Scripture First Luther House of Study

In a text that says, “abide in my love,” “if you keep my commandments,” and, “I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another,” you may think Jesus is giving you the instruction manual on how to live correctly. 
But then He says, “You did not choose me but I chose you.” 
Sarah Stenson and Dr. Chris Croghan explains how the texts from recent weeks all point to this moment of election. Some people are chosen. Others are not. God is the one acting. 
But it’s not a surprise whether you’re chosen or not. He chose you as His favorite. 
Now, it’s the pastor’s job to remind their congregation that God has chosen them to have peace. 


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
Listen to Luther House of Study's newest podcast: 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 each week 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
John 15:9-17
9 As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 11 I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.
12 "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. 16 You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. 17 I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.
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Interested in sponsoring an episode of Scripture First?
Email Sarah at sarah@lhos.org or visit our donation page: lutherhouseofstudy.org/donate

This week’s text says that Jesus is the vine and God is the vinegrower. Everyone who produces fruit, God prunes to produce more fruit. Everyone who doesn't produce fruit, God lops off the vine to wither and burn. 
And this is supposed to be reassurance?
Dr. Chris Croghan explains how this is an election text. The fact you’re hearing this means you’re connected to the vine; you’re connected to Jesus. Through that connection, you’re producing fruit: faith.  

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
Listen to Luther House of Study's newest podcast: 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 each week 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
John 15:1-8
1 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower.
2 He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit.
3 You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you.
4 Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me.
5 I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.
6 Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.
Support the Show.
Interested in sponsoring an episode of Scripture First?
Email Sarah at sarah@lhos.org or visit our donation page: lutherhouseofstudy.org/donate

Many of Jesus’ “I Am” statements lend themselves to comforting depictions for Christians. “I am the light of the world,” makes for a nice painting! But in today’s passage, Jesus is the gate. 
Sarah Stenson teaches us how Jesus is being categorical in this text. There are two options: enter through the gate by hearing the shepherd’s voice or climbing in another way which makes you a thief and a bandit. 
Many will hear this as a prescription: how can I be a sheep and not a thief who steals, kills, and destroys? But this is an election text that depicts what happens to you when you hear Jesus’ promise: the sheep hear my voice. I came that they may have life. This is a passive act. 

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
Listen to Luther House of Study's newest podcast: 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 each week 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
John 10:1-10 
1 "Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers." 6 Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. 
7 So again Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. (NRSV)
Support the Show.
Interested in sponsoring an episode of Scripture First?
Email Sarah at sarah@lhos.org or visit our donation page: lutherhouseofstudy.org/donate

The two men who encountered Jesus on the road to Emmaus are just starting to tell the disciples about what they’d experienced when Jesus appears before them again. 
Lars Olson explains how the Gospel of Luke is using this literary structure to depict what happens when the resurrected Jesus shows up: fear, joy, and disbelief. 
The resurrection is so unbelievable the disciples desperately try to rationalize it away by explaining that Jesus must be a ghost. Lars teaches us that, for most of church history too, we’ve had a difficult time with Jesus’ body. We want to spiritualize Him instead of facing the fact God died and was raised. 
But, like Jesus reaffirms this in this week’s passage, "Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.” 
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
Listen to Luther House of Study's newest podcast: 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 each week 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 24:36b-48
36 While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." 37 They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. 38 He said to them, "Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 
41 While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate in their presence.  
44 Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you -- that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled." 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46 and he said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.
Support the Show.
Interested in sponsoring an episode of Scripture First?
Email Sarah at sarah@lhos.org or visit our donation page: lutherhouseofstudy.org/donate

The political power, religious authorities, and the general public all demanded Jesus’ death. The disciples were terrified they were next. 
Suddenly, Jesus breaks the laws of nature and shows up in the locked room and starts a sermon: peace be with you. Here is the consequence of your sin. 
Dr. Chris Croghan and Sarah Stenson explain how Jesus shows them the marks on His hands and sides and clearly places the bullseye on all of them, and all of us: your sin is what killed me. 
Yet the message is loud and clear: Jesus doesn’t leave them with sin having the final word over them. He leaves them with His Word of mercy and forgiveness. Here is the Holy Spirit, now go and tell others. 


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
Listen to Luther House of Study's newest podcast: 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 each week 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
John 20:19-31 
19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." 
24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe." 
26 A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." 27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." 28 Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" 29 Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe." 
30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.  
Support the Show.
Interested in sponsoring an episode of Scripture First?
Email Sarah at sarah@lhos.org or visit our donation page: lutherhouseofstudy.org/donate

It’s Easter Sunday and three women head to Jesus’ tomb fully expecting to find the dead body of the man they betrayed. 
Suddenly, an angel appears to deliver them the incredible news that is the basis of the Christian faith: “He has been raised; he is not here.” 
Sarah Stenson and Dr. Chris Croghan explains why the women expected to find death despite Jesus having told them He would be raised, the importance of the angel’s sermon, and the surprising last verse of the original manuscript of the Gospel of Mark. 


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
Listen to Luther House of Study's newest podcast: 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 each week 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
Mark 16:1-8 
When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” 4 When they looked up they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6 But he said to them, ”Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of
Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you”; 8 So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
Support the Show.
Interested in sponsoring an episode of Scripture First?
Email Sarah at sarah@lhos.org or visit our donation page: lutherhouseofstudy.org/donate