Scripture First Luther House of Study

In this week’s lectionary text, we hear two examples of truly desperate people: a leader of the synagogue with a dying daughter and a hemorrhaging woman. They’ve tried everything under their power. At their wits’ end, they reach out to Jesus. Sarah Stenson and Lars Olson teach us that it’s not about reaching out to God earlier. It’s demonstrating that Jesus will always be your last resort, and He’ll never fail you. Like Luther said, “dying and being damned is what makes someone into a th...

Caught in a windstorm with the waves from the Sea of Galilee swamping the boat, the disciples are terrified for their lives as Jesus sleeps soundly in the stern. Dr. Chris Croghan teaches Kiri, Max, and Mason:How Jesus is so calm in a life threatening situation Why the English translation of Jesus’ response to the sea doesn’t cut itAnd how preachers can deliver the gospel in a text that doesn’t have the forgiveness of sins or Jesus raising the deadCOURSESDo you like what you learn i...

What comes to your mind when you think of the kingdom of God? A place? A thing? A membership? In this episode of Scripture First, Sarah Stenson explains how the kingdom of God is faith in Christ. This is crucial to not only understanding the parable of the growing seed and mustard seed in this week’s text, but to understanding that all parables are about God electing you. Faith comes through hearing. Preachers are delivering the kingdom of God—delivering faith in Christ—by electing ...

Jesus is healing people, casting out demons, and forgiving sins. The scribes respond by calling Him the chief of demons. Lars Olson joins the Scripture First to explain how Jesus not only dismantles their logic, but flips it on them. A higher demon wouldn’t throw out a lower demon. They’d empower them! He came to bind the demons to take what they claimed to have possessed for Himself. We also talk about a verse that scares many: 29 “but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can...

After performing the first miracles of His ministry and demonstrating authority at the temple, a Pharisee named Nicodemus seeks Jesus out at night to determine where He gets His power. Dr. Chris Croghan teaches us context and meaning packed into this text starting with why Nicodemus came to Jesus at night. We also discuss Jesus’ response to Nicodemus, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above,” and how hearing the Greek translation of t...

After performing the first miracles of His ministry and demonstrating authority at the temple, a Pharisee named Nicodemus seeks Jesus out at night to determine where He gets His power. Dr. Chris Croghan teaches us context and meaning packed into this text starting with why Nicodemus came to Jesus at night. We also discuss Jesus’ response to Nicodemus, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above,” and how hearing the Greek translation of t...