Jesus is promised throughout the Old Testament. This week, he shows us where.

Dr. Chris Croghan, Luther House of Study’s Co-Director, joins the podcast to discuss the Parable of the Wicked Tenants, a story Jesus tells the Pharisees about what’s happened throughout the Old Testament.

In the conversation Adam, Kiri, and Mason ask: 

• How has Jesus been promised throughout the Old Testament?
• Why does Jesus’ forgiveness crush people who thought they were doing it right?
• How is this parable different than others?

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

Authority. Jesus is the ultimate authority and the irony of the chief priests questioning his credentials.

Dr. Steven Paulson, Luther House of Study’s Director of Lutheran Theology, joins the podcast to talk about authority, Jesus flipping the legal trap he’s trying to be caught in, and what change happens to you in your baptism.

In the conversation Adam, Kiri, and Mason ask: 

• Why does Christ’s word actually cause something to happen?
• What is the significance of the temple? 
• What’s the difference between Jesus’ word and a rabbi’s? 

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

What does the first will be last and the last will be first *actually* mean?

Luther House of Study’s co-directors, Sarah Stenson and Dr. Chris Croghan, join the podcast to talk about the laborers in the vineyard, a story Jesus tells his disciples about a landowner hiring workers throughout the day but paying them all a full day’s wage and ending with the often quoted verse, “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

In the conversation Adam, Kiri, and Mason ask: 

What does it mean to belong to God? 

Why are we, and most people, so upset when other people get more than us? 

What does daily bread look like? 

Support the show

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

How many times do we have to forgive someone?

This seems like a straight forward question Peter asks Jesus, but as you’ll hear in this week’s episode of Scripture First, Jesus flips it on its head by telling the parable of the unforgiving servant.

In the conversation Adam, Kiri, and Mason ask Sarah Stenson: 

Why don’t we tend to forgive others after we’ve first been forgiven? 

Is there ever a limit to forgiveness? 

When do we forgive sin? 

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 is the church’s purpose?

The Scripture First team welcomes Dr. Chris Croghan (Luther House of Study’s Co-Director) to the podcast to teach us about this week’s lectionary text on naming and forgiving sin.

In the conversation Adam, Kiri, and Mason ask: 

What does it mean there's sin in the church? 

How is “It’s ok” different than “You’re forgiven?" 

What’s the significance of Jesus promising to be with us when two or three are gathered in his name? 

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 does it even mean to “deny myself?"

Dr. Steven Paulson, Luther House of Study’s Director of Lutheran Theology, joins the podcast to teach Adam and Mason about what he calls the most abused verse in all of Scripture. 

In the conversation they talk about: 

Why is the throat more important than the soul?

How do you actually follow Jesus?

What’s the difference between Plato’s and Jesus’ definition of a soul?

Thank you for considering supporting Scripture First and the Luther House of Study team: 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 is the most important word in all of Scripture?

Dr. Steven Paulson, Luther House of Study’s Director of Lutheran Theology, joins the podcast to teach Adam and Mason about the foundation of the church and the two natures of Christ. 

In the conversation they talk about: 

What’s the difference between Jesus the Son of Man and Jesus the Son of God? 

What is the foundation the church is built on? Is it the literal person of Peter? 

How will the church never fail? 

Thank you for considering supporting Luther House of Study by sponsoring an episode of Scripture First. Learn more on our website: 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 does it mean to be tormented by a demon? 

In this week’s episode of Scripture First, Luther House of Study’s co-directors, Dr. Chris Croghan and Sarah Stenson, field questions from Adam, Kiri, and Mason about the story of the faith of the Canaanite woman. 

In the conversation they talk about: 

What power do demons have? 

How does Jesus draw a confession out of you? 

How is this story commonly misunderstood? 

Thank you so, so much for considering sponsoring an upcoming episode of Scripture First's second year: 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

Is it possible not to doubt? 

In this week's episode of Scripture First, Luther House of Study’s co-director, Sarah Stenson, fields questions from Adam, Kiri, and Mason about the dramatic and well-known story of Jesus walking on the water and his much-quoted question to Peter, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

In the conversation they talk about: 

Why does Jesus keep going off by himself to pray? 

Is Jesus’ question to Peter, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” rhetorical? 

Is there more to Peter’s cry for Jesus to save him when he starts sinking? 

Thank you for considering a donation to Luther House of Study: 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

We hear about it in church, but what actually is daily bread?

This week, Luther House of Study’s co-director, Dr. Chris Croghan, joins the podcast to discuss the famous event: Jesus feeding the five thousand with just two fish and five loaves of bread.

You’ll hear Adam, Kiri, and Mason ask questions like: 

How is daily bread different than the gospel? 

If God provides daily bread how do you explain homelessness? 

What does it mean for us that God cannot resist His people? 

Thank you for supporting Scripture First: 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