We're discussing the very familiar lectionary text for Christmas Day in today's episode: 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. As you'll hear Adam, Kiri, and Mason ask Sarah Stenson, we can roll over the incredible meaning of these words from how familiar it is. As you'll hear Sarah explain, this text is the basis for the entire ...
Dec 22, 2023•34 min
Merry Christmas, Scripture First listeners! With the last week of Advent landing on Christmas Eve, pastors get the chance to preach one sermon for both lectionary days. Lars Olson and Dr. Chris Croghan break down the Luke text we hear every year on Christmas Eve starting with, “In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered.” They explain how God works through real world events: including the government requiring a census. Kiri, Justin, and Mason as...
Dec 18, 2023•37 min
If this week’s text sounds similar to the text we discussed last week, that’s because it is: John the Baptist is back and we welcome Dr. Chris Croghan to explain how the John passage is different from the Mark passage. The priests and Levites think God will bring salvation through the law, but John the Baptist—out in the wilderness—is pointing his long bony finger saying the Messiah is coming outside of the law. We also discuss how paths are made straight. Dr. Croghan teaches us having faith is ...
Dec 11, 2023•26 min
We're discussing the opening verses of the Gospel of Mark, starting with, "1 The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God." Sarah Stenson explains how this verse shows how the entire book of Mark is good news: we now have God's mercy, in the flesh, as promised in Genesis. His name is Jesus. As we discuss John the Baptist, Kiri, Justin and Mason ask Sarah: what does it mean to make the Lord's paths straight? Many assume this is a to-do. Sarah explains the quoted Isaiah passage i...
Dec 04, 2023•27 min
It's the most wonderful time of the year, but when you show up to church this week you're going to hear this passage about imminent destruction and the impending end times. It's a common reaction to be frightened by this, but—as Lars Olson explains—Jesus said these things as a word of comfort. You WILL lose everything: house, job, spouse, family, your life. All of the coming wars, famines, and persecutions will end in death. The only thing that won't? Jesus' word. It's the only thing that goes t...
Nov 27, 2023•33 min
In one of Jesus' last parables before being crucified, He mentions terms Christians hear all the time: Son of Man, blessed by the father, sheep and goats. Kiri, Max, and Mason slow down and ask Sarah Stenson and Lars Olson to unpack what those terms actually mean. What does Jesus' title as Son of Man mean? What does it mean to be blessed by God the Father? How do I know if I'm a sheep or a goat? In the ensuing conversation, Lars and Sarah preach why is everyone trying so hard to be a good person...
Nov 20, 2023•33 min
This week, we're discussing the Parable of the Talents where Jesus describes a man giving three of his slaves extremely valuable property: approximately worth $2 million or 16 years worth of earnings. The first two slaves doubled their value. The third buried the talent because he was afraid. The first two are told, 'Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things." The third is rebuked, "You wicked and lazy slave!" Kiri, ...
Nov 13, 2023•33 min
We dive into the Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids with Sarah Stenson this week. Five wise bridesmaids were prepared for the bridegroom by bringing oil for their lamps. Compare that to the five foolish bridesmaids who came unprepared and demanded the wise bridesmaids share their oil only to be turned down, and, while they were off buying their own oil, the bridegroom showed up and the door to the wedding banquet was shut. We hear Jesus conclude this parable in a terrifying way: "Truly I tell you, I...
Nov 06, 2023•34 min
For All Saints Sunday, we're welcoming Lars Olson to break down the beginning of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount: the Beatitudes. As you'll hear Lars teach us, people who have diseases, demons, and are dying are gathering around Jesus, and, instead of healing them, Jesus begins to preach. So many people hear these verses and think, "the blessing will come once I get through this hard time," or even more dramatically, "I'll know I'm being a good Christian when people start to revile me." But Lars focu...
Oct 30, 2023•29 min
It's Reformation Sunday and Sarah Stenson and Lars Olson join the podcast to break down the bedrock of biblical Reformation theology and Martin Luther's law-gospel distinction by answering Kiri and Mason's questions including: How can you continue in Jesus' word? How do you know the truth? What does it mean to be a slave to sin? Lars and Sarah explain that Christ is the one who keeps you in his word. Staying in his word makes you a disciple. Abiding in his word allows you to know the truth, and ...
Oct 23, 2023•27 min
The Pharisees plot to entrap Jesus in an impossible to answer question. If Jesus answers one way, He breaks Jewish law by breaking the First Commandment. If He answers the other way, the Roman authorities have grounds to arrest Him. How does Jesus get out of this dilemma? By flipping the accusation on to the Pharisees: show me the coin used for the tax. If Jesus is the one on trial, why do the Pharisees hold the thing He's not supposed to hold? In the end, all of Scripture has been saying that G...
Oct 16, 2023•31 min
The Parable of the Wedding Banquet—when Jesus tells a parable, He's talking about election. In this week's lectionary text, Jesus tells the Pharisees a parable about a king gave a wedding banquet for his son. As you'll hear Dr. Chris Croghan explain, Jesus had sent out his disciples to the lost sheep of Israel—to the Jews like the Pharisees. They were the first to hear God's promise and what did they do with it? They take the gift of God and thumb their nose at it. The Pharisees are enraged by t...
Oct 09, 2023•31 min
In this week's lectionary text, Jesus continues to address the Pharisees who questioned His authority last week. He tells them a different kind of parable—not a parable of election, but a parable addressing what the Old Testament says about Him. The Pharisees think if they kill Jesus, they'll get rid of the man who is claiming to have the authority of God and they'll be the ones back in charge. But—as you'll hear Sarah Stenson explain—Jesus is explaining one of the most misunderstood phrases in ...
Oct 02, 2023•28 min
“By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” The religious power players confront Jesus about His teaching and preaching with authority. Jesus flips the question on the chief priests and elders to reveal their supposed power is based on their own thinking—they only care what the crowd thinks. As Lars Olson explains, Jesus reveals where righteousness and true power comes from: God. SING TO THE LORD Listen to Luther House of Study's newest podcast: Sing to the L...
Sep 25, 2023•25 min
In this week's episode, Jesus is explaining what the kingdom of heaven is like by comparing it to a generous landowner who hires laborers to work in his vineyard at all times of the day, promising to pay them whatever is right. Everyone is on board if this is what heaven is like! Things take a turn at the end of the day when the landowner pays the workers an equal amount, regardless of how long they worked. Lars Olson explains in this week's conversation how the kingdom of heaven is not fair, it...
Sep 18, 2023•26 min
In Adam's farewell episode, we're discussing Peter's natural question after Jesus tells him the definition of the church is to use the office of the keys to bind and loose sin. How often do I have to forgive? Sarah Stenson and Dr. Chris Croghan explain how Jesus forgives Peter's sin and Peter immediately tries to place that forgiveness back in the law. Then Chris and Sarah break down the Parable of Unmerciful Servant ending with the statement, "When you have faith in Christ, you're not looking t...
Sep 11, 2023•25 min
The only time in the entire Bible Jesus says the word, "church," is in this week's lectionary text. It's the only place Jesus defines what His church means, we better pay attention! Kiri and Mason ask Dr. Chris Croghan: What does it mean to be a member of the church? What's the difference between saying, "it's ok," versus, "I forgive you?" and how is forgiving each other's sin in private pastoral care? SING TO THE LORD Listen to Luther House of Study's newest podcast: Sing to the Lord! Martin Lu...
Sep 04, 2023•32 min
For the first time, Jesus tells His disciples He's going to be killed and be raised from the dead. Understandably, Peter objects, "This must never happen to you," causing Jesus to say to him, "Get behind me, Satan!" Sarah Stenson teaches Adam, Kiri, and Mason how this is Peter's confession of sin. Peter is trying to prevent Jesus from doing what He came to do. He doesn't have faith to respond, "Amen. Thy will be done." Then we explain what Jesus meant in saying, "let them deny themselves and tak...
Aug 28, 2023•32 min
Jesus opens this week's text by asking His disciples a general question, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" As you'll hear Lars Olson teach Kiri and Mason, the disciples answer: John the Baptist, Elijah, or Jeremiah. Then Jesus asks them directly, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter confesses, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Lars explains what it means for Peter to have been given this confession as well as other details including: How Christians differ on what Jesus...
Aug 21, 2023•32 min
After dealing with the Pharisees and their cleanliness and righteousness in the law, Jesus enters pagan cities and encounters a Canaanite woman whose daughter is tormented by a demon. Adam and Mason ask Dr. Chris Croghan and Sarah Stenson, what does it mean the Pharisees thought they were righteous according to the law and why is righteousness a matter of the heart? In His exchanges with His disciples and the woman, Jesus finally says, "It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to ...
Aug 14, 2023•28 min
The miracle of Jesus walking on the water—Kiri and Mason welcome Dr. Chris Croghan back to the podcast to discuss this well-known text and call out the subtle details between the action that preaches the gospel. When Mason reads the passage, listen closely to these three parts of the passage: first, when the disciples are terrified and think they're seeing a ghost, Jesus responds, "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid." Dr. Croghan teaches us this is the preached God giving us His very name—mer...
Aug 07, 2023•36 min
Feeding the 5000, a miracle story found in all four gospels—Kiri and Mason welcome Sarah Stenson back to Scripture First to break down this famous passage. Sarah teaches us how this story is not a story of the forgiveness of sins; it's a story of how "all ate and were filled." God creates, and gives us daily bread, in abundance. God gives us everything we need to sustain life. With faith, we can be comfortable knowing He is our God. Plus, we discuss how the details in the verses around the main ...
Jul 31, 2023•28 min
Jesus says He purposely makes parables difficult to understand so we turn to Him for the explanation. This week, we have four parables in the same lectionary text: the parables of the mustard seed, the yeast, the hidden treasure, and the pearl. Lars Olson teaches Adam, Kiri, and Mason that all of these parables are depicting what the kingdom of heaven is like. For the mustard seed and the yeast, it's how the kingdom of heaven starts as nothing, but grows to become everything. Then for the hidden...
Jul 24, 2023•26 min
Coming off of last week's passage where the disciples asked Jesus why He speaks in parables, Jesus puts another one to them: the Parable of the Weeds among the Wheat. Sarah Stenson and Dr. Chris Croghan join Adam, Kiri, and Mason to explain what Jesus is getting at in this parable: what election means. Election can be a scary topic. Am I in? Am I out? And as you'll hear in the conversation, God is the one who's choosing who has the ears to hear. God is electing who understands these parables. Ke...
Jul 17, 2023•22 min
Many people who hear or read the Parable of the Sower try to find the "to-do" as in where or how to plant seeds. Others try to find themselves in the parable: "I am good soil." As you'll hear Dr. Chris Croghan teach Kiri and Mason, this is not how parables work. Jesus tells parables as a depiction of what happens to you, not as a command of what you should do. In fact, this parable is not just a depiction of what happens, but a depiction of election. Who's in and who's out. But, before you start...
Jul 10, 2023•25 min
In this summer lectionary text, Sarah Stenson joins Kiri Haugen and Mason Van Essen to discuss what it means that Jesus is exclusive in stating, "no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." Then we get the incredibly reassuring verse, "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest," before wrapping up the conversation discussing what Jesus' yoke is and how we are to take it upon ourselves. SING TO THE LOR...
Jul 03, 2023•22 min
What is the prophet's reward? What does it mean to welcome Jesus? Should churches get better at welcoming strangers? These are the questions Adam, Kiri, and Mason ask Lars Olson in this week's conversation. Lars explains how the world is trained to hear reward as the opposite of punishment—you get a reward for good behavior. But—as you'll hear Jesus explain—the prophet's reward is receiving Christ's Word. Lars also teaches us how it's easy to mistake these verses on welcoming as a charge for chu...
Jun 26, 2023•20 min
This text is packed with well-known verses like: "A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master..." "...but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven." "Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it." Dr. Chris Croghan and Sarah Stenson lead us in a wide-ranging conversation addressing Adam, Kiri, and my questions that include: What does it mean that God will kill you? How is that related to f...
Jun 19, 2023•34 min
When Jesus saw the crowds, in this week's lectionary text, he had compassion for them because they were harassed and helpless. Jesus said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few." Then, Jesus gives his disciples the authority and power to reverse the crowd's harassment and helplessness. How? By proclaiming the good news. Dr. Chris Croghan join Kiri and Mason to discuss what it means for Jesus to have authority, how he gives that authority to his disciples in this te...
Jun 12, 2023•23 min
As you heard in Mason's initial reaction, this week's lectionary text is bonkers. It's absolutely nonsensical. A man asks Jesus to touch his dead daughter to bring her back to life, and—on His way —a woman with hemorrhages touches His cloak to be healed. Once there, Jesus says the girl is just sleeping. People laugh at Him. But, as you'll hear Sarah Stenson teach us in this week's conversation, Jesus came for the sick, not the well. In fact, Jesus didn't comes to make us physically well, He came...
Jun 05, 2023•33 min
