Rev. John Hopkins, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Hicksville, NY joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study and pray Psalm 25.

“Remember when…” we will say while with old friends. David realizes his sin and asks the LORD not to remember his sins—which we all hope, but also to remember that He is mercy. This Psalm is a prayer of a faithful person who not only seeks forgiveness, but for the LORD to lead, teach, guard, and give them refuge. Our pleas for forgiveness are not only for us as individuals, but also for others. “Christ be my Leader by night as by day; Safe through the darkness, for He is the way. Gladly I follow, my future His care, Darkness is daylight when Jesus is there" (Lutheran Service Book 861, "Christ Be My Leader").

Rev. Dan Torkelson, pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church in North Prairie, WI joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study and pray Psalm 126.

The LORD restores fortunes. This Psalm might have been written after the Israelites were restored back to their homeland. Although everything was not perfect, it was another opportunity for a time to give thanks, to dream of what might be, and to see once again how the LORD takes care of us. He restores us daily by forgiveness in Christ by taking all sins from us. He restored the fortune of God’s people from slavery and captivity which reminds us of the future restoration to the perfect fortune of the new heaven and new earth. “Lord God, restore our fortunes in body and soul, You have done great things for us, even when I sow in tears, bring joy now and when Your Son returns. In His name, Amen”

Rev. John Lukomski, co-host of Wrestling with the Basics on KFUO Radio, joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study and pray Psalm 23. Find Wrestling with the Basics at kfuo.org/WrestlingWithTheBasics.

We are like lost sheep who need a Shepherd. David’s words remind us all that the LORD gives: daily needs, righteousness, peace, comfort, goodness, mercy, restoration, and all that we need to support this body and life. This psalm is a great comfort in all stages of life. He not only has compassion on us as sheep, BUT He treats us as royalty by preparing a place at the King’s table. Our LORD, the fullness of goodness and mercy, will be with us through everything with a steadfast, compassionate love that we fully see by His cross. Alleluia! "The King of Love my shepherd is, Whose goodness faileth never; I nothing lack if I am His, and HE is mine forever" (Lutheran Service Book 709, "The King of Love My Shepherd Is").

Rev. Bryan Stecker, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church & School in Waconia MN, joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study and pray Psalm 22.

We hear the prayer of David and we see Christ on the cross. The connections to Christ are everywhere: mocking from others (v.7), bones are out of joint (v.16), piercing of my hands and feet (v.17), my tongue sticks to my jaws (v.15), and dividing the garments (v.18). The LORD worked through David to prove that this suffering Jesus was the King of Jews whose love goes beyond any love in this broken world. “Tell me, ye who hear Him groaning ; was there ever grief like His? Friends through fear His cause disowning, foes insulting His distress; Many hands were raised to wound Him, None would intervene to save; But the deepest stroke that pierced Him was the stroke that justice gave" (Lutheran Service Book 451, "Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted").

Rev. Dr. Jon Furgeson, pastor of Peace Lutheran Church in St. Louis, MO joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study and pray Psalm 24.

Seek the Lord. He is strong and mighty, the Lord of Glory, everything is His, and He is righteous. David expresses his trust that he was indeed unworthy to be in God’s presence. Our confidence is not in our clean hands, but in the LORD who makes us clean by His blood. Many questions in this world do not have an answer we can speak with confidence. However, in Christ, we confidently say that He is our King of Glory, the LORD of hosts, “Jesus is my confidence.” “Jesus lives! And now is death But the gate of life immortal; This shall calm my trembling breath; When I pass it gloomy portal. Faith shall cry, as fails each sense. Jesus is my confidence. (#490, Jesus Lives! The Victory’s Won, LSB).

Rev. Steven Theiss, vacancy pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in New Wells, MO joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study and pray Psalm 127.

“Unless the Lord builds it…” reminds us that everything is a gift from the LORD. Solomon understood that the LORD wanted the temple to be built and He was in control. This understanding extends to our families as we see the gift of children as a heritage of the LORD. In our culture we can get caught downplaying the gift of the family, but God fills us with the joy of children (our own or others) as a blessing to all of us. “Lord God, help us to rest in Your promises and to see every child as a blessing from You. Forgive us for trusting in ourselves and only seeing the burdens of others. Lord have mercy. Amen”

Rev. Dr. Nathan Meador, Executive Assistant for Mission and Mercy for the South Wisconsin District in Milwaukee, WI joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study and pray Psalm 128.

To fear the Lord is to understand what we deserve (justice) in comparison to what we receive (forgiveness and love). The Psalmist proclaims the truth of the blessing of His love for us while seeking His strength and peace to live a holy life, especially within our families. This psalm is an important prayer for husbands & wives, extended family, and our churches to be reminded that we are blessed seeking His peace for all of us. “The LORD bless you from Zion! May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life. May You see your children’s children! Peace be upon Israel. Amen”

Rev. David Boisclair of Faith and Bethesda Lutheran Church in Pine Lawn, MO joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 28:16-20.

Jesus’ last words in the Gospel of Matthew are full of promise. He has all authority over everything (v.18), He is part of the Triune Godhead (v.19), and He will be with us forever (v.20). What a joy to know that Jesus is not only all powerful but has committed himself to cling to us through thick and thin. The calling for the church is clear: make disciples through baptism in the name of the Triune God and teaching. These words may seem too simple, but it is truly a work of the Holy Spirit through the means of grace. He calls the church to proclaim this good news. The holy catholic and apostolic church calls pastors to faithfully preach the Gospel and administer His sacraments while the priesthood of all believers proclaim this truth in their daily vocations. “I know my Redeemer lives; what comfort this sweet sentence gives! He lives, He lives, who once was dead; He lives my ever-living head (Lutheran Service Book 461, LSB “I Know my Redeemer lives”).”

Rev. Eric Moquin, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Sherwood, OH joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 28:1-15.

Alleluia, Christ is Risen; He is Risen indeed, Alleluia! The walk to the tomb was filled with grief, but after the angel’s message and the proof of an empty tomb they quickly left with great joy. Jesus met them on the road and said words of peace, “Do not be afraid.” There will always be a message that tries to counter the truth of His resurrection, but we cling to the promises that in fact, Christ has been risen from the dead, therefore nothing shall separate us from His love. “If Christ had not been raised from death; Our faith would be in vain; Our preaching but a waste of breath, our sin and guilt remain; But now the LORD is ris’n indeed; He rules in earth and heav’n; His Gospel meets a world of need—In Christ we are forgiv’n.” (Lutheran Service Book 486, "If Christ Had Not Raised from the Dead").

Rev. Tom Eckstein, pastor of Concordia Lutheran Church in Jamestown, ND joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Matthew 27:45-66.

The cross does the talking. By the cross we see the perfect form of love that God would die for his friend (John 15:13). The cross was the final sacrifice for all (Hebrews 10:10). The cross is the fulfillment of Psalm 22. The cross proclaims the truth that He accomplished everything for our salvation. The cross leads the centurion and others with him proclaim the truth, “Truly this was the Son of God.” This message was so strong that the religious leaders tried to prevent any opportunities for Jesus’ resurrection by sealing the tomb, but the sealant could not hold him! “Lamb of God, pure and holy, Who on the cross didst suffer; Ever patient and lowly, Thyself to scorn didst offer; All sins Tho borest for us, Else had despised reigned o’er us. Have mercy on us, O Jesus, O Jesus!” (Lutheran Service Book 434, Lamb of God, Pure and Holy).