Thy Strong Word from KFUO Radio

Hebrews 11:23–40 continues the powerful “Hall of Faith,” highlighting men and women who trusted God in the face of danger, hardship, and uncertainty. From Moses’ parents defying Pharaoh to the prophets who endured persecution, this passage celebrates those who chose faith over fear, obedience over comfort, and eternal hope over temporary safety. Some saw great victories; others suffered and died without receiving what was promised—yet all were commended for their faith. Together, their stories point beyond themselves to the greater fulfillment found in Christ. The Rev. Nathaniel Brown, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Correll, MN, Trinity Lutheran Church in Bellingham, MN, and Trinity Lutheran Church in Odessa, MN, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Hebrews 11:23-40. For centuries, God spoke through prophets, in visions, through fire and thunder on Mount Sinai. But now, Hebrews tells us, He has spoken fully and finally in His Son. This book isn’t just another epistle—it’s the key that unlocks the Old Testament, revealing how everything was always pointing to Christ. The prophets, the angels, the priesthood, the sacrifices—all find their fulfillment in Him. Over the next several weeks, we’ll walk through Hebrews, uncovering its depth, its urgency, and its breathtaking vision of Jesus as the great High Priest, the perfect sacrifice, and the One who is greater than all who came before. If you’ve ever wondered how the Old and New Testaments connect, how the shadows become substance, this is the book to study.Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

Did you know the biblical authors used cultural references in their inspired writings? From Greek poets to Jewish folklore, the apostles Paul and Jude make some surprising references. Are they just using familiar stories to make a point? Or are they giving those stories some kind of authority? And what does it mean for how we use fiction, folklore, or pop culture in sermons and teaching today? The Rev. Jacob Benson, pastor of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lovell, WY, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to discuss cultural references in the Bible. Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

Hebrews 11 introduces the “Hall of Faith” by defining faith as the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen. The Holy Spirit leads us through the lives of key figures from the Old Testament—Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph—who lived by faith in God’s promises, even when those promises seemed distant or impossible. Their stories reveal a pattern of trust, obedience, and hope rooted not in what they could see, but in the unseen future God had prepared for them. The Rev. Doug Minton, pastor of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Milford, IL, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Hebrews 11:1-22. For centuries, God spoke through prophets, in visions, through fire and thunder on Mount Sinai. But now, Hebrews tells us, He has spoken fully and finally in His Son. This book isn’t just another epistle—it’s the key that unlocks the Old Testament, revealing how everything was always pointing to Christ. The prophets, the angels, the priesthood, the sacrifices—all find their fulfillment in Him. Over the next several weeks, we’ll walk through Hebrews, uncovering its depth, its urgency, and its breathtaking vision of Jesus as the great High Priest, the perfect sacrifice, and the One who is greater than all who came before. If you’ve ever wondered how the Old and New Testaments connect, how the shadows become substance, this is the book to study.Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

The author urges believers to respond to the finished work of Christ with confidence, perseverance, and faith. Because Jesus has opened a new and living way into God’s presence through His sacrifice, we are invited to draw near with full assurance. This passage calls us to hold fast, encourage one another, and endure suffering without shrinking back. It’s a stirring reminder that access to God is not based on our worthiness, but on Christ’s once-for-all offering that sprinkles us clean from our sins.The Hon. Rev. Scot Kerns, pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in Easton, PA, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Hebrews 10:19-39. For centuries, God spoke through prophets, in visions, through fire and thunder on Mount Sinai. But now, Hebrews tells us, He has spoken fully and finally in His Son. This book isn’t just another epistle—it’s the key that unlocks the Old Testament, revealing how everything was always pointing to Christ. The prophets, the angels, the priesthood, the sacrifices—all find their fulfillment in Him. Over the next several weeks, we’ll walk through Hebrews, uncovering its depth, its urgency, and its breathtaking vision of Jesus as the great High Priest, the perfect sacrifice, and the One who is greater than all who came before. If you’ve ever wondered how the Old and New Testaments connect, how the shadows become substance, this is the book to study.Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

The law was a shadow, not the substance. Hebrews 10:1–18 brings us to the heart of God's redemptive plan: the sacrificial system wasn’t a mistake—it was a mercy. But it could never cleanse the conscience. Now, in Christ’s once-for-all offering, we see the fulfillment of what those sacrifices pointed toward. The repetition ends. The guilt is taken away. And the Holy Spirit testifies: “I will remember their sins no more.” What does it mean to live forgiven—fully, finally, forever? The Rev. Derek Waffel, pastor of Ascension Lutheran Church in Huntsville, AL, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Hebrews 10:1-18. For centuries, God spoke through prophets, in visions, through fire and thunder on Mount Sinai. But now, Hebrews tells us, He has spoken fully and finally in His Son. This book isn’t just another epistle—it’s the key that unlocks the Old Testament, revealing how everything was always pointing to Christ. The prophets, the angels, the priesthood, the sacrifices—all find their fulfillment in Him. Over the next several weeks, we’ll walk through Hebrews, uncovering its depth, its urgency, and its breathtaking vision of Jesus as the great High Priest, the perfect sacrifice, and the One who is greater than all who came before. If you’ve ever wondered how the Old and New Testaments connect, how the shadows become substance, this is the book to study.Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

When God established His covenant with Israel, He didn't create empty rituals; every sacrifice was His sacred design for forgiving sins through the blood He commanded to be shed. But Hebrews 9 reveals these God-ordained sacrifices were pointing forward to something greater, like checks written against a coming deposit, the people received forgiveness in light of the coming Messiah who would make perfect the entire sacrificial system. Now Christ has entered as both the perfect High Priest and the flawless Lamb, turning those provisional promises into permanent redemption. The Rev. Steven Theiss, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in New Wells, MO, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Hebrews 9:16-28. For centuries, God spoke through prophets, in visions, through fire and thunder on Mount Sinai. But now, Hebrews tells us, He has spoken fully and finally in His Son. This book isn’t just another epistle—it’s the key that unlocks the Old Testament, revealing how everything was always pointing to Christ. The prophets, the angels, the priesthood, the sacrifices—all find their fulfillment in Him. Over the next several weeks, we’ll walk through Hebrews, uncovering its depth, its urgency, and its breathtaking vision of Jesus as the great High Priest, the perfect sacrifice, and the One who is greater than all who came before. If you’ve ever wondered how the Old and New Testaments connect, how the shadows become substance, this is the book to study.Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

You know that sinking feeling when your credit card statement arrives? You made the minimum payment last month but the balance barely budged. For centuries, that was humanity's spiritual reality: sacrifice after sacrifice, payment after payment, but the full debt of sin never went away. The blood of bulls and goats was like a religious minimum payment - it kept the account open but couldn't completely zero out the balance. Hebrews 9 reveals God's radical solution: one perfect payment, in full, for good. No revolving debt. No hidden fees. Just a clean slate signed in the blood of Christ. The Rev. Jason Kaspar, pastor of Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church and Preschool in La Grange, TX, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Hebrews 9:1-15. For centuries, God spoke through prophets, in visions, through fire and thunder on Mount Sinai. But now, Hebrews tells us, He has spoken fully and finally in His Son. This book isn’t just another epistle—it’s the key that unlocks the Old Testament, revealing how everything was always pointing to Christ. The prophets, the angels, the priesthood, the sacrifices—all find their fulfillment in Him. Over the next several weeks, we’ll walk through Hebrews, uncovering its depth, its urgency, and its breathtaking vision of Jesus as the great High Priest, the perfect sacrifice, and the One who is greater than all who came before. If you’ve ever wondered how the Old and New Testaments connect, how the shadows become substance, this is the book to study.Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

A new covenant—better than the old, built on better promises. Hebrews lays out the contrast between what came through Moses and what is fulfilled in Christ. The old was temporary; the new is eternal. If we’re still clinging to shadows, this calls us to step into the light. The Rev. Jacob Hercamp, pastor of Christ Lutheran Church in Noblesville, IN, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Hebrews 8:1-13. For centuries, God spoke through prophets, in visions, through fire and thunder on Mount Sinai. But now, Hebrews tells us, He has spoken fully and finally in His Son. This book isn’t just another epistle—it’s the key that unlocks the Old Testament, revealing how everything was always pointing to Christ. The prophets, the angels, the priesthood, the sacrifices—all find their fulfillment in Him. Over the next several weeks, we’ll walk through Hebrews, uncovering its depth, its urgency, and its breathtaking vision of Jesus as the great High Priest, the perfect sacrifice, and the One who is greater than all who came before. If you’ve ever wondered how the Old and New Testaments connect, how the shadows become substance, this is the book to study.Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

A shadow moves through the ancient scrolls—a king with no coronation, a priest with no temple. No genealogy. No beginning. No end. He blesses Abraham and then vanishes, leaving behind a mystery. His name is Melchizedek. But Hebrews doesn’t treat him as a mystery to solve, but as a mirror. A mirror held up to the true and better priest, an eternal priest whose authority comes not from bloodlines, but from his own divinity. The Rev. Dr. Kevin Golden, associate professor of exegetical theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Hebrews 7:1-28. For centuries, God spoke through prophets, in visions, through fire and thunder on Mount Sinai. But now, Hebrews tells us, He has spoken fully and finally in His Son. This book isn’t just another epistle—it’s the key that unlocks the Old Testament, revealing how everything was always pointing to Christ. The prophets, the angels, the priesthood, the sacrifices—all find their fulfillment in Him. Over the next several weeks, we’ll walk through Hebrews, uncovering its depth, its urgency, and its breathtaking vision of Jesus as the great High Priest, the perfect sacrifice, and the One who is greater than all who came before. If you’ve ever wondered how the Old and New Testaments connect, how the shadows become substance, this is the book to study.Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

“But you still need milk, not solid food.” That’s the sharp rebuke in Hebrews 5. Then comes the warning that falling away from the faith is real, serious, and deadly. The author warns against stagnation, urging Christians to grow beyond the basics. Yet, the warning deepens—some have fallen away and cannot be restored. How do we understand this, and what about the sure hope in God’s promises? Hebrews challenges and reassures us in this tension. The Rev. David Boisclair, senior pastor at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Overland, MO, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Hebrews 5:11-6:20. For centuries, God spoke through prophets, in visions, through fire and thunder on Mount Sinai. But now, Hebrews tells us, He has spoken fully and finally in His Son. This book isn’t just another epistle—it’s the key that unlocks the Old Testament, revealing how everything was always pointing to Christ. The prophets, the angels, the priesthood, the sacrifices—all find their fulfillment in Him. Over the next several weeks, we’ll walk through Hebrews, uncovering its depth, its urgency, and its breathtaking vision of Jesus as the great High Priest, the perfect sacrifice, and the One who is greater than all who came before. If you’ve ever wondered how the Old and New Testaments connect, how the shadows become substance, this is the book to study.Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.