The Parable of the Dishonest Manager.

You will hear Kiri and my confusion: a rich man is considering firing his manager only for the manager to go to those he was working with to slash the amount owed to the rich man. He’s commended for this? He’s a bad manager, but is it a good thing to cut people’s debts in half?

Sarah Stenson teaches us how we’re caught in trying to determine what’s good and what’s bad in this parable when it’s actually Jesus replacing the idols in your heart with faith. He is in control of your heart, not you.

CARE OF SOULS - ADDICTION

In Care of Souls, a special mini-series podcast from Luther House of Study, Lutheran pastors and theologians come together to explore the deeply personal and pastoral task of preaching to and caring for those struggling with life’s challenging situations: addiction, death, family disharmony, and more.

Rooted in the theology of the cross and the Lutheran tradition of radical grace, this series offers both theological depth and practical guidance for pastors, church workers, and lay leaders.

With conversations, real-life stories, and reflections from the front lines of ministry, Care of Souls equips listeners to enter the broken places of addiction not with easy answers, but with the crucified and risen Christ.

Because in the end, it’s not about fixing people—it’s about preaching the Gospel.

Listen to Care of Souls wherever you listen to podcasts or on the Luther House website: Care of Souls - Addiction

GOSPEL

Luke 16:1-13

1 Then Jesus said to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property. 2 So he summoned him and said to him, 'What is this that I hear about you? Give me an accounting of your management, because you cannot be my manager any longer.' 3 Then the manager said to himself, 'What will I do, now that my master is taking the position away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. 4 I have decided what to do so that, when I am dismissed as manager, people may welcome me into their homes.' 5 So, summoning his master's debtors one by one, he asked the first, 'How much do you owe my master?' 6 He answered, 'A hundred jugs of olive oil.' He said to him, 'Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it fifty.' 7 Then he asked another, 'And how much do you owe?' He replied, 'A hundred containers of wheat.' He said to him, 'Take your bill and make it eighty.' 8 And his master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light. 9 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes.

10 "Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. 11 If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is your own? 13 No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth."

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 sinners flock to listen to Jesus. Why do the Pharisees grumble about this?

Dr. Chris Croghan teaches us that what they hold important is the law, and it isn’t working the way they want it to work. You grumble because you’re not getting your way.

Then Jesus tells a parable about the shepherd leaving the 99 to find the one lost sheep and the woman searching for her lost coin.

Dr. Croghan explains how this is a depiction of how God tracks down those who he calls his own.

CARE OF SOULS - ADDICTION

In Care of Souls, a special mini-series podcast from Luther House of Study, Lutheran pastors and theologians come together to explore the deeply personal and pastoral task of preaching to and caring for those struggling with life’s challenging situations: addiction, death, family disharmony, and more.

Rooted in the theology of the cross and the Lutheran tradition of radical grace, this series offers both theological depth and practical guidance for pastors, church workers, and lay leaders.

With conversations, real-life stories, and reflections from the front lines of ministry, Care of Souls equips listeners to enter the broken places of addiction not with easy answers, but with the crucified and risen Christ.

Because in the end, it’s not about fixing people—it’s about preaching the Gospel.

Listen to Care of Souls wherever you listen to podcasts or on the Luther House website: Care of Souls - Addiction

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 15:1-10

1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them."

3 So he told them this parable: 4 "Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? 5 When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.' 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

8 "Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9 When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.' 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

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

Jesus says, “Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple.”

Kiri and I discuss with Lars Olson, if hating your own life is something you can even do, and, if not, how can anyone be Jesus’ disciple.

Lars teaches us how Jesus’ word claims you. You don’t claim Jesus. His Word makes you his disciple, not your willingness to give up something.

Jesus needs everything to go. All that remains is Him.

CARE OF SOULS - ADDICTION

In Care of Souls, a special mini-series podcast from Luther House of Study, Lutheran pastors and theologians come together to explore the deeply personal and pastoral task of preaching to and caring for those struggling with life’s challenging situations: addiction, death, family disharmony, and more.

Rooted in the theology of the cross and the Lutheran tradition of radical grace, this series offers both theological depth and practical guidance for pastors, church workers, and lay leaders.

With conversations, real-life stories, and reflections from the front lines of ministry, Care of Souls equips listeners to enter the broken places of addiction not with easy answers, but with the crucified and risen Christ.

Because in the end, it’s not about fixing people—it’s about preaching the Gospel.

Listen to Care of Souls wherever you listen to podcasts or on the Luther House website: Care of Souls - Addiction

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 14:25-33

25 Now large crowds were traveling with him; and he turned and said to them, 26"Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, 30 saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.' 31 Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace.

33 So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.

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