Baptism is for the forgiveness of sins. Dr. Chris Croghan and Sarah Stenson make that abundantly clear in this week’s conversation. But that leads to the question, why did Jesus come to John to get baptized?

In baptism, Jesus begins to take our sins from us. Jesus has to make you think you’re right in killing him. To receive mercy, you need to sin against Jesus.

Plus, we welcome two surprise first time guests on the podcast!

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

CONFIRMATION

Does your church have a confirmation class? Luther House of Study is excited to present a comprehensive online confirmation curriculum. The curriculum includes interactive digital lessons and supplemental teacher guides featuring custom videos, quizzes, drag and drop tasks, discussion questions, scripture passages, and prayers about the Apostles’ Creed, the 10 Commandments, the Lord’s Prayer, and the Sacraments. Visit lutherhouseofstudy.org/confirmation to dive into the curriculum and share it with your church or your pastor.

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

Matthew 3:13-17

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”

15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.

16 And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”

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

In John Chapter 1, John speaks in this one thing after the next kind of cadence, “He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him.”

Dr. Chris Croghan helps us break out of the methodical nature of the words to reveal what the Word is really saying: that we believe we’re in charge of our our own existence because the devil causes us to question God’s speaking, yet God has given us His name, His promise, and His attitude toward us: Jesus Christ, full of grace and truth.

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

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

John 1:10-18

10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth. 15 (John testified to him and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.'") 16 From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. It is the only Son, himself God, who is close to the Father's heart, who has made him known.

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

There are texts like this one where we can’t make sense of the suffering. Herod authorizes the killing of thousands of children to protect his political power, and we’re left putting God on trial: why would He allow this?

But that’s why this Jeremiah text is so important: in the midst of the inevitable suffering in this life, the suffering is for God’s glory. And what is God’s glory? Mercy, peace, and the defeat of sin, death, and the devil.

CHALLENGE GRANT

A Luther House of Study donor is sponsoring a challenge grant. If you sponsor one podcast episode by the end of the year, another podcast episode will be sponsored on your behalf.

If you’d like to have your donation doubled, email Sarah Stenson at sarah@lhos.org or go to lutherhouseofstudy.org/donate

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

Matthew 2:13-23

13 Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him." 14 Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, "Out of Egypt I have called my son."

16 When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: 18 "A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more."

19 When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, 20 "Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child's life are dead." 21 Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee. 23 There he made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, "He will be called a Nazorean."

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