Scripture First

Pontius Pilate asks Jesus, "Are you the King of the Jews?" In this week's podcast episode, Dr. Croghan and Sarah teach us what it means to call Jesus a king and the political and religious ramifications this has between Jesus, Pilate and the government, and the Jewish community.  Here are the questions Adam, Kiri and Mason ask: What truth is Jesus testifying to? Why do we call Jesus...

Jesus and the end times. God's wrath vs God's mercy. Wars and earthquakes.  Sarah Stenson joins Scripture First to discuss this week's lectionary text: Mark 13:1-8 where Jesus reviews the end times and his disciples ask for a sign of when they're coming.  Here are the questions Adam, Kiri and Mason ask: What are the birth pangs? Why does Jesus predict there will be people leadi...

All Saints Sunday. Jesus raises Lazarus. God's promise in death.  Dr. Chris Croghan is back on Scripture First to talk about John 11:32-44 and what it means that God's glory is going from death to life in an incredible promise.  Here are the questions Adam, Kiri and Mason ask: What is a saint and why do we celebrate them? What does it mean that Jesus was deeply moved? How is God's g...

Dr. Steven Paulson is back on Scripture First to talk about Jesus' sermon where he promises, "I will set you free," in John chapter 8 for this Reformation Sunday.  In this week's text, we hear Jesus say to Jews who no longer believed in him that listening to his word will let them know the truth and the truth will make you free. As you'll hear Dr. Paulson teach us: the Jew...

Right before Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem, a blind man hears that Jesus is coming down the road and shouts, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" He throws off his cloak to meet Jesus and Jesus asks him, "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man says he wants to see again and Jesus replies,  "Go; your faith has made you well." This week, Lut...

"Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." Jesus foretells his death and the disciples look to gain political power.  In this week's podcast episode, Sarah and Dr. Croghan break down Jesus' response in saying that it's not His to give. It's God who elects who is going to receive his promise.  And in that election comes the promise of freedom. The free...

A man asks Jesus, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" In this week's podcast episode, what Jesus teaches this man, and what Sarah teaches all of us in this conversation, is how we all have broken the commandments even when we don't think we have.  Then, we break down the famous verse and just what it means for those of us who haven't sold everything we...

Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife? That's the question the Pharisees ask Jesus in this week's lectionary text broken down on Scripture First.  Hear Dr. Croghan teach on Jesus not budging an inch on the hot button topics like creation, marriage and gender while leaving us with faith like a little child.  Here are the questions Kiri, Adam and Mason ask: How do children receive wor...

Dr. Paulson joins Scripture First to talk about a little pirate exorcist, salty and spicy Christians, and how it's better for people to cut off appendages than to go to hell.  Dr. Paulson explains how Jesus is teaching all of us to be preachers, where sin comes from, and what it means to be the salt of the earth.  Here are the questions Adam, Kiri and Mason ask: Why do the disciples try to st...

Jesus foretells his death and resurrection to his disciples only to be met with confusion and fear.  Why did they react that way to Jesus telling them that he was going to be betrayed, killed, and be raised again?  Then, we get a front row seat to Jesus' reaction to the disciples' argument of who is the greatest where Jesus says the famous line, "Whoever wants to be first must be la...

In this week's text, Jesus asks his disciples an indirect question, "Who do people say that I am?" and the disciples say people think he's Elijah, John the Baptist or another prophet.  Then, Jesus puts his disciples on the spot by turning the question on them, "Who do you say that I am?" In this direct question, Jesus is pulling a confession out of the hearts of his d...

A Syrophoenician woman throws herself at Jesus begging him to heal her daughter only to have Jesus turn to her and say, "Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs." In some of his most critical language, Jesus calls this woman a dog.  But, as Luther House of Study's co-director, Sarah Stenson, teaches Adam and I this...

Why don't your disciples follow our hand washing tradition?  That's the seemingly straight-forward question the Pharisees and scribes ask Jesus in this week's lectionary text.  But as you'll hear Sarah Stenson and Dr. Chris Croghan teach in this week's podcast episode, their question is a loaded one.  We discuss how traditions become idols, how you can't change your h...

Dr. Steven Paulson is back this week in a one-on-one Scripture First episode about Jesus being both the Word while also being *in* the flesh.  In this week's lectionary text, Jesus tells us to eat his flesh and drink his blood. Dr. Paulson teaches us that eating his flesh and drinking his blood is physical. Dr. Paulson gives us a history lesson about everything from Plato's dualism, to t...

How can this man give us his flesh to eat? This seems to be a logical question for the Jews to ask Jesus but He doesn't engage with their argument of the law. Instead, Jesus says, "But the one who eats this bread will live forever." Kiri and Mason asked our co-directors: Did they think Jesus was referring to cannibalism? What do you mean we eat the Word of God? What does it mean to...

What is your role in salvation?  In this week's lectionary podcast, Sarah discusses the text where Jesus says, "No one comes to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me; and I will raise that person up on the last day." In the conversation, we learn about how we desperately want to have a role in our salvation, but God's will is actually to give us eternal life when we believe...

Why do you follow Jesus?  The crowds rushed to follow Jesus and ask him, "What are you going to do to make our lives better?" Jesus gives them something better than daily bread—eternal life in faith by saying, "I am the bread of life."  Dr. Chris Croghan—Luther House of Study's co-director—joins the Scripture First podcast to discuss the distinction between receiving a sig...

The story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 is well-known for good reason.  But in this week's conversation, Luther House of Study's co-directors—Sarah Stenson and Dr. Chris Croghan—teach us the key details that make this miracle so impactful.  Where are we going to get enough food for this crowd? What is the art of preaching? Does the boy with the loaves and the fish willingly offer his lunch?...

Are disciples and apostles two terms for the same person? Why are people rushing to follow Jesus and his apostles? What's the difference between Jesus taking care of our daily needs and delivering the gospel promise? These are the questions Kiri, Adam, and Mason ask Luther House of Study's co-directors, Dr. Chris Croghan and Sarah Stenson, on this week's podcast episode. As you&apos...

Herodias' plot to murder John the Baptist results with his head on a platter.  LHOS's co-direct, Sarah Stenson, joins the podcast to discuss how to preach this story and reminds us the importance of being named a sinner.  Kiri, Adam, and Mason ask: How is being named sinner the best thing that ever happened to us? Who are all of these characters? Why did Herodias want John the Baptist de...

You can't convince anyone into faith. You say the same words Jesus said to His disciples and watch as the Holy Spirit delivers faith.  In this week's podcast episode, Dr. Croghan teaches us that the gospel isn't intuitive.  It doesn't come from within you. It's delivered right to your ear.  Here are a few questions Kiri, Adam, and Mason ask: We stump Dr. Croghan for the fi...

We're dropped in the middle of a string of miracles in this week's podcast: The first story is of a bleeding woman who's tried everything but only continues to get worse. Desperate, she hears about Jesus and decides to risk it all to touch his cloak.  Then a Jewish man falls at Jesus' feet pleading for him to heal his sick daughter. Jesus doesn't arrive in time and she die...

Caught in a windstorm threatening to destroy their boat and end their lives, the disciples ask Jesus, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" Dr. Croghan and Sarah teach in this week's podcast episode about Jesus silencing the storm and how his power over creation are different than the words of promise he delivers to us.  Here are a few questions Adam, Kiri, and Mason ask...

What actually is the kingdom of God?  That's the question Adam, Kiri, and Mason ask Sarah Stenson as they discuss the Parable of the Mustard Seed. In this week's conversation you'll learn when Jesus tells a parable He's delivering God's election, not having you figure out what each thing in the parable symbolizes.  Here are a few questions Adam, Kiri, and Mason ask: Why do...

Jesus' family says he's out of his mind.  The scribes call Jesus the devil. Yet Jesus forgives our sins.  Dr. Chris Croghan discusses this week's lectionary text about Jesus' word having authority, choosing (or not) to believe in something, and blaspheming God.  Here are a few questions Adam, Kiri, and Mason ask: Why do the scribes call Jesus the devil?  How are family units al...