Thy Strong Word from KFUO Radio

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.

A high priest stands before the altar, his robes heavy with the weight of his office. He carries the blood of another—an offering for the sins of the people, sins that he himself shares. Year after year, sacrifice after sacrifice, the cycle never ends. But what if—what if—a priest came who needed no sacrifice for himself? One who could stand before God, not in weakness, but in perfect righteousness? We don’t have a distant Savior; we have a great High Priest who knows our weakness yet is without sin. Because of Him, we can boldly approach God’s throne of grace. The Rev. LeRoy LaPlant, pastor of the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd and headmaster of Concordia Classical Academy in North Mankato, MN, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Hebrews 4:14-5:10. 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 promise of rest still stands—but are we entering it? Hebrews reminds us that the same good news given to Israel is for us. Israel stood on the brink of the Promised Land, hearing the promise of rest, but many fell short because they did not receive it in faith. The message of Hebrews 4 is clear: God's rest is still open, and His Word is still speaking. It doesn’t just inform—it cuts, sharper than any sword, dividing what is seen from what is hidden, what is real from what is merely outward, but it also points to the one who saves and redeems, and offers us eternal rest in Him. The Rev. John Shank, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Edwardsville, IL, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Hebrews 4:1-13. 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.

Jesus is greater than Moses. That’s a bold claim, but Hebrews 3 makes it clear: while Moses was a servant in God’s house, Christ is the Son over the house. Israel’s failure to trust in the wilderness serves as a warning to us—might we be in danger of the same? The Author of Hebrews points Jewish Christians, and us, to see Jesus, not Moses, as the foundation upon which our faith is built. The Rev. Christopher Maronde, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Hastings, IA, and St. Paul Lutheran Church in Oakland, IA, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Hebrews 3. 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.

Hebrews 2 brings a warning: If God’s word through angels was binding, how much more must we pay attention to His Son? Drifting away is easy, but salvation in Christ is too great to ignore. This chapter reveals Jesus as both fully divine and fully human—the One who tasted death for us, destroyed the power of the devil, and now calls us His brothers. The Rev. Dr. Matthew Richard, pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Minot, ND, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Hebrews 2. 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.

God once spoke through prophets, in fire and thunder—but now, He speaks in His Son. Hebrews 1 opens with a stunning revelation: Jesus is greater than the prophets, greater than the angels, the radiance of God’s glory, and the exact imprint of His nature. This chapter sets the foundation for the entire book, showing us that Christ isn’t just another messenger—He is the message. The Rev. Ryan Kleimola, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Toledo, OH, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Hebrews 1. 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.