Scripture First

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...

We’re breaking down Jesus’ first miracle at the wedding in Cana in this week’s conversation. First, Mary says to Jesus, “They have no wine.” This may seem like a mundane detail of the text, but, as Sarah Stenson teaches us, it reveals Mary’s faith in Jesus and prompts us to ask how we can take that same mindset into prayer.  Then we discuss the purpose of miracles. If Jesus came to become sin, tak...

In the First Sunday After Epiphany, Dr. Chris Croghan joins the conversation to discuss baptism: Why do we need to be baptized? What’s the difference between our baptism today and those who were baptized by John the Baptist?  Why was Jesus baptized if he never sinned?  In short, your baptism convicts you of killing Christ and forgives you all your sins in one fell swoop.  CONFIRMATION  Does your c...

The lectionary text for the first Sunday of 2025 is filled with options to focus a sermon on. Lars Olson joins Kiri and Mason to break down a few of them.  First, we discuss the theologically packed first verse, “In the beginning was the Word.” Lars explains why this is an important claim: God’s Word wasn’t created, it’s doing the creating. Next, we talk about verse 10, “He was in the world, and t...

Mary and Joseph lose Jesus for several days after the Passover festival only to find him in the temple with the rabbis.  Sarah Stenson teaches us the incredible confession Mary has when she says to the 12-year old Jesus, ‘Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.’  She was in anguish thinking she had lost the Son of God. It’s in...

This week we’re discussing Elizabeth, pregnant with John the Baptist, giving her sermon to Mary, pregnant with Jesus, and Mary’s Magnificat in response.  Sarah Stenson and Lars Olson point out the importance of Elizabeth being filled with the Holy Spirit before delivering her sermon to Mary. As you’ll hear, Mary, and you and I today, are blessed because of what God has spoken to us.  Then in Mary’...

This week, Dr. Chris Croghan is back to discuss John the Baptist in this Advent text saying, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits worthy of repentance.”  Many who hear this text immediately think to themselves, “I don’t want to be a viper. I better get my act together before Christmas.” Dr. Croghan teaches us that being repented is a passive act. Repenta...

In this week’s conversation, Lars Olson explains what the season of Advent is and why it’s not simply a season of preparation ahead of Christmas: it’s announcing Christ is here, now.  Lars also teaches Kiri and Mason why Luke includes so many historical details about the political and religious leaders of the time and the significance of “the wilderness,” and why we encounter God there.  Lastly, i...

In a text about the signs of Christ’s return, Sarah Stenson teaches us this week that Christians have always looked for the signs that Jesus is about to return. Even Martin Luther listed the events happening in Germany in a sermon about this text! But amidst the destruction, chaos, and fear listed here, there is an incredible promise. Christians who have received Jesus’ word of promise do not have...

Pilate asks Jesus a seemingly straightforward question, "Are you the King of the Jews?" As you’ll hear Dr. Chris Croghan teaches us, it’s anything but. If a king is truly sovereign, he cannot be put on trial. Yet here is Pilate putting Jesus on trial. Every time you question God, you’re accusing him of being a liar. I don’t think this is fair. I don’t want my family member to have this d...

Jesus and the disciples are back at the temple when the disciples exclaim, “Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!”  You might think this is the disciples admiring a beautiful church, but, as Lars Olson and Dr. Chris Croghan teach us, they’re admitting the church building is an idol for them.  Christ continues to point out the idols the disciples, and us today, continue to put...

Jesus warns his disciples of the scribes who walk around in long robes, like to be greeted with respect, and have the best seats at banquets. We ask Lars Olson, what’s so bad about wearing long robes and having good seats? He explains the scribes are using their position to gain admiration in every sphere of life at the expense of those they’re called to protect: orphans, the poor, and widows.  Th...

Take a moment to answer this question to yourself: what is a saint? For All Saints Sunday, Sarah Stenson asks Kiri, Max, and Mason what we think a saint is, and we think it’s a path you’re on to become a better Christian. Sarah explains how this text gives us an understanding of what a saint is and who makes us a saint.  Also, as you hear the Beatitudes, see if you notice yourself hearing them as...

To discuss the Reformation Day text the lectionary gives us every year, we welcome Dr. Chris Croghan back to Scripture First to discuss what is truth.  Jesus says to his disciples, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." What does it mean to know the truth? Dr. Croghan quotes Martin Luther: the root of all s...

James and John ask Jesus to grant them to sit in his glory at his right and left hands. As you’ll hear Sarah Stenson and Dr. Chris Croghan teaches us in this week’s episode, they’re focused on what they want instead of what God wants. Instead of thy will be done, it’s my will be done.  Jesus explains that whoever wishes to be first among you must be a slave to all. This Old World is King of the Hi...

Support the show Interested in sponsoring an episode of Scripture First? Email Sarah at sarah@lhos.org or visit our donation page: lutherhouseofstudy.org/donate

A man asks Jesus, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”  Lars Olson explains how there’s one word that unlocks this man’s heart behind asking this question and why Jesus responds the way He does: and that word is “do.” Like this man, many Christians want a role to play in earning their salvation. They want instructions on how to be a good person. As you’ll hear Lars teach, instead of preaching...

In this week’s lectionary text, Jesus addresses some of the most hot-button issues when asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” Dr. Chris Croghan turns the heat up on those who are nervous to preach this text because it might offend someone: the law actually divides people and today’s culture wars are about this law: love.  Love doesn’t win. It creates tribes and divides people. You l...

The disciples report there is someone casting out demons in Jesus’ name, and Jesus says whoever is for Him cannot be against him. This spurs our conversation with Sarah Stenson about what it means to be ecumenical: who can Lutherans share the altar and pulpit with? What does it mean to have, “right doctrine?” Sarah explains how right doctrine matters because it reflects Scripture. Right doctrine s...