Scripture First

The Good Shepherd chapter. Jesus has been contrasting himself as the Good Shepherd with the religious leaders as the thieves and the wolves. Now, he goes directly into their house and they ask him pl…

Still reeling from the most mind bending experience in human history: the Son of God being killed and raised from the dead, the disciples are back to their daily vocations only to have Jesus appear t…

Having betrayed Christ, the disciples lock themselves in a room out of fear of what their future holds. Jesus appears. Looking for revenge? No. He gives them the greatest gift: peace. 

Lars Olson expl…

The rolled stone. The lilies lining the sanctuary. Easter Sunday.

In this Easter conversation, Sarah Stenson and Lars Olson encourage both pastors and laypeople to truly hear the shocking news in this…

This episode is going to be a little different. No background music. No closing summary and calls to action. Why? Because we’re grappling with the question, “Why did Jesus have to die?” in this conve…

In the first of two Holy Week bonus episodes, Lars Olson and Sarah Stenson break down what Jesus meant by giving us a new commandment to love one another in this Maundy Thursday text. 

Jesus demonstra…

Palm Sunday. The Triumphal Entry. Dr. Chris Croghan explains how to preach this text ahead of Holy Week, especially when many people might hear this triumphant text, skip the cross on Good Friday, an…

Mary uses a perfume worth a year’s salary to wash Jesus’ feet. Judas questions if that’s the best use of that money.

Sarah Stenson teaches us in this episode that Mary’s acting out of faith. She’s not…

The Parable of the Lost Sheep. The Parable of the Lost Coin. The Parable of the Prodigal Son. 

Lars Olson reminds us parables are a depiction of what God is doing for you, not a, “choose your own adve…

Dr. Chris Croghan and Sarah Stenson explain that this text is difficult to preach because people ask theodicy questions: Why do bad things happen to good people? What can I do to avoid God’s wrath? 

Y…

This Lent text opens with some Pharisees warning Jesus, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.”

Kiri and I ask Dr. Chris Croghan what are the religious leaders’ motivation in warning him ab…

Jesus defeated sin, death, and the devil. That’s a line you hear fairly often on this podcast. But what does it actually mean that Jesus defeated the devil?

What is the devil? Who is the devil? What s…

Jesus is Transfigured before Peter, John, and James. Moses and Elijah are on the mountaintop. God says to listen to his Son. 

Why is the Transfiguration significant? Why are Moses and Elijah on the mo…

“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.”

“If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also.”

And the Big One itself, the Golden Rule: “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

…

What is the difference between a disciple and an apostle?

Why does Jesus heal diseases when he could do anything from creating a zebra, to causing the audience to grow six inches, to giving everyone a…

Despite not being a commercial fisherman, Jesus tells Simon Peter to let down his nets despite Simon Peter having fished all night and caught nothing. 

Sarah Stenson joins the podcast to explain how G…

All who heard Jesus’ first sermon spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words…until they tried to hurl him off of a cliff!

Lars Olson joins the podcast to explain that what Jesus was doing…

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 Sara…

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 Sa…

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 baptiz…