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Rev. Steve Andrews, pastor at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Lee’s Summit, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 1:18-25. Matthew’s account of Christmas focuses our attention on Jesus as the Christ, the Savior, and God with us. Joseph’s role is particularly emphasized. He knows that his betrothed is with child. He knows that the child is not his. He knows he wants to do what his just. His desire to show mercy and forgiveness to Mary serves as a type of the Child Joseph will adopt and raise. Joseph cannot know the just thing to do, however, unless the Lord reveals what has happened. He sends His angel to Joseph in a dream to preach the good news that no one would have known unless God had revealed it. The Son in Mary’s womb has been conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. This Child is Jesus, the LORD who saves His people. This Child is Immanuel, God with His people. Joseph believes God’s Word and acts accordingly. Joseph, the son of David, adopts Jesus, the Son of David, and raises Him as his

Rev. Peter Ill, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Milstadt, IL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 1:2-17. The genealogies of the Old Testament all pointed toward this genealogy of Jesus. Matthew traces Jesus’ lineage from Abraham, the father of many nations, through David, the king who was promised a descendant of the throne of Israel forever. Throughout the family line of Jesus, the LORD remained faithful to His promise to bring the Savior even in the midst of His people’s unfaithfulness. That was especially true during the time of the Babylonian captivity, when it seemed the kingly line had disappeared. The same theme of God’s faithfulness is seen in the five women mentioned in the genealogy Matthew records. The first and fourth women involve particularly scandalous events from all parties involved; the second and third women are Gentiles who are included in the people of God. Each one shows God’s faithfulness to bring the Savior into the world, which He accomplishes through the most unlike

Rev. Dr. Mark Birkholz, pastor at Faith Lutheran Church in Oak Lawn, IL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 1:1. St. Matthew, a tax collector and one of the Twelve, wrote the Gospel account that bears his name. He writes concerning Jesus, the Christ, to tell us of His death and resurrection for our salvation. He particularly emphasizes Jesus as the fulfillment of the Old Testament and the bringer of God’s kingdom. This is seen already in the very first verse of the Gospel. Matthew begins by marking his account as a continuation of the history of God’s work for salvation as it is recorded in the Old Testament. The main actor in this account is Jesus, whose name means, “the LORD saves.” This Jesus is the Christ, the anointed one God had long promised to send. He is the son of David, the King who will reign over Israel and over all forever. He is the son of Abraham, the Offspring who will bring the blessing of salvation to all families on the earth. This is Jesus, the center of Matthew’s Gospel acco

Rev. Tim Koch, pastor at the Emanuel Lutheran Church in Milbank, SD, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 2 Thessalonians 3:13-18. Paul strengthens weary Christians to continue in the good works God has given them to do. We can be confident that such works are good and pleasing in God’s sight, not based on how impressive they look to human eyes, but based upon God’s clear Word. The Christian response to this Word is to hold onto it in faith and deed; those who refuse to do so must be noted and avoided in order to bring them to repentance. The shame that is brought upon is not one of humiliation, but one of correction. Others are not to be regarded as enemies who must be destroyed. Rather, Paul commands love as toward a brother. The goal is to win the brother back into the family of God; he is one for whom Christ died. Paul brings his epistle to conclusion in his typical fashion. He signs the letter with his own hand as a sign of genuineness and closes by giving the peace and grace of God to the Thessalonia

Rev. Sean Kilgo, pastor at the Northeast Kansas Lutheran Partnership, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 2 Thessalonians 3:1-12. Paul begins to bring his second epistle to the Thessalonians to a close by commanding the Christians there to pray for his ongoing ministry. Christians ask the Lord to cause His Word to be preached purely and to bring forth fruit in the lives of His people. Such prayers for our Father’s goodness also are directed against the evil one’s schemes. Paul is confident that the Lord will answer according to His promise, as He strengthens the Thessalonians by His love and steadfastness toward them. That love and steadfastness from God guard the Thessalonians against laziness and disorderliness, both spiritually and physically. They must not live in laziness, as if Christ’s imminent coming has nothing to do with their daily living. Rather, they must remember the Word and example that Paul had given them, that work is a gift from God for the purpose of serving our neighbors in our everyd

Rev. Jacob Dandy, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church and Crown Christian School in St. Francis, MN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17. St. Paul makes it clear in this text that his preceding teaching concerning the end times has been for the Thessalonians’ comfort. He assures them that their salvation rests not on their own work, but upon God’s alone. God is the One who has chosen them for salvation. Not only has He accomplished their justification, He also accomplishes their sanctification through His Spirit until the end. This too is for their comfort, as they undergo suffering right now even as they await the Lord’s glory. This comfort is the ground by which the Thessalonians stand firm in the traditions Paul has given them. These are not man-made traditions, but the Word of God that has been passed down faithfully and is now being preached and written faithfully by Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Paul concludes with a Trinitarian blessing, confident that the one tr

Rev. Philip Hoppe, pastor at Peace Lutheran Church in Finlayson, MN and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Bruno, MN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12. St. Paul would have Christians take comfort in the true teaching concerning the Last Day when Christ returns. The Thessalonians had been shaken and alarmed by false teaching that had surfaced among them. Paul reminds them of the truth that he had taught them while he was among them. Jesus had not yet returned in some invisible, spiritual way. That Day was still coming. In the time leading up to that Day, Christians would apostatize from the faith and be deceived by the man of lawlessness. Yet as Christians, the Thessalonians could have confidence that even these events did not fall outside of the Lord’s direction for their salvation, for Jesus would bring this man of lawlessness to nothing by His Word, the same Word that is preached among Christians today. This Word protects Christians from such deception that ultimately comes from Sat

Rev. Dr. Adam Filipek, pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church and Immanuel Lutheran Church in Lidgerwood, ND, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12. The second letter to the Thessalonians shares much of the same historical context as the first letter. Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy write to comfort, correct, and admonish this young church. The first chapter is primarily a matter of comfort. The writers boast at how the Thessalonians have endured persecutions. Rather than abandoning the promises of God in foolishness, they have clung all the more fiercely to Christ and His Word. In this way, when Christians are weak, they are strong, for their only strength is the Lord. This brings more comfort to the Thessalonians as they learn that their afflictions are not the end. Even though the Day has not yet arrived, the Day will come when the Lord brings to them His promised comfort in all of its fullness. Those who have not trusted in His promises, however, will receive this Day as condemnation an

Rev. Jeff Hemmer, pastor at Bethany Lutheran Church in Fairview Heights, IL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 Thessalonians 5:23-28. The first letter to the Thessalonians comes to a close with the comfort and assurance that sanctification is God’s gift and work to His people. If the bullet list of exhortations had left anyone in despair, Paul is quick to direct them back to the only One who can accomplish such things in His people. Only the God of peace can do this, the One who has accomplished reconciliation between Himself and sinners, the One in Whom everything functions as He intended. Holiness is His gift and work, for it depends not upon our faithfulness, but upon His. Paul prays in this confidence for the Thessalonians, and he asks them to pray in that same confidence for him. They read his letter to them as the very Word of God, which brings about reconciliation between God and believers and so between fellow believers who greet each other with the holy sign of peace. Paul concludes with a be

Rev. Adam Koontz, assistant professor of exegetical theology at Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, IN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22. Paul’s instructions to church in Thessalonica concludes with a series of memorable one-liners intended to encourage these young Christians to live in Christ in the midst of persecution. He begins with the relationship between pastor and people, moves to the interactions within the Christians in the congregation, and finishes with the Christian life before the world. Both pastor and people must see the other in light of the holy work that is given to them by God of proclaiming the Word and hearing the Word. The work of admonishment is given to pastor and people together. Within the congregation, there are different spiritual needs with different spiritual responses, even as patience overarches all of it to keep the congregation together in repentance and faith. A list of wrongs has no place and will only destroy; forgiveness as it is s

Rev. James Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ottumwa, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11. Though Paul has already taught the Thessalonians concerning the Lord’s return, he writes to them in order to nourish and reinforce their faith so that they will meet that Day with confidence and joy. The Day of the Lord will be unexpected, like a thief in the night. Those who meet that Day without faith will face sudden destruction. Paul reminds the Thessalonians and all Christians that they are not such children of the darkness. They are children of the light because they are in Christ. That faith produces watchfulness and sober living, living in repentance of sin and good works of love for the neighbor. Living in the light of Christ, Christians are protected by His armor of faith, love, and hope. This is true because of what Christ has done. He has died so that we live. If this is how He has come to us the first time, then His second coming to deliver the fullness of His victor

Rev. David Appold, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Paducah, KY, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. Only Christians have true comfort in the face of death. While those who do not trust in Christ for salvation may attempt to avoid the subject of death or write it off as just another part of life, Christians grieve as those who have hope. Such grief acknowledges death as an enemy Christ has defeated. His death and resurrection have established His reign over all things and all people, even those who have died. For that reason, St. Paul writes with confidence to the Thessalonians that those who have died before Christ’s return are not apart from His care. That will be made plain on the Last Day, when Christ returns. He will descend bodily and visibly, commanding the dead to rise from their graves. The voice of an archangel and the sound of God’s trumpet will ring forth. The dead in Christ will rise first, and then those Christians who are alive at the time will meet Jesus in th

Rev. AJ Espinosa, adjunct professor of theology at Concordia University in Irvine, CA and host of KFUO Radio’s “Thy Strong Word,” joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12. Paul’s instructions for the Thessalonians cannot be separated from his praise for them. He encourages them to continue in the faith and faithful living that the Lord has given to them by His Word. Paul picks up his second topic for instruction in this text: the matter of brotherly love. Such brotherly love was known and valued in the Roman world around the Thessalonians; however, it was reserved for blood relatives. What made the brotherly love of the Christians scandalous was the centrality of Christ. Those who were otherwise unrelated and even unknown were treated with brotherly love because they bore Christ’s name. That brotherly love extended beyond the local congregation and into the surrounding areas. Such sharing of possessions and giving of money did not intend laziness, however. Paul commends quiet living and

Rev. Michael Schuermann, pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Sherman, IL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8. Having thanked God for the Thessalonians and recounted their faithful response to His Word, Paul now turns to matters of instruction. He encourages the Thessalonians to continue to walk in the ways they are already walking, as they have heard in his previous instruction. This is pleasing to God, not because their actions have earned His favor, but because He has given His favor to them in Christ and made them members of His family. This holiness is His gift and His will, and it manifests itself in the Christian’s life by their chastity. Such chastity is one of self-control, using one’s own body in ways that honor God’s gift of sexuality and engaging in marriage apart from the passion of lust. Furthermore, Paul says that chastity prevents sin against the neighbor, and ultimately, sin against God. To disregard this teaching is disregard not man’s word, but God’s. Still

Rev. Andrew Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Guttenberg, IA and St. Paul Lutheran Church in McGregor, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13. Timothy’s visit to the Thessalonians yielded a good report to bring back to Paul. The Thessalonians were standing strong in the Lord in the midst of affliction. This was good news for Paul, the fruit of the Gospel in the lives of the Thessalonians that rightly brought Paul great joy and comfort. The fact that they desired to see him face-to-face in the same way he desired to see them showed that the Gospel was bearing fruit among them still. The mystical union that each believer has with Christ also brings a union among fellow believers, a union that produces a longing to see each other as we rejoice and confess the truth before the Lord we do not yet see. Paul’s desire to see the Thessalonians face-to-face also includes his desire to continue to instruct them in Christian doctrine. Even as much as their faith has abounded, he know

Rev. Paul Pater, pastor at Shepherd of the Ridge Lutheran Church in North Ridgeville, OH and Hope Lutheran Church in Sheffield Village, OH, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:5. Paul’s stay with the Thessalonians had been brief, probably only a month. Yet the Word of God had worked faith in them and had established a bond of love in Christ between them and Paul. Persecution had torn them apart, and yet, their unity in Christ remained despite the distance that separated them. This unity that they had together in Christ even while they were apart did not leave them content to stay apart, however. Paul only desired all the more to see these fellow Christians face-to-face. His hope, joy, and crown of boasting would be to see them standing together with him as forgiven saints on the Last Day. Nonetheless, Paul’s desire had been hindered by Satan, and he and his companions could not bear to leave the Thessalonians alone any longer, lest they be led astray. Timothy, Paul’s brother and God

Rev. Chris Hull, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Tomball, TX joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 Thessalonians 2:13-16. Paul’s thanksgiving for the Thessalonians continues. When they heard Paul preach, they knew they had not heard the word of man. They had heard the Word of God, the powerful Word filled with the Holy Spirit that works in believers. This same Word of God has been written down for us in Holy Scripture by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit so that pastors would preach it faithfully and hearers would hold it sacred and learn it. That Word of God reveals to us the shape of the baptismal life, that is, the life of Christ which He has given us. That is why the Thessalonians joyfully imitated the other Christian churches in their suffering. They received the same hatred from the world that all Christians are bound to receive, and they received it with confidence and comfort in Christ. They could do so because they knew that such persecution had not stopped the Word of God from doing His work

Rev. Mark Barz, senior pastor at Crown of Life Lutheran Church in San Antonio, TX joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12. Although Paul, Silas, and Timothy only spent a short time in Thessalonica, their ministry among God’s people there was not in vain. The shameless treatment they received did not prevent God’s powerful gospel from doing His work. Their ministry was not like Roman speakers paid to talk; they came without error, impurity, or deception in order to be faithful to the one true God. In their ministry among the Thessalonians, these men conducted themselves both like a mother who nurtures her very own children and also like a father who encourages his children to go into the world as faithful family members. Such affection between the ministers of the Gospel and the hearers of the Gospel can only be attributed to God, who is the Gospel’s source, subject, and content. Seeing the example given here, pastors and hearers alike are encouraged through the Lord’s gift of confession

Rev. Matt Ulmer, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bishop, TX joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10. The first letter to the church in Thessalonica is one of the earliest, and very likely the earliest, books of the New Testament. Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy wrote to the young church to encourage them to continue to stand firm in Christ even amidst persecution. Following his usual pattern for letters, Paul greets the Thessalonians in the grace and peace that come only from the true God. He speaks of his thanksgiving to God in his prayers for their faith, love, and hope centered in Christ Jesus. In Him, God had chosen the Thessalonians by the Gospel, the word that is powerful by the working of the Holy Spirit. That powerful Word made them imitators of the Lord and His servants, as the word received affliction produced great joy. This provided an example throughout Macedonia, how the word of the Lord produced fruit among the Thessalonians. They had turned from dead idols to the livin

Rev. Sam Wirgau, pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ossian, IN joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Luke 17:11-19. Samaria was not a place where many Jews of Jesus’ day ventured, but that is exactly the route Jesus took to Jerusalem and His cross. There Jesus encountered ten lepers. These men not only suffered greatly physically from this terrible illness. Even more than that, they were separated from their community and worship life through the ceremonial uncleanness they endured. This served as a picture of the sin that infects all people. That’s why these ten lepers cry out to Jesus for mercy, His grace and compassion that alone can heal and save. Jesus sends them to show themselves to the priest, and as they go, His Word effects healing. One recognizes what has happened and believes. He returns to Jesus as the true Temple, the place where God dwells in human flesh. He returns to Jesus as the true Priest, the one who makes the final sacrifice for sin. He praises God by giving praise and thanks to Je