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, Luther House of Study's co-director, Sarah Stenson, breaks down this text to reveal the significance of this blind man calling Jesus Son of...
Oct 18, 2021•27 min
"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 freedom of a Christian. The promise to freely serve your neighbor. Interested in sponsoring an episode of Scripture First? Email Sarah: ...
Oct 11, 2021•23 min
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 own: It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God. Here...
Oct 04, 2021•31 min
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 words? Why does Jesus bring up creation? What's so polarizing about this text? Interested in sponsoring an episode ...
Sep 27, 2021•30 min
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 stop the person from exorcizing demons? What causes sin? How can you be the salt of the earth? Interested in ...
Sep 20, 2021•41 min
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 last of all and servant of all." Here are the questions Adam and Mason discuss with Dr. Croghan and Sarah: Why didn't J...
Sep 13, 2021•20 min
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 disciples—and of us. And it's Peter that nails the answer: You are the Messiah. But it's what happens next that Dr. Croghan zeros in...
Sep 06, 2021•34 min
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 week, we shouldn't focus on the setup, however dramatic Jesus makes it. We need to focus on the follow through. And what ...
Aug 30, 2021•29 min
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 heart's desires and how your heart is an indicator of your faith in this week's conversation. Adam, Kiri and Mason ask: - What is a hu...
Aug 23, 2021•31 min
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 the communicatio idiomatum, to the Sacramentarians trying to turn Jesus' words into signs. That it's not actuall...
Aug 16, 2021•47 min
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 abide in Christ? Interested in sponsoring an episode of Scripture First? Email Sarah: sstenson@augie.edu Support th...
Aug 09, 2021•26 min
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 in Jesus—an act that He does for us. Here are a few questions Adam, Kiri and Mason asked: When is the last day? What doe...
Aug 02, 2021•26 min
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 sign that delivers faith and having your daily needs met. Here are a few questions Adam, Kiri and Mason asked: - Why is the crowd ...
Jul 26, 2021•23 min
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? Interested in sponsoring an episode of Scripture First? Email Sarah: sstenson@augie.edu Support the show Intere...
Jul 19, 2021•35 min
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'll hear in the conversation, Jesus takes care of our daily needs to deliver his promise of the forgiveness of sins. Int...
Jul 12, 2021•25 min
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 dead? Interested in sponsoring an episode of Scripture First? Email Sarah: sstenson@augie.edu Support the show Int...
Jul 05, 2021•32 min
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 first time! Can you receive faith from nature? Why is it difficult for parents to preach to their kids? Interested in sponsoring a...
Jun 28, 2021•29 min
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 dies. Incredibly, Jesus demonstrates his power over death by telling the daughter to get up. She is resurrected. You'll hear Luth...
Jun 21, 2021•41 min
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: Why do the disciples ask Jesus, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" What's the difference between Je...
Jun 14, 2021•27 min
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 does Jesus speak in parables? How does election have to do with parables? Why have there been so many attacks on faith? Intereste...
Jun 07, 2021•29 min
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 always in the law? Does Jesus have siblings? Interested in sponsoring an episode of Scripture First? Email Sarah at sstenson@a...
May 31, 2021•34 min
We, like Nicodemus, think there are hidden signs in Jesus' stories that will tell us how to live. But Jesus tells us in this week's passage, His words aren't signs. They're real and they're doing something right here, right now. Dr. Steven Paulson is back to talk about how baptism isn't a sign. It's the deliverance of the Holy Spirit in water and Jesus' words. Here are a few questions Adam, Kiri, and Mason ask: Why isn't there a commandment to be baptized? Where does the Holy Spirit want to blow...
May 24, 2021•36 min
Dr. Steven Paulson is back to talk about why we *hate* Jesus, the Golden Rule, and what the Holy Spirit does for us. He teaches us that the Golden Rule sounds good on paper, but it leaves us without comfort. It leaves us in the law. Jesus shows us our good works don't get rid of our sin and we hate Him for it. But that's why the Holy Spirit has been sent to us. He takes Jesus' righteousness and gives it to us. He delivers God's promise: our sins are forgiven. In this episode Adam, Kiri, and Maso...
May 17, 2021•34 min
Have you seen the COEXIST bumper sticker? This week on Scripture First, Sarah Stenson and Dr. Chris Croghan discuss how God's promise is different than what the COEXIST bumper sticker proclaims. They teach that COEXIST's claim of, "Can't we all just get along?" is inherently selfish. Instead, what you'll hear in this week's passage is Jesus asking God to preserve us in His mercy. Once we have His mercy, we can pour out our lives for our neighbors instead of worrying if you got your fair share. A...
May 10, 2021•31 min
Keeping Jesus' commandments. Loving one another as Jesus loved us. Free will (or our lack of it). We cover a lot of ground in this week's Scripture First episode with Sarah Stenson. Adam, Kiri, and Mason ask Sarah: Do we have a choice when Jesus says, "Do as I command you?" How did Jesus love us? How does this verse stump those who think they have a free will? Interested in sponsoring an episode of Scripture First? Email Sarah Stenson at sstenson@augie.edu. Support the show Interested in sponsor...
May 03, 2021•28 min
The battle over "I am." In this week's passage, Jesus' "I am" declares that He is God squares off against our "I am" declaring that we are capable of producing good works. Dr. Croghan teaches us that the only good work we're capable of is faith (...and faith comes from God). Adam, Kiri, and Mason ask Dr. Croghan: What does it mean that God is a jealous God? What is fruit? Why don't people like this passage? Interested in sponsoring an episode of Scripture First? Email Sarah Stenson: sstenson@aug...
Apr 26, 2021•32 min
Sheep. A shepherd. A hired hand. A wolf. Which one are we? That's the question Adam, Kiri, and Mason ask Dr. Steven Paulson in this week's episode of Scripture First. He teaches them that Jesus' stories aren't about finding yourself in the narrative. They're about the promise delivered to your ears. Here are the topics we covered this week: Here's a preview of what they discussed: What does it mean to own the sheep? What makes a "good sheep?" Guilt sounds like this: "You have not." Interested in...
Apr 19, 2021•40 min
Peace be with you. That's what Jesus said to His disciples when He appeared to them after His resurrection. In this week's podcast episode, Dr. Chris Croghan and Sarah Stenson break down the importance of God finds us with His speaking. Here are the topics we covered this week: Here are the topics they discussed: Why can't we create peace internally? Why does Jesus ask for something to eat? What does it mean that Jesus opened their minds to understand Scripture? Interested in sponsoring an episo...
Apr 12, 2021•28 min
Are you familiar with this passage? The disciples are hiding in a room. A resurrected Jesus appears. He breathes the Holy Spirit into them. Yet "Doubting" Thomas needs to touch Jesus to know it's true. Luther House of Study's co-director, Sarah Stenson, provides depth to a well-known passage with co-hosts Adam, Kiri, and Mason. Here are the topics they discussed: How is "Doubting Thomas" a mistranslation? Why everyone can't have their truth? How do you retain sins? Interested in sponsoring an ep...
Apr 05, 2021•38 min
Easter Sunday. An empty tomb. A risen Savior. We welcome Dr. Chris Croghan back to Scripture First to talk about the story of the three women discovering the empty tomb and the incredible sermon they hear inside it including Dr. Croghan's two favorite words in the gospel of Mark. Here are a few questions Adam, Kiri and Mason asked: Why are seemingly mundane details included in this passage such as mentioning that it was morning or including that the three women were worried about who would roll ...
Mar 29, 2021•34 min
