Scripture First

The political power, religious authorities, and the general public all demanded Jesus’ death. The disciples were terrified they were next. 

Suddenly, Jesus breaks the laws of nature and shows up in th…

It’s Easter Sunday and three women head to Jesus’ tomb fully expecting to find the dead body of the man they betrayed. 

Suddenly, an angel appears to deliver them the incredible news that is the basis…

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. Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. In many churches, we’ll wave our palm branches and shout, “Hosanna!” 

In this week’s conversation, Sarah Stenson and Dr. Chris Croghan explain how …

Dr. Chris Croghan summarized this week’s text in two sentences, “God made a promise. God fulfilled that promise.” 

After his triumphant entry into Jerusalem, a few Greeks show up to the festival. What…

Kiri and Mason welcome Lars Olson to the podcast to break down the verses surrounding one of the most well-known verses in the Bible: John 3:16. 

This week’s lectionary text begins with, “And just as …

A dramatic scene unfolds at the temple where Jesus is driving out livestock with a whip and flipping over the bankers’ tables, spilling money everywhere. 

Kiri and Mason ask Sarah Stenson what’s happe…

Immediately after Peter correctly identifies Jesus as the Messiah, Jesus lays out the entirety of what that means in a single verse: He’s going to undergo great suffering, be rejected, be killed, and…

At the beginning of Lent, the Gospel of Mark continues on a blistering pace: in six verses, Jesus is baptized, driven into the wilderness, John was arrested, and Jesus proclaimed the good news of God…

The Transfiguration. A literal mountaintop experience, and the bookend to the season of Epiphany as Jesus moves toward Jerusalem, His crucifixion, and, ultimately, His resurrection. 

Kiri, Max, and Ma…

We continue to move through Mark at a breakneck speed: John the Baptist, Jesus’ baptism, Jesus vs Satan in the wilderness, Jesus teaching in the synagogue with authority before casting out a demon; a…

In this week’s lectionary text, we hear of the first thing Jesus does in His ministry: teach in the synagogue with authority. As you’ll hear Sarah Stenson and Dr. Chris Croghan teach Kiri, Cole, and …

In this week’s episode, Kiri, Cole, and Mason welcome Dr. Chris Croghan back to the podcast to break down Jesus’ first sermon in the rapid Gospel of Mark. In five short words, Jesus fulfills the Old …

In this week’s text, Jesus goes to Galilee and finds Philip and tells him to, “Follow me.” This prompts Philip to tell Nathanael they’ve found the one the Old Testament prophesied. Sarah Stenson expl…

Happy New Year, Scripture First listeners! The lectionary text for the first Sunday of 2024 centers on the same verses about John the Baptist we discussed a few weeks ago in Advent. In our conversati…

What does it mean Jesus was put under the law? That He who knew no sin became sin? That’s the question Kiri, Justin, and Mason ask Dr. Chris Croghan and Sarah Stenson in this week’s episode about Jes…

We're discussing the very familiar lectionary text for Christmas Day in today's episode: 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning wi…

Merry Christmas, Scripture First listeners! With the last week of Advent landing on Christmas Eve, pastors get the chance to preach one sermon for both lectionary days. Lars Olson and Dr. Chris Crogh…

If this week’s text sounds similar to the text we discussed last week, that’s because it is: John the Baptist is back and we welcome Dr. Chris Croghan to explain how the John passage is different fro…