Sunday School; A Pillar Bible Study

Dr. Scott Powell and Kate Olivera look ahead to the readings for Good Shepherd Sunday, the Fourth Sunday of Easter. This episode of Sunday School is brought to you by The Secret of the Goldfish, a warm, faith-filled middle-grade mystery for curious Catholic kids, coming to you from Our Sunday Visitor. To learn more, visit GloriaBook.com/SundaySchool - Already read the readings? Skip ahead to 8:40...

Join Dr. Scott Powell, JD Flynn, and Kate Olivera as they look ahead to the readings for the Third Sunday of Easter— including the Gospel account of Jesus appearing on the road to Emmaus on Easter Sunday. This episode is brought to you by Five Stones, offering critical services for Catholic apostolates – including marketing, order fulfilment, technology, and customer service. Learn more at weare5s...

Dr. Scott Powell and Kate Olivera look ahead to the readings for the Second Sunday of Easter, including St. Peter’s letter to the “chosen exiles” and the story of ‘Doubting Thomas.’ This episode is brought to you by Catholic International University, supporting Catholic priests through online MA and Graduate Certificate programs in Ecclesial Administration & Management. Learn more at catholiciu.ed...

Join Dr. Scott Powell, JD Flynn, and Kate Olivera for a Pardon the Interruption -style Easter Vigil episode of Sunday School. Are you planning to preach or attend Mass of Easter Day? You can find our episode about those readings here: Sunday School - Mass of Easter Day Already read the readings? Skip ahead to the time in bold after each reading. Reading I - Genesis 1:1—2:2 (8:35) Reading II - Gene...

Join Dr. Scott Powell, JD Flynn, and Kate Olivera as they look ahead to the readings for Palm Sunday— including the Kenotic Hymn, and Matthew’s account of the Passion. This episode is brought to you by Catholic International University, supporting Catholic priests through online MA and Graduate Certificate programs in Ecclesial Administration & Management. Learn more at catholiciu.edu/pillar Alrea...

Join Dr. Scott Powell, JD Flynn, and Kate Olivera as they look ahead to the Fifth Sunday of Lent— including a prophecy of hope in Ezekiel and Jesus’ raising of Lazarus from the dead. This episode is brought to you by the 2026 Amazing Parish Leadership Summit, Aug. 3-5 in Houston, TX. The 2026 Amazing Parish Leadership Summit will inspire and equip you to lead renewal in the part of the Church entr...

Dr. Scott Powell, JD Flynn, and Kate Olivera look ahead to the readings for the Fourth Sunday of Lent— including Samuel’s secret anointing of David, an excerpt of what could be an encyclical by St. Paul, and Jesus’ healing of a man born blind. This episode is brought to you by the Institute for Liturgical Formation at Christendom College Graduate School of Theology. This summer, consider spending...

Dr. Scott Powell, JD Flynn, and Kate Olivera look ahead to the readings for the Third Sunday of Lent— including the Israelites grumbling because of thirst, and John’s account of Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman at the well. This episode is brought to you by Catholic International University. Supporting Catholic priests through online MA and Graduate Certificate programs in Ecclesial Administratio...

Dr. Scott Powell, JD Flynn, and Kate Olivera look ahead to the readings for the Second Sunday of Lent— including God’s calling of Abram, St. Paul’s last letter before his martyrdom, and Matthew’s telling of the Transfiguration. - This week’s episode is brought to you by the paying subscribers of The Pillar. Join today at pillarcatholic.com/subscribe Already read the readings? Skip ahead to 4:32 Re...

Dr. Scott Powell, JD Flynn, and Kate Olivera look ahead to the readings for the First Sunday of Lent— including the second creation story in Genesis and Jesus’ testing in the wilderness. This episode is brought to you by Catholic International University, supporting Catholic priests through online MA and Graduate Certificate programs in Ecclesial Administration and Management. Learn more at cathol...

JD Flynn and Kate Olivera talk about the readings for the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Special appearance by Dr. Scott Powell. This episode is brought to you by the Institute for Liturgical Formation at Christendom College Graduate School of Theology. This summer, consider spending four weeks immersed in reverent liturgy and rigorous academics at the Institute for Liturgical Formation. To learn...

Dr. Scott Powell, JD Flynn, and Kate Olivera look ahead to the readings for the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time— including an ill-fated Yom Kippur detailed in Isaiah and Jesus’ words in the Gospel of Matthew about the salt of the earth. This episode is brought to you by Catholic International University, supporting Catholic priests through online MA and Graduate Certificate programs in Ecclesial Adm...

It’s Beatitude Week! Join Dr. Scott Powell, JD Flynn, and Kate Olivera as they unpack the readings for the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time— including a reading from Zephaniah about the day of the Lord and the beatitudes in the Gospel of Matthew. Already read the readings? Skip ahead to 4:50 Reading 1 - Zephaniah 2: 3; 3:12-13 Psalm 146: 6-10 Reading 2 - 1 Corinthians 1: 26-31 Gospel - Matthew 5: 1-...

Dr. Scott Powell, JD Flynn, and Kate Olivera look ahead at the readings for the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time— including an Advent-y passage from Isaiah, St. Paul’s strong message about unity to the church in Corinth, and Jesus’ withdrawal to Galilee. This episode is brought to you by the Institute for Liturgical Formation at Christendom College’s Graduate School of Theology. This summer, consider...

Join Dr. Scott Powell, JD Flynn, and Kate Olivera as they look ahead to the readings for the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time— including a servant song in Isaiah, a Davidic psalm, and new creation in the Gospel of John. This episode is brought to you by 5 Stones, a trusted Catholic partner for apostolates who need help with mission-critical services like marketing, fulfillment, technology, or custom...

Join Dr. Scott Powell and Kate Olivera as they look ahead to the readings for the Baptism of the Lord— including the first of the servant songs in Isaiah, a turning point in the New Testament, and Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan river. Already read the readings? Skip ahead to 5:10 Reading 1 - Isaiah 42: 1-4, 6-7 Psalm 29: 1-4, 9-10 Reading 2 - Acts 10:34-38 Gospel - Matthew 3: 13-17 This is a public...

Join Dr. Scott Powell and Kate Olivera as they look ahead to the readings for the Epiphany of the Lord— including a psalm for the coronation of a wicked king, one of the Church’s first encyclicals, and the retelling of the magi’s search for Jesus. Already read the readings? Skip ahead to 5:56 Reading 1 - Isaiah 60: 1-6 Psalm 72: 1-2, 7-8, 10-13 Reading 2 - Ephesians 3: 2-3a, 5-6 Gospel - Matthew 2...

Join Dr. Scott Powell and Kate Olivera as they look ahead to the readings for the Feast of the Holy Family— including St. Paul’s heavily misunderstood words to Christians in Colossae about family structure, and the Holy Family’s flight to Egypt. Already read the readings? Skip ahead to 7:11 Reading 1 - Sirach 3: 2-6, 12-14 Psalm 128: 1-5 Reading 2 - Colossians 3: 12-21 Gospel - Mt 2:13-15, 19-23 T...

Dr. Scott Powell, JD Flynn, and Kate Olivera look ahead to the readings for the Christmas Vigil Mass— including St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, and the genealogy that launches the New Testament. If you like listening to Sunday School, consider becoming a paying subscriber to The Pillar. It’s just $8 a month, and it helps make this podcast possible. You can subscribe here: pillarcatholic.com/su...

Join Dr. Scott Powell and Kate Olivera as they look ahead to the readings for the Fourth Sunday of Advent— including a royal narrative in Isaiah, St. Paul’s understanding of the word ‘gospel,’ and the angel’s appearance to St. Joseph. Already read the readings? Skip ahead to 4:25 Reading 1 - Isaiah 7:10-14 Psalm 24: 1-6 Reading 2 - Romans 1:1-7 Gospel - Matthew 1:18-24 This is a public episode. If...

Look ahead to the readings for the Third Sunday of Advent with Dr. Scott Powell, JD Flynn and Kate Olivera— including a poem from Isaiah about a wilderness in bloom, and St. John the Baptist asking Jesus about his identity. This episode of Sunday School is sponsored by the Aquinas Institute of Theology’s Doctor of Ministry in Preaching program. Become the kind of preacher the Church needs today. L...

Join Dr. Scott Powell, JD Flynn, and Kate Olivera as they look ahead to the readings for the Second Sunday of Advent— including the Isaiah prophecy that ushers in what Scott describes as the “long Advent of the Old Testament,” and the Gospel story of John the Baptist preaching repentance in the wilderness. This episode of Sunday School is sponsored by the Aquinas Institute of Theology’s Doctor of...

Join Dr. Scott Powell and Kate Olivera as they look ahead to the First Sunday of Advent— and the beginning of a new liturgical year— with readings from Isaiah, Romans and Matthew. This episode of Sunday School is sponsored by the Aquinas Institute of Theology’s Doctor of Ministry in Preaching program. Become the kind of preacher the Church needs today. Learn more at ai.edu/DMin - Already read the...

It’s the Solemnity of Christ the King, a feast Dr. Scott Powell describes as an exclamation point to end this liturgical year. Join Scott, JD Flynn, and Kate Olivera as they talk about David’s coronation, St. Paul’s letter to the Colossians, and the revolutionary’s recognition of Jesus’ kingship. This episode of Sunday School is sponsored by the Aquinas Institute of Theology’s Doctor of Ministry i...

As we approach the end of the liturgical year, our Sunday readings are turning more intense and apocalyptic. Join Dr. Scott Powell, JD Flynn, and Kate Olivera as they unpack the readings for the Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time— including God’s last words in the Old Testament and Jesus’ eschatological discourse in the Gospel of Luke. This episode of Sunday School is sponsored by the Aquinas In...