Scripture First

The Parable of the Dishonest Manager.

You will hear Kiri and my confusion: a rich man is considering firing his manager only for the manager to go to those he was working with to slash the amount owed…

The sinners flock to listen to Jesus. Why do the Pharisees grumble about this? 

Dr. Chris Croghan teaches us that what they hold important is the law, and it isn’t working the way they want it to work…

Jesus says, “Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple.” 

Kiri and I discuss with Lars Olson, i…

Jesus is at the Pharisees house where he tells them a parable about the seats of honor at a wedding banquet. 

Lars Olson and Dr. Chris Croghan teaches us how nearly everyone will hear Jesus’ words as …

Jesus heals a woman on the sabbath who had been suffering for 18 years.

The leader of the synagogue ignores her praising God and rebukes Jesus for breaking the law by healing on the sabbath. 

Sarah Ste…

The scribes and Pharisees think they’re going to make the world a better place through the law.

Jesus tells them, “Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather…

Jesus says to sell your possessions. Keep your treasure where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 

Kiri and Mason hear this as somethin…

Inheritance. Budgeting. Investing. 

Someone asks Jesus to tell their brother to divide the family inheritance with them, and Jesus says to be on guard against all kinds of greed. 

We ask Dr. Chris Crog…

Just like the disciples, we ask Jesus, “Lord, teach us to pray.”

And Jesus does just that in this text. 

As Sarah Stenson teaches us, the first half of this text is both how we pray and what we pray. T…

We hear this familiar Mary and Martha text as a prescription to welcome others because we want to hear it as a prescription. We want credit for our work!

But Lars Olson teaches us, hospitality is not …

"What must I do to inherit eternal life?" 

A lawyer brings this question to Jesus and Jesus draws out the answer as it’s written in the law: Love God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind; and…

Jesus sends 70 disciples ahead of him saying, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” 

We ask Dr. Chris Crogh…

Jesus says, “follow me,” and we, just like the people in this text, respond with, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 

But. 

Let me go and bury my father. Let me first say farewell to those at my home…

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 …

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…

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 beli…

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…

“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…

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 Sara…

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 …