Podcasts about Divine Service

My point is: you should assimilate what you have first. We already have so much, and it's highly assimilatable—but not many people have assimilated it. Who has fully assimilated the Śrī Īśopaniṣad? What is assimilation? What does it look like? Assimilation means you spend some time going deeply within the book: researching it, learning all the verses, and knowing the purports backwards and forwards—learning the verses backwards and forwards. We did that with 'Divinity and Divine Service.' In order to get full credit, you had to be able to recite the chapter forwards and backwards. That's the very beginning of assimilation. Hanumat Presaka Swami, one of the great thinkers and scholars in our movement—I just remember when he was frequenting ISV. He always kept a little pouch around his neck. What was in that pouch? The Upadeśāmṛta. But not just the Upadeśāmṛta; it was in Spanish. He wanted to challenge himself doubly, because that's how his brain works. He speaks Spanish, and he wanted to practice reading in Spanish. But everywhere he went, he would have that around his neck, and he'd read it and read it. When you assimilate a book, you'll find out how—or at least, when you attempt to assimilate one book, you start to realize—how deep it is and how much is really there. Generally, people get involved in things because they want to 'strike it rich quick.' That's why so many people live in California. In 1849, the world changed because there was a discovery of gold in the mountains of California. And actually, the world wealth situation dramatically increased at that time because so much natural gold was discovered. People came from all over the world, and they wanted to strike it rich. There's still the impulse in each person in the world that they want some way to get rich quick. In a business I once had, I was training people how to do business, and I noticed that people would come in, and then as soon as they had to make a few phone calls—which is actually work—they would quit and say, "I'm going to find another business that's easier." There's a tendency to do that in spiritual life also. Instead of reading the whole Bhagavad-gītā 108 times, or as Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta said, "You should read Prahlāda Mahārāja a hundred times and Dhruva Mahārāja a hundred times." Did you know it's mentioned in one of the commentaries that the gopīs used to read Dhruva Mahārāja and Prahlāda Mahārāja? They would weep reading those accounts of those little boys doing such austerities and so forth. Assimilate the Bhagavad-gītā. I know very few people who have actually gone deeply within the Bhagavad-gītā who can sit and discourse. I mean, Caitanya Caraṇa—he comments on it every day. He reads it deeply and thinks about it when he's sleeping at night; he's thinking about what he's going to present the next day, how to bring out topical points in the world and connect them to the Bhagavad-gītā. Ask him if he's assimilated the Bhagavad-gītā. What will he tell you? The more he's going into it, the more he's seeing how deep it is. What about the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam? Have you ever in your school days, or even now when you're in school, ever noticed the phenomenon where you finish a course and then realize you absorbed about 2% of what was in the textbook? I used to save all my textbooks. My garage was full of....

Rev. Peter C. Bender

Rev. Peter C. Bender

----- Worship Times Sunday – 8:00 & 10:45 a.m. Monday – 6:30 p.m. https://trinitysheboygan.org https://facebook.com/trinitysheboygan We are a congregation of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Join us as we proclaim Christ crucified and risen for the forgiveness of sins. --- Trinity Lutheran Church, School and Child Care have been "Making Known the Love of Christ" in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and throughout the world since 1853 as a congregation gathering around God's Word and Sacraments to receive forgiveness and life everlasting. Trinity is located in downtown Sheboygan, only one block from the Mead Public Library and the Weill Center for the Performing Arts. We invite you to visit us in person! Trinity Lutheran Sheboygan is a proud member of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit their website: https://www.lcms.org/​​​​ Music for this production was obtained through a licensing agreement with One License, LLC. The copyright permission to reprint, podcast, and record hymns and songs is acquired through ID Number: 730195-A #LCMS #Lutheran #DivineService

Rev. Peter C. Bender

March 8, 2026Today's Reading: Luke 11:14-28Daily Lectionary: Genesis 27:30-45; 28:10-22; Mark 9:1-13“As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, ‘Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!' But he said, ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!'” (Luke 11:27-28)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.What does it mean to “keep” God's Word? Indeed, there is some element of observing or obeying it. God knows what is actually good and bad for us, so when we follow God's Word, things go better for us. Things usually go better when we obey our parents than when we disobey them. If you can keep from stealing, you won't have as many troubles with the law. If you lead a chaste and decent life, your marriage will likely be smoother. If you can go without coveting, you'll be happier. Being content and happy with what God has given us is a blessing!But that's not all that it means to “keep” God's Word. Keeping it also involves guarding it and treasuring it. We guard and treasure things that are important to us. You don't want to lose your house keys or your wallet, so you keep them in a spot where you won't forget them as easily. You don't want to lose your passwords, so you choose something you can remember. You only have a certain number of hours in a day, so you guard your time to ensure you can accomplish what you would like to get done.In the same way, Jesus instructs us to guard God's Word. We should treasure it. We should place it in areas where we won't forget about it, such as near our beds or on the home screens of our phones. We should learn it by heart so that it's with us wherever we go. We should make sure to keep certain times of our day and week free for it, such as Sunday mornings for the Divine Service, a weekly time for Bible Study, and a daily time for devotions. Are we blessed because we do these things? Well, yes and no. We aren't blessed because we have somehow proved to God how faithful we are; We are blessed because that Word that we treasure is full of the promises of Jesus for you. That Word IS Jesus.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy, be gracious to all who have gone astray from Your ways and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of Your Word; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.Rev. Daniel Burhop, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Reese, MI.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.We wander through life looking for freedom, only to realize we have listened to the devil's call to serve our selves, our pleasures, and our lusts. Instead of freedom we find ourselves enslaved to sin. We wonder if we have sinned too often, too deep to ever be welcomed back to the Father's home, back into His loving embrace. Have we lost our inheritance as children of God?In this short book, author Bryan Wolfmueller digs into the popular parable of the Prodigal Son to bring hope and aid to our hurting conscience. Wolfmueller proclaims the freedom-giving Gospel that through Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection, our place in the Father's house is secure, and forgiveness and welcome are ours in His outstretched arms. Fully Free, now available from CPH.

Order of Divine Service, p.7   The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal Hymn “How Blest Are They Who Hear God's Word” LW 222 Readings:  2 Samuel 22:1-7, Ephesians 5:1-9, St. Luke 11:14-28 Hymn of the Day: “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal #22, LW 298, TLH 262) Sermon Offertory: “Create in Me…”         p.18 General Prayer………                    p.19-20 Hymn: “O Lord, We Praise You” LW 238, TLH 313 Exhortation                                    p.21 Communion Service, p.144 (Lutheran Worship) Communion Hymns: “Oh, How Great Is Your Compassion” LW 364 “Jesus, Priceless Treasure”  LW 270, TLH 347 “Renew Me, O Eternal Light” LW 373, TLH 398 –Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL). Service Bulletin: Oculi-Cover-3-8-2026-Online.pdf https://vimeo.com/1169336095?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci Picture: Illustrated German Bible of 1483 (I:61 Genesis 50) Jacob's Bones Are Taken to Canaan

Rev. Peter C. Bender

Rev. Peter C. Bender

----- Worship Times Sunday – 8:00 & 10:45 a.m. Monday – 6:30 p.m. https://trinitysheboygan.org https://facebook.com/trinitysheboygan We are a congregation of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Join us as we proclaim Christ crucified and risen for the forgiveness of sins. --- Trinity Lutheran Church, School and Child Care have been "Making Known the Love of Christ" in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and throughout the world since 1853 as a congregation gathering around God's Word and Sacraments to receive forgiveness and life everlasting. Trinity is located in downtown Sheboygan, only one block from the Mead Public Library and the Weill Center for the Performing Arts. We invite you to visit us in person! Trinity Lutheran Sheboygan is a proud member of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit their website: https://www.lcms.org/​​​​ Music for this production was obtained through a licensing agreement with One License, LLC. The copyright permission to reprint, podcast, and record hymns and songs is acquired through ID Number: 730195-A #LCMS #Lutheran #DivineService

Order of Divine Service, p.7   The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal Hymn “Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus” LW 381 Readings:  Isaiah 40:20-25, 1 Thessalonians 4:1-7, St. Matthew 15:21-28 Hymn of the Day: “O Faithful God, We Worship Thee” (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal #21, TLH 321) Sermon Offertory: “Create in Me…”         p.18 General Prayer………                    p.19-20 Hymn: “Jesus Christ, Our Blessed Savior” LW 237, TLH 311 Exhortation                                    p.21 Communion Service, p.144 (Lutheran Worship) Communion Hymns: “O God, Forsake Me Not” LW 372 “When in the Hour of Deepest Need” LW 428, TLH 522 “You Will I Love, My Strength” LW 375 –Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL). Service Bulletin: Reminiscere-Cover-3-1-2026-Online.pdf https://vimeo.com/1168882259?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci Picture: Illustrated German Bible of 1483 (I:58, Genesis 46) Jacob Comes to Egypt, Jacob Before Pharaoh

Rev. Peter C. Bender

Order of Divine Service I, p.136  Lutheran Worship Readings:  Acts 1:15-26, 1 John 2:15-17, St. Matthew 11:25-30 Hymn “From All Thy Saints in Warfare…”  (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal #81, LW #193, st 1, 12, 3) Sermon –Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL). Bulletin: February-24-St-Matthias-Apostle-ASBH-On-line.pdf https://vimeo.com/1167148828?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci

Rev. Peter C. Bender

----- Worship Times Sunday – 8:00 & 10:45 a.m. Monday – 6:30 p.m. https://trinitysheboygan.org https://facebook.com/trinitysheboygan We are a congregation of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Join us as we proclaim Christ crucified and risen for the forgiveness of sins. --- Trinity Lutheran Church, School and Child Care have been "Making Known the Love of Christ" in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and throughout the world since 1853 as a congregation gathering around God's Word and Sacraments to receive forgiveness and life everlasting. Trinity is located in downtown Sheboygan, only one block from the Mead Public Library and the Weill Center for the Performing Arts. We invite you to visit us in person! Trinity Lutheran Sheboygan is a proud member of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit their website: https://www.lcms.org/​​​​ Music for this production was obtained through a licensing agreement with One License, LLC. The copyright permission to reprint, podcast, and record hymns and songs is acquired through ID Number: 730195-A #LCMS #Lutheran #DivineService

Today, we will continue our study of the word “Wisdom” in the Scriptures with an emphasis on the purpose of the church. Handout 1: Divine-Service-talk-Jan-18-2026.pdf Handout 2: Two-Type-of-Mission.pdf –Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL). https://vimeo.com/1165146523?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci

Hymn “Stars of the Morning, So Gloriously Bright” LW 190 Order of Divine Service, p.7   The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal Readings:  Genesis 3:1-24, 2 Corinthians 6:1-10, St. Matthew 4:1-11 Hymn of the Day: “O Christ, Who Art the Light and Day” (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal #20, TLH 559) Sermon Offertory: “Create in Me…”         p.18 General Prayer………                    p.19-20 Hymn: “Jesus Christ, Our Blessed Savior” LW 236, TLH 311 Exhortation                                    p.21 Communion Service, p.144 (Lutheran Worship) Communion Hymns: “Lord of Glory, You Have Bought Us” LW 402 “O God, O Lord of Heaven and Earth” LW 319 My Faith Looks Up to Thee” LW 378, TLH 394 –Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL). Service Bulletin: Invocabit-Cover-2-22-2026-Online.pdf https://vimeo.com/1166197928?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci Picture: Illustrated German Bible of 1483 (I:56, Genesis 45) Judah Intercedes for Benjamin as Brothers Return

Rev. Peter C. Bender

----- Worship Times Sunday – 8:00 & 10:45 a.m. Monday – 6:30 p.m. https://trinitysheboygan.org https://facebook.com/trinitysheboygan We are a congregation of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Join us as we proclaim Christ crucified and risen for the forgiveness of sins. --- Trinity Lutheran Church, School and Child Care have been "Making Known the Love of Christ" in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and throughout the world since 1853 as a congregation gathering around God's Word and Sacraments to receive forgiveness and life everlasting. Trinity is located in downtown Sheboygan, only one block from the Mead Public Library and the Weill Center for the Performing Arts. We invite you to visit us in person! Trinity Lutheran Sheboygan is a proud member of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit their website: https://www.lcms.org/​​​​ Music for this production was obtained through a licensing agreement with One License, LLC. The copyright permission to reprint, podcast, and record hymns and songs is acquired through ID Number: 730195-A #LCMS #Lutheran #DivineService

Rev. Gary V. Gehlbach

In episode THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-THREE, Wade answers listener questions about the Divine Service, formalism, Zionism, and what to see on a visit to Detroit. We hope you enjoy the episode! Let us know if you have questions you'd like us to address in a future episode.  For more about the show and the hosts, visit the Let the Bird Fly! website. Thanks for listening! Attributions for Music and Image used in this Episode: “The Last One” by Jahzzar is licensed under an Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 International License. “Gib laut” by Dirk Becker is licensed under an Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) 3.0 International License. “Whistling Down the Road” by Silent Partner.E

Rev. Peter C Bender

How can your righteousness exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees when you, like them, break God's commandments every day in thought, word, and deed? How can it exceed theirs when Jesus also says, “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect”? By that standard, no one stands. Not then. Not now. Not ever. And yet Jesus looks at His disciples and says, “You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world.” He does not say, “Try harder to become this.” He does not give a new set of spiritual goals. He makes a declaration. These are not imperatives. They are indicatives. Not commands to obey, but statements of reality. This is who you are in Christ. On your own, you have no righteousness that can stand before God. But Jesus gives you His. You are clothed with His obedience. You are salted with the salt of His perfect life. You are covered with the righteousness that fulfills every commandment and satisfies every demand of God's Law. Christ alone is perfect as His heavenly Father is perfect. His life is the righteousness that exceeds all others. His obedience is complete. His sacrifice is sufficient. And through His Word, His Name, and His very Body and Blood, He makes that righteousness yours. His light shines into your darkness. His forgiveness scatters your guilt. His life overcomes your death. You do not become salt and light by trying harder. You are salt and light because you belong to Him. This is not a call to self-improvement. It is a proclamation of grace. In Christ, you already have what God requires. You already stand forgiven. You already shine with a borrowed light. You already live by a righteousness not your own. And that righteousness will never fail. ----- Worship Times Sunday – 8:00 & 10:45 a.m. Monday – 6:30 p.m. https://trinitysheboygan.org https://facebook.com/trinitysheboygan We are a congregation of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Join us as we proclaim Christ crucified and risen for the forgiveness of sins. --- Trinity Lutheran Church, School and Child Care have been "Making Known the Love of Christ" in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and throughout the world since 1853 as a congregation gathering around God's Word and Sacraments to receive forgiveness and life everlasting. Trinity is located in downtown Sheboygan, only one block from the Mead Public Library and the Weill Center for the Performing Arts. We invite you to visit us in person! Trinity Lutheran Sheboygan is a proud member of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit their website: https://www.lcms.org/​​​​ Music for this production was obtained through a licensing agreement with One License, LLC. The copyright permission to reprint, podcast, and record hymns and songs is acquired through ID Number: 730195-A #LCMS #Lutheran #DivineService

How are laypersons involved in church worker formation? John Schmall and DoRena Wirgau join Andy and Sarah to talk about where they live and how they serve in their congregations, their experiences in the SAS Pilot Program and what they learned about church worker formation, how large and small churches can engage youth in the Divine Service, how they see the Church supporting and mentoring youth to consider church work, and conversations they've had with youth and adults who might be considering church work. Christ's church will continue until He returns, and that church will continue to need church workers. Set Apart to Serve (SAS) is an initiative of the LCMS to recruit church workers. Together, we pray for workers for the Kingdom of God and encourage children to consider church work vocations. Here are three easy ways you can participate in SAS: 1. Pray with your children for God to provide church workers. 2. Talk to your children about becoming church workers. 3. Thank God for the people who work in your congregation. To learn more about Set Apart to Serve, visit lcms.org/set-apart-to-serve. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

Rev. Peter C. Bender

In the Beatitudes, Jesus radically redefines what it means to be blessed. The world teaches us that blessing looks like success, strength, health, and having life under control. But when Jesus looks out over the crowd on the mountain, He sees the poor, the grieving, the weary, and the broken. And He calls them blessed. Not because their lives are working, but because the kingdom of heaven has come near to them. The Beatitudes sound wrong to us because they expose our hearts. By nature, we do not want to be poor in spirit, meek, or mourning. We want to justify ourselves, manage appearances, and prove our worth before God and others. As the prophet Micah reminds us, we often assume God wants religious performance. But the Lord desires humility, a people who walk honestly before Him, knowing who He is and who we are not. In this way, the Beatitudes function as God's Law. They reveal our spiritual poverty and collapse every attempt at self-made righteousness. They leave us with empty hands. Yet they also lead us directly to the Gospel. Jesus is the truly blessed One. He is poor in spirit, meek, merciful, and persecuted for righteousness' sake. He fulfills every Beatitude in His own life, death, and resurrection. And what He fulfills, He freely gives. The Beatitudes are not instructions for how to earn God's favor. They are promises describing what is already true for those who are in Christ. Even now, believers possess the kingdom of heaven. Even now, they are comforted with forgiveness and filled with Christ's righteousness, often hidden under weakness and the cross. This blessing becomes especially concrete at the Lord's Table. There, the poor in spirit come with nothing to offer and receive everything. Christ gives His true Body and Blood for the forgiveness of sins. Holy Communion is the Beatitudes made tangible, mercy placed on the tongue and peace given as a gift. Finally, the Beatitudes lift our eyes toward heaven, where all that is hidden will be revealed. Mourning will turn to joy. Hunger will give way to fullness. Suffering will be transformed into glory. Until that day, Christ continues to gather His Church, not to reward the strong, but to bless the needy with this sure promise. Yours is the kingdom of heaven. ----- Worship Times Sunday – 8:00 & 10:45 a.m. Monday – 6:30 p.m. https://trinitysheboygan.org https://facebook.com/trinitysheboygan We are a congregation of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Join us as we proclaim Christ crucified and risen for the forgiveness of sins. --- Trinity Lutheran Church, School and Child Care have been "Making Known the Love of Christ" in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and throughout the world since 1853 as a congregation gathering around God's Word and Sacraments to receive forgiveness and life everlasting. Trinity is located in downtown Sheboygan, only one block from the Mead Public Library and the Weill Center for the Performing Arts. We invite you to visit us in person! Trinity Lutheran Sheboygan is a proud member of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit their website: https://www.lcms.org/​​​​ Music for this production was obtained through a licensing agreement with One License, LLC. The copyright permission to reprint, podcast, and record hymns and songs is acquired through ID Number: 730195-A #LCMS #Lutheran #DivineService

January 30, 2026Today's Reading: Catechism: Third CommandmentDaily Lectionary: Zechariah 9:1-17; 2 Timothy 2:1-26“But what is meant by keeping it holy?” “Nothing else than to be occupied with holy words, works, and life.” (Large Catechism I 87)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.The first holy day was the seventh day of creation. “So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation” (Genesis 2:3). It was a holy day not because it was more special than the days that had preceded it. In fact, each of the first six days could be considered more special because of God's wonderful creations on each day. The seventh day was distinct not because of the work God accomplished, but because of the Word He spoke. His blessing blessed His day of rest.Whether it's a day of rest or a day of work, a day is holy because it “is a day the Lord has made” (Psalm 118:24) and a day in which God speaks and blesses. The government or other earthly institutions may declare some days to be holidays, but a true holiday (holy day) is the one that is made holy by God's Word, whether the world recognizes it or not.God makes a day a holy day, but we are commanded to keep it holy. The Large Catechism gives three ways that we keep the day holy.First, we should be occupied with holy words. This begins with God's Word. A day of rest isn't purely to pursue leisure, but to clear room to attend the Divine Service, where God speaks publicly through the ministry of the church. And having received God's holy Word, we then speak holy words. First in prayer, praise, and thanksgiving to God for His great works. For when we rest, God goes to work in us to make us holy by His Word. And having been sanctified, we commit to sanctified speech with one another.Second, we should be occupied with holy works. Holy works are not distinct from other works because of their quality, but because they are works performed by holy people. God sanctifies us by His Word, which also extends to our works. Yes, we still sin on account of the weakness of our flesh, but God continues to sanctify us and the things that we do by His mercy, forgiveness, and the gifts of His grace.Finally, we should be occupied with a holy life. Holy words and works should not be sequestered to the time of worship—the holiness of God, which He imparts to us, should pervade our lives. We should be occupied by holy words and works every day. Thus, every day becomes a Sabbath Day made holy by God's Word and blessing. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.“You shall observe the worship day That peace may fill your home, and pray, And put aside the work you do, So that God may work in you.”Have mercy, Lord! (LSB 581:4)Author: Rev. Jacob Ehrhard, pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church and School in Chicago, IL.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.Better understand difficult and overlooked Old Testament passages in this new book by Authors R. Reed Lessing and Andrew E. Steinmann. Their conversational yet academic writing style makes learning about the Old Testament accessible to those at all points in their Bible reading journey. Discussion questions at the end of each chapter invite you to think more in-depth about what you just read and record your answers. To stretch your understanding, a list of resources for further reading is also included at the back of the book.

Rev. Peter C. Bender

Noah's first action upon leaving the ark is a sacrifice of thanksgiving to God for the fulfillment of His promises. This worship of faith is pleasing to the LORD, who responds with further divine service to His creation. Even though He knows that man's heart remains sinful, the LORD promises that He will never again curse the earth or destroy every living creature as He has done, but He will instead cause the seasons to continue until the Last Day. God blesses Noah and His family in this renewed creation, and He provides that they may now eat meat. Such consumption must not be done flippantly or idolatrously, but rather deliberately and with thanksgiving to God. Human life is God's gift, originally created in His image, and is not ours to destroy, but ours to preserve.  Rev. Jared Nies, pastor at St. Paul's Lutheran Church and School in Lapeer, MI, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Genesis 8:20-9:7.  To learn more about St. Paul's Lutheran, visit stpaul-lapeer.org. “In the Beginning” is a series on Sharper Iron that studies Genesis. The first book of Moses sets the stage for God's entire story of salvation. As we learn the beginning of the story, God prepares us to receive the fulfillment of the story: Jesus Christ, the Offspring of the woman who has crushed our enemy's head.  Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God's Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen. Submit comments or questions to: listener@kfuo.org

The early church father Augustine offered a simple but profound insight. Evil exists only where good should be. Cold has no life of its own. It is the absence of heat. Darkness is not a thing in itself. It is the absence of light. Heat and light exist independently. Cold and darkness do not. They depend on what is missing in order to appear. Evil works the same way. It is not a created substance with its own power. It emerges where goodness is absent. Scripture tells us that only God is good. And Jesus is God in the flesh. When He steps into Galilee and begins His ministry, something decisive happens. The people dwelling in darkness see a great light. Those living in the region and shadow of death find that a light has dawned. This is not a poetic exaggeration. It is a declaration of reality. Where Jesus is present, darkness cannot remain. The light that dawns is the Gospel itself. Jesus does not merely speak about goodness. He is goodness. He does not simply point toward the light. He is the Light of the world. His preaching, His healing, His calling of fishermen and sinners, all announce the same truth. God has come near. The darkness that once ruled has been confronted by the One who alone is good. This light does not shine only for a moment in history. It continues to shine wherever Christ is preached. Wherever sins are forgiven. Wherever the sick are healed and the broken are restored. The shadow of death is real, but it is no longer final. The light has dawned, and the darkness cannot overcome it. ----- Worship Times Sunday – 8:00 & 10:45 a.m. Monday – 6:30 p.m. https://trinitysheboygan.org https://facebook.com/trinitysheboygan We are a congregation of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Join us as we proclaim Christ crucified and risen for the forgiveness of sins. --- Trinity Lutheran Church, School and Child Care have been "Making Known the Love of Christ" in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and throughout the world since 1853 as a congregation gathering around God's Word and Sacraments to receive forgiveness and life everlasting. Trinity is located in downtown Sheboygan, only one block from the Mead Public Library and the Weill Center for the Performing Arts. We invite you to visit us in person! Trinity Lutheran Sheboygan is a proud member of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit their website: https://www.lcms.org/​​​​ Music for this production was obtained through a licensing agreement with One License, LLC. The copyright permission to reprint, podcast, and record hymns and songs is acquired through ID Number: 730195-A #LCMS #Lutheran #DivineService

Rev. Peter C. Bender

A Message of Love John 1:29–42a | Behold, the Lamb of God At the heart of the Christian faith stands the love of God. Not a vague feeling or a selective affection, but a love that is concrete, costly, and given freely to all. When John points to Jesus and declares, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world,” he is naming the fulfillment of God's promise. The Light has come, not for a few, but for the whole world. This love reaches farther than we often imagine. It spans nations and generations, and it reaches into every human life. From the womb to the grave. From strength to weakness. From honor to shame. The world teaches us to measure worth differently. Success, productivity, independence, and usefulness become the standard. Those who fail to meet it are overlooked or discarded. The consequences of this way of thinking are tragic, leading to abortion, assisted suicide, neglect, and violence. Even Christians are tempted to absorb these values, quietly learning to rank lives rather than receive them as gifts. Jesus exposes this lie. He does not choose the impressive or the powerful. He calls fishermen who have failed, sinners who are broken, and people the world considers insignificant. He never asks whether a life is convenient or useful. His answer is always the same. This life is worth My own. That love is revealed most clearly at the cross, where the Lamb of God becomes the despised and rejected One, bearing the sin of the world and giving His life for all. And this love is not locked in the past. Christ still comes to His people today. In Baptism, He claims sinners as His own. In Absolution, He forgives every failure. In His Supper, He gives His true Body and Blood for the life of the world. Again and again, God declares the holiness and worth of every human life. Those who receive this love are called to see themselves and others through Christ's eyes. Every life is sacred. Every life is redeemed. For the Lamb of God has come for all and has given Himself for all. ----- Worship Times Sunday – 8:00 & 10:45 a.m. Monday – 6:30 p.m. https://trinitysheboygan.org https://facebook.com/trinitysheboygan We are a congregation of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Join us as we proclaim Christ crucified and risen for the forgiveness of sins. --- Trinity Lutheran Church, School and Child Care have been "Making Known the Love of Christ" in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and throughout the world since 1853 as a congregation gathering around God's Word and Sacraments to receive forgiveness and life everlasting. Trinity is located in downtown Sheboygan, only one block from the Mead Public Library and the Weill Center for the Performing Arts. We invite you to visit us in person! Trinity Lutheran Sheboygan is a proud member of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit their website: https://www.lcms.org/​​​​ Music for this production was obtained through a licensing agreement with One License, LLC. The copyright permission to reprint, podcast, and record hymns and songs is acquired through ID Number: 730195-A #LCMS #Lutheran #DivineService

In this episode, we learn about the Holy Spirit and the Divine Service from Dr. John Kleinig. In particular, we discuss how Christ gives the Spirit to the church through his word, how Christ institutes the divine service and empowers it with God's Spirit, and how the church receives the Holy Spirit by faith in God's word as it is proclaimed and enacted in the divine service. The conversation revolves around the central question: How then can we be sure that the Spirit is at work in our worship? SHOW NOTES:  Text: https://www.johnkleinig.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/2017-The-Role-of-the-Holy-Spirit-in-the-Divine-Service.pdf ESV Reader's Edition: https://www.crossway.org/bibles/esv-readers-bible-cob/ Bibliotheca: https://www.bibliotheca.co   More from 1517: Support 1517 Podcast Network: https://www.1517.org/donate-podcasts 1517 Podcasts: http://www.1517.org/podcasts 1517 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@1517org 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/1517-podcast-network/id6442751370 1517 Events Schedule: https://www.1517.org/events 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education: https://academy.1517.org/   What's New from 1517: Face to Face: A Novel of the Reformation by Amy Mantravadi https://shop.1517.org/products/9781964419312-face-to-face  Untamed Prayers: 365 Daily Devotions on Christ in the Book of Psalms by Chad Bird https://www.amazon.com/Untamed-Prayers-Devotions-Christ-Psalms/dp/1964419263  Remembering Your Baptism: A 40-Day Devotional by Kathryn Morales https://shop.1517.org/collections/new-releases/products/9781964419039-remembering-your-baptism  Sinner Saint by Luke Kjolhaug https://shop.1517.org/products/9781964419152-sinner-saint    More from the hosts: Donovan Riley https://www.1517.org/contributors/donavon-riley  Christopher Gillespie https://www.1517.org/contributors/christopher-gillespie   CONTACT and FOLLOW: Email mailto:BannedBooks@1517.org  Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BannedBooksPod/  Twitter https://twitter.com/bannedbooks1517   SUBSCRIBE: YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@BannedBooks Rumble https://rumble.com/c/c-1223313  Odysee https://odysee.com/@bannedbooks:5 Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/banned-books/id1370993639  Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/2ahA20sZMpBxg9vgiRVQba  Overcast https://overcast.fm/itunes1370993639/banned-books    MORE LINKS: Tin Foil Haloes https://t.me/bannedpastors Warrior Priest Gym & Podcast https://thewarriorpriestpodcast.wordpress.com   St John's Lutheran Church (Webster, MN) - FB Live Bible Study Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/356667039608511  Gillespie's Sermons and Catechesis http://youtube.com/stjohnrandomlake  Donavon's Substack https://donavonlriley.substack.com Gillespie's Nostr https://primal.net/p/nprofile1qqszfrg80ctjdr0wy5arrseu6h9g36kqx8fanr6a6zee0n8txa7xytc627hlq   Gillespie Coffee https://gillespie.coffee   Gillespie Media https://gillespie.media  

January 17, 2026Today's Reading: Introit for Epiphany 2 - Psalm 66:1-5, 20; antiphon: Psalm 66:4; 92:1Daily Lectionary: Ezekiel 39:1-10, 17-29; Romans 7:21-8:17“Shout for joy to God, all the earth; sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise! Say to God, ‘How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you. All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name.'" (From the Introit for Epiphany 2)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.St. Paul points out to the church in Philippi that the risen Christ has been given the name above all names, that at Jesus's name, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and God. That statement looks forward to the Last Day, when it will be clear to everyone, when the veil of sin is lifted, and every eye sees clearly.But our Introit says essentially the same thing, calling on all of creation—all the earth—to acknowledge the Lord God, and this was written hundreds of years before Christ walked the earth and showed his power over sin, death, and the Devil.The point is the consistency of the Biblical writers; they are moved and carried by the Holy Spirit to point to the very truth that undergirds all of life and creation: our Lord and God is worthy of all praise and adoration. He alone is to be the sole focus of all worship on earth.And so tomorrow, when you hear that Jesus turns gallons and gallons of water into fine wine, and that a part of creation is remade from a thing of the Law to a Gospel blessing, you, too, may shout for joy that the One who spoke creation into existence has made his light shine into the darkness of sin to reclaim you for himself as His child, His restored creation.This should also be the response of the Christian in weekly worship as well. The baptized should see in the Divine Service an opportunity to shout for joy to God, to sing glory to His name, to give thanks for the salvation won by Christ for you, which you receive the assurance of in Confession and Absolution, which you taste on your tongue in the Lord's Supper, which you trace upon yourself with the sign of the cross. All of it, part of creation singing to you and with you of God's glorious Gifts and salvation, all for you.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Lord God, bless Your Word wherever it is proclaimed. Make it a word of power and peace to convert those not yet Your own and to confirm those who have come to saving faith. May Your Word pass from the ear to the heart, from the heart to the lip, and from the lip to the life that, as You have promised, Your Word may achieve the purpose for which You send it; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. (Collect for Blessing on the Word)Author: Rev. Duane Bamsch, pastor of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Wichita Falls, TX.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.Better understand difficult and overlooked Old Testament passages in this new book by Authors R. Reed Lessing and Andrew E. Steinmann. Their conversational yet academic writing style makes learning about the Old Testament accessible to those at all points in their Bible reading journey. Discussion questions at the end of each chapter invite you to think more in-depth about what you just read and record your answers. To stretch your understanding, a list of resources for further reading is also included at the back of the book.

When Jesus comes to the Jordan, He looks like everyone else standing in line to be baptized by John. Yet John knows the truth. This man has no sin. John hesitates, knowing the order seems backwards. He should be the one kneeling, not Jesus. But our Lord insists. This must be done to fulfill all righteousness. Jesus' baptism is unlike ours. He does not enter the water to have sin washed away. He enters the water to take sin upon Himself. Your sin. My sin. He steps into the place of sinners so that He might carry our guilt all the way to the cross and leave it buried in the tomb. The righteous One comes to make things right with those who are not righteous. And then heaven opens. The Spirit descends like a dove. The Father's voice resounds from above, declaring His pleasure in His Son. Heaven reaches down to earth in a way never seen before. This is not just a moment in history. This is what baptism is. God coming to us. Heaven touching earth. The promise that sinners are claimed, forgiven, and named children of God. Baptism is not our work reaching up to God. It is God's gracious work coming down to us. The gate of heaven stands open because Christ has stepped into the water for us. ----- Worship Times Sunday – 8:00 & 10:45 a.m. Monday – 6:30 p.m. https://trinitysheboygan.org https://facebook.com/trinitysheboygan We are a congregation of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Join us as we proclaim Christ crucified and risen for the forgiveness of sins. --- Trinity Lutheran Church, School and Child Care have been "Making Known the Love of Christ" in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and throughout the world since 1853 as a congregation gathering around God's Word and Sacraments to receive forgiveness and life everlasting. Trinity is located in downtown Sheboygan, only one block from the Mead Public Library and the Weill Center for the Performing Arts. We invite you to visit us in person! Trinity Lutheran Sheboygan is a proud member of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit their website: https://www.lcms.org/​​​​ Music for this production was obtained through a licensing agreement with One License, LLC. The copyright permission to reprint, podcast, and record hymns and songs is acquired through ID Number: 730195-A #LCMS #Lutheran #DivineService

Rev. Peter C. Bender

Who Made Who. In this episode, Gillespie takes the wheel and steers us into tradition, liturgy, worship styles, and the various "-isms" that have sprung up within the churches over the centuries. What's the purpose of the Divine Service? What is the fundamental meaning of Christian meaning? Have we jettisoned mystery for sensible explanations that find no seat pulled out for them in God's house? Is Christian worship, polity, and piety about what we know, experience, feel, or conformity to specific doctrines? Why is the old magic not welcome amongst sensible worshippers? What's the place of hymns, prayers, preaching, and Scripture in Christian worship? Is liturgy a delivery mechanism or a tool? SHOW NOTES:  Disney's Robin Hood (1973) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Hood_(1973_film) Still Asking Berry's Question https://www.frontporchrepublic.com/2025/12/still-asking-berrys-question/ Stephen R. Lawhead https://www.stephenlawhead.com   More from 1517: Support 1517 Podcast Network: https://www.1517.org/donate-podcasts 1517 Podcasts: http://www.1517.org/podcasts 1517 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@1517org 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/1517-podcast-network/id6442751370 1517 Events Schedule: https://www.1517.org/events 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education: https://academy.1517.org/   What's New from 1517: Coming Home for Christmas: 1517 Advent Devotional https://shop.1517.org/products/9781964419916-coming-home-for-christmas  Face to Face: A Novel of the Reformation by Amy Mantravadi https://shop.1517.org/products/9781964419312-face-to-face  Untamed Prayers: 365 Daily Devotions on Christ in the Book of Psalms by Chad Bird https://www.amazon.com/Untamed-Prayers-Devotions-Christ-Psalms/dp/1964419263  Remembering Your Baptism: A 40-Day Devotional by Kathryn Morales https://shop.1517.org/collections/new-releases/products/9781964419039-remembering-your-baptism  Sinner Saint by Luke Kjolhaug https://shop.1517.org/products/9781964419152-sinner-saint    More from the hosts: Donovan Riley https://www.1517.org/contributors/donavon-riley  Christopher Gillespie https://www.1517.org/contributors/christopher-gillespie   CONTACT and FOLLOW: Email mailto:BannedBooks@1517.org  Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BannedBooksPod/  Twitter https://twitter.com/bannedbooks1517   SUBSCRIBE: YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@BannedBooks Rumble https://rumble.com/c/c-1223313  Odysee https://odysee.com/@bannedbooks:5 Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/banned-books/id1370993639  Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/2ahA20sZMpBxg9vgiRVQba  Overcast https://overcast.fm/itunes1370993639/banned-books    MORE LINKS: Tin Foil Haloes https://t.me/bannedpastors Warrior Priest Gym & Podcast https://thewarriorpriestpodcast.wordpress.com   St John's Lutheran Church (Webster, MN) - FB Live Bible Study Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/356667039608511  Gillespie's Sermons and Catechesis http://youtube.com/stjohnrandomlake  Donavon's Substack https://donavonlriley.substack.com Gillespie's Nostr https://primal.net/p/nprofile1qqszfrg80ctjdr0wy5arrseu6h9g36kqx8fanr6a6zee0n8txa7xytc627hlq   Gillespie Coffee https://gillespie.coffee   Gillespie Media https://gillespie.media  

Rev. Peter C. Bender

Rev. Peter C. Bender

God, from the very beginning, has arranged for our adoption as His children. Long before we were aware of it, before we could understand our own story, His purpose was already at work. In spite of the failings of our parents, the disasters that have struck our lives, the swirling events of history, and even our own broken past and wandering paths, God has not been absent. He has been active, patient, and faithful. Every moment has been held within His care and directed toward His gracious will. In Luke 2, we see the boy Jesus in the temple, growing in wisdom and stature, obedient to His earthly parents, and yet fully devoted to His Father's house. This same Lord, who submitted Himself to the Law and fulfilled it perfectly, has done so for you. Through His life, death, and resurrection, you are chosen and redeemed, a child of God through faith in Jesus, an heir of eternal life. This is not by accident. This is not by merit. It is by grace alone. ----- Worship Times Sunday – 8:00 & 10:45 a.m. Monday – 6:30 p.m. https://trinitysheboygan.org https://facebook.com/trinitysheboygan We are a congregation of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Join us as we proclaim Christ crucified and risen for the forgiveness of sins. --- Trinity Lutheran Church, School and Child Care have been "Making Known the Love of Christ" in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and throughout the world since 1853 as a congregation gathering around God's Word and Sacraments to receive forgiveness and life everlasting. Trinity is located in downtown Sheboygan, only one block from the Mead Public Library and the Weill Center for the Performing Arts. We invite you to visit us in person! Trinity Lutheran Sheboygan is a proud member of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit their website: https://www.lcms.org/​​​​ Music for this production was obtained through a licensing agreement with One License, LLC. The copyright permission to reprint, podcast, and record hymns and songs is acquired through ID Number: 730195-A #LCMS #Lutheran #DivineService

It's a Fireside Chat with the Rev. Dr. Carl Fickenscher (Professor of Pastoral Ministry and Missions, Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN) who joins us to talk about where we find Christmas in the Divine Service during the Christmas season. As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let's be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

Rev. Peter C. Bender

The Circumcision of Our Lord and the Naming of Jesus.Rev. Peter C. Bender

Dr. Arthur Just of Concordia Theological Seminary-Ft. Wayne, IN “Heaven on Earth: The Gifts of Christ in the Divine Service” by Arthur Just “Concordia Commentary: Luke 1:1-9:50” by Arthur Just “Concordia Commentary: Luke 9:50-24:53” by Arthur JustThe post The Christmas Hymn, “All My Heart Again Rejoices” – Dr. Arthur Just, 1/2/26 (0022, Encore) first appeared on Issues, Etc..

Rev. Peter C. Bender

----- Worship Times Sunday – 8:00 & 10:45 a.m. Monday – 6:30 p.m. https://trinitysheboygan.org https://facebook.com/trinitysheboygan We are a congregation of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Join us as we proclaim Christ crucified and risen for the forgiveness of sins. --- Trinity Lutheran Church, School and Child Care have been "Making Known the Love of Christ" in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and throughout the world since 1853 as a congregation gathering around God's Word and Sacraments to receive forgiveness and life everlasting. Trinity is located in downtown Sheboygan, only one block from the Mead Public Library and the Weill Center for the Performing Arts. We invite you to visit us in person! Trinity Lutheran Sheboygan is a proud member of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit their website: https://www.lcms.org/​​​​ Music for this production was obtained through a licensing agreement with One License, LLC. The copyright permission to reprint, podcast, and record hymns and songs is acquired through ID Number: 730195-A #LCMS #Lutheran #DivineService

Rev. Peter C. Bender

Rev. Peter C. Bender

This is Wade's sermon at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Milwaukee, WI for the third Advent Vespers. The text is Luke 2:22-38. We'd love to have you join us sometime at Resurrection for the Divine Service on Sundays at 9am. As always, if you are enjoying the show, please subscribe, rate, and review us on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, or TuneIn Radio. You can also like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.  And, of course, share us with a friend or two! If you'd like to contact us we can be reached at podcast@LetTheBirdFly.com, or visit our website at www.LetTheBirdFly.com. Thanks for listening!