steve Andrews, pastor at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Lee’s Summit, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Revelation 2:1-7. The seven letters to the seven churches in Asia Minor share many features. Each one is addressed to the angel of the church. Since the word “angel” means “messenger,” this would seem to indicate the pastor or bishop of the church. The first letter is sent to the church in Ephesus. Jesus identifies Himself as the One who is holding the angels of the churches and ...
May 11, 2023•55 min
Rev. Peter Ill, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Millstadt, IL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Revelation 1:9-20. St. John is a brother and partner with all Christians in the suffering of the Church. While he was suffering under exile on the island of Patmos, he was with the Church on a Sunday. In the Spirit, John heard the voice of Jesus behind him commanding him to write to seven congregations in Asia Minor. When he turned to see who was speaking, John saw the risen and ascended Lo...
May 10, 2023•56 min
Rev. Dustin Beck, pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Warda, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Revelation 1:4-8. As St. John writes to seven specific churches in Asia Minor, he writes to the whole Christian Church. He greets them with the grace and peace that come from the Triune God: the Father who is and was and is to come, the Holy Spirit who is fully present with the full Church, and the Son, Jesus Christ. Because Jesus loves us and frees us by His blood and makes us His kingdom...
May 09, 2023•57 min
Rev. Dr. Reed Lessing, Professor of Theology and Ministry, Director of the Pre-Seminary Program, and Director of the Center for Biblicla Studies at Concordia Univeristy in St. Paul, MN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Revelation 1:1-3. The book of Revelation was given to St. John the Apostle as a vision while he was exiled on the island of Patmos. The Christian Church was under persecution near the end of the 1st Century AD; in that context, John received this marvelous book of comfort fr...
May 08, 2023•57 min
“Come Lord Jesus!” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Revelation given to St. John. Although some look at Revelation with fear, it is a book of supreme hope in our crucified, risen, and ascended Lord. The book of Revelation gives a heavenly perspective on our earthly circumstances so that the Church in every generation is challenged, comforted, and assured of final victory through Jesus Christ. Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in...
May 08, 2023•3 min
Rev. David Boisclair, interim pastor at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Overland, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 3 John 1-15. St. John writes to beloved Gaius, praying both for his phyiscal and spiritual health. He rejoices to hear that Gaius is walking in the truth and has received those who had come in that truth as brothers, though they had been strangers before. St. John encourages Gaius to support them in their journey to continue to proclaim the Gospel, for in so doing, they wi...
May 05, 2023•54 min
Rev. Harrison Goodman, content executive for Higher Things, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 2 John 1-13. St. John writes to the church as the elder, the pastor who has cared for Christians throughout his long apostolic ministry. He loves the Christians as his children in the the truth. They have been walking in this truth according to the commandment they have had from the beginning: love one another. Such love comes not from any deceivers, but only from the truth that Jesus Christ has co...
May 04, 2023•55 min
Rev. Philip Hoppe, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Colby, KS, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 John 5:13-21. As St. John concludes his epistle, he tells us that his writing gives us certainty of eternal life in Christ. This certainty is not found within us, but in the sure promise of God. That is the confidence that we have as we approach Him in prayer; we know He wants to give us all that is a part of His will, and so we ask Him for those things, knowing He will keep His promise. I...
May 03, 2023•54 min
Rev. Dr. Jacob Corzine, associate professor of theology and Interim Dean of the College of Theology, Arts, and Humanities at Concordia University, Chicago, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 John 5:1-12. St. John continues to weave together the strands of his first epistle to present the full tapestry of the Christian faith. True faith in Jesus as the Son of God goes together with love for each other as Christians. We keep God’s commandments as a part of our vocations given by God, knowing...
May 02, 2023•54 min
Rev. Tim Eden, pastor at Bethel Lutheran Church in Bryan, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 John 4:13-21. St. John continues to emphasize that love starts with God. He has given us His Spirit, and now we testify to the truth that Jesus truly is the Son of God, sent by the Father to be the Savior. In this love of God, we abide. In this love of God, He casts out our fear of punishment on the Last Day; instead, we long for rhat day with expectation. His love for us is primary and brings ...
May 01, 2023•54 min
Rev. Sean Kilgo, pastor at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Lawrence, KS, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel for a special Sharathon episode to study the book of Colossians. St. Paul writes to the Colossians to strengthen their faith, love, and hope in Christ. By Him, all things were created. In Him, all the fullness of God is pleased to dwell. He has reconciled us to Himself by His death and resurrection, and He has incorporated us into His death and resurrection in Holy Baptism. Because we are in Christ...
Apr 28, 2023•58 min
Rev. Dustin Beck, pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Warda, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel for a special Sharathon episode to study the book of Jonah. When the LORD commanded Jonah to go to Nineveh, Jonah went the other way. The LORD worked through His reluctant prophet even during Jonah’s disobedience. The LORD rescued Jonah from the sea by appointing a fish to swallow Jonah. From the fish’s belly, Jonah prayed in repentance, and the LORD foreshadowed the resurrection of Jesus when He b...
Apr 27, 2023•58 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 1 John 4:7-12. St. John teaches us the shape of love, which cannot be disconnected from true doctrine. If we come with our own definition of love, we will always end up with a distortion of the truth. Instead, we must let God define what love is, because He is love. He makes love visible through His Son, Jesus. L...
Apr 26, 2023•56 min
Rev. Andrew Belt, pastor at Christ Lutheran Church in Marshfield, WI, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 John 4:1-6. St. John exhorts us to test the spirits, so that we would know which are from God and which are from the antichrist. The diagnostic is this: does this spirit teach that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh? Those spirits that do not teach this truth are not from God; we must take care not to listen to their lies. We hold to the truth because we are from God, who is in us and g...
Apr 25, 2023•55 min
Rev. Bryan Wolfmueller, pastor at St. Paul and Jesus Deaf Lutheran Churches in Austin, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 John 3:11-24. St. John reminds us that there are two families in this life. The family of the devil is characterized by murder and hatred for righteousness. The family of God is characterized by the love that Christ showed us in His death and love that we now show each other. We should not be surprised when the world hates us, but as the family of God, we should lov...
Apr 24, 2023•54 min
Rev. Rick Jones, Chaplain and Vice-President of Spiritual Life at the Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch in Minot, ND, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 John 2:28-3:10. St. John encourages confidence in the children of God as the Lord’s appearing draws closer. We need not shrink from His coming, but rather, we can look forward to receiving Him as the Righteous One for us. The Father’s love has made us His children in Christ now, even as we await being made fully like Christ in glory. Because we ...
Apr 21, 2023•54 min
Rev. Chris Hull, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Tomball, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 John 2:18-27. St. John warns the children of God to be on guard against the false teaching of the antichrists. As it is now the last time before the Lord’s return, these false teachers deny that Jesus is the Christ and go out from the true Church. Those who know the truth must continue to abide in the truth and watch out for the lie that would lead away from eternal life. The gift of the Holy...
Apr 20, 2023•55 min
Rev. Lucas Witt, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Baltimore, MD, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 John 2:12-17. St. John tells us why he is writing. He desires all Christians to have confidence that their sins are forgiven by the Father for Christ’s sake. He desires older Christians to remain grounded in the truth they have been taught from the beginning. He desires younger Christians to know that the victory that Christ has won belongs to them through the abiding Word of God. For t...
Apr 19, 2023•54 min
Rev. Jason Schockman, pastor at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Oconomowoc, WI, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 John 2:3-11. How do we know that we know God? St. John assures us through the Word of God. As Christians, we keep God’s Word. This is far more than obedience; this is cherishing and guarding all that God has spoken to us, both His commandments and His promises. Through this Word, God gives to us His love and His life so that we truly abide in Him. This Word is what God has spoke...
Apr 18, 2023•54 min
Rev. Dr. Thomas Egger, president of Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 John 1:5-2:2. St. John proclaims the truth that God is light. Because this is the case, we cannot claim to have fellowship with Him while walking in the darkness of sin. We can only have fellowship with God when we walk in the light of His Word, cleansed by the blood of Jesus His Son. This does not mean that we are sinless; instead, it means that we confess the truth of our sin and r...
Apr 17, 2023•55 min
Rev. Dr. Lawrence Rast, president of Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 John 1:1-4. St. John plows right into everything he wants his hearers to know and believe concerning the love of God in Jesus. He proclaims Jesus as the true eternal God who has taken on true humanity. John, the other apostles, and many other eyewitnesses truly saw, touched, and heard Jesus, who has made manifest to the world the eternal life that comes from the Father....
Apr 14, 2023•55 min
“The Love of God” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the three epistles written by St. John the Apostle and Evangelist. As St. John rejoiced to be the disciple loved by Jesus, so he writes his epistles to give us the same joy when we know that we are the beloved of God. God’s love for us in Jesus shapes our lives as Christians in all that we believe, say, and do. Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow de...
Apr 14, 2023•3 min
Rev. Matt Ulmer, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bishop, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 21:15-25. After breakfast on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus speaks to Peter personally. As Peter had denied three times, so Jesus three times restores Peter with confession, forgiveness, and commission. Each time Peter affirms his love for Jesus, the Lord sends Peter to care for His holy flock, that is, His Church. In doing this, Jesus told Peter that he would suffer, yet as Pet...
Apr 13, 2023•55 min
Rev. Brian Flamme, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Roswell, NM, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 21:1-14. St. John continues his account to record another time Jesus came to His disciples after His resurrection. When seven of Jesus’ disciples were at the Sea of Galilee, they went fishing at Peter’s prompting. When they caught nothing all night long, Jesus stood on the shore and asked them about their catch. They did not recognize Jesus, but He told them to cast the net on the ri...
Apr 12, 2023•56 min
