In this beautiful hymn written especially for the 2nd Sunday of Easter, John of Damascus proclaims that the rescue that God gave to Israel through the Exodus has been fulfilled in the rescue God has given to us through the resurrection of Jesus. The winter of sin and death has come to an end; new life has risen in Christ. For this reason, the faithful join together to sing the praises of the Lord Jesus as they gather to receive from Him the precious feast of HIs Supper. This brings the same peace to us today as the Lord once gave to His disciples in the locked room where they were hidden in fear. In that peace, we sing our “Alleluias” to our immortal King eternally. Find this hymn at hymnary.org/hymn/LSB2006/487.

Rev. Carl Roth, pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Lutheran Service Book #487, “Come, You Faithful, Raise the Strain.”

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.

LSB 487: Come, You Faithful, Raise the Strain

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.

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Perhaps incorrectly inspired by his dream of a statue, Nebuchadnezzar builds an enormous golden statue. He issues a decree that all people must bow down to worship it at the sound of any music. The penalty for disobedience is death in a fiery furnace. Some of the king’s pagan advisors, jealous of the high standing of the Judean exiles Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego, bring accusations against these men’s faithfulness to the LORD. When Nebuchadnezzar threatens them with death, they make the good confession that their God is the only one to be worshiped. Even though Nebuchadnezzar heats the furnace seven times hotter than usual, the LORD delivers the three young men.

Rev. John Bussman, pastor at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Cullman, AL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Daniel 3:1-30.

"God’s Kingdom Endures Forever” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Daniel. Although God’s people were exiled in Babylon, the LORD remained the true King. He strengthened His people for faithful confession in the face of idolatry, and through prophetic visions and dreams revealed that He would establish His everlasting Kingdom. This points to Jesus Christ, the Son of Man, who reigns over us and all creation.

Daniel 3:1-30: Faithful in the Fire

Nebuchadnezzar has a troubling dream that he commands his pagan advisors to both tell him and interpret for him. When they admit that they cannot, he is prepared to execute them all. Daniel intercedes on their behalf and prays, along with his three friends, that the LORD will make the matter known. The LORD answers their prayer, and Daniel gives the credit entirely to God as he tells Nebuchadnezzar both the dream and its interpretation. The statue made of different materials stands for the coming kingdoms of men, starting with Babylon and going through history to Rome. The stone that breaks the statue to pieces is the coming kingdom of God, which will be established forever.

Rev. Jeffrey Ries, pastor at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tacoma, WA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Daniel 2:1-49.

"God’s Kingdom Endures Forever” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Daniel. Although God’s people were exiled in Babylon, the LORD remained the true King. He strengthened His people for faithful confession in the face of idolatry, and through prophetic visions and dreams revealed that He would establish His everlasting Kingdom. This points to Jesus Christ, the Son of Man, who reigns over us and all creation.

Daniel 2:1-49: The Divine Stone Smashes the Kingly Statue

The book of Daniel begins in 605 BC with the first exiles Nebuchadnezzar took from Judah to Babylon. These initial exiles were from the upper echelons of Judean society, in a Babylonian effort to begin to assimilate the people under their culture and religion. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were four young men brought into the king’s palace as a part of this attempt. Although they were assigned Babylonian names, they refused to compromise to false religion in the king’s court. The LORD blessed their faithfulness before the king, showing Himself to be the true God before Nebuchadnezzar and all his pagan advisors.

Rev. Jeremiah Johnson, pastor at Glory of Christ Lutheran Church in Plymouth, MN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Daniel 1:1-21.

"God’s Kingdom Endures Forever” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Daniel. Although God’s people were exiled in Babylon, the LORD remained the true King. He strengthened His people for faithful confession in the face of idolatry, and through prophetic visions and dreams revealed that He would establish His everlasting Kingdom. This points to Jesus Christ, the Son of Man, who reigns over us and all creation.

Daniel 1:1-21: Babylonian Names Don’t Erase Christian Faith

"God’s Kingdom Endures Forever” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Daniel. Although God’s people were exiled in Babylon, the LORD remained the true King. He strengthened His people for faithful confession in the face of idolatry, and through prophetic visions and dreams revealed that He would establish His everlasting Kingdom. This points to Jesus Christ, the Son of Man, who reigns over us and all creation.

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.

NEW SERIES: God’s Kingdom Endures Forever

The prophet Isaiah’s vision is brought to glorious fulfillment as he describes Judgment Day. On that Day, the LORD’s fire will burn against those who have refused His gifts and turned to the foolishness of idolatry. Both idolatry and idolaters will meet their end. In this way, the LORD gives security and peace to His people. As He gathers the nations, He places the sign of the death and resurrection to call people from every language to Himself. He sends His remnant to proclaim this message so that people from even the ends of the earth will be made a part of His people. Those who hear and believe will remain forever in the new heavens and the new earth; those who refuse the LORD’s Word will be cast into the outer darkness in His perfect justice. For all who hear and read Isaiah’s words today, the message is simple: “Repent and believe in the Gospel today!”

Rev. Dr. Adam Koontz, pastor and evangelist at Trinity Lutheran Church in Denver, CO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Isaiah 66:15-24.

"The Fifth Evangelist” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through Isaiah 40-66. Though Isaiah lived one hundred years beforehand, he writes to the people of God in exile in Babylon to assure them that their God reigns and will rescue them through the work of His servant. These promises are fulfilled in Jesus Christ, whose work Isaiah proclaims vividly seven hundred years beforehand.

LSB 487: Come, You Faithful, Raise the Strain

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