Best Thy Stong Word Podcasts (2025)

1
Matthew 1: A Genealogy of Grace 59:15

Play Pause

3d ago59:15

59:15

The Gospel of Matthew opens with a genealogy. Another long list of names in the Bible which you would be forgiven for thinking would make for dry conversation. But a closer look reveals this list of names tells the story of God’s faithfulness in keeping his promises throughout the generations. From Abraham to David, and from exile to Christ, this c…

1
Nehemiah 13: Well, That Didn’t Take Long 57:17

4d ago57:17

57:17

Nehemiah comes back to Jerusalem a short time after completing his term as Governor and returning to Persia, only to find the people slipping back into sin. The temple is neglected, the Sabbath is profaned, and intermarriage with pagan nations threatens the integrity of God’s covenant people. Nehemiah confronts these issues head-on, cleansing the t…

1
Nehemiah 12: The Wall is Dedicated—Party at God's House! 54:50

5d ago54:50

54:50

The walls of Jerusalem are finally complete and dedicated, but the work isn't finished until the people offer up thanksgiving and rejoice in God's blessings on their efforts and the Holy City. Nehemiah 12 describes a grand celebration and festival filled with music, choirs, and thanksgiving as the poeple give God the glory for His faithfulness and …

1
Nehemiah 11: The Holy City Needs a Tithe of People 55:29

6d ago55:29

55:29

The walls of Jerusalem have been rebuilt, but as Nehemiah surveys the city, there’s a problem: it’s practically empty. How can a city survive, much less thrive, without people? In today’s text, we see how God’s people step out in faith to repopulate Jerusalem. Some are chosen by lot, while others willingly volunteer, leaving behind the comfort of t…

1
Nehemiah 10: God’s People Sign Their Life Away (to God) 56:07

7d ago56:07

56:07

After the tears of confession and the long prayer of chapter 9, it's time to put pen to parchment, or rather, seal to scroll. Nehemiah leads the way as 84 leaders formally sign their names to a binding covenant, pledging their families and fortunes to follow God's Law. From priests to Levites to lay leaders, each signature represents households com…

1
Nehemiah 9: Heavy Hearts, Steadfast Hope 1:00:18

10d ago1:00:18

1:00:18

When you’ve really blown it and you’ve wandered far from God and the guilt of your sins weighs heavy, what do you do? Do you run and hide? Do you make excuses? Or do you come back, empty-handed, with nothing but confession on your lips? That’s exactly what the people of Israel do in Nehemiah 9. After rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem and hearing on…

1
Nehemiah 8: The Six-Hour Bible Study 56:22

11d ago56:22

56:22

God’s people all gathered in the square and asked Ezra to bring out the scroll of the Law of Moses and read it to them. From dawn until noon, Ezra read God's Word to the entire crowd while they stood and listened attentively the whole time. Six hours of standing and listening to Scripture! As Ezra and the Levites explained the meaning and helped th…

1
Nehemiah 7: 42,360 Reasons to Celebrate—The Wall is Done! 56:21

12d ago56:21

56:21

After Nehemiah leads the people to finish building the wall around Jerusalem, one would think he would take some time and relax, perhaps have a festival to celebrate? Unfortunately, there’s no time for that. Instead, he does what any good project manager would do--he starts taking inventory. Nehemiah opens the old genealogical records and starts a …

1
Nehemiah 6: God’s Work is Too Important to Stop for Haters 55:30

13d ago55:30

55:30

When you're doing something truly important for God, expect the enemy of God to increase his resistance and opposition. Today's hostile news media, social media attacks, and lies and false rumors against God’s people aren't new tactics. In fact, they're ancient strategies of the Accuser. Today on Thy Strong Word, we witness Nehemiah facing his fier…

1
Nehemiah 5: Nehemiah Takes the Judean Elite to Court 54:13

14d ago54:13

54:13

Ordinary Judean families cry out under crushing debt, famine, and heavy Persian taxes, while their own nobles and officials exploit them for profit. Nehemiah responds with righteous anger, confronting the elites in a public assembly and demanding immediate restitution. He calls them back to God’s Law, reminds them of their covenant duty, and sets t…

1
Nehemiah 4: Peace Through Strength 59:47

17d ago59:47

59:47

The sound of hammers echoes across Jerusalem’s broken walls, but so does the laughter of their enemies. They mock. They scheme. They threaten the Hebrews, yet God’s people continue to build but now armed! Half hold spears, swords, and bows, and half hold trowels, but all of them trust that God will defend them from every attack, and so the wall con…

1
Nehemiah 3: Wall Builders Needed: Sign Up in the Narthex 52:29

18d ago52:29

52:29

The call to “rise up and build” is immediately answered as chapter 3 provides a roll call of Jerusalem’s rebuilders. From the high priest at the Sheep Gate to perfumers, rulers, goldsmiths, and even daughters, a diverse community finds their specific place on the wall. This long list, which sounds like a church project sign-up sheet, actually serve…

1
Nehemiah 2:11-20: The Midnight Ride of Nehemiah 54:33

19d ago54:33

54:33

With Persian King Artaxerxes’ permission and timber in hand, Nehemiah reaches Jerusalem, surveys the ruined walls by night, and calls to the remnant: “Let us rise up and build.” Mockery from Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem (symbolizing the enemies of God’s people on all sides) hears from a confident Nehemiah, “The God of heaven will make us prosper!”…

1
Nehemiah 1:1-2:10: Nehemiah Prays, Then Acts 56:21

20d ago56:21

56:21

Have you ever gotten news that knocked the wind out of you? Some news stops you in your tracks. A phone call in the night, a diagnosis, a letter from the IRS. Suddenly you’re sitting down, head in your hands. That’s Nehemiah in chapter one. He’s a man with a powerful position, a good life in Persia, and yet when he hears about Jerusalem, he breaks …

1
NEW STUDY: Nehemiah 0:30

20d ago0:30

0:30

From rubble to renewal, Nehemiah shows how the Lord rebuilds not just walls but hearts. Brick by brick and prayer by prayer, we follow God’s people through repentance, courageous leadership, fierce opposition, covenant renewal, and joyful dedication. This verse-by-verse series keeps Law and Gospel front and center, tracing the story from burned gat…

1
Ezra 9 and 10: Ending on a Low Note 56:36

21d ago56:36

56:36

The exiles have returned, the temple is rebuilt, and worship has resumed. Ezra has led the people in prayer, fasting, and thanksgiving. It feels like a high point. But almost immediately, the celebration collides with reality. In chapters 9 and 10, Ezra discovers that the people, priests and leaders included, have compromised themselves with the su…

1
Free-Text Friday: The 1700th Anniversary of the Nicene Creed 58:08

24d ago58:08

58:08

In AD 325, over three hundred bishops gathered to answer a question that threatened to tear the church apart: Was Jesus Christ truly God, or merely the greatest of God's creatures? Their answer, refined at Constantinople in 381, became the Nicene Creed - the most universally confessed statement of Christian faith across all denominations. Pastor Ti…

1
Ezra 8: Missing Levites 54:10

25d ago54:10

54:10

Ezra leads 1,500 men and their families on a dangerous 900-mile journey from Babylon to Jerusalem, transporting 35 tons of gold and silver without military protection. When he discovers no Levites have volunteered for the journey, he must recruit worship leaders before the caravan can depart. Through fasting, prayer, and careful accountability, Ezr…

1
Ezra 7: Foreign Policy, Divine Purpose 56:09

26d ago56:09

56:09

Nearly sixty years have passed since the events of the previous chapter. Now, a new king reigns over the Persians—Artaxerxes. Ezra receives extraordinary royal authorization from Artaxerxes to lead another group of exiles back to Jerusalem. The episode examines the remarkably generous terms of the king's letter, granting Ezra sweeping authority to …

1
Haggai 5 and 6: “Do You Have a Permit for that Temple?” 55:26

27d ago55:26

55:26

Ezra 5–6 reads like a bureaucratic standoff: a nosy governor demands paperwork, and the Jews don’t have it on hand. Yet, hidden in the royal archives of a pagan empire is a dusty old decree from King Cyrus himself. Suddenly, along with King Darius’ decree, the state not only permits the temple to be rebuilt, but it also pays for it. In an age where…

1
Free-Text First Friday: The 1700th Anniversary of the Nicene Creed (Rebroadcast) 1:01:06

28d ago1:01:06

1:01:06

Seventeen centuries ago, in the bustling town of Nicaea, over 300 bishops from across the Roman Empire gathered, summoned by Emperor Constantine to resolve a crisis shaking the very foundations of Christianity. At stake was nothing less than the identity of Jesus Christ: was He truly God, co-eternal and of the same substance as the Father, or merel…

1
Zechariah 14: Nations Rage, the Lord Reigns 53:13

1M ago53:13

53:13

It often feels like the world is unraveling. Nations rage, foundations shake, and evil seems to advance on all sides. We see the siege and feel the battle is nearly lost. We look for a hero, a victory, a final turning of the tide. But human plans fail. The prophet Zechariah paints a picture of that final day. The battle rages, the city is taken, an…

1
Zechariah 12 & 13: Your Sins Pierced Him 55:32

1M ago55:32

55:32

There are moments you wish you could forget: A word spoken in anger or selfishness that caused another to hurt. The feeling that follows is a unique kind of grief. It's a sense of mourning over what you have caused. We know what it is to wound a friend or a family member. But can we comprehend wounding God Himself? The prophet Zechariah speaks of a…

1
Zechariah 10 & 11: Shepherd of the Doomed 56:47

1M ago56:47

56:47

Zechariah gives a stark image of this faithlessness. He tells of shepherds who value God's people so little that their worth is calculated at a mere thirty pieces of silver—the price of a slave gored by an ox. This paltry sum, their shepherd's wages, is then contemptuously thrown into the house of the Lord. It is a chilling prophecy of betrayal, re…

1
Zechariah 9: The Afflicted King Rides on a Colt 57:45

1M ago57:45

57:45

If you were to imagine an ancient king entering his capital city, you would likely picture a man sitting atop a powerful warhorse. You might see behind him a gleaming parade of chariots and a conquering army marching in formation. The king displays overwhelming strength and portrays an image that demands submission. This is how the world understand…

1
Zechariah 7 & 8: Whose Rite Is It Anyway? 54:24

1M ago54:24

54:24

What if God isn't impressed with our religious habits and pietism? For seventy years, the people of Judah thought they were doing the right thing by sticking to a solemn tradition they started themselves. It was a yearly memorial filled with mourning and weeping over the destruction of the temple. But, seeing as how they were rebuilding the temple,…

1
Zechariah 6: The Eighth and Final Vision: A Priest and King?! 57:03

1M ago57:03

57:03

Zechariah's final vision sends four powerful chariots from between bronze mountains to patrol the earth, executing God's sovereign judgment. But the vision gives way to a startling command: Zechariah is to craft a royal crown and place it not on the governor, but on Joshua the High Priest. Why would God command the merging of the royal and priestly…

1
Zechariah 4 & 5: The Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Visions: The Flying Scroll and the Woman in the Basket 55:06

1M ago55:06

55:06

After promising His work is fueled "not by might, nor by power," God gives Zechariah two startling visions of judgment. A flying scroll carries a curse to cleanse the land of sin, and a woman named "Wickedness" is captured, sealed in a basket, and carried into exile. How does the promise of the Spirit's power relate to the necessity of purging sin?…

1
Zechariah 3: The Fourth Vision: Plucked from the Fire 56:00

1M ago56:00

56:00

What happens when you stand accused in the heavenly courtroom and the charges are true? In this episode, we study the stunning vision of Zechariah 3, where Joshua the High Priest stands before the Angel of the LORD in filthy garments, with Satan himself as the prosecutor. Discover how God's verdict is not a judgment, but a gracious silencing of the…

1
Zechariah 2: The Third Vision: Goodness, Gracious, Great Wall of Fire 54:35

1M ago54:35

54:35

In ancient times, a city without walls would be a sitting duck: defenseless, vulnerable, and a ripe target for hostile nations. Writing to discouraged exiles who had returned to a ruined Jerusalem in 520 BC, Zechariah delivers God's stunning promise delivered to him in a third vision: Jerusalem will become a city without walls because of the multit…

1
Zechariah 1: The First Two Visions: Three Horses and Four Horns 56:54

1M ago56:54

56:54

With the temple rebuilding stalled and God's people discouraged, the prophet Zechariah receives a series of stunning night visions. Who are the angelic horsemen patrolling a world that is dangerously "at ease"? And what are the four powerful horns and four mysterious craftsmen that signal a clash of cosmic powers? Professor Reed Lessing joins us as…

1
Haggai 2: God Presence Makes the Temple Holy and Beautiful 1:00:58

1M ago1:00:58

1:00:58

You finally commit to that project you've been putting off for years. You dive in with enthusiasm, start making real progress, and then reality hits. It's smaller than you dreamed, less impressive than you imagined, especially when compared to what others have accomplished. That's exactly where we find God's people three weeks into rebuilding the t…

1
Haggai 1: Misplaced Priorities 54:10

2M ago54:10

54:10

We left off in Ezra chapter 4, where the returned exiles had started rebuilding the temple with great enthusiasm, but then hit a wall of opposition from their enemies. The work stopped. The people got discouraged, scattered to focus on their own lives, and for 16 long years, the temple lay in ruins while they built beautiful homes for themselves. I…

1
Ezra 4: From “Let’s Worship Together” to “Cease and Desist” 55:26

2M ago55:26

55:26

The people of God in Ezra's time experienced opposition strikingly similar to what many Christians face today. Societies and governments have changed, but the tactics haven't. Ezra 4 reveals three familiar strategies: syncretistic offers of "unity" that require compromising the Gospel, bureaucratic warfare that weaponizes legal systems against beli…

1
Ezra 3: The Foundations for Worship are Laid 56:47

2M ago56:47

56:47

Have you ever cried in worship? Maybe it was a familiar hymn that carried you through a dark valley, memories of loved ones who once sat beside you, or seeing your children receive the faith you once received or lamenting that they've strayed from it. Ezra 3 reveals a moment when an entire congregation experienced both sorrowful tears and shouts of…

1
Ezra 2: Roster of the Returning Remnant 57:00

2M ago57:00

57:00

Seventy verses of names, numbers, and roles tell the story of preservation, provision, and a people eager to worship God. From the guarding of the priesthood to the generosity of freewill offerings, and from the smallest servant to the high priest, every part of the community has a place. This chapter, though reminiscent of an ancient phone book, p…

1
Ezra 1: Pagan King Cyrus Repatriates God’s People 54:38

2M ago54:38

54:38

After seventy years in exile, the people of Judah must have wondered if God had forgotten them. Their temple was gone. Their city lay in ruins. Their homeland was a memory. But then, a pagan king (!) makes a decree: “Go home. Rebuild the house of the Lord.” Ezra chapter one is a reminder that God’s promises don’t expire, and His plans aren’t hinder…

1
NEW STUDY: Ezra, Haggai, Zechariah, Ezra 0:30

2M ago0:30

0:30

The Persian king Cyrus issues an astonishing decree: the exiles may go home. Among them are the Jews—God’s chosen people—whom this pagan ruler not only repatriates, but commands to rebuild the temple of the Lord. Ezra 1–4 tells of their return, the joy of restored worship, and the crushing opposition that brings construction to a standstill. Then t…

1
Galatians 6:1–18: Boast in the Cross 54:23

2M ago54:23

54:23

As the letter closes, Paul gives practical instructions for how believers should care for one another: gently restoring, bearing burdens, and sowing to the Spirit. But the final word is not about effort or morality. Paul refuses to boast in anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The new creation has come, and in Christ, we are free. Th…

1
Galatians 5:13–26: Life by the Spirit 56:49

2M ago56:49

56:49

Christian freedom is not a license to sin. It is a call to love. Paul urges believers not to indulge the flesh but to walk by the Spirit. The works of the flesh are obvious and destructive, but the fruit of the Spirit is beautiful, life-giving, and rooted in community. This passage offers one of the clearest pictures of what the Spirit-filled life …

1
Galatians 4:21–5:12: Children of the Free Woman 56:41

2M ago56:41

56:41

Paul turns to the story of Sarah and Hagar to illustrate the difference between life under the law and life under the promise. Those who belong to Christ are not children of the slave woman, but of the free. His message is simple and urgent: stand firm, and do not return to the yoke of slavery. In Christ, outward rituals mean nothing. What counts i…

1
Galatians 4:1–20: From Slaves to Sons 56:16

2M ago56:16

56:16

Paul speaks not as a distant theologian but as a spiritual father pleading with his children. In Christ, they are no longer slaves but sons, adopted by God and filled with the Spirit. So why go back? Paul’s love and anguish come through clearly as he longs to see Christ formed in them once again. The Rev. Gem Gabriel, pastor of St. Peter in Norwalk…

1
Free Text First Friday: Lutheran Family Service 59:25

2M ago59:25

59:25

The Executive Director of Lutheran Family Service expands upon the Gospel-driven mercy work LFS carries out across several LCMS districts, from adoption, pregnancy counseling, mental health services, life advocacy in the public square, and crisis response for churches and schools. Also addressed is the recent confusion surrounding similarly named o…

1
Galatians 3:15–29: Heirs According to Promise 55:57

2M ago55:57

55:57

What came first, the law or the promise? Paul explains that the covenant with Abraham was not replaced by the law, but fulfilled in Christ. The law had a role to play, but now that faith has come, believers are no longer under a guardian. All who are baptized into Christ are clothed with Him and belong to the one family of faith. The Rev. Neil Wehm…

1
Galatians 3:1–14: Who Has Bewitched You? 54:33

2M ago54:33

54:33

Paul is astonished. The Galatians began with the Spirit, but now they are turning to the law to finish what only God can complete. By pointing to Abraham, Paul reminds them that righteousness has always come through faith. Those who rely on works are under a curse, but Christ became that curse for us so that we might receive the blessing. The Rev. …

1
Galatians 2:1–21: Did Saint Peter Get It Wrong? 59:01

2M ago59:01

59:01

Paul recounts a crucial moment in the history of the early Church, including a direct confrontation with Peter. The heart of the Gospel is laid bare: we are justified by faith in Christ, not by works of the law. Paul makes it clear that anything added to the cross of Christ is not the Gospel at all. The Rev. Nathan Scheck, associate pastor of St. J…

1
Galatians 1:1–24: No Other Gospel 55:52

2M ago55:52

55:52

From the very first verses, Paul confronts the Galatians for turning to a different gospel, one that is no gospel at all. This chapter is more than a rebuke. It is also Paul's testimony about how the Gospel came to him directly from Christ and changed everything. He speaks with urgency because the truth of salvation is at stake. The Rev. Dr. Alfons…

1
NEW SERIES: Paul's Letter to the Galatians 0:30

2M ago0:30

0:30

There’s urgency in Paul’s voice. No warm greetings. No slow build. Just a sharp rebuke: “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you.” The stakes are that high. Galatians is Paul’s bold stand for the pure Gospel message: Christ crucified and risen, apart from works of the law. When freedom in Christ is threatened by legalis…

1
2 Corinthians 13: Final Warnings and Gospel Assurance 55:58

2M ago55:58

55:58

This final chapter brings a clear and serious call from St. Paul: take a hard look at your faith. Not to stir up fear or doubt, but to encourage repentance and renewal. The warnings are real, but they come from an apostolic and pastoral heart that cares deeply and wants to build up, not tear down. Thus, Paul's letter ends not with rebuke, but with …

1
2 Corinthians 12: Power Perfected in Weakness 56:30

2M ago56:30

56:30

An extraordinary vision of paradise sets the stage, but the focus quickly shifts to a thorn in the flesh—a painful, humbling reminder of total dependence on God. Despite pleading for relief, God does not answer as Paul expects. Instead of removing the “thorn” (whatever it may have been) God reveals, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is …