Scripture First

Jesus tells His disciples He is going to leave them and they being to panic. In today's lectionary text: Luther House of Study's, Lars Olson, explains how Jesus responds to His disciples—and to us—by promising to give them another Advocate. Lars teaches us in order for Jesus to be with us forever, He first has to leave us. The Advocate is the Holy Spirit, who abides with us and in us, fo...

Jesus opens this week's lectionary text by saying, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me." Adam, Kiri, and Mason ask Luther House of Study's Nick Hopman: what does it actually mean to believe in something? What is belief? What does it mean to believe in God and Jesus? Can you believe in one but not the other? We also get this whopper of a verse...

Jesus tells the Pharisees a parable about sheep, the shepherd, a thief and a bandit. All to lift up your election. Listen closely as Mason reads the passage: the sheep hear the shepherd's voice. He calls them by name. Whoever enters by me will be saved. Dr. Chris Croghan explains how your election is black and white, and—though it may feel exclusive—Jesus calling your name is the very thing t...

After hearing about the empty tomb, two men are on the road to Emmaus, overwhelmed having witnessed Jesus' death and hearing about his resurrection. Only to have the resurrected Jesus chase them down and explain the entirety of scripture to them. The plot twist? They didn't recognize it was Jesus. Sarah Stenson joins Adam, Kiri, and Mason to explain why this is her favorite post-resurrec...

The same day Mary discovered the empty tomb, the disciples are locked in a room, afraid of the Jews. The resurrected Jesus appears and what does He say to them? "Peace be with you." Lars Olson joins Adam, Kiri, and Mason to discuss how important it is that Jesus delivers peace to His disciples—and to us—through His Word. Lars also explains the significance of Jesus giving the disciples t...

The two Marys watched who they believed to be the Messiah, die. Saviors aren't supposed to die. As you'll hear Dr. Chris Croghan teach Adam, Kiri, and Mason in our Easter episode, Easter is crazy . We watched our sins kill Jesus. Yet an apocalyptic event happened that ended the world as we know it. Jesus is raised and death does not have the final word over us. No matter how many times y...

Good Friday: a text that spans Jesus' betrayal and arrest, accusation and sentencing, and, finally, His death on the cross. Christians are tempted to point fingers at Judas, the Jews, Pilate, and the disciples for failing to act, but, at the end of the day, there's no one to point your finger at. It was our sin that killed Jesus. Christ suffered a brutal death to take your sin into His b...

Maundy Thursday: an often overlooked section of Scripture in light of Easter coming around the corner. Adam, Kiri, and Mason ask Nick Hopman: what is Maundy Thursday? Why is there a section of verses missing from the middle of this reading? And what is the importance of foot washing? In the midst of the devil deceiving Judas into thinking that betraying Jesus is better than having faith in him, Je...

The Triumphal Entry...yet, in a single week, Jesus is killed. How did we go from cheering hosanna to "Crucify him!"? Lars Olson joins Kiri and Mason to discuss the lectionary text for Palm Sunday. In today's conversation, we discuss what does it mean for something to be prophesied—like Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey? Lars also teaches us the translation for hosanna means &q...

Jesus has been performing increasingly more impactful miracles on His way to Jerusalem. Today, we're discussing the biggest of them all: the resurrection of Lazarus. Lazarus' sisters, Mary and Martha both confess or confront Jesus. Luther House of Study's Sarah Stenson breaks down what we can learn from Jesus' response to them. Finally, when Jesus arrives at Lazarus' tomb,...

A man was born blind. Jesus gives him sight. Everyone is upset when Jesus is merciful. No one believes the formerly blind man that he can now see. The Pharisees demand to know how he was given sight. His parents pass the buck. Nick Hopman teaches us that miracles aren't the gospel. They don't forgive your sin and give you eternal life. They do, however, show us who Jesus is: the one to g...

Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at the well at noon. What happens next completely changes her life forever. Luther House of Study's Dr. Chris Croghan sits down with Kiri Haugen and Mason Van Essen to discuss the significance the time of day plays in this story. When you hear the passage, pay attention to Jesus' responses to the woman. It may sound harsh, but—as you'll hear Dr. Croghan...

John 3:16. From football fields to inspirational posters, many consider it to be the Gospel in a nutshell. What's often overlooked is the context around the verse and why Jesus said those famous words, "For God so loved the world..." Luther House of Study's Lars Olson sits down with Adam Guthmiller and Mason Van Essen to talk about why the Nicodemus is coming to Jesus under the...

This week, Adam Guthmiller and Mason Van Essen are joined by Sarah Stenson to discuss this week's lectionary Gospel text: the Temptation of Jesus.  Immediately after His baptism, the Holy Spirit drives Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.  Sarah breaks down the ways Satan tempts Jesus—turning stones to bread, throwing himself off of the temple, and ruling all the kingdoms of...

In this week's lectionary text we hear Jesus lay out terms of the law such as: "...if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also" "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" and, the kicker, "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."  We hear this and think to ourselves, "How is this even possible?" That&ap...

In last week's lectionary Gospel text—instead of getting rid of the law—Jesus said He's going to fulfill the law. In other words, to make sure the law is followed to a T. In this week's text, Jesus explains what He meant by that...by turning up the heat on the law.  Do not murder. Do not commit adultery. Do not get a divorce.  Dr. Chris Croghan explains how we, like the scribes and...

You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world. Do not think that I have come to abolish the law; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.  What does it mean to be the salt and light of the world? How does you lose your saltiness? Who would hide their light under a basket? These are the questions Kiri Haugen, Adam Guthmiller, and I ask Luther House of Study's Lars Olson on th...

For this week's lectionary reading, we're discussing the Beatitudes. Sarah Stenson teaches us that—when translated—the word beatitudes means state of bliss or supreme joy.  Adam, Kiri and Mason ask: What does it mean to be blessed by God?  What is the difference between happiness and joy? What does it mean to stand up for your neighbor? Sarah explains that to be blessed is to receive God...

Following His baptism and temptation, Jesus continues to show us how God is constantly using unexpected people and ways to bring about His Word: the shepherds, John the Baptist, the region of Galilee, and—in today's text—the fishermen.  When we all expect the Messiah to deliver a more perfect law, Jesus delivers the opposite: forgiveness.  Then Dr. Chris Croghan explains the verse Martin Luth...

John the Gospel writer describes John the Baptist's landmark statement, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"  Adam, Kiri and I point out how, without context, this phrase doesn't make sense.  What does it mean that Jesus is a lamb?  Can lambs take?  Is there a difference between taking away the sin of the world and paying for the sin of the world?  Luther H...

ELW 304 - Christ, When for Us You Were Baptized // ʟᴏʙᴛ ɢᴏᴛᴛ, ɪʜʀ ᴄʜʀɪꜱᴛᴇɴ  ZACHARY'S NOTES:  Stanza 1 // The dove appears as “peaceful” and “urgent” as a flame. These are both images of the Spirit in Scripture, but in this context, the Spirit is “peaceful” because of the promise spoken - “you are my beloved Son” - yet “urgent” because of the work of ministry to save and redeem the world. Sta...

In this week's lectionary text, Jesus is seeking out John to be baptized, and John would have prevented him saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” before having the heavens opened to Jesus and the Spirit descending like a dove.  Adam, Kiri, and I ask Lars Olson: What is baptism? Why do we need to be baptized? And why does Jesus need to be baptized, too?  Lars teaches u...

"Next to the word of God, the art of music is the greatest treasure in the world." -Martin Luther. Luther House of Study's Mason Van Essen and Lars Olson sit down with Zachary Brockhoff to introduce Sing to the Lord —LHOS' podcast to understand the importance of hymnody in the Lutheran church. Each week, Zachary, Lars, and Mason will discuss the lectionary's hymns, their m...

It's the lectionary text after Christmas and it's a difficult one to hear, to preach, and to understand. An angel appears to Joseph in a dream to warn him to take Mary and Jesus and flee to Egypt to save Jesus from being murdered by Herod.  What does Herod do when he hears his power is threatened when he hears that the Messiah's been born near Bethlehem? He orders the unfathomable:...

It's Christmas Eve and we're thrusted into the ever-familiar Christmas story in the Gospel of Luke. All the world should be registered. Mary's firstborn son wrapped in bands of cloth, laid in a manger. No room in the inn. Shepherds living in the fields when an angel appeared.  Dr. Chris Croghan explains to Adam, Kiri, and Mason why it's so important to hear this text every year...