The rolled stone. The lilies lining the sanctuary. Easter Sunday.

In this Easter conversation, Sarah Stenson and Lars Olson encourage both pastors and laypeople to truly hear the shocking news in this text. Everyone anticipated finding Jesus’ dead body. It was not in the tomb. 

All signs point to the incredible, monumental proclamation: He is Risen, He is Risen indeed! 

EASTER SEASON GUIDE

“Easter is not the end of the story. It’s the beginning. Not the conclusion to a tragic season, but the breaking in of a new creation. Not a soft spring metaphor for fresh starts, but the announcement of a concrete, crucified, risen Christ alive for us and coming straight into our locked rooms.”

Those are Pastor Mark Anderson’s words describing the 7-week Season of Easter. Luther House of Study just released a week-by-week Easter Season planning guide that features planning outlines, Greek word details, sermon angles, liturgies, and hymn suggestions. Access the guide at the link in the show notes. Access the guide: https://lutherhouseofstudy.org/liturgical-year-planning-guides/ 

COURSES 

Do you like what you learn in the conversations on Scripture First? Luther House of Study has numerous interactive courses available for free on subjects ranging from the Lutheran Catechism to core Christian beliefs. Visit lutherhouseofstudy.org to see their available courses, create an account to track your progress, and dive deeper into your learning. 

SING TO THE LORD 

Martin Luther said, "Next to the word of God, the art of music is the greatest treasure in the world." To understand the importance of hymnody in the Lutheran church, Lars Olson and Mason Van Essen sit down with Zachary Brockhoff to discuss the lectionary's hymns, their meaning and history, and how the music preaches the Gospel. 

• 🎙️ Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3IjGmMa
• 🎧 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3VHikh3
• 💻 Luther House of Study's website: http://bit.ly/SingtotheLord

GOSPEL 

Luke 24:1-12 

1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in, they did not find the body. (“of the Lord Jesus” has been omitted in this translation) 4 While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. 5 The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. 6 Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again." 8 Then they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.

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