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
Why Is the COEXIST Bumper Sticker Selfish? | John 17:6-19 with Sarah Stenson & Dr. Chris Croghan
Have you seen the COEXIST bumper sticker?
This week on Scripture First, Sarah Stenson and Dr. Chris Croghan discuss how God's promise is different than what the COEXIST bumper sticker proclaims. They …
You (Don't) Have Free Will | John 15:9-17 with Sarah Stenson
Keeping Jesus' commandments. Loving one another as Jesus loved us. Free will (or our lack of it).
We cover a lot of ground in this week's Scripture First episode with Sarah Stenson.
Adam, Kiri, and Ma…
Those Who Try To Save Their Life Will Lose It | John 15:1-8 with Dr. Chris Croghan
The battle over "I am."
In this week's passage, Jesus' "I am" declares that He is God squares off against our "I am" declaring that we are capable of producing good works.
Dr. Croghan teaches us that …
When The Wolf Comes | John 10:11-18 with Dr. Steven Paulson
Sheep. A shepherd. A hired hand. A wolf.
Which one are we?
That's the question Adam, Kiri, and Mason ask Dr. Steven Paulson in this week's episode of Scripture First. He teaches them that Jesus' storie…
We Are All Witnesses | Luke 24:36b-48 with Dr. Chris Croghan & Sarah Stenson
Peace be with you.
That's what Jesus said to His disciples when He appeared to them after His resurrection.
In this week's podcast episode, Dr. Chris Croghan and Sarah Stenson break down the importanc…
Doubt Is Not A Virtue | John 20:19-31 with Sarah Stenson
Are you familiar with this passage?
The disciples are hiding in a room. A resurrected Jesus appears. He breathes the Holy Spirit into them. Yet "Doubting" Thomas needs to touch Jesus to know it's tru…
Entering The Empty Tomb | Mark 16:1-8 with Dr. Chris Croghan
Easter Sunday. An empty tomb. A risen Savior.
We welcome Dr. Chris Croghan back to Scripture First to talk about the story of the three women discovering the empty tomb and the incredible sermon they…
My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me? | Mark 11:1-11; Mark 15:1-47 with Dr. Steven Paulson
Our sin killed Jesus.
Dr. Steven Paulson joins the podcast to discuss the incredibly eventful week Jesus had between his triumphal entry into Jerusalem and his crucifixion and death.
So much more happ…
Lord, Have Mercy | John 12:20-33 with Sarah Stenson & Dr. Chris Croghan
"Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life."
What if we told you this well-known verse in John isn't telling you what you *should* do…
The Hidden Side of John 3:16 | John 3:14-21 with Sarah Stenson
John 3:16 may be the most well-known verse in the entire Bible. You haven't heard it taught like this before.
At least that's what happened to Adam, Kiri and Mason as they discuss this week's lectiona…
Angry Jesus Clears The Temple | John 2:13-22 with Dr. Chris Croghan
An angry Jesus clears the temple and says, "Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!”
Dr. Chris Croghan is back on Scripture First to discuss the passage where Jesus cleanses the temple.
Adam, Kir…
Get Behind Me, Satan! | Mark 8:31-38 with Dr. Steven Paulson
A rebuking duel, "Get behind me, Satan!" and Jesus foretells his death and resurrection.
Dr. Steven Paulson joins Scripture First to have a conversation about Jesus telling Peter how he's going to sav…
What Should You Give Up For Lent? | Mark 1:9-15 with Dr. Chris Croghan & Sarah Stenson
It's the beginning of Lent. We hear we need to repent. Is that something we need to do?
This week on Scripture First, Dr. Chris Croghan and Sarah Stenson discuss how Lent is more than a time for repen…
What Is Transfiguration, Anyway? | Mark 9:2-9 with Sarah Stenson
The Transfiguration of Jesus. We've heard the story, but what does it actually mean?
This week, Sarah Stenson sits down with Kiri, Adam and Mason to talk about this week's lectionary text: the incredi…
Daily Bread vs The Gospel | Mark 1:29-39 with Dr. Chris Croghan
Why does Jesus heal?
Dr. Chris Croghan joins the podcast to discuss this week's lectionary text about Jesus healing, daily bread and the mission of the church.
Adam, Kiri and Mason ask Dr. Croghan:
- How…
Jesus, The Exorcist | Mark 1:21-28 with Dr. Steven Paulson
Dr. Steven Paulson joins the podcast to talk about this week's lectionary text, The Man with an Unclean Spirit.
Jesus astonishes the teachers and lawyers by teaching with authority. Then, a demon-poss…
Jesus' First Sermon | Mark 1:14-20 with Dr. Steven Paulson
What can we learn about preaching from Jesus' first sermon?
In this week's Scripture First episode, Dr. Steven Paulson breaks down Jesus' 19-word sermon and teaches us what it means for both today's p…
Why Do People Follow Jesus? | John 1:43-51 with Sarah Stenson & Dr. Chris Croghan
"The perfume Jesus wears only attracts sinners."
In this week's episode, we get to hear a firsthand account of how *and why* two of Jesus' first followers, Phillip and Nathaniel, end up following him…
Our Life's Biggest Miracle | Mark 1:4-11 with Sarah Stenson
If baptism is for sinners, why did Jesus have to be baptized?
In a discussion about Jesus' baptism, Sarah Stenson joins Adam, Kiri and Mason to discuss all things baptism including:
- Was baptism a new …
The Meaning of Grace | John 1:1-18 with Dr. Chris Croghan
Have you ever wondered what God's opinion of you was?
In this week's episode, Dr. Chris Croghan teaches Kiri, Adam and Mason that grace isn't something that can be given. Grace is God's disposition *…