Jesus is called the Lamb of God, Mighty Counselor, and the Prince of Peace. How then do we understand the opening verse to this week's text where Jesus doesn't sound very peace giving in saying, "I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!"

In this week's conversation, Sarah Stenson teaches us what it means that Jesus came to bring judgement to the earth, and how this image of Jesus is different than the lamb-carrying, Sunday school picture we typically think of. 

Jesus came to bring judgement. He did. It happened. The resulting judgement is guilty. You are a sinner. 

We have all gone astray and are in need of forgiveness. Luckily for us, we have a Savior who came to forgive. 

Kiri and Mason ask:

• How is Jesus bringing fire to the earth?
• What does it mean for Jesus to be stressed?
• How do we read that Jesus is peace-giving with this text? 

Interested in sponsoring an episode of Scripture First? Email Sarah: [email protected]

Support the show

Interested in sponsoring an episode of Scripture First?
Email Sarah at [email protected] or visit our donation page: lutherhouseofstudy.org/donate

When we hear parables and texts like this week's lectionary passage in Luke, we often hear them as imperatives or telling us what to do or how to live our lives. 

When you hear the text in this week's podcast episode, pay attention to how you react to it. 

Does your heart automatically think how to accomplish what's being asked? 

Dr. Chris Croghan teaches us that God doesn't operate in if-then statements like if we are prepared, then we'll be ready when Jesus returns. He works in because-therefore statements like because I am the Son of God, I took on the sin of the world. 

Kiri and Mason ask:

• How do you know that you're right? 
• What does if-then and because-therefore mean?
• Is Jesus comparing himself to a thief?

Interested in sponsoring an episode of Scripture First? Email Sarah: [email protected]

Support the show

Interested in sponsoring an episode of Scripture First?
Email Sarah at [email protected] or visit our donation page: lutherhouseofstudy.org/donate

Does planning for the future mean you don't trust that God will provide? 

Spoiler alert: It's about where your heart is. Are you worshipping the created thing or the Creator?

The abundance of your life comes from God, not from the treasure that you've stored up for yourself. 

Inheritance, money and greed are all incredibly important topics in this week's podcast episode. 

Adam, Kiri and Mason ask:

• What does it mean to store up a treasure for oneself? 
• Do you owe God anything?
• Should you save for retirement?

Interested in sponsoring an episode of Scripture First? Email Sarah: [email protected]

Support the show

Interested in sponsoring an episode of Scripture First?
Email Sarah at [email protected] or visit our donation page: lutherhouseofstudy.org/donate

In this week's lectionary text, the disciples ask Jesus to teach them to pray. Jesus delivers. The result? The incredible Lord's Prayer.

Adam, Kiri and Mason ask Lars:

• What is prayer, anyway? 
• Are we commanded to pray? 
• Do "muscle memory" prayers like the Lord's Prayer or Come, Lord Jesus function the same as original prayers?

You'll hear Lars explain the purpose of prayer, how badly God wants us to pray, and how God prays on our behalf in this week's conversation. 

Interested in sponsoring an episode of Scripture First? Email Sarah: [email protected]

Support the show

Interested in sponsoring an episode of Scripture First?
Email Sarah at [email protected] or visit our donation page: lutherhouseofstudy.org/donate

Are you a Martha or are you a Mary?

In this week's lectionary text, Mary is sitting at Jesus' feet listening to His Word. Martha is doing the opposite: she's frantically busy with all of her other tasks. 

Sarah Stenson and Dr. Chris Croghan explain how the depiction of Mary and Martha show us how the law and the gospel function on your conscience and what you should look for in your church's mission statement. 

Questions Adam, Kiri and Mason ask:

• Does Jesus have the authority to make Mary help Martha?
• How is hospitality in the law?
• Where is the Gospel?

Interested in sponsoring an episode of Scripture First? Email Sarah: [email protected]

Support the show

Interested in sponsoring an episode of Scripture First?
Email Sarah at [email protected] or visit our donation page: lutherhouseofstudy.org/donate

You may have heard of this week's famous parable: the parable of the Good Samaritan. A lawyer, in the most lawyerly way, asks Jesus the million dollar question: "What must I do to inherit eternal life?"

It's the question we all want to know the answer to too. And as you'll hear in the lawyer's response, we hear what the law says we must do to inherit eternal life, and, as you'll hear in Jesus' response, we hear how the gospel promise of mercy delivers eternal life. 

Questions Adam, Kiri and Mason ask:

• If God is love, how is love not the gospel? 
• If all of our options are sinful, should we just do nothing? 
• Is the Good Samaritan a good example to live by?

Interested in sponsoring an episode of Scripture First? Email Sarah: [email protected]

Support the show

Interested in sponsoring an episode of Scripture First?
Email Sarah at [email protected] or visit our donation page: lutherhouseofstudy.org/donate

In a text with sound bites like this: "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;" "I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves;" and "I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions," there are plenty of things to cover and many ways to preach this week's lectionary text. 

But our guest, Dr. Chris Croghan highlights the through-line in this week's passage: that Jesus tells us to plagiarize his word. A word that delivers God's promise. That God authored you and gave you an identity. A new life in the forgiveness of sins. 

Questions Adam, Kiri and Mason ask:

• What's the harvest? 
• Why should you include verses 12-15 when the lectionary omits them? 
• How do you preach such a long text?

Interested in sponsoring an episode of Scripture First? Email Sarah: [email protected]

Support the show

Interested in sponsoring an episode of Scripture First?
Email Sarah at [email protected] or visit our donation page: lutherhouseofstudy.org/donate

In this week's lectionary text, we hear three people say they will follow Jesus: 

The first says they'll follow Jesus wherever he goes...

The second says they will follow Jesus after they've buried their father...

The third says they'll follow Jesus after they say goodbye to their family...

Through these three examples, Lars Olson teaches us how Jesus depicts what following him looks like in this week's text and how it doesn't matter if you decide to follow Jesus or the Spirit calls you to it: the kingdom of God is for sinners. It's for you. 

Questions Adam, Kiri and Mason ask:

• Do James and John think they can actually call fire down from heaven?
• Why can't we say goodbye to our families before following Christ?
• Can we choose to follow Jesus?

Interested in sponsoring an episode of Scripture First? Email Sarah: [email protected]

Support the show

Interested in sponsoring an episode of Scripture First?
Email Sarah at [email protected] or visit our donation page: lutherhouseofstudy.org/donate

In this week's lectionary text, we have what could be a horror movie scene: Jesus finds a demon-possessed man, naked and living in tombs. The townspeople can't protect themselves. They bind him with chains, but the demon easily breaks free and drives the man into the wild. 

The demons recognize Jesus' divinity and beg him not to send them to the abyss, and Jesus grants their plea and allows them to possess a herd of nearby pigs. 

As you can imagine, the townspeople can't believe what they're hearing and are terrified for their lives. Something more powerful than those demons is now in their presence. And just like the demons, they beg Jesus to leave them alone. 

You'll want to hear what Lars Olson and Sarah Stenson have to say about the power of Jesus' word over sin, death and demons.

Questions Adam, Kiri and Mason ask:

• Why did Jesus give permission to the demons to kill the pigs?
• Why were the townspeople so afraid of Jesus?
• What power do demons actually have?

Interested in sponsoring an episode of Scripture First? Email Sarah: [email protected]

Support the show

Interested in sponsoring an episode of Scripture First?
Email Sarah at [email protected] or visit our donation page: lutherhouseofstudy.org/donate

Sarah Stenson is back on Scripture First and makes a point in this week's conversation that people say that Lutherans don't talk about the Holy Spirit. Well, today's conversation should change that perception as we dive into what the Holy Spirit's role is, what the Holy Spirit's role isn't, and how the Holy Spirit relates to both God the Father and Jesus. 

And, spoiler alert, the Holy Spirit's role is not to guide you in your decision making—who to vote for, what job to take or who to marry. The Holy Spirit's one job is to make sure Jesus' promise of the forgiveness of our sins stays in our ears. 

Questions Adam, Kiri and Mason ask:

• What are the things the disciples cannot bear?
• What is the truth the Spirit is guiding us into?
• Why do people think Lutherans don't talk about the Holy Spirit?

Interested in sponsoring an episode of Scripture First? Email Sarah: [email protected]

Support the show

Interested in sponsoring an episode of Scripture First?
Email Sarah at [email protected] or visit our donation page: lutherhouseofstudy.org/donate