Scripture First

Jesus casts a legion of demons out of a man who was exiled from society. Now the townspeople are no longer afraid of the formerly possessed man, they’re terrified of Jesus.  We ask Lars Olson:  Why do the demons ask Jesus for permission to enter the pigs? Why does Jesus grant the demons’ request?  And why are the people so afraid of Jesus?  Lars teaches us that God wants us to fear Him above all e...

It’s Trinity Sunday, and Jesus is saying you cannot separate him from the Father or the Spirit.  We ask Dr. Chris Croghan and Lars Olson, “Why do so many preachers try to do that very thing and divide God into Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?  They teach us that it’s not about what they are or how they’re related to one another, it’s about what they’re doing for you. The Father created you. The Son d...

What is Pentecost? When did this happen in relation to the crucifixion and resurrection? What is the significance of the tongues of fire?  Dr. Croghan turns to Martin Luther’s Small Catechism: "I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel." This is the Holy Spirit’s work, to deliver...

Ascension Day: the end of Jesus’ ministry on Earth where Jesus no longer is with us in the flesh, but, as you’ll hear Sarah Stenson teach, he is very much still active in creation.  We discuss what it means for Jesus to have opened the minds of his disciples to understand the scriptures. This very moment is crucial for the Christian faith and the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Lastly, we talk about wha...

“Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them.”  Jesus gives us a command: keep my word. It can easily be read as an if / then statement: if you keep my word, then the Father will love you. But Lars Olson flips this text: when you have God’s Word, you have God’s love.  How do we know God’s love? Through his word. Through his Son. Sin gets named. Sin gets forgiven. And Jesus wo...

What does it mean for Jesus to be glorified?  This week’s lectionary text opens with, “When he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man has been glorified.” You’ll hear Dr. Chris Croghan and Sarah Stenson explain Jesus said this as Judas left the Last Supper to betray him.  That is what God’s glory is: Jesus’ betrayal, death, and, ultimately, resurrection.  Then we shift to discuss Jesus...

In Care of Souls, a special mini-series podcast from Luther House of Study, Lutheran pastors and theologians come together to explore the deeply personal and pastoral task of preaching to and caring for those struggling with life’s challenging situations: addiction, death, family disharmony, and more.  Rooted in the theology of the cross and the Lutheran tradition of radical grace, this series off...

The Good Shepherd chapter. Jesus has been contrasting himself as the Good Shepherd with the religious leaders as the thieves and the wolves. Now, he goes directly into their house and they ask him plainly, “Are you the Messiah?”  Jesus responds, “I have told you, but you don’t believe,” which spurs a good conversation with Dr. Chris Croghan about how faith comes from hearing and how the Holy Spiri...

Still reeling from the most mind bending experience in human history: the Son of God being killed and raised from the dead, the disciples are back to their daily vocations only to have Jesus appear to them a third time.  In this exchange, Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves him. Sarah Stenson teaches us the depth of Jesus and Peter’s back and forth, including the brutal honesty and vulnerabil...

Having betrayed Christ, the disciples lock themselves in a room out of fear of what their future holds. Jesus appears. Looking for revenge? No. He gives them the greatest gift: peace.  Lars Olson explains that the peace Christ delivers is having no fear, worry, or anxiety about what is to come in the future. It is knowing that your past no longer determines what comes next for you.  Jesus gives hi...

The rolled stone. The lilies lining the sanctuary. Easter Sunday. In this Easter conversation, Sarah Stenson and Lars Olson encourage both pastors and laypeople to truly hear the shocking news in this text. Everyone anticipated finding Jesus’ dead body. It was not in the tomb.  All signs point to the incredible, monumental proclamation: He is Risen, He is Risen indeed!  EASTER SEASON GUIDE “Easter...

This episode is going to be a little different. No background music. No closing summary and calls to action. Why? Because we’re grappling with the question, “Why did Jesus have to die?” in this conversation.  Dr. Chris Croghan and Lars Olson do an incredible job calling out how everyone involved in Christ’s final moments sinned against Him. From the betrayal to the power dynamics to the self-prese...

In the first of two Holy Week bonus episodes, Lars Olson and Sarah Stenson break down what Jesus meant by giving us a new commandment to love one another in this Maundy Thursday text.  Jesus demonstrates true humility by washing His disciples’ feet. He also commands us to love one another. Many will read this as a command in the Law, as an expectation of what they’re supposed to do.  But what Jesu...

Palm Sunday. The Triumphal Entry. Dr. Chris Croghan explains how to preach this text ahead of Holy Week, especially when many people might hear this triumphant text, skip the cross on Good Friday, and the next thing they hear is Jesus is alive on Easter Sunday.  Jesus had been predicting his death and resurrection but no one believed him, now, he’s going to show that what he says, happens.  The Je...

Mary uses a perfume worth a year’s salary to wash Jesus’ feet. Judas questions if that’s the best use of that money. Sarah Stenson teaches us in this episode that Mary’s acting out of faith. She’s not worried about the consequences of her actions or what people will think of her. Judas, on the other hand, is acting under the devil’s influence. The law is his identity.  In an otherwise straightforw...

The Parable of the Lost Sheep. The Parable of the Lost Coin. The Parable of the Prodigal Son.  Lars Olson reminds us parables are a depiction of what God is doing for you, not a, “choose your own adventure,” of characters you’re supposed to model your behavior after.  When you hear the Parable of the Prodigal Son, listen for when the word of mercy hits both brothers. That is repentance. That is th...

Dr. Chris Croghan and Sarah Stenson explain that this text is difficult to preach because people ask theodicy questions: Why do bad things happen to good people? What can I do to avoid God’s wrath?  You’ve heard us discuss how God’s mercy is unfair, but, in today’s conversation, we talk about how God’s wrath is unfair as well.  Lastly, Jesus says unless you repeat, you will all perish. We ask, “Is...

This Lent text opens with some Pharisees warning Jesus, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” Kiri and I ask Dr. Chris Croghan what are the religious leaders’ motivation in warning him about a political threat? The key is in Jesus’ response: we think it’s our action that makes us right with God, but it’s not. It’s God’s action. God doesn’t desire sacrifice, he desires your heart. We w...

Jesus defeated sin, death, and the devil. That’s a line you hear fairly often on this podcast. But what does it actually mean that Jesus defeated the devil? What is the devil? Who is the devil? What should we think of when we talk about the devil? These are the questions we ask Sarah Stenson as we discuss Jesus being tempted by the devil in the wilderness for 40 days.  Sarah explains the devil’s o...

Jesus is Transfigured before Peter, John, and James. Moses and Elijah are on the mountaintop. God says to listen to his Son.  Why is the Transfiguration significant? Why are Moses and Elijah on the mountaintop with Jesus? Why does God have to say to the disciples, and to you, to listen to Jesus?  Many view Lent as a time to overcome sin. As Lars Olson teaches us, that’s right, in a way, but it’s n...

“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.” “If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also.” And the Big One itself, the Golden Rule: “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” When I read these lines, did your mind gravitate to, “This is how to be a ‘Good Person?” If so, you’re not alone. Lars Olson and Dr. Chris Croghan points us to the key to this text, and the lens wit...

What is the difference between a disciple and an apostle? Why does Jesus heal diseases when he could do anything from creating a zebra, to causing the audience to grow six inches, to giving everyone a million dollars? What does it mean to receive the kingdom of God? These are the questions we ask Dr. Chris Croghan as we break down the blessings and the woes in this week’s lectionary text on the Be...

Despite not being a commercial fisherman, Jesus tells Simon Peter to let down his nets despite Simon Peter having fished all night and caught nothing.  Sarah Stenson joins the podcast to explain how God’s creative power is in full display in this text as well as Simon Peter’s responses to Jesus: first, a confession of faith. Second, a plea for Jesus to get away from him.  Lastly, Sarah teaches us...

All who heard Jesus’ first sermon spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words…until they tried to hurl him off of a cliff! Lars Olson joins the podcast to explain that what Jesus was doing with Isaiah is what preachers do with his words today: they take Jesus’ words and say they are for you, right now.  This flies in the face of what the hearers expect: they think the law is for their...

After Jesus is baptized and the Holy Spirit drives him out into the wilderness to be tempted for 40 days, Jesus returns to his hometown filled with the power of the Spirit.  Dr. Chris Croghan and Sarah Stenson teach us what it means for Jesus to have the full power of the Spirit before breaking down the Isaiah passage Jesus reads in the synagogue that talks about God anointing his Messiah. The hea...