Thy Strong Word from KFUO Radio

Matthew continues his witness of the Nativity of Jesus, but he doesn't give us a greeting card scene. Instead, he gives us political paranoia, mass murder, and a family fleeing in the night to save their child from assassination. There's Herod, so terrified of losing power that he orders the execution of every male child under two in Bethlehem. There are these mysterious magi from the east, following God’s star, but do they really believe? And, sadly, the resulting martyrdom of the Holy Innocents. This isn't the sanitized version you’ll find on Christmas cards. This is Matthew telling us that from the very beginning, the arrival of Jesus split the world into those who worshiped and those who wanted him gone. The Rev. Joshua Heimbuck, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Ashland, OR, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Matthew 2. To learn more about Grace Lutheran, visit gracelutheranashland.org.The Gospel of Matthew bridges Old and New Testaments, presenting Jesus as the promised Messiah who fulfills the Law we could never keep and establishes His kingdom of grace for all nations. Written by a tax collector transformed by pure grace, Matthew reveals Christ as the true Son of David and Emmanuel (God with us) who challenges us with the crushing demands of the Law in His Sermon on the Mount to the sweet comfort of the Gospel in His death and resurrection. From royal genealogy to glorious resurrection, this verse-by-verse study proclaims the One who conquered sin, death, and the devil for us, now delivering forgiveness, life, and salvation through Word and Sacrament as He remains with His church always, even to the end of the age. 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 Gospel of Matthew opens with a genealogy. Another long list of names in the Bible which you would be forgiven for thinking would make for dry conversation. But a closer look reveals this list of names tells the story of God’s faithfulness in keeping his promises throughout the generations. From Abraham to David, and from exile to Christ, this chapter reveals how God’s plan of salvation unfolds through flawed and broken people. Even the inclusion of Gentiles and those with scandalous pasts points to the heart of the Gospel: Jesus came to save sinners like us. The Rev. Steven Theiss, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in New Wells, MO, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Matthew 1. 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 Gospel of Matthew bridges Old and New Testaments, presenting Jesus as the promised Messiah who fulfills the Law we could never keep and establishes His kingdom of grace for all nations. Written by a tax collector transformed by pure grace, Matthew reveals Christ as the true Son of David and Emmanuel (God with us) who challenges us with the crushing demands of the Law in His Sermon on the Mount and gives us the sweet comfort of the Gospel in His death and resurrection. From royal genealogy to glorious resurrection, this verse-by-verse study proclaims the One who conquered sin, death, and the devil for us, now delivering forgiveness, life, and salvation through Word and Sacrament as He remains with His church always, even to the end of the age.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.

Nehemiah comes back to Jerusalem a short time after completing his term as Governor and returning to Persia, only to find the people slipping back into sin. The temple is neglected, the Sabbath is profaned, and intermarriage with pagan nations threatens the integrity of God’s covenant people. Nehemiah confronts these issues head-on, cleansing the temple, enforcing Sabbath rest, and calling the people to repentance. Chapter 13 is both a sobering reminder of human frailty and just how much we need God’s mercy, grace, and strength. The Rev. Dr. Peter Elliot, pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church, Seattle, WA, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Nehemiah 13. From rubble to renewal, Nehemiah shows how the Lord rebuilds not just walls but hearts. Brick by brick and prayer by prayer, we follow God’s people through repentance, courageous leadership, fierce opposition, covenant renewal, and joyful dedication. This verse-by-verse series keeps Law and Gospel front and center, tracing the story from burned gates to the greater Builder — Christ Jesus — who secures a city that cannot fall. Expect honest history, practical application, and the steady comfort of God’s promises when the work is heavy and critics are loud.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 walls of Jerusalem are finally complete and dedicated, but the work isn't finished until the people offer up thanksgiving and rejoice in God's blessings on their efforts and the Holy City. Nehemiah 12 describes a grand celebration and festival filled with music, choirs, and thanksgiving as the poeple give God the glory for His faithfulness and protection. The priests and Levites lead the way, purifying the people and the city, while the joyful sound of worship echoes far beyond Jerusalem's walls. What will the neighbors think?The Rev. Jeremy Loesch, pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Grandview, MO, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Nehemiah 12.To learn more about Holy Trinity, visit ourredeemernewark.org.From rubble to renewal, Nehemiah shows how the Lord rebuilds not just walls but hearts. Brick by brick and prayer by prayer, we follow God’s people through repentance, courageous leadership, fierce opposition, covenant renewal, and joyful dedication. This verse-by-verse series keeps Law and Gospel front and center, tracing the story from burned gates to the greater Builder — Christ Jesus — who secures a city that cannot fall. Expect honest history, practical application, and the steady comfort of God’s promises when the work is heavy and critics are loud.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 walls of Jerusalem have been rebuilt, but as Nehemiah surveys the city, there’s a problem: it’s practically empty. How can a city survive, much less thrive, without people? In today’s text, we see how God’s people step out in faith to repopulate Jerusalem. Some are chosen by lot, while others willingly volunteer, leaving behind the comfort of their homes and fields for the good of God’s Holy City. Nehemiah 11 challenges us today to consider how we prioritize God’s mission over our own comfort. It points us to Christ, who left His heavenly home to dwell among us and restore what sin destroyed. The Rev. Jacob Hercamp, pastor of Christ Lutheran Church in Noblesville, IN, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Nehemiah 11. To learn more about Christ Lutheran, visit clc-in.org.From rubble to renewal, Nehemiah shows how the Lord rebuilds not just walls but hearts. Brick by brick and prayer by prayer, we follow God’s people through repentance, courageous leadership, fierce opposition, covenant renewal, and joyful dedication. This verse-by-verse series keeps Law and Gospel front and center, tracing the story from burned gates to the greater Builder — Christ Jesus — who secures a city that cannot fall. Expect honest history, practical application, and the steady comfort of God’s promises when the work is heavy and critics are loud.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.

After the tears of confession and the long prayer of chapter 9, it's time to put pen to parchment, or rather, seal to scroll. Nehemiah leads the way as 84 leaders formally sign their names to a binding covenant, pledging their families and fortunes to follow God's Law. From priests to Levites to lay leaders, each signature represents households committing to specific, costly obedience: no intermarriage with pagans, strict Sabbath observance even when merchants come calling, sabbatical years that require faith in God's provision, and systematic support for temple worship. Their confession is solid, but will their future deeds match their creed? The Rev. Ben Maton, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Charlottesville, VA, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Nehemiah 10. To learn more about Immanuel Lutheran, visit immanuelcharlottesville.com.From rubble to renewal, Nehemiah shows how the Lord rebuilds not just walls but hearts. Brick by brick and prayer by prayer, we follow God’s people through repentance, courageous leadership, fierce opposition, covenant renewal, and joyful dedication. This verse-by-verse series keeps Law and Gospel front and center, tracing the story from burned gates to the greater Builder — Christ Jesus — who secures a city that cannot fall. Expect honest history, practical application, and the steady comfort of God’s promises when the work is heavy and critics are loud.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 you’ve really blown it and you’ve wandered far from God and the guilt of your sins weighs heavy, what do you do? Do you run and hide? Do you make excuses? Or do you come back, empty-handed, with nothing but confession on your lips? That’s exactly what the people of Israel do in Nehemiah 9. After rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem and hearing once again the Word of God, they suddenly realize the greater walls that had crumbled: their faithfulness, their obedience, their relationship with the Lord. And so, in one of the longest recorded prayers in Scripture, the people confess, repent, and remember the steadfast love of their God. The Rev. Nathaniel Brown, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Correll, MN, Trinity Lutheran Church in Bellingham, MN, Trinity Lutheran Church in Odessa, MN, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Nehemiah 9. From rubble to renewal, Nehemiah shows how the Lord rebuilds not just walls but hearts. Brick by brick and prayer by prayer, we follow God’s people through repentance, courageous leadership, fierce opposition, covenant renewal, and joyful dedication. This verse-by-verse series keeps Law and Gospel front and center, tracing the story from burned gates to the greater Builder — Christ Jesus — who secures a city that cannot fall. Expect honest history, practical application, and the steady comfort of God’s promises when the work is heavy and critics are loud.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’s people all gathered in the square and asked Ezra to bring out the scroll of the Law of Moses and read it to them. From dawn until noon, Ezra read God's Word to the entire crowd while they stood and listened attentively the whole time. Six hours of standing and listening to Scripture! As Ezra and the Levites explained the meaning and helped the people understand God's will, something remarkable happened. The people began to weep as they realized how far they had drifted from God! And yet, Nehemiah and Ezra turned their tears into celebration, reminding them that this was a holy day and "the joy of the Lord is your strength." The Rev. Chris Matthis, pastor of Epiphany Lutheran Church in Castle Rock, CO, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Nehemiah 8. To learn more about Epiphany Lutheran, visit epiphanylc.org.From rubble to renewal, Nehemiah shows how the Lord rebuilds not just walls but hearts. Brick by brick and prayer by prayer, we follow God’s people through repentance, courageous leadership, fierce opposition, covenant renewal, and joyful dedication. This verse-by-verse series keeps Law and Gospel front and center, tracing the story from burned gates to the greater Builder — Christ Jesus — who secures a city that cannot fall. Expect honest history, practical application, and the steady comfort of God’s promises when the work is heavy and critics are loud.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.

After Nehemiah leads the people to finish building the wall around Jerusalem, one would think he would take some time and relax, perhaps have a festival to celebrate? Unfortunately, there’s no time for that. Instead, he does what any good project manager would do--he starts taking inventory. Nehemiah opens the old genealogical records and starts a full-scale census of everyone in the city: all 42,360 people, plus their servants, plus their animals. We’re tempted to think of such lists of names and numbers as tedious, but these were people reclaiming their identity, their heritage, and their place in God's story after decades of exile and displacement. The Hon. Rev. Scot Kerns, pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in Easton, PA, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Nehemiah 7. To learn more about Faith Lutheran, visit faithlcms.com.From rubble to renewal, Nehemiah shows how the Lord rebuilds not just walls but hearts. Brick by brick and prayer by prayer, we follow God’s people through repentance, courageous leadership, fierce opposition, covenant renewal, and joyful dedication. This verse-by-verse series keeps Law and Gospel front and center, tracing the story from burned gates to the greater Builder — Christ Jesus — who secures a city that cannot fall. Expect honest history, practical application, and the steady comfort of God’s promises when the work is heavy and critics are loud.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.