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. Sharper Iron is underwritten by Lutheran Church Extension Fund, where your investments help support the work of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit lcef.org.
Latest episodes
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55 min
Job 8:1-22: Just Repent, and God Will Make It Better
Bildad takes a turn to respond to Job. In tactless and hurtful words, he asserts Job’s children surely got what they deserved. However, if Job will simply admit his wrong and plead…
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54 min
Job 7:1-21: In God’s Crosshairs
Job’s complaint continues. He compares himself to a slave who works all day yet receives no payment for his labor other than sleepless nights. He turns directly to God with his lam…
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56 min
Job 6:1-30: The Mirage of Friendship Doesn’t Help Suffering
Job responds to Eliphaz. Job’s suffering is real, and his suffering is heavy. Job has no strength of his own remaining, and now his “friends” have proven themselves treacherous. Jo…
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55 min
Job 5:1-27: Adverse Axioms
Eliphaz continues his response to Job. He knows from experience that Job’s affliction hasn’t come from nowhere. Eliphaz advises Job to seek God; if Job will do his part in repentin…
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55 min
Job 4:1-21: Eliphaz Tells a Ghost Story
Eliphaz begins to respond to Job. Whereas Job had once been the teacher, Eliphaz claims that now Job is being taught. Eliphaz says that he has seen that the innocent do not perish;…
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55 min
Job 3:1-26: Life without God Is Worse than Death
After seven days of silence with his friends, Job speaks first. With vivid imagery, he curses the day of his birth and says it would be better if he were now dead. Yet this is not…
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58 min
Job 2:1-13: Receiving Good and Evil from God
The scene in the heavenly council from Job 1 replays in Job 2. The LORD again taunts Satan with the righteousness of Job, yet Satan challenges God once again. Job's own health rema…
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56 min
Job 1:6-22: Does Man Fear God for No Reason?
The backstory for Job is found in God's heavenly council. There, God taunts Satan that Job is a righteous man. Satan challenges God, however, claiming that Job only fears God becau…
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55 min
Job 1:1-5: Is Job God's Enemy?
The book of Job is wisdom literature, in which God's Word helps us to wrestle with important questions of faith and life. Job's great suffering leads to a debate between him and hi…
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2 min
NEW SERIES: There Is a Redeemer
“There Is a Redeemer” is a series on Sharper Iron that studies the book of Job. The suffering of Job raises important questions. Does man fear God for no reason? Shall we receive g…
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53 min
Matthew 28:11-20: To All Nations
When the guards give their report of events at Jesus’ tomb, the Sanhedrin bribes them to say that the disciples stole Jesus’ body. Their lie has sent this false gospel into the wor…
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56 min
Matthew 28:1-10: The Victory Remained with Life
At dawn of the first day of the week, the third day since Jesus had died, the two Marys went to see Jesus’ tomb. They expected Jesus would be dead, despite Jesus’ promise. A divine…
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54 min
Matthew 27:57-66: Christ Jesus Lay in Death’s Strong Bands
Joseph of Arimathea uses his wealth in service to the Lord by providing a tomb for Jesus. Through Joseph, God fulfills the Word He spoke through Isaiah. From an earthly perspective…
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55 min
Matthew 27:51-56: A Strange and Dreadful Strife
The signs accompanying Jesus’ death provide God’s testimony for the victory that He has won. The tearing of the temple curtain showed that the once-for-all sacrifice has been made…
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53 min
Matthew 27:45-50: O Darkest Woe!
For three hours, miraculous darkness covers the land as Judgment Day comes upon Jesus on the cross. He experiences the suffering of hell as the Father forsakes Him. Nonetheless, as…
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53 min
Matthew 27:27-44: O Sacred Head, Now Wounded
Pilate’s soldiers treat Jesus with cruel mockery. Even though they do not believe He is a King, Jesus truly reigns as He is crowned with thorns and enthroned on His cross. Through…
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54 min
Matthew 27:11-26: His Blood Be on Us
As Pilate examines Jesus for guilt, the governor is amazed at the Lord’s silence to His accusers. Pilate attempts to use his custom of releasing a prisoner at the Passover to relea…
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53 min
Matthew 26:69-27:10: Peter’s Denial and Judas’ Despair
Although Peter follows Jesus at a distance, Peter’s threefold denial of Jesus happens just as the Lord had foretold. With growing vehemence, Peter refuses to acknowledge any connec…
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54 min
Matthew 26:57-68: Who Is Really on Trial?
As the Sanhedrin meets in the darkness, they have already determined a guilty verdict for Jesus, regardless of the evidence. Their initial inability to find even false witnesses to…
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54 min
Matthew 26:47-56: The Betrayer’s Kiss
Just as Jesus said, one of His own twelve disciples delivers Him into the hands of those who desire to kill Him. In an awful irony, Judas uses a sign of greatest affection for the…