Scripture First

For the first time on Scripture First, we welcome Lars Olson to have a conversation with Adam, Kiri and I about this week's lectionary text about the middle section of Jesus' Sermon on the Plain. 

Thi…

The scene is set: Jesus comes down the mountain after praying all night, so many people—coming from every direction— come to hear him preach, and Jesus deliver the Sermon on the Plain. 

"Blessed are y…

From henceforth thou shalt catch men, from now on you will be catching people, I will make you fishers of men, fishers of men, fishers of men. 

Whether you've learned about this week's lectionary text…

Last week we heard Jesus' first sermon.

This week we hear their reaction. 

Dr. Steven Paulson returns to Scripture First to break down the crowd's reaction to hearing the gospel for the first time.

Ulti…

Dr. Steven Paulson returns to Scripture First to talk about the mic drop sermon Jesus gives in the synagogue upon his return to his hometown of Nazareth. 

Dr. Paulson breaks down the significance the …

Jesus changes water into wine. You think you know the story of Jesus, his mother and his disciples attending the wedding in Cana, but Luther House of Study's co-directors—Dr. Chris Croghan and Sarah …

The Festival of Epiphany, the 12 days of Christmas, and the full power of God on display. That's what Luther House of Study's co-director, Sarah Stenson, discusses with Kiri Haugen and Mason Van Esse…

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. That's how the Gospel of John begins and that's the lectionary text Dr. Chris Croghan breaks down to Adam, Kiri and I. 

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12-year-old Jesus and his parents go to Jerusalem for Passover only for Jesus to stay behind for three days listening and asking questions of the Rabbis of the temple. 

In this week's conversation, Dr…

Pregnant with Jesus, Mary hurries to the hill country to visit her aunt Elizabeth who was pregnant with John the Baptist. When John hears Mary's voice, he leaps in Elizabeth's womb. 

As you'll hear in…

You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 

Sarah Stenson joins the podcast to talk about John the Baptist naming peoples' sin and taking away their claim to righteousness thr…

Advent is not a preparation for Jesus to come, it's a remembrance that he already came. 

This week, on Scripture First, Dr. Chris Croghan teaches us about why God gave His word to John in the wilderne…

Why does the first text in a new lectionary year begin with the end times? 

As you'll Dr. Paulson teach us, in order to understand the gospel, you have to start at the end. 

In this week's text, we dis…

Pontius Pilate asks Jesus, "Are you the King of the Jews?"

In this week's podcast episode, Dr. Croghan and Sarah teach us what it means to call Jesus a king and the political and religious ramificatio…

Jesus and the end times. God's wrath vs God's mercy. Wars and earthquakes. 

Sarah Stenson joins Scripture First to discuss this week's lectionary text: Mark 13:1-8 where Jesus reviews the end times an…

All Saints Sunday. Jesus raises Lazarus. God's promise in death. 

Dr. Chris Croghan is back on Scripture First to talk about John 11:32-44 and what it means that God's glory is going from death to lif…

Dr. Steven Paulson is back on Scripture First to talk about Jesus' sermon where he promises, "I will set you free," in John chapter 8 for this Reformation Sunday. 

In this week's text, we hear Jesus s…

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 an…

"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 J…

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 …