It's the beginning of Lent. We hear we need to repent. Is that something we need to do?

This week on Scripture First, Dr. Chris Croghan and Sarah Stenson discuss how Lent is more than a time for repenting. It's a time for the Holy Trinity to break into the world to deliver a promise. 

Adam, Kiri and Mason ask our co-directors this week: 

- How can I repent?

- Why does the Holy Spirit drive Jesus into the wilderness?

- What does it mean Jesus was with the wild beasts?

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 of Jesus. We've heard the story, but what does it actually mean?

This week, Sarah Stenson sits down with Kiri, Adam and Mason to talk about this week's lectionary text: the incredible seven verses in Mark where Jesus leads Peter, James and John up the mountain to witness his transfiguration. 

Here are a few of the questions you'll hear in this episode: 

• Why did Peter offer to build three houses?
• What is the significance of Elijah and Moses appearing?
• What is the Messianic Secret?

Support the show

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

Why does Jesus heal?

Dr. Chris Croghan joins the podcast to discuss this week's lectionary text about Jesus healing, daily bread and the mission of the church.

Adam, Kiri and Mason ask Dr. Croghan: 

• How is daily bread different than the gospel?
• Why is the saying, "Preach the gospel and when necessary, use words," incorrect?
• Why do demons attack faith?

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 joins the podcast to talk about this week's lectionary text, The Man with an Unclean Spirit.

Jesus astonishes the teachers and lawyers by teaching with authority. Then, a demon-possessed man bursts into the synagogue and Jesus has to perform an exorcism before being able to preach to him. 

Kiri, Adam and Mason ask Dr. Paulson: 

• How do you actually keep the Sabbath holy?
• Is there a difference between teaching and preaching?
• How is Jesus' fame his doom?

Support the show (https://www.lutherhouseofstudy.org/donate)

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 can we learn about preaching from Jesus' first sermon?

In this week's Scripture First episode, Dr. Steven Paulson breaks down Jesus' 19-word sermon and teaches us what it means for both today's preachers and those who hear their sermons. 

Questions Adam, Kiri and Mason ask Dr. Paulson include: 

• What, where, and who is the kingdom of God for?
• Why are we always living in anticipation of the future?
• What does Jesus mean when he says he'll make us, "fishers of men?"

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 perfume Jesus wears only attracts sinners." 

In this week's episode, we get to hear a firsthand account of how *and why* two of Jesus' first followers, Phillip and Nathaniel, end up following him. Lucky for us, those reasons are the same promises we receive from Jesus too.

Questions Kiri, Adam and Mason ask Sarah Stenson and Dr. Chris Croghan in this episode:

• Will people come back to church after COVID?
• Why are we spending time discussing these seemingly smaller characters in the gospel story?
• Why does Nathaniel ask, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"

Support the show

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

If baptism is for sinners, why did Jesus have to be baptized?

In a discussion about Jesus' baptism, Sarah Stenson joins Adam, Kiri and Mason to discuss all things baptism including: 

• Was baptism a new thing that John the Baptist started?
• Why do Lutherans baptize infants?
• What is a baptism of repentance? 

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 ever wondered what God's opinion of you was? 

In this week's episode, Dr. Chris Croghan teaches Kiri, Adam and Mason that grace isn't something that can be given. Grace is God's disposition *to you*. 

The conversation centers on breaking down a theologically loaded passage, John 1:10-18, that ranges from baptism to crucifixion into manageable pieces. The topics include:

• What does it mean to be given belief?
• What's the importance of having God's name?
• Why do we want to be our own God?

Support the show

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

A promise so incredible it'll leave you amazed. 

That was Mary and Joseph's reaction after they heard the promise Simeon gave them about their child: Jesus Christ. 

In this week's episode, Dr. Steven Paulson teaches us about the power of our savior's incredible promise is that it saves us from death. We, like Simeon, can actually find peace, even in death, knowing the treasure that's in our arms. 

Here are some of the questions Adam, Kiri and Mason asked Dr. Paulson:

• Who is Simeon?
• What does it mean to have God go under the law?
• What does Simeon want to be released from?

Support the show

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

“This isn’t just a Christmas story, it’s the story of all time.”

In this special edition podcast, Kiri, Adam and Mason are joined by Dr. Steven Paulson to share a conversation about the lectionary text for Christmas Day. 

In what Dr. Paulson calls some of the most poetic words in Scripture, the team discusses the opening verses of the Gospel of John: The Word Became Flesh.

-Why is this the text for Christmas Day?

-What does it mean that Jesus is called the Word?

-Why is John the Baptist slipped in this otherwise poetic piece of Scripture?

Support the show

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