Best Thy Stong Word Podcasts (2025)

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Ezra 1:1-11: The Proclamation of Cyrus 54:38

15h ago54:38

54:38

The Rev. Robert Smith, pastor emeritus in Fort Wayne, IN, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Ezra 1:1-11.

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

1d 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…

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

3d 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 …

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

4d 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…

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

5d 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…

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Free Text First Friday: Lutheran Family Service 59:25

8d 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…

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

9d 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…

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

10d 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. …

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

11d 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…

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

12d 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…

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

12d 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…

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

15d 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 …

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2 Corinthians 12: Power Perfected in Weakness 56:30

16d 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 …

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2 Corinthians 11:16-33: Paul's Resume of Suffering 57:30

17d ago57:30

57:30

Paul engages in what he calls “foolish boasting,” but his point is anything but foolish. Instead of bragging about power or success, he lists his hardships, beatings, and close calls with death. These things are the source of mockery by some, but the Apostle boasts about his weaknesses. His suffering is not a sign of failure, but evidence of his de…

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2 Corinthians 11:1-15: False Apostles and True Jealousy 57:40

18d ago57:40

57:40

Paul continues his defense, not to protect his reputation, but to guard the Corinthians and the purity of the Gospel. With sharp irony and deep pastoral concern, he exposes the deceit of false apostles who disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. His so-called "foolish" boasting is really a faithful plea to keep the church from being led a…

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2 Corinthians 10: Paul Addresses the Accusations 56:41

19d ago56:41

56:41

The tone of the Apostle’s letter shifts in chapter 10. After a great deal of warm encouragement and generous appeal, Paul turns to confront the critics who have been undermining his authority and distorting his message. He writes with the sharp edge of apostolic boldness but remains anchored in the meekness and gentleness of Christ. This isn’t a pe…

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2 Corinthians 9: God Loves a Cheerful Giver 54:07

22d ago54:07

54:07

St. Paul's heartfelt appeal for generosity to support the saints in Jerusalem is far from a high-pressure fundraising pitch. Instead, the Apostle paints a vivid picture of gospel-driven generosity, emphasizing joy, freedom, and abundance rooted in God's overflowing grace. In this episode, discover how cheerful giving is intertwined with confidence …

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2 Corinthians 8: Poor, Yet Eager to Give 55:54

23d ago55:54

55:54

Have you ever felt that tug-of-war between wanting to be generous and wanting to feel secure? It’s tough when you want to give but worry about not having enough for yourself. In 2 Corinthians 8, the Apostle Paul shares an incredible example from the Macedonian churches. Even though they were experiencing hardship, they were full of joy and eager to…

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2 Corinthians 7: Godly Grief 55:59

24d ago55:59

55:59

Have you ever had to say something difficult to someone you love and spent sleepless nights worrying if it damaged your relationship? St. Paul understands that feeling. After expressing concern that his previous letter might have hurt the Corinthians, St. Paul now rejoices—not because they were saddened, but because their sorrow led to true repenta…

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2 Corinthians 6: Don’t Waste the Gift of Grace 56:54

25d ago56:54

56:54

The Apostle pleads with the Corinthians, and with us, not to receive the grace of God in vain. That is, not to treat it casually, not to compartmentalize it, and not to keep Jesus at arm’s length when He’s called us to new life. As an Apostle, Paul shares the cost of faithful ministry—beatings, imprisonments, sleepless nights—and yet he opens his h…

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2 Corinthians 5: Believing is Seeing 56:57

26d ago56:57

56:57

What kind of courage does it take to face death with confidence? In 2 Corinthians 5, Paul pulls back the curtain on eternity. This earthly tent will one day be torn down, but a better dwelling awaits. While we groan now, we walk by faith, not by sight. And in the meantime, we’re not aimless—we're ambassadors, driven by Christ's love, called to the …

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2 Corinthians 4: Jars of Clay 54:55

29d ago54:55

54:55

What kind of vessel carries the Gospel? Not gold, not crystal, not anything the world would admire. Paul says it's clay: fragile and weak. That’s what ministry looks like. That’s what the Christian life looks like. In this chapter, we hear that God has placed His priceless treasure—the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus…

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2 Corinthians 3: Living Letters 55:05

30d ago55:05

55:05

Have you ever thought about what your life says to others? Whether we realize it or not, our actions, words, and attitudes communicate something to those around us. In fact, each of us is like a living letter: telling a story through how we live. But whose story are we telling? This episode unpacks where the Apostle Paul describes believers as 'let…

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2 Corinthians 2:5-17: Public Sin, Public Forgiveness 55:25

1M ago55:25

55:25

The goal of church discipline is reconciliation, not punishment. It isn’t complete until forgiveness is given. In this chapter, Paul urges the Corinthians to restore a repentant sinner, reminding them that Satan doesn’t just tempt us to sin, he tempts us to withhold grace. The Apostle urges them not to be victims to the schemes of Satan, but throug…

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2 Corinthians 1:12-2:4: Is Paul a Flip-Flopper? 56:25

1M ago56:25

56:25

What happens when your motives are put under a microscope and people assume the worst? That’s where Paul finds himself in this passage. Some in Corinth are questioning Paul’s honesty and even his faithfulness to Christ; was it all because he changed his travel plans? Paul responds with open-hearted honesty, explaining the real reason for his decisi…

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2 Corinthians 1:1-11 Second Helping of Grace 56:04

1M ago56:04

56:04

Paul begins this letter to the Christians of Corinth by blessing God, calling Him the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. Despite his praise of God, Paul’s journey has not been easy. He writes after enduring intense suffering, likely in Asia, where he says he was burdened beyond strength and felt certain he was going to die. This experien…

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NEW SERIES: Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians 0:30

1M ago0:30

0:30

What does it mean to follow Christ in weakness? What does true ministry look like in the face of criticism, suffering, and spiritual warfare? And how can the Church hold fast to the Gospel when pressured by the world—and even by false teachers within? On Thy Strong Word, we walk verse by verse through, arguably, the apostle Paul’s most personal, em…

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Free-Text First Friday: Headlines—Patriotism 56:03

1M ago56:03

56:03

This special Independence Day edition of Headlines features multiple rounds of patriotism-themed headlines, with two fabricated by the host and one real headline. The guest’s challenge is to identify the real headline, which serves as a springboard for a deeper theological discussion. This episode explores the limits of patriotism and what it means…

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Genesis 50:15-26: What You Meant for Evil 57:52

1M ago57:52

57:52

With Jacob dead, the brothers fear Joseph's revenge. They even fabricate a message from their father, begging Joseph's forgiveness. But Joseph weeps at their words and speaks one of Scripture's most profound theological statements: "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept a…

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Genesis 49:29-50:14: Patriarch's Pilgrimage 58:23

1M ago58:23

58:23

With his final breath, Jacob commands his sons to bury him in the cave of Machpelah with Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, and Leah. This last request reveals where his heart truly lies—not in the prosperity of Egypt but in the promises of God. Joseph honors his father with a royal Egyptian funeral: forty days of embalming, seventy days of mourning, …

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Genesis 49:1-28: The Lion of Judah 57:46

1M ago57:46

57:46

Jacob gathers his twelve sons for his final prophetic blessing—though for some, it sounds more like judgment. Reuben loses his preeminence, Simeon and Levi are scattered for their violence. But when Jacob reaches Judah, the prophecy soars: "The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to …

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Genesis 48: The Blessing Crossed 56:38

1M ago56:38

56:38

Joseph brings his sons to the dying Jacob for a blessing, carefully positioning Manasseh, the firstborn, at Jacob's right hand. But Jacob crosses his hands, placing his right hand on younger Ephraim's head. When Joseph tries to correct this apparent mistake, Jacob refuses: "I know, my son, I know." This deliberate reversal echoes throughout Genesis…

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Genesis 47:13-31: Wisdom During Want 58:48

1M ago58:48

58:48

The famine intensifies until all Egypt and Canaan have no money left. Joseph implements a systematic plan: first accepting money, then livestock, then land, and finally the people themselves in exchange for grain. Some see harshness here, but Joseph saves countless lives while securing Egypt's future prosperity. As Jacob nears death, he makes Josep…

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Genesis 46:28-47:12: Shepherds in Goshen 56:29

1M ago56:29

56:29

Judah goes ahead to prepare the way, and Joseph meets his father in Goshen. The reunion is deeply emotional—Joseph weeps on his father's neck "a good while," and Jacob declares he can now die in peace. Joseph wisely prepares his brothers for their audience with Pharaoh, instructing them to identify as shepherds, knowing this will secure them land i…

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Genesis 46:1-27: Israel Goes Down to Egypt 54:39

1M ago54:39

54:39

Jacob sets out for Egypt but pauses at Beersheba, on the very edge of the Promised Land, to sacrifice, worship, and seek assurance from YHWH as he heads out of Canaan into Egypt. There, God speaks to him in visions of the night: "Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation." With divine reassurance of his cov…

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Genesis 45: "I Am Joseph!" 55:48

2M ago55:48

55:48

Unable to control himself any longer, Joseph sends out every Egyptian and reveals himself to his brothers. "I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?" Terror grips them—the brother they sold into slavery now holds their lives in his hands. But instead of vengeance, Joseph offers theological perspective: "Do not be distressed or angry with yourselves b…

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Genesis 44: Joseph’s Final Test 55:01

2M ago55:01

55:01

Joseph orchestrates one last test. He has his silver cup planted in Benjamin's sack and sends his servant to “discover” it as the brothers depart. They rend their garments when the cup is discovered, and they are hauled back to Egypt. Would they abandon Benjamin as they once abandoned him? That’s part of the test. But something has changed. Judah, …

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Genesis 43: Back into Egypt 56:49

2M ago56:49

56:49

The grain is gone, but Jacob refuses to send Benjamin to Egypt despite Judah's guarantee of his safety. Only when starvation looms does Jacob relent, sending his sons with double money and gifts, praying that God Almighty will grant them mercy. When Joseph sees Benjamin, he's overcome with emotion and must leave to weep in private. The brothers are…

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Genesis 42: Joseph to His Brothers: “You Are Spies!” 53:54

2M ago53:54

53:54

The famine reaches Canaan, and Jacob sends ten of his sons to Egypt to buy grain. Well, everyone except Benjamin, whom he fears might be harmed as he believed Joseph had been. When the brothers bow before Egypt's governor, they unknowingly fulfill Joseph's dreams from decades earlier. But Joseph, now unrecognizable in Egyptian royal robes and speak…

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Genesis 41:37-57: Joseph, Lord of the Harvest 54:59

2M ago54:59

54:59

Pharaoh recognizes something extraordinary in Joseph: "Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?" In a stunning reversal, the Hebrew slave becomes second only to Pharaoh himself. Given an Egyptian name, an Egyptian wife, and the very signet ring of Pharaoh, Joseph begins the monumental task of preparing for the coming famine. Durin…

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Genesis 41:1-36: Pharaoh’s Disturbing Dream Defies Domestic Divination—Demands Divine Deconstruction 55:38

2M ago55:38

55:38

Two full years have passed. Joseph remains in prison, forgotten by the cupbearer whose dream he interpreted. But God's timing is perfect. Then, the most powerful ruler on the planet is disturbed twice by strange dreams. When Pharaoh's dreams baffle all of Egypt's wise men, the cupbearer finally remembers Joseph! Joseph is hastily brought from the d…

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Genesis 40: Dungeons, Dreams, and Decapitations 56:24

2M ago56:24

56:24

Likely feeling alone and forgotten in an Egyptian prison, two dreams will change Joseph’s life forever. However, they’re not his dreams, but those of two imprisoned officials of Pharoah. We witness how God works even through bitter disappointment and suffering to accomplish His kingdom purposes. Joseph’s trials remind us that waiting on the Lord’s …

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Genesis 39: “The LORD was with Joseph” 57:23

2M ago57:23

57:23

Joseph's life in Egypt begins in forced servitude, yet even in a foreign land and in the house of Potiphar, an Egyptian official, something extraordinary happens: “The Lord was with Joseph.” His integrity, skill, and God-given favor cause him to rise, and things are going well until temptation strikes. Potiphar’s wife tries to seduce him, and when …

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Genesis 38: Judah and Tamar: None are Righteous 54:32

2M ago54:32

54:32

Just when the spotlight turns to Joseph’s trials in Egypt, Genesis 38 takes a shocking detour into scandal, sin, and surprising grace. Judah, the ancestor of Christ, falls into deception, sexual sin, and hypocrisy. Tamar, also caught up in deception, leads us to question if perceived injustice is an excuse for her sinful behavior. This chapter teac…

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Genesis 37: “I Have a Dream!...” 55:56

2M ago55:56

55:56

“...that one day you will bow to me!” Joseph told his brothers. They were not amused. Genesis 37 is a tale of jealousy and envy, dreams and deception, and ultimately betrayal. Joseph, the favored son, shares dreams of greatness. These dreams were revelations from God, but coming from a haughty teenager, they seemed to be nothing more than arrogance…

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Genesis 36: The Lineage of Esau (Edom) 57:02

2M ago57:02

57:02

At first glance, Genesis 36 might seem like just a long and intimidating list of unfamiliar names: Esau’s wives, sons, tribal chiefs, and kings. But hidden within these seemingly "dry" genealogies is a vibrant testimony of God's surprising grace and sovereign care for all people. The Holy Spirit illustrates for us how even Esau's descendants—those …

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Genesis 35: Deja Vu at Bethel: When God Repeats Himself 56:30

2M ago56:30

56:30

After the tragic events surrounding the assault of Dinah and the violent retaliation that followed, Jacob’s life is once again turned upside down. In mercy and patience, God repeats His command for Jacob to go to Bethel, not just to visit, but to dwell there and build an altar. In obedience and perhaps an increase in faith and trust, Jacob purges h…

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Genesis 34: The Defiling of Dinah 57:39

2M ago57:39

57:39

When Jacob's daughter Dinah ventures into the city, what begins as a simple visit becomes a catalyst for one of the Bible's most shocking tales of deception and revenge. Her brothers' response will leave an entire city paying the ultimate price—but was their brutal justice righteous protection or inexcusable violence? Ancient questions about justic…

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Genesis 33: The Surprising Face of Grace 56:02

2M ago56:02

56:02

Twenty years ago, Jacob fled for his life from a brother who vowed to kill him. Now, as 400 armed men approach with Esau at their head, Jacob prepares for the worst - arranging his family for maximum survival, bowing seven times in desperate humility. But what happens next will take your breath away, as human forgiveness becomes a stunning picture …

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