We're dropped in the middle of a string of miracles in this week's podcast:

The first story is of a bleeding woman who's tried everything but only continues to get worse. Desperate, she hears about Jesus and decides to risk it all to touch his cloak. 

Then a Jewish man falls at Jesus' feet pleading for him to heal his sick daughter. Jesus doesn't arrive in time and she dies. Incredibly, Jesus demonstrates his power over death by telling the daughter to get up. She is resurrected. 

You'll hear Luther House of Study's co-directors, Sarah Stenson and Dr. Chris Croghan, discuss the culmination of stories demonstrating Jesus' power over nature, Jesus' power over demons, and now, his power over death itself. 

Here are a few questions Kiri and Mason ask:

• How did people hear about Jesus' miracles?
• Why was it such a big deal for this woman to be in public?
• What's important about Jesus speaking in his native tongue?

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

Caught in a windstorm threatening to destroy their boat and end their lives, the disciples ask Jesus, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?"

Dr. Croghan and Sarah teach in this week's podcast episode about Jesus silencing the storm and how his power over creation are different than the words of promise he delivers to us. 

Here are a few questions Adam, Kiri, and Mason ask:

• Why do the disciples ask Jesus, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?"
• What's the difference between Jesus speaking to creation vs speaking to us? 
• Why were the disciples terrified seeing Jesus demonstrate his power instead of filled with peace, calm, or relief? 

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

What actually is the kingdom of God? 

That's the question Adam, Kiri, and Mason ask Sarah Stenson as they discuss the Parable of the Mustard Seed.

In this week's conversation you'll learn when Jesus tells a parable He's delivering God's election, not having you figure out what each thing in the parable symbolizes. 

Here are a few questions Adam, Kiri, and Mason ask:

• Why does Jesus speak in parables?
• How does election have to do with parables?
• Why have there been so many attacks on faith? 

Interested in sponsoring an episode of Scripture First? Email Sarah at [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' family says he's out of his mind. 

The scribes call Jesus the devil.

Yet Jesus forgives our sins. 

Dr. Chris Croghan discusses this week's lectionary text about Jesus' word having authority, choosing (or not) to believe in something, and blaspheming God. 

Here are a few questions Adam, Kiri, and Mason ask:

• Why do the scribes call Jesus the devil? 
• How are family units always in the law? 
• Does Jesus have siblings?

Interested in sponsoring an episode of Scripture First? Email Sarah at [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

We, like Nicodemus, think there are hidden signs in Jesus' stories that will tell us how to live. 

But Jesus tells us in this week's passage, His words aren't signs. They're real and they're doing something right here, right now. 

Dr. Steven Paulson is back to talk about how baptism isn't a sign. It's the deliverance of the Holy Spirit in water and Jesus' words. 

Here are a few questions Adam, Kiri, and Mason ask:

• Why isn't there a commandment to be baptized?
• Where does the Holy Spirit want to blow?
• How does Luther and Calvin read this passage differently? 

Interested in sponsoring an episode of Scripture First? Send Sarah an email: [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 is back to talk about why we *hate* Jesus, the Golden Rule, and what the Holy Spirit does for us.

He teaches us that the Golden Rule sounds good on paper, but it leaves us without comfort. It leaves us in the law. Jesus shows us our good works don't get rid of our sin and we hate Him for it. 

But that's why the Holy Spirit has been sent to us. He takes Jesus' righteousness and gives it to us. He delivers God's promise: our sins are forgiven. 

In this episode Adam, Kiri, and Mason ask:

• Why does the Holy Spirit have so many names? 
• Why isn't the Golden Rule something to aspire to?
• Why are there verses skipped in this week's passage?

Interested in sponsoring an episode of Scripture First? Email Sarah Stenson: [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

Have you seen the COEXIST bumper sticker?

This week on Scripture First, Sarah Stenson and Dr. Chris Croghan discuss how God's promise is different than what the COEXIST bumper sticker proclaims. They teach that COEXIST's claim of, "Can't we all just get along?" is inherently selfish. 

Instead, what you'll hear in this week's passage is Jesus asking God to preserve us in His mercy. Once we have His mercy, we can pour out our lives for our neighbors instead of worrying if you got your fair share. 

Adam, Kiri, and Mason ask :

• What is the importance of knowing God's name?
• How is God glorified in us?
• What does it mean to be sanctified?

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

Keeping Jesus' commandments. Loving one another as Jesus loved us. Free will (or our lack of it).

We cover a lot of ground in this week's Scripture First episode with Sarah Stenson. 

Adam, Kiri, and Mason ask Sarah:

• Do we have a choice when Jesus says, "Do as I command you?"
• How did Jesus love us?
• How does this verse stump those who think they have a free will?

Interested in sponsoring an episode of Scripture First? Email Sarah Stenson at [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 battle over "I am."

In this week's passage, Jesus' "I am" declares that He is God squares off against our "I am" declaring that we are capable of producing good works. 

Dr. Croghan teaches us that the only good work we're capable of is faith (...and faith comes from God).

Adam, Kiri, and Mason ask Dr. Croghan:

• What does it mean that God is a jealous God?
• What is fruit?
• Why don't people like this passage?

Interested in sponsoring an episode of Scripture First? Email Sarah Stenson: [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

Sheep. A shepherd. A hired hand. A wolf.

Which one are we?

That's the question Adam, Kiri, and Mason ask Dr. Steven Paulson in this week's episode of Scripture First. He teaches them that Jesus' stories aren't about finding yourself in the narrative. They're about the promise delivered to your ears. 

Here are the topics we covered this week:

Here's a preview of what they discussed: 

• What does it mean to own the sheep?
• What makes a "good sheep?"
• Guilt sounds like this: "You have not."

Interested in sponsoring an episode? Email: [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