The Parable of the Prodigal Son — One of the most well known parables in the Bible. The younger son squanders his inheritance in a foreign land. Broke, broken and starving, he devises a plan to convince his father to take him back as a hired hand. 

Upon his return, he begins reciting his speech only to have his overjoyed father cut him off to start the celebration. 

His older brother, who was still out working in the field, feels betrayed that his little brother gets the party that he deserves for working hard all these years. 

But as you'll hear Dr. Chris Croghan and Lars Olson teach us in this week's conversation, it's the little details between these well known pillars of the story that demonstrate the incredible gift that is God's grace towards us. 

Questions Adam, Kiri and Mason ask:

• How can you give their share of inheritance early?
• Who is represented by each character?
• How will God celebrate us?

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

Lent is filled with texts about repentance and sin and the language can be sharp. This week's lectionary text is no different as we hear about God's judgement and how we must repent or perish. 

Then we hear a parable about a fig tree that hasn't produced fruit and the owner says to cut it down. The supposedly kind gardener steps in and asks to give it another year as long as he can nurture and take care of it. 

But as you'll hear our guest, Lars Olson, teach us, this isn't mercy. It's just prolonging its death. What Lars teaches us this week is that the peace of Christ goes through his death to absorb the sin of the world. 

Questions Adam, Kiri and Mason ask:

• Do we get punished for sinning? 
• How can we misunderstand this parable?
• What does it mean to die?

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

Jesus calls the Pharisees foxes. God is compared to a hen gathering its chicks under its wings. And your election. 

Right before this week's lectionary text, Jesus tells the Pharisees, “Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able." 

In our conversation with Sarah Stenson, we break down Jesus' response to this election text. We ask her: What is election? How does God elect people? And, what, if any, role do we play in our election?

Questions Adam, Kiri and Mason ask:

• Were there foxes in those days?
• How is this text used to try to prove there is a free will?
• Were the Pharisees actually trying to help?

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

Dr. Chris Croghan is back to break down the well-known account of Jesus being tempted by the devil in the wilderness. You've likely heard how the devil tried to accomplish this: turn this stone into bread, worship me and I'll give you all the kingdoms of the world, and throw yourself from the top of the temple — God will send angels to save you. 

Questions Adam, Kiri and Mason ask:

• If Jesus was fully human, how could he have lived for 40 days in the wilderness?
• What are examples of the devil saying the thing he says most often, "Did God really say?"
• How do you preach this text?

Dr. Croghan provides key insights into this week's text including the significance of the 40 days in the wilderness, how the devil truly operates, and how Jesus responds to the devil questioning God's word.

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

The Transfiguration. 

Peter, James and John have a literal mountaintop experience when they witness Jesus' divinity right in front of them. His face changed and his clothes become dazzling white and suddenly Moses and Elijah appear. 

Peter didn't want this incredible moment to end so he offers to make three dwellings for them to stay on the mountaintop only to have God enter the scene to say, "This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!"

Sarah Stenson and Dr. Chris Croghan break down the context surrounding this text including what significance Moses and Elijah have, what does it mean to witness Jesus' divinity, and the implications of God telling us who Jesus is. 

Questions Adam, Kiri and Mason ask:

• What does it mean to fulfill the law? 
• What is the significance of seeing Jesus' full divinity?
• What do Moses and Elijah represent?

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

For the first time on Scripture First, we welcome Lars Olson to have a conversation with Adam, Kiri and I about this week's lectionary text about the middle section of Jesus' Sermon on the Plain. 

This part of Jesus' sermon is all about loving your neighbor. Jesus is telling us what the law expects of us—or what most of us think are the things we should be doing as good Christians. 

But as we'll find out, the bar is impossibly high. We can't complete it. And that's where we end up: the kingdom of God is not a reward for the righteous and good. It's given as the goodness of God to the unrighteous and undeserving. 

Questions Adam, Kiri and Mason ask:

• Why would you love your enemies?
• Why is the Golden Rule not the answer?
• How do you preach a text like this when the law just keeps adding up?

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

The scene is set: Jesus comes down the mountain after praying all night, so many people—coming from every direction— come to hear him preach, and Jesus deliver the Sermon on the Plain. 

"Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God." As you'll hear Sarah Stenson teach us in this week's episode, Jesus is using the present tense here. For yours *is* the kingdom of God. 

God's kingdom happens when he blesses you. You are in that kingdom when you are given faith. You have peace in that very moment. 

Questions Adam, Kiri and Mason ask:

• Where is Jesus coming down from?
• What do you mean God's blessing me when I'm poor and hated?
• When do we get to heaven?

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

From henceforth thou shalt catch men, from now on you will be catching people, I will make you fishers of men, fishers of men, fishers of men. 

Whether you've learned about this week's lectionary text in your Sunday School songs or not, Adam, Kiri and Mason get the chance to have a conversation with Dr. Chris Croghan about Jesus calling his first disciples on the shores the Lake of Gennesaret. 

Questions Adam, Kiri and Mason ask:

• Why are the small details important, like Simon cleaning his nets?
• Why do people react in fear to experiencing God? 
• How should preachers preach this text without telling people to go fishing?

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

Last week we heard Jesus' first sermon.

This week we hear their reaction. 

Dr. Steven Paulson returns to Scripture First to break down the crowd's reaction to hearing the gospel for the first time.

Ultimately ending in them trying to hurl Jesus off a cliff...

Questions Adam, Kiri and Mason ask:

• What does the crowd mean, “Is not this Joseph’s son?” 
• Why did the crowd want to hurl Jesus off a cliff?
• What does Jesus mean by referencing Elijah and Elisha? 

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

Dr. Steven Paulson returns to Scripture First to talk about the mic drop sermon Jesus gives in the synagogue upon his return to his hometown of Nazareth. 

Dr. Paulson breaks down the significance the Spirit leading Jesus to begin preaching in Galilee and Nazareth instead of Jerusalem, what it means to be in the year of the Lord's favor, and the incredible passages from Isaiah Jesus uses in his sermon that are directly speaking about himself. 

Questions Adam, Kiri and Mason ask:

• Who get's anointed?
• What is the year of the Lord's favor?
• Why is Jesus preaching in Nazareth?

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