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 hearers go from praising Jesus’ teaching to wanting to kill him after Jesus says, “Today this scripture ...
Jan 20, 2025•28 min
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, take our sin away from us, forgive us, and give us new life, why does he do miracles? CONFIRMATION Does ...
Jan 13, 2025•27 min
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 church have a confirmation class? Luther House of Study is excited to present a comprehensive online conf...
Jan 06, 2025•30 min
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 the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him.” Lars discusses how John is fil...
Dec 30, 2024•27 min
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 confession we can hear the promise delivered to both Mary and to us: Jesus came to end our angui...
Dec 23, 2024•25 min
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’s Magnificat, Sarah and Lars zero in on Mary saying, “My soul magnifies the Lord.” They teach us that ...
Dec 16, 2024•30 min
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. Repentance means to have your mind change, and Martin Luther discovered your mind is changed because a word ...
Dec 09, 2024•27 min
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, in a text with John the Bapist saying Jesus is near and quotes from Isaiah saying this is what God is g...
Dec 02, 2024•31 min
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 to be afraid: Jesus is coming again, just as he promised he would. All of creation will pass away, ...
Nov 25, 2024•28 min
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 disease. If I were God, I wouldn’t be doing it this way. When you’re being crushed under the weight of God’s wr...
Nov 18, 2024•21 min
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 above him. And the disciples have the gumption to ask Jesus to give them a warning ahead of God’s wrat...
Nov 11, 2024•28 min
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. Then a poor widow comes and puts two small copper coins in the treasury, and Jesus explains it’s more t...
Nov 04, 2024•27 min
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 instructions on how to live. CONFIRMATION Does your church have a confirmation class? Luther House of...
Oct 28, 2024•30 min
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 sin is unbelief. Jesus isn’t the law to the woman who committed adultery. He was mercy. Everyone who doesn’t bel...
Oct 21, 2024•18 min
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 Hill; is this a new instruction? Should you be the biggest slave to get the most power? Jesus is not gi...
Oct 15, 2024•27 min
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
Oct 14, 2024•11 sec
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 the Gospel, pastors can end up softening the Law. But that’s not what Jesus does: He unleashes the f...
Oct 07, 2024•35 min
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 love the things that serve you. There’s no such thing as unconditional love. But that’s why Jesus says...
Sep 30, 2024•33 min
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 shows our righteousness is in Christ, not in our self-righteousness or human tradition. We also discu...
Sep 23, 2024•35 min
God tells the disciples to listen to Jesus. Jesus tells them exactly what’s going to happen. Yet they don’t understand. They argue about which of them is the greatest. Lars Olson and Sarah Stenson explain how Jesus saying, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all,” is not an instructional. If you try to be last, you’re still putting yourself first. When you have faith, you’ll be a servant of all. You won’t be worried about who’s first or who gets credit. You can pour you...
Sep 16, 2024•25 min
Jesus puts His disciples on the spot by asking, “Who do you say that I am?” With nowhere to hide, Peter boldly proclaims, “You are the Messiah.” With that correct answer, Jesus clearly explains what it means to be the Messiah: He will suffer, die, and be raised. The only problem? Peter doesn’t agree. In this week’s conversation, we ask Lars Olson, why does Jesus call Peter, Satan? Satan tries to confuse God’s Word by asking, “Did God really say?” And that’s exactly what Peter is doing after Jesu...
Sep 09, 2024•30 min
Jesus goes deeper into the land of the Gentiles and encounters a woman who begs Jesus to cast out a demon possessing her daughter. He gives a curious answer: it wouldn’t be fair for Him to heal her. But as you’ll hear Dr. Chris Croghan teach, faith is what you put your trust in. This woman trusted that a crumb from Jesus could do anything because she had heard about Jesus’ mercy. If faith comes by hearing, how does Jesus deliver to a deaf man? When you’re feeling the full weight of the law beari...
Sep 02, 2024•25 min
In this week’s lectionary text, Jesus confronts the Jews for their hypocrisy: they believe they’re honoring God’s law by going above and beyond what it requires with man-made traditions. Sarah Stenson teaches us that this hypocrisy isn’t exclusive to the Jews in this story: it’s all over Christianity today with the theological fights about music preferences, communion rules, and church membership distinctions. But Jesus points out that sin does not come from outside of us and the dogma we pursue...
Aug 26, 2024•30 min
When his disciples heard Jesus teach about eating his flesh and drinking his blood, they said, “This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?” Lars Olson and Dr. Chris Croghan explain how the disciples’ assumption that they have the power or ability to accept Jesus’ teaching is the same misunderstanding Christians have today assuming you have free will or the ability to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. But Jesus is talking to those who think they have the power to accept his teaching. They...
Aug 19, 2024•26 min
"I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” This is what Jesus says in this week’s lectionary text. What does it mean to never be hungry? To believe and never be thirsty? Dr. Chris Croghan explains what it means that Jesus is the bread of life. To never be hungry and thirsty means you won’t chase your needs or be worried about self preservation. That’s a glimpse of eternal life. But how do we get this bread of life? It’s t...
Aug 12, 2024•24 min
"I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” This is what Jesus says in this week’s lectionary text. What does it mean to never be hungry? To believe and never be thirsty? Dr. Chris Croghan explains what it means that Jesus is the bread of life. To never be hungry and thirsty means you won’t chase your needs or be worried about self preservation. That’s a glimpse of eternal life. But how do we get this bread of life? It’s t...
Aug 05, 2024•25 min
On the heels of eating their fill of loaves and fishes, the crowd tracked Jesus down on the other side of the Sea of Galilee looking for more of their needs to be met. Jesus tells them not to work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life. Sarah Stenson teaches Kiri and Mason why the crowd is confused about what they have to do to receive eternal life when Jesus tells them very clearly that He is the one who gives it freely. Though we often hear, “I am the bread ...
Jul 29, 2024•24 min
This week, we’re discussing the popular story of the Feeding of the 5,000. Dr. Chris Croghan and Sarah Stenson teach Kiri and me the details that show what Jesus is doing in this story to produce faith in the people who ate the fish and loaves as well as in those who hear this story today. In this week’s conversation, we ask Chris and Sarah: What’s the difference between miracles and parables? Do they do different things? Why did Jesus set Philip up by asking, "Where are we to buy bread for thes...
Jul 22, 2024•32 min
In this week’s lectionary text, Jesus and His apostles attempt to get away from the crowds by heading to a deserted place by boat. The only issue? The people are so desperate to hear a Word from Jesus, they beat them to the other side of the sea on foot! Dr. Chris Croghan teaches Kiri, Max, and Mason what it means that, “God’s Word is for you.” What does God’s Word say and why is it good news for me, personally? The result? We hear what God’s very nature is, and what He thinks of us. COURSES Do ...
Jul 15, 2024•20 min
In a lectionary text that’s extremely difficult to understand (let alone preach), Lars Olson guides us through the historical nuances of the story of King Herod, John the Baptist, and Herodias, and the many, many ditches this text puts in front of the hearer. You’ll even hear Kiri, Max, and Mason fall into one of those ditches in the middle of this conversation. Lars made the key note that you should keep in mind as you hear this text: When you read this text, what does it do? Fill you with hope...
Jul 08, 2024•25 min
