Scripture First
Three millennials sit down with Lutheran theologians to understand how Scripture is working in our lives. God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, sin, faith, forgiveness, Luther, and more are on the table as Mason Van Essen, Kiri Haugen, and Adam Guthmiller discuss each week's upcoming lectionary Bible passage with Luther House of Study's theologians to hear the context in and around Scripture before it's preached in church.
- Update frequency
- every 6 days
- Average duration
- 29 minutes
- Episodes
- 333
- Years Active
- 2019 - 2025
Jesus + Hot Button Topics | Mark 10:2-16 with Dr. Chris Croghan
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 in…
One-Armed, One-Legged, One-Eyed Preachers | Mark 9:38-50 with Dr. Steven Paulson
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…
Who Is the Greatest? | Mark 9:30-37 with Dr. Chris Croghan & Sarah Stenson
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 …
How Do You React to Being Called a Sinner? | Mark 8:27-38 with Dr. Chris Croghan
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 put…
The Syrophoenician Woman’s Faith | Mark 7:24-37 with Sarah Stenson
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 …
A Radar Gun To Your Heart | Mark 7:1-8,14-15,21-23 with Sarah Stenson & Dr. Chris Croghan
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…
Would You Rather Be Blind or Deaf? | John 6:56-69 with Dr. Steven Paulson
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…
Teaching vs Preaching | John 6:51-58 with Dr. Chris Croghan & Sarah Stenson
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…
Your Role In Salvation | John 6:35,41-51 with Sarah Stenson
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 …
The Prosperity Gospel—Debunked | John 6.24-35 with Dr. Chris Croghan
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…
5 Loaves, 2 Fish | John 6:1-21 with Sarah Stenson & Dr. Chris Croghan
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 …
You Don't Need To Pray Harder | Mark 6.30-34,53-56 with Dr. Chris Croghan & Sarah Stenson
- 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 …
John, Beheaded | Mark 6:14-29 with Sarah Stenson
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 b…
An Unintuitive Gospel | Mark 6:1-13 with Dr. Chris Croghan
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 g…
Touching Jesus' Cloak | Mark 5.21-43 with Sarah Stenson & Dr. Chris Croghan
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 Je…
Asleep On the Stern | Mark 4.35-41 with Dr. Chris Croghan & Sarah Stenson
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 podca…
The Kingdom of God Is Like... | Mark 4:26-34 with Sarah Stenson
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 te…
Can You Choose To Believe In Jesus? | Mark 3:20-35 with Dr. Chris Croghan
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, choo…
Baptism Is Not A Sign | John 3:1-17 with Dr. Steven Paulson
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 som…
Why Do *You* Hate Jesus? | John 15:26-27,16:4-15 with Dr. Steven Paulson
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 c…