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

Peace be with you.

That's what Jesus said to His disciples when He appeared to them after His resurrection. 

In this week's podcast episode, Dr. Chris Croghan and Sarah Stenson break down the importance of God finds us with His speaking. 

Here are the topics we covered this week:

Here are the topics they discussed: 

• Why can't we create peace internally?
• Why does Jesus ask for something to eat?
• What does it mean that Jesus opened their minds to understand Scripture?

Interested in sponsoring an episode? Email Sarah at [email protected] - Thanks!

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 familiar with this passage? 

The disciples are hiding in a room. A resurrected Jesus appears. He breathes the Holy Spirit into them. Yet "Doubting" Thomas needs to touch Jesus to know it's true. 

Luther House of Study's co-director, Sarah Stenson, provides depth to a well-known passage with co-hosts Adam, Kiri, and Mason.

Here are the topics they discussed: 

• How is "Doubting Thomas" a mistranslation?
• Why everyone can't have their truth?
• How do you retain sins?

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

Easter Sunday. An empty tomb. A risen Savior. 

We welcome Dr. Chris Croghan back to Scripture First to talk about the story of the three women discovering the empty tomb and the incredible sermon they hear inside it including Dr. Croghan's two favorite words in the gospel of Mark.

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

• Why are seemingly mundane details included in this passage such as mentioning that it was morning or including that the three women were worried about who would roll the stone away?
• Why were the women afraid when they didn't find Jesus' body in the tomb?
• Who is the young man that delivers this incredible news?

Interested in sponsoring an episode? 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

Our sin killed Jesus.

Dr. Steven Paulson joins the podcast to discuss the incredibly eventful week Jesus had between his triumphal entry into Jerusalem and his crucifixion and death. 

So much more happened than the law putting an innocent man to death. Jesus put an end to the law and takes your sin from you. 

Adam, Kiri and Mason asked him:

- What is the one thing Mark focuses on in Jesus' crucifixion?

- How does Jesus actually take on the sin of the world?

- Why does Jesus' suffering on the cross save us? 

Support the show

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

"Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life."

What if we told you this well-known verse in John isn't telling you what you *should* do, but is showing you what is happening *to* you?

This week Sarah Stenson and Dr. Chris Croghan teach on this week's lectionary text in John and how Jesus' glory is unlike anything we've ever known.

Adam, Kiri and Mason asked them:

- Why do people turn away from God?

- What is Jesus' glory?

- Why can't we choose to follow Jesus?

Support the show

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

John 3:16 may be the most well-known verse in the entire Bible. You haven't heard it taught like this before.

At least that's what happened to Adam, Kiri and Mason as they discuss this week's lectionary text, John 3:14-21, with Sarah Stenson. 

Here's a preview of the topics uncovered discussing both the well-known and the often-overlooked piece of this text:

- Why did Martin Luther call Jesus the Serpent of Salvation?

- What does it mean to have eternal life?

- Why do people love the darkness?

Support the show

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

An angry Jesus clears the temple and says, "Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!”

Dr. Chris Croghan is back on Scripture First to discuss the passage where Jesus cleanses the temple. 

Adam, Kiri and Mason ask Dr. Croghan this week: 

- Why is Jesus so upset?

- How is this text not an example of Jesus being a revolutionary?

- How is remembering something that happens outside of yourself?

Support the show

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