For the first time in Scripture First, we're venturing outside of the Matthew, Mark, Luke and John to break down the traditional Pentecost Sunday text in Acts. 

Many people from many nations who spoke many languages were in Jerusalem for a harvest festival when suddenly divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 

The Holy Spirit gave these people the power to preach the gospel in their native tongues, and, as a shock to those who heard it, they understood what they were saying. 

Questions Adam, Kiri and Mason ask:

• What are God's deeds of power? 
• What happens when the Holy Spirit comes to us? 
• Is God's speaking literally fire?

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

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

We talk about "the Gospel" quite a bit on Scripture First, but it may be a fair question to zoom out and ask, "If you had to define it in one sentence, what is the Gospel?" 

Luckily, Jesus does this for us by giving us the Gospel—in its totality—in a single sentence. Our guests, Lars Olson and Dr. Chris Croghan, say this definition of the Gospel is so good that it serves as the mission statement for all churches. 

Then, we talk about what it means for Jesus to ascend to God's right hand and launch His power back into the world. 

Questions Adam, Kiri and Mason ask:

• What is our captivity?
• What does it mean to proclaim Jesus to all nations? 
• Why are the disciples joyful about Jesus leaving?

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

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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 passage, we hear Jesus tell his disciples, "Those who love me will keep my word." 

We like to think that we love Jesus and that we keep his word, but at the end of the day we don't keep his word... and that means we don't love him as we say we should.

But Jesus doesn't say, "Get your love better!" He says I'm sending my Spirit to make sure my Word never leaves you. You won't be able to avoid my Word—I'm going to keep you in my Word for you so you can finally have peace. 

Questions Adam, Kiri and Mason ask:

• Have I loved Jesus enough?
• How do you keep Jesus' word?
• What's the difference between God's peace and the world's peace?

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

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

"I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another."

That's the commandment Jesus gives his disciples in this week's text and the same commandment that is commonly mistaken for the gospel. 

As you'll hear Sarah Stenson and Dr. Chris Croghan explain, loving one another is not the gospel and the gospel is not loving one another. In fact, we explore the depths of what Jesus meant by "Just as I have loved you," in this week's conversation. 

Questions Adam, Kiri and Mason ask:

• How is God glorified in Christ?
• Can Jesus give us commands that we cannot do?
• How is love not the gospel?

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

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

After hearing several parables, we can empathize with the Jews' request of Jesus in this week's passage, "If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly."

Jesus answers, "I have told you, and you do not believe." In this week's conversation, Sarah Stenson explains a concept we talk about a lot as Lutherans: how faith comes through hearing. 

Then we discuss some of Adam's favorite of God's promises in all of scripture: My sheep hear my voice. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.

Questions Adam, Kiri and Mason ask:

• How does faith come through hearing?
• Am I Jesus' sheep? 
• Why can't I control what I hear? Don't I chose to go to church? Don't I pick the podcast episode? 

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

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

After Jesus' resurrection, Jesus continues to make appearances: first to Mary Magdalene, next to the disciples without Thomas in the locked room, then to the disciples with Thomas and finally, to the disciples in this week's text: in Galilee. 

After seeing the risen Lord, Peter, Thomas and five other disciples go right back to their previous vocations: they start fishing. That is until Jesus returns to speak creation and faith back into their lives in a dramatic way. 

Then, Jesus pulls a confession of faith out of Peter by asking him this question three times, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?" The powerful promise Jesus delivers to Peter here is the same promise that he gives to us: that we betrayed him and he was crucified by taking on the sin of the world. And that sin doesn't have the final word over you: you are forgiven and have new life in him. 

Questions Adam, Kiri and Mason ask:

• What's the difference between receiving the Holy Spirit and being sent out as apostles?
• Why does Jesus ask the same question three times?
• Why don't they recognize 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 the morning, Jesus' empty tomb was discovered. By the evening, the disciples locked themselves in a room because they were terrified they were next. 

The next thing they know, Jesus was standing among them and immediately gives them peace. The disciples rejoice that Jesus is alive, but Jesus gets down to business—he gives them the Holy Spirit and the Great Commission to repent and forgive sins in his name. 

In this week's conversation, Lars Olson and Sarah Stenson teach Adam, Kiri and I what the Great Commission means for us today, what the Office of the Keys is, and why calling Thomas "Doubting Thomas" is incorrect because doubt is not a virtue. 

Questions Adam, Kiri and Mason ask:

• What does the Great Commission mean for us today?
• What is the Office of the Keys?
• Why shouldn't we call Thomas "Doubting Thomas?"

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

Easter Sunday. 

You may have heard of this week's text. It's the one the Christian faith is centered on: Jesus' death and resurrection. 

In this week's conversation, Lars Olson points out that each gospel has slight variations of the resurrection story, but there's one certainty that rings true through them all: Jesus Christ is risen from the dead. 

From the women who discover the empty tomb to the disciples who can't believe it, they—like us today—think its utter nonsense for someone to rise from the dead. Dead people stay dead. But, as you'll hear in this conversation, we have a new certainty in life. Jesus is alive and he's giving you new life. 

Questions Adam, Kiri and Mason ask:

• Were people typically buried in tombs?
• Who were the two men who appeared?
• What does it mean for the world that Jesus is alive? 

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

It's Palm Sunday.

We're discussing Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. 

You know the story: Jesus is arriving at Jerusalem—where he knows he will die, he tells his disciples to get him an untamed colt, and his followers welcome him as a king by throwing their cloaks on the road and shouting Hosanna. 

Sarah Stenson says this text is often glossed over because, rightfully so, we focus on Jesus' looming crucifixion. She makes the case for why we should preach a strong sermon with this overlooked passage because it's filled with incredible details. 

Questions Adam, Kiri and Mason ask:

• Do you preach this text or the full passion text on Palm Sunday? 
• Why did they throw their cloaks on the road? 
• What's the significance of the colt? 

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

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

Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus' feet, and wiped them with her hair.

You've heard this passage: Martha is running around hosting dinner and Mary is present at Jesus' feet. Their dichotomy is important, and, as you'll hear Dr. Chris Croghan teach us this week, it's Mary's reaction that we should pay attention to. 

We hear how Mary's reaction is illustrating what it's like to experience the mercy and new life of Jesus Christ. It's what happens when you receive a word of forgiveness and you witness the new life that comes from God's resurrection. 

Then, we dive into the details surrounding Mary pouring out this expensive perfume including Judas as a demonic presence in this passage, how we'll always have the poor with us, and a breakdown of what Lutherans mean by law and gospel. 

Questions Adam, Kiri and Mason ask:

• What's the Passover?
• How should church members understand giving to the poor?
• How does Mary understand forgiveness here?

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