Rev. Matthew Gunia, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Ironwood, MI joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Genesis 13.

Abram and Lot had come to a head. They both had great possessions which in itself is not the issue, but coveting and conflict led them to separate. Abram’s faith and love toward Lot allowed his nephew to choose where he wanted to go. Abram’s goal was for the sake of unity and seeking the LORD’s help, yet Lot had a goal of living in bountiful land for his benefit. We all fall into this temptation as we seek which direction to take in this life. It is easy to seek the instant benefits while forgetting the temptations and trials one decision can cause. The LORD provided for both Abram and Lot and we know by faith, that He will provide for us in Christ. “Lord God, keep our eyes fixed on Jesus as we walk through this life. Protect us from the temptations of the evil one and direct in the ways You have set before us. Forgive us our sins and provide for all our needs. Lord in your mercy. Amen”

Rev. Dave Hinz, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Sauk Rapids, MN joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Genesis 12.

Abram was given a “great commission” to leave his home to travel 700+ miles with many blessings to be a blessing to the world. Abram leaves his home and through him the Lord’s name will be great. To have such a calling had to be taxing, but everything was done to the LORD. Although Abram was a faithful man, temptation was real for him as he entered Egypt. Instead of trusting the Lord’s providence, he predicted the Egyptian reactions and lied. In faith, may we cling to His promises and live holy lives through temptation. “Lord God, as You called Abram, You have called us to serve in Your kingdom. Keep us steadfast in trusting in Your promises to keep from temptation to love You and love others. In Christ, Amen”

Rev. Joshua Knippa, pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Nederland, TX joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Genesis 11:10-32.

Shem’s descendants bring hope. In Genesis 9, the Lord promised to bless Shem and his descendants as he was faithful to the Lord (9:25-28). His lineage leads us to understand that the LORD, for whatever reason, works through all sorts of fallen people. Abram’s family was from the ungodly country of Ur, but God chose him to follow. This is a reminder our gracious God chooses the least of these and qualifies the chosen. “Lord Jesus Christ, as You have chosen us, like Abram, to be Your people, help us to find rest in grace and bless future generations in the comfort and hope of Your salvation. Amen”

Rev. John Lukomski, co-host of Wrestling with the Basics on KFUO Radio, joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Genesis 11:1-9. Find Wrestling with the Basics at kfuo.org/WrestlingWithTheBasics.

God’s people were to be dispersed and be fruitful in His name, but instead they wanted to make a name for themselves. It is easy for all of us to attempt to uphold an ideal situation like one language, same words, and build a huge tower. Yet, what gets lost is the LORD! If we stay in the ideals of life, we can easily forget God and His glory. The Lord’s dispersion of God’s people to curtail pride and evil is a sign of love to assure that He would stay with Him. We celebrate Pentecost knowing what was dispersed has now been united in Christ by the Holy Spirit. “Lord Jesus, as we are united together by Your blood through the Holy Spirit, keep us humble, steadfast in faith, that Your name be known around the world. O Holy Spirit, enter in. Amen”

Rev. James Price, pastor of Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Wamego, KS joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Genesis 10.

The LORD provides. When the earth only had 8 people left, the Lord caused His people to be fruitful and multiply in the dignity of being a child of God. We are all descended from Noah’s family which reminds us to treat each other with dignity, especially as we know it is Christ who has shed His blood for all nations. God’s people extended throughout the world and through Abraham all nations will be blessed through faith in the LORD. This connects to us as Christians, that by His grace, this Gospel goes to all nations (Matthew 28:19). “O LORD, as You provide for Your people, help us to give dignity to all people, by Your Holy Spirit bring all nations to Christ and His forgiving grace. Lord have mercy. Amen”

Rev. Curtis Deterding of Zion Lutheran Church in Fort Myers, FL joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Genesis 9.

Noah and his family are living in the new creation. He gives them the gift of life, food, and the promise to no longer have a worldwide flood. Yet, this new creation was still filled with temptation and shame. Noah was tempted to use the Lord’s gift to his detriment which led to more sin. By the promise of our LORD we know we have sinned which causes other sins which leads to issues beyond ourselves. By the grace of God, we repent of the shame of sin and by the blood of Christ that gives life, we live as new creations. “Lord God, as Noah needed a Savior, thank you for giving us that same Savior. Grant us the gift of repentance and put your name of redemption on us to trust and love in Your name. In HIs name we pray, Amen”

Rev. David Boisclair of Faith and Bethesda Lutheran Church in Pine Lawn, MO joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Genesis 8.

The destruction of the world was completed. The waters subsided and God was bringing humanity back to a new creation. In faith, Noah builds an altar and worships the LORD while the LORD makes a promise to never do this again. He will sustain all of this new creation: seedtime & harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night. As we are a new creation, He will sustain us by remembering His mercy and love for His people through Christ, we trust that He will continue to sustain us and continually make things new by His grace. “O Holy Spirit, make us a new creation. Thank you for making us a new creation through Christ in Baptism. We ask that You would sustain us as Your people that we may worship You as did Noah. In His name, Amen”

Rev. Jonathan Buescher, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Mount Pulaski, IL, joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Genesis 7.

In faith, Noah built the ark and now it was getting real. The door was shut, the rain came, and all flesh on the earth died. Noah knew all of the destruction to come, but by God’s grace still did all that the LORD had commanded him. As the LORD saved Noah and his family through the ark, we are reminded that He has saved us by Christ through Baptism (I Peter 3:21). The wrath placed on the world has now been placed on Christ. “Lord Jesus Christ, as the Father’s wrath was placed on Your shoulders, we give You thanks for the freedom from sin and help us to live like Noah in doing Your will. In Your name, Amen”

Rev. Dr. Robert Gehrke, pastor of South Shore Trinity Lutheran Church in White Bear Lake, MN joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Genesis 6.

The corruption of the world was out of control. The LORD grieved the reality of His creation and planned to blot out all living creatures. Sin was, and still is, so great that every intention was only evil continually. In this darkness enters Noah who had found favor in the eyes of the LORD. By His grace, the LORD brought hope through some wood through one man to save the human race. That same grace is extended to us, as the ark saved humanity, He saved us in Christ through Baptism (I Peter 3:21). The same God who found favor with Noah, on account of Christ, He finds favor in us. By faith Noah did all that the Lord had commanded him and we ask that we may do the same. “Lord God, bring repentance into our hearts, so that we may be kept from corruption. By grace, keep us in Your favor that we may follow Your commands. In Christ, Amen”

Rev. Doug Minton, pastor of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Milford, IL joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Genesis 5.

In Chapter 4, we hear of how God’s people were calling on His name. God reminds us how He is faithful to all generations and gives us examples of how we can walk with Jesus. The birth of Seth already points us to Christ as his name means “Substitute.” Christ is our substitute to take the wrath of God upon Himself. We hear of Enoch who walked with God and we pray that we would walk the walk of faith. “Let us ever walk with Jesus, follow his example pure, flee the world which would deceive us and to sin our souls allure. Ever in his footsteps treading, body here, yet soul above, full of faith and hope and love, let us do the Father’s bidding. Faithful Lord, abide with me; Savior, lead; I follow thee.”

(Lutheran Service Book 685)