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

Jesus changes water into wine. You think you know the story of Jesus, his mother and his disciples attending the wedding in Cana, but Luther House of Study's co-directors—Dr. Chris Croghan and Sarah Stenson—teach this text in a new way. 

We discuss the interesting exchange between Jesus and Mary where she says "They have no wine." And Jesus responds, "Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come." Then, we discuss what makes a miracle and what importance miracles play in Jesus' ministry.
 
Questions Kiri and Mason ask:

• What does Jesus mean His hour has not yet come?
• Why does Mary tell the servants to do whatever Jesus says?
• What is the significance of miracles?

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 Festival of Epiphany, the 12 days of Christmas, and the full power of God on display. That's what Luther House of Study's co-director, Sarah Stenson, discusses with Kiri Haugen and Mason Van Essen as they break down Luke chapter 3 verses 15 through 22. 

In this week's conversation, Sarah teaches us the history of epiphany including the origins of the 12 days of Christmas . Then they talk about John the Baptist's ministry centering on telling us that Jesus is not only here, but he's here for you. Lastly, and most importantly, they talk about the incredible moment where the full power of God is on display where God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are all present at Jesus' baptism. 

Questions Kiri and Mason ask:

• What is epiphany?
• What's the significance of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit being together?
• What is John the Baptist's role to play?

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

Listen to the team discuss Luke 3:15-18: https://www.buzzsprout.com/550252/9668735

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 beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. That's how the Gospel of John begins and that's the lectionary text Dr. Chris Croghan breaks down to Adam, Kiri and I. 

In this week's conversation about this familiar passage, Dr. Croghan teaches us key definitions about who is the word, what is the light and what is the darkness, and what does it mean to have the power to be God's children.

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