Scripture First

Even John the Baptist, the prophet who points his long, bony finger to Jesus, is left to question, "Are you the one who is to come?”  Lars Olson teaches us that John, just like all of us, expects Jesus to make the world a better place according to our expectations. But that’s what Advent is all about: the dawn of a new creation. A new kingdom found in the promise of Christ.  CHALLENGE GRANT A...

Dr. Chris Croghan joins Scripture First to break down the many preaching moments found in this lectionary text about John the Baptist including:  Why the wilderness is significant, The definition of repentance, The definition of the kingdom of heaven, Why Jesus calls the Pharisees and Sadducees a brood of vipers,  And why you don’t need to fear when you hear that the ax is lying at the root of the...

Many think Advent is a time to prepare for the birth of Jesus, but, as this text illuminates, there’s no time to prepare. Jesus has broken in and the clock has struck midnight.  Dr. Chris Croghan and Sarah Stenson teach us that this text is about the end times. When Jesus breaks in, he doesn’t come with a to-do list. He comes with a to-done list. It’s the end of times; what is done, is done.  And...

It’s Christ the King Sunday and you’re about to hear how Jesus is dying the death of a criminal. On Christ the King Sunday we are declaring that Jesus has authority and power over all, yet we are talking about his crucifixion, not his resurrection.  If Christ is a king, where is his kingdom?  You’ll hear that in the words Jesus speaks on the cross: “Father, forgive them.”  CHALLENGE GRANT A Luther...

Right after Jesus directs their attention to the woman giving her last two coins to the temple, they remark how beautiful the temple itself is.  Jesus proceeds to tell them not only will every stone of the temple be thrown down, He will take our idols away from us.  Of course, we try to cling to these idols until the final moment, but Jesus has come to remove all this fear of the things you can lo...

The Sadducees try to pose an impossible question in the law to Jesus: if seven brothers marry the same woman, whose wife is she in heaven?  Dr. Chris Croghan teaches us how Jesus schools them in their understanding of the law and the resurrection: in eternal life, there is no law.  Plus, he teaches us the Lutheran understanding of vocation being what God gives you to do for the purpose of being in...

For this All Saints Sunday, Sarah Stenson teaches us what it means when Jesus describes those who are blessed.  To be blessed means God has expended his benefits to you. And what are God’s benefits? Mercy and unfairness. In this old world, you’d expect the poor to get food, shelter, and money, yet when the Holy Spirit gives us faith in the promise of Christ, the poor get a sermon.  She concludes w...

Reformation Sunday. Jesus says the truth will set you free, but most people will hear this and try to turn it into a to-do list to earn their freedom.  Lars Olson and Dr. Chris Croghan flipped this text by saying the truth is the truth. You don’t have your truth and I have my truth. Those are opinions, and opinions are not certainty.  Everyone who commits unbelief is a slave to it. You can’t get y...

Jesus tells his disciples a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart.  We ask Sarah Stenson:  Is it possible to pray without ceasing?  Can you decide not to lose heart?  What is the point of prayer?  Jesus delivers one of the greatest promises in this passage. He says, “And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helpin...

Ten lepers approach Jesus, calling out to him, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”  Dr. Chris Croghan explains how one of them, a Samaritan, is a Lutheran:  He hears a word from Jesus and believes it.  He practices true worship, “Lord have mercy on me, and thank you.”  And he doesn’t go back to the law for his righteousness after receiving mercy.  CARE OF SOULS - ADDICTION In Care of Souls, a speci...

The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”  Lars Olson teaches us how many Christians today view faith the same way the apostles did: as a power that you can increase.  But Jesus’ response, “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed,” reveals that it’s not about how much faith you have, it’s about whether you have faith or not. It’s black and white, you either have faith or you don’t. ...

Covered with sores, a poor man named Lazarus lay at the gate of a rich man who dressed in fine linen and feasted sumptuously every day.  The roles are reversed in death with Lazarus on one side of the chasm with Abraham and the rich man calling out for mercy on the other side.  Sarah Stenson and Dr. Chris Croghan teaches us how this is election. God is unfairly choosing who will receive his promis...

The Parable of the Dishonest Manager. You will hear Kiri and my confusion: a rich man is considering firing his manager only for the manager to go to those he was working with to slash the amount owed to the rich man. He’s commended for this? He’s a bad manager, but is it a good thing to cut people’s debts in half?  Sarah Stenson teaches us how we’re caught in trying to determine what’s good and w...

The sinners flock to listen to Jesus. Why do the Pharisees grumble about this?  Dr. Chris Croghan teaches us that what they hold important is the law, and it isn’t working the way they want it to work. You grumble because you’re not getting your way.  Then Jesus tells a parable about the shepherd leaving the 99 to find the one lost sheep and the woman searching for her lost coin.  Dr. Croghan expl...

Jesus says, “Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple.”  Kiri and I discuss with Lars Olson, if hating your own life is something you can even do, and, if not, how can anyone be Jesus’ disciple.  Lars teaches us how Jesus’ word claims you. You don’t claim Jesus. His Word makes you his disciple...

Jesus is at the Pharisees house where he tells them a parable about the seats of honor at a wedding banquet.  Lars Olson and Dr. Chris Croghan teaches us how nearly everyone will hear Jesus’ words as the law in order to avoid being implicated as a sinner.  This is not a prescription on etiquette. It’s a depiction of what’s going on in your heart.  CARE OF SOULS - ADDICTION In Care of Souls, a spec...

Jesus heals a woman on the sabbath who had been suffering for 18 years. The leader of the synagogue ignores her praising God and rebukes Jesus for breaking the law by healing on the sabbath.  Sarah Stenson teaches us how Jesus holds up the mirror to reveal what is in your heart. It comes down to whether or not you believe God judges you based on how good or bad you are at following the law, at bei...

The scribes and Pharisees think they’re going to make the world a better place through the law. Jesus tells them, “Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division!”  What is the division Jesus is bringing? That is the question we ask Dr. Chris Croghan in this week’s conversation.  CARE OF SOULS - ADDICTION In Care of Souls, a special mini-series podca...

Jesus says to sell your possessions. Keep your treasure where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  Kiri and Mason hear this as something we need to do in order to receive the kingdom. Lars Olson teaches us if we hear this text as something we need to do, Jesus is here to free you from that very thing.  CARE OF SOULS - ADDICTION In Ca...

Inheritance. Budgeting. Investing.  Someone asks Jesus to tell their brother to divide the family inheritance with them, and Jesus says to be on guard against all kinds of greed.  We ask Dr. Chris Croghan: Do experiences count as the possessions Jesus is warning about?  Should you or should you not invest your money?  What does it mean to be rich toward God?  CARE OF SOULS - ADDICTION In Care of S...

Just like the disciples, we ask Jesus, “Lord, teach us to pray.” And Jesus does just that in this text.  As Sarah Stenson teaches us, the first half of this text is both how we pray and what we pray. The second half is why we pray.  Jesus gives you the words. The Holy Spirit keeps you in faith. The Father gives you His name and His mercy in your baptism. Now God has you where He wants you: you’re...

We hear this familiar Mary and Martha text as a prescription to welcome others because we want to hear it as a prescription. We want credit for our work! But Lars Olson teaches us, hospitality is not the Gospel. It doesn’t give you life.  Martha thinks she’s loving the Lord by doing her tasks, yet Mary is captured by Jesus’ words.  Can you earn, deserve, or request God’s favor by doing your tasks?...

"What must I do to inherit eternal life?"  A lawyer brings this question to Jesus and Jesus draws out the answer as it’s written in the law: Love God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind; and your neighbor as yourself.  Sarah Stenson and Lars Olson teach us how by asking the very question reveals where the lawyer’s heart and your heart truly are.  CARE OF SOULS - ADDICTION In Ca...

Jesus sends 70 disciples ahead of him saying, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”  We ask Dr. Chris Croghan, “Why are the laborers few?”  He shows us what’s necessary to have a harvest in the first place: seeds that were planted earlier, and teaches us how the Holy Spirit is both doing the planting of Je...

Jesus says, “follow me,” and we, just like the people in this text, respond with, “I will follow you wherever you go.”  But.  Let me go and bury my father. Let me first say farewell to those at my home. My kid has another tournament this Sunday. I can’t afford to give to the church this month. I can’t bring up religion to my family, I wouldn’t know what to say.  We all say we follow Jesus, but we...