First Reading

In the year King Uzziah died... Lectionary Date: May 30, 2021 [Trinity Sunday, Year B] Rachel makes a case for reading this famous call story in its historical context.

The Old Testament in the New Testament: The Spirit as a Midwife Lectionary Date: May 23, 2021 [Pentecost Sunday, Year B] Paul "pushes" the metaphor of childbirth in this discussion of our present labors.

The Old Testament in the New Testament: Jesus' Mosaic Intercession Lectionary Date: May 16, 2021 [7th Sunday of Easter, Year B] Tim thinks Jesus' "high priestly prayer" has more of a Moses flavor to it.

The Old Testament in the New Testament: I Chose You Lectionary Date: May 9, 2021 [6th Sunday of Easter, Year B] Rachel hears more Mo' in Jesus' Farewell Discourse.

The Old Testament in the New Testament: A Covenantal Pruning Lectionary Date: May 2, 2021 [5th Sunday of Easter, Year B] Tim brings out how Jesus is channeling Moses in his farewell discourse.

The Old Testament in the New Testament: What God Intends for Creation Lectionary Date: April 25, 2021 [4th Sunday of Easter, Year B] Rachel wanders into the 3rd Reading (this week's epistle).

The Old Testament in the New Testament: All the Scriptures Lectionary Date: April 18, 2021 [3rd Sunday of Easter, Year B] Tim invites us to eavesdrop on a surreal Bible study group...

The Old Testament in the New Testament: "Proclaiming" Thomas Lectionary Date: April 11, 2021 [2nd Sunday of Easter, Year B] Rachel brings out some OT echoes in this week's Easter text!

The Mystery and the Grace of Hope Lectionary Date: April 4, 2021 [Resurrection of the Lord, Year B] What?! Preach the First Reading on Easter Sunday?! Stay with us here: you'll find that this ancient prophetic word is incredibly relevant to our present moment and to the hopeful message of Easter. Our guest this week is Dr. Joel Kemp, Assistant Professor of Hebrew Bible at Emory’s Candler School of...

An Emotional Roller Coaster Lectionary Date: March 28, 2021 [Palm/Passion Sunday, Year B] Check the archives for Rachel's take on Isaiah 50. This time around, Tim has some insights on the imagery in Psalm 31.

An Experience of Forgiveness Lectionary Date: March 21, 2021 [5th Sunday in Lent, Year B] A new covenant for a new experience of God's grace.

Snakes on a Plain Lectionary Date: March 14, 2021 [4th Sunday in Lent, Year B] Fiery snake angels sent by God. Yup. This is an odd one.

Bearing God's Name Lectionary Date: March 7, 2021 [3rd Sunday in Lent, Year B] The ten commandments are both very familiar and largely misunderstood in congregations. We hear from an expert on these issues, our guest this week, Dr. Carmen Joy Imes. Carmen is Associate Professor of Old Testament at Prairie College in Alberta, Canada. Her research has opened up the significance of the commandments f...

Who Gets the Last Laugh? Lectionary Date: February 28, 2021 [2nd Sunday in Lent, Year B] Promises, inclusion, laughter. A close look at God's encounter with Abram and Sarai.

A Pledge of Peace Lectionary Date: February 21, 2021 [1st Sunday in Lent, Year B] Taking a second look at the rainbow—in historical context!

Here I Raise My Ebenezer Lectionary Date: February 14, 2021 [Transfiguration Sunday, Year B] A different sort of episode this week! First, if you want to think through some of the Hebrew tidbits and cultural context of 2 Kings 2, listen to this past episode of First Reading . In addition, I'm giving a sample of a COVID-era, online sermon on the lectionary psalm from last week, Psalm 111, to help s...

Walk and Not Faint Lectionary Date: February 7, 2021 [5th Sunday after the Epiphany, Year B] Rachel shares a deep insight from one of her students.

A Prophet Like Moses Lectionary Date: January 31, 2021 [4th Sunday after the Epiphany, Year B] How do we hear what God wants to say to us?

Absurd Words for an Absurd World Lectionary Date: January 24, 2021 [3rd Sunday after the Epiphany, Year B] It's our 100th podcast episode! We give some interpretive tips for Jonah 3, and then look back at some of the highlights of our first 100 episodes of First Reading! Also: take two minutes to check out our 100th celebration video here: https://youtu.be/m34A459ENYY

Speaking Truth to Power Lectionary Date: January 17, 2021 [2nd Sunday after the Epiphany, Year B] The calling of Samuel is a nice story, but don't forget the message itself!

Bereshit Bara Elohim... Lectionary Date: January 10, 2021 [1st Sunday after the Epiphany, Year B] Fun with Hebrew, and a look at the connections between Genesis and the Baptism of Jesus in Mark's Gospel.

Hope for Those Beneath Life's Crushing Load Lectionary Date: January 3, 2021 [2nd Sunday after Christmas, Year B] A window of hope in a book full of doom—might be just what we need for the first Sunday of 2021!

Praise God—Do It! Lectionary Date: December 27, 2020 [1st Sunday after Christmas, Year B] We're going with the psalm reading, for a change of pace. What does this litany of praise have to do with the Christmas story?

Who Makes a Name for Whom? Lectionary Date: December 20, 2020 [4th Sunday of Advent, Year B] What does a proposed temple-building project 3,000 years ago have to do with Advent this year? Rachel and Tim consider 2 Samuel 7 in an Advent context, and play an "encore" of their very first First Reading episode, with guest Dr. Jacob Wright, professor of Hebrew Bible at Emory University and Candler Scho...

Binding Up the Broken-Hearted Lectionary Date: December 13, 2020 [3rd Sunday of Advent, Year B] What's broken in a broken heart? And how does God plan to repair it? News you can use for this lamentable Advent season.