First Reading

Comfort, Comfort Now My People Lectionary Date: December 6, 2020 [2nd Sunday of Advent, Year B] This famous passage isn't about Pollyannaism—it's comfort from the middle of real trauma (something many of us can relate to this Advent).

Preach Advent Slant Lectionary Date: November 29, 2020 [1st Sunday of Advent, Year B] Welcome to Advent and to Year B in the lectionary! Rachel is taking the lead during Advent with tips on how to preach it "slant" -- to use Emily Dickinson's term.

I Myself Will Shepherd Them Lectionary Date: November 22, 2020 [25th Sunday after Pentecost, Reign of Christ Sunday, Year A] The 23rd Psalm is not the only biblical text to feature the shepherding metaphor! This week Rev. Dr. Safwat Marzouk joins Rachel and Tim to discuss Ezek 34, a powerful critique of Judah's "shepherds" and a promise of divine shepherding for the vulnerable of God's flock. Dr....

By the Hand of a Woman Lectionary Date: November 15, 2020 [24th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A] It's the only entry from the fabulous book of Judges in the Lectionary! Tim has a couple ways to think about preaching this text about Deborah.

Gotta Serve Somebody Lectionary Date: November 8, 2020 [23rd Sunday after Pentecost, Year A] At the end of Joshua, he calls the people to make a choice—but it's not an uninformed decision. Tim has some thoughts about this.

They Crossed on Dry Ground Lectionary Date: November 1, 2020 [22nd Sunday after Pentecost, Year A] Tim talks about how crossing the Jordan River is a bookend to the liminality of the wilderness, and what that could mean for us in this strange, time-out-of-time COVID/Election moment.

I've Been to the Mountaintop Lectionary Date: October 25, 2020 [21st Sunday after Pentecost, Year A] The Torah ends with the description of Moses' death—kind of a downer! How can we make sense of this scene and how could it inspire a helpful sermon in the age of COVID-19? This week, Rachel and Tim are joined by Dr. Denise Flanders, assistant professor of Biblical Studies at Taylor University in Up...

Show Me Your Glory Lectionary Date: October 18, 2020 [20th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A] Rachel keeps the story rolling in Exodus, with the roller coaster going from scary threat of divine abandonment to powerful experience of divine intimacy.

What will the Egyptians think? Lectionary Date: October 11, 2020 [19th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A] Tim is stumped by the violence of this difficult text. Can you help him out?

Other Gods? — Don't You Go-der. Lectionary Date: October 4, 2020 [18th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A] Rachel looks at the famous "ten commandments" and proposes a couple ways to preach this familiar/unfamiliar text.

The People are Thirsty Lectionary Date: September 27, 2020 [17th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A] Is God really among us? In the midst of pandemic, natural disaster, and centuries-deep racial violence, you and your congregation might be asking this question—but you are not the first! This week, Rachel and Tim look back at this same question in the wilderness narrative of Exodus, with guest exegete,...

Manna From Heaven Lectionary Date: September 20, 2020 [16th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A] Tim helps us see how this "grumbling" story is about a growing relationship of trust.

Horse and Rider Thrown Into the Sea Lectionary Date: September 13, 2020 [15th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A] Rachel offers some reflections on preaching an (in)famous war text.

Liberation and Decimation Lectionary Date: September 6, 2020 [14th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A] Tim finds some helpful angles into a text about massive loss of life.

Divine Invitation to Critique Lectionary Date: August 30, 2020 [13th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A] This week, Rachel and Tim tackle a rich passage with the help of the podcast's first professional homiletician, Rev. Dr. Debra Mumford. She is Professor of Homiletics at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary (Tim's alma mater). Debra is an ordained American Baptist minister, and has served i...

Unexpected Allies Lectionary Date: August 23, 2020 [12th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A] Rachel walks us through the moment when everything changes for Israel in Egypt.

God Meant it for Good? Lectionary Date: August 16, 2020 [11th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A] How do we square the evil of what Joseph's brothers did to him with the good that came out of it?

Joseph's Fashion Statement Lectionary Date: August 9, 2020 [10th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A] Another sibling rivalry rehearses generations of family trauma in Abraham's descendants.

Wrestling with God Lectionary Date: August 2, 2020 [9th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A] Jacob wrestles with a mysterious divine representative.

Everything is Changing Lectionary Date: July 26, 2020 [8th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A] Dr. Cameron Howard joins us on the show this week. Cameron is an associate professor of Old Testament at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN. She is a graduate of Emory University, and has contributed to several commentaries and journals, including the Women’s Bible Commentary, WorkingPreacher.org , and the Bibl...

God is in this Place! Lectionary Date: July 19, 2020 [7th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A] On the run, Jacob has a dream with words from God.

Family Drama Lectionary Date: July 12, 2020 [6th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A] Warring brothers jostle for advantage, with a divine birthright in the balance.

Cooperating with Divine Providence Lectionary Date: July 5, 2020 [5th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A] Abraham's story isn't quite done: we need to find a wife for the miracle child, Isaac.

Invitation to an Experience Lectionary Date: June 28, 2020 [4th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A] To chat about one of the most famous stories in all three of the Abrahamic faiths (the binding of Isaac), Rachel and Tim are joined by Dr. Ethan Schwartz. Ethan earned his PhD at Harvard University, where he studied how the Bible presents and formulates prophetic speech. He also studies how the Pentateu...

God Hears those on the Margins Lectionary Date: June 21, 2020 [3rd Sunday after Pentecost, Year A] The story shifts from Abraham and Sarah to an unlikely hero: Hagar.