What do you do when you're surrounded by altars to gods you don't worship and one altar to a God nobody knows?

In this episode, hosts Rolf Jacobson, Kathryn Schifferdecker, and scholar Karoline Lewis explore Paul's remarkable sermon at the Areopagus in Athens (Acts 17), where he meets a sophisticated, curious culture on its own terms.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Bible in a Year from Luther Seminary

The Bible in a Year Podcast from Luther Seminary

When Paul and Silas land in a Philippian jail, beaten, chained, and singing, they model something the early church understood deeply: that faithfulness to God sometimes means refusing to play by the empire's rules.

In this episode, Rolf Jacobson, Kathryn Schifferdecker, and Karoline Lewis unpack Acts 16:16-34, tracing the clash between the gospel and the powers of Rome, the surprising story of a slave girl with a "spirit of a python," and what it looks like to respond to violence with pacifism and praise.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Bible in a Year from Luther Seminary

The Bible in a Year Podcast from Luther Seminary

What happens when the last person you'd trust becomes the one God chooses? In Acts 9, Saul, the man "breathing threats and murder" against the early church, is stopped in his tracks on the road to Damascus. But the real drama might belong to Ananias, the ordinary believer asked to welcome his worst enemy and call him brother.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Bible in a Year from Luther Seminary

The Bible in a Year Podcast from Luther Seminary

"Unless I see the wounds… I will not believe."

Thomas gets a bad reputation, but this passage is about something far more profound than doubt. In John 20:19–31, the resurrected Jesus appears twice: once to the disciples huddled behind locked doors, and a week later to Thomas. In doing so, he reveals a stunning truth: the risen Christ still bears the marks of the cross.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Bible in a Year from Luther Seminary

The Bible in a Year Podcast from Luther Seminary

Mary Magdalene goes to the tomb alone — not to anoint, not to prepare, but simply to grieve. And what she finds there changes everything. In this Easter Sunday episode, hosts Rolf Jacobson and Kathryn Schifferdecker are joined by Johannine scholar Karoline Lewis to explore one of the most intimate resurrection encounters in all of Scripture.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Bible in a Year from Luther Seminary

The Bible in a Year Podcast from Luther Seminary

What does it mean that Jesus died at the exact hour the Passover lambs were being slaughtered? And why did John include such specific, seemingly minor details — unbroken bones, blood and water, a burial garden — in his account of the crucifixion? In this Good Friday episode, hosts Rolf Jacobson and Kathryn Schifferdecker are joined by Johannine scholar Karoline Lewis to unpack the rich theological layers woven into John 19.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Bible in a Year from Luther Seminary

The Bible in a Year Podcast from Luther Seminary

It Is Finished.

What did Jesus mean when he said "It is finished"? Was it defeat — or completion? In this Maundy Thursday episode of I Love to Tell the Story, hosts Rolf Jacobson and Kathryn Schifferdecker are joined by Johannine scholar Karoline Lewis to unpack three of the seven last words of Jesus as recorded uniquely in John's Gospel. Drawing from John 19:23–30, they explore the profound theological layers woven into Jesus' final moments on the cross — and why John's telling is unlike any other.

This episode is ideal for preachers, ministry leaders, and Bible study groups preparing for Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. Whether you're preaching the Seven Last Words, walking a congregation through John's extended Passion narrative, or simply seeking richer engagement with the crucifixion story, this conversation offers scholarly depth and pastoral warmth in equal measure.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Bible in a Year from Luther Seminary

The Bible in a Year Podcast from Luther Seminary

In this episode of 'I Love to Tell the Story', hosts Rolf Jacobson, Karoline Lewis, and Kathryn Schifferdecker discuss the readings for Palm Sunday, focusing on the symbolism of the triumphal entry in John 12 and the crucifixion narrative in John 19. They explore themes of honor and shame in the Roman context, Jesus' identity as King, and the significance of his final words. The conversation emphasizes the importance of listening to Jesus' voice and recognizing his kingship, even in the face of suffering and death.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Bible in a Year from Luther Seminary

The Bible in a Year Podcast from Luther Seminary

In this episode of the 'I Love to Tell the Story' podcast, hosts Rolf Jacobson, Karoline Lewis, and Kathryn Schifferdecker delve into the narrative of John 19, focusing on the trial of Jesus before Pilate. They explore the complexities of Pilate's character, the political dynamics at play, and the profound choices presented to both the characters in the story and the listeners. The discussion highlights themes of power, judgment, and the choice between light and darkness, ultimately reflecting on the nature of kingship and the human condition.

What is Truth?

In this episode of the 'I Love to Tell the Story' podcast, hosts Karoline Lewis, Rolf Jacobson, and Kathryn Schifferdecker explore the themes of kingship, power, and truth as presented in the Gospel of John, particularly focusing on Jesus' trial before Pilate. They discuss the contrast between worldly power and the kingdom of Jesus, the nature of truth, and the choices presented to the people during this pivotal moment in the narrative.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Bible in a Year from Luther Seminary

The Bible in a Year Podcast from Luther Seminary