Narrative Lectionary from Working Preacher

What does it mean to follow Jesus not as first-generation believers, but as the second, third, or fourth generation of the church? In this episode of I Love to Tell the Story, host Kathryn Schifferdecker welcomes Dr. Edward Piller, New Testament scholar and minister at Evesham Baptist Church in Worcestershire, England, for a rich conversation on the Narrative Lectionary's five-week summer series i...

What happens when a story of radical loyalty meets a story of dangerous courage? In this special summer series introduction, hosts Rolf Jacobson and Kathryn Schifferdecker open the books of Ruth and Esther, the only two biblical books named for women, and explore why these compact, powerful narratives deserve a place at the center of your preaching and teaching. Mentioned in this episode: May 2026...

It's the final episode of the Narrative Lectionary year, and what a way to close: the arrival of the Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2) paired with Paul's call to rejoice from prison (Philippians 4:4-7). Rolf, Kathryn, and Karoline reflect on what makes this day so significant, and why it's not just a day on the calendar but a way of life. In this episode: * Why Acts 2 isn't the Spirit's first appearanc...

What does it mean to have "the mind of Christ"? In this episode of I Love to Tell the Story, hosts Rolf Jacobson and Kathryn Schifferdecker are joined by scholar Karoline Lewis to explore one of the most beloved and theologically rich passages in all of Paul's letters: the Christ hymn of Philippians 2:1-13. The conversation opens with Paul's appeal to a divided congregation: since there is encoura...

What does it look like when a community takes on the mind of Christ? In this episode of I Love to Tell the Story, hosts Rolf Jacobson and Kathryn Schifferdecker, along with Johannine scholar Karoline Lewis, dig into one of the most beloved and theologically rich passages in all of Paul's letters: the Christ hymn of Philippians 2:1-13. In a culture that rewards self-promotion and personal branding,...

What do you do when you're surrounded by altars to gods you don't worship and one altar to a God nobody knows? In this episode, hosts Rolf Jacobson, Kathryn Schifferdecker, and scholar Karoline Lewis explore Paul's remarkable sermon at the Areopagus in Athens (Acts 17), where he meets a sophisticated, curious culture on its own terms. Mentioned in this episode: May 2026 WP Campaign

What happens when the last person you'd trust becomes the one God chooses? In Acts 9, Saul, the man "breathing threats and murder" against the early church, is stopped in his tracks on the road to Damascus. But the real drama might belong to Ananias, the ordinary believer asked to welcome his worst enemy and call him brother. Mentioned in this episode: May 2026 WP Campaign

When Paul and Silas land in a Philippian jail, beaten, chained, and singing, they model something the early church understood deeply: that faithfulness to God sometimes means refusing to play by the empire's rules. In this episode, Rolf Jacobson, Kathryn Schifferdecker, and Karoline Lewis unpack Acts 16:16-34, tracing the clash between the gospel and the powers of Rome, the surprising story of a s...

"Unless I see the wounds… I will not believe." Thomas gets a bad reputation, but this passage is about something far more profound than doubt. In John 20:19–31, the resurrected Jesus appears twice: once to the disciples huddled behind locked doors, and a week later to Thomas. In doing so, he reveals a stunning truth: the risen Christ still bears the marks of the cross. Mentioned in this episode: M...

Mary Magdalene goes to the tomb alone — not to anoint, not to prepare, but simply to grieve. And what she finds there changes everything. In this Easter Sunday episode, hosts Rolf Jacobson and Kathryn Schifferdecker are joined by Johannine scholar Karoline Lewis to explore one of the most intimate resurrection encounters in all of Scripture. Mentioned in this episode: May 2026 WP Campaign

What does it mean that Jesus died at the exact hour the Passover lambs were being slaughtered? And why did John include such specific, seemingly minor details — unbroken bones, blood and water, a burial garden — in his account of the crucifixion? In this Good Friday episode, hosts Rolf Jacobson and Kathryn Schifferdecker are joined by Johannine scholar Karoline Lewis to unpack the rich theological...

It Is Finished. What did Jesus mean when he said "It is finished"? Was it defeat — or completion? In this Maundy Thursday episode of I Love to Tell the Story, hosts Rolf Jacobson and Kathryn Schifferdecker are joined by Johannine scholar Karoline Lewis to unpack three of the seven last words of Jesus as recorded uniquely in John's Gospel. Drawing from John 19:23–30, they explore the profound theol...

In this episode of the 'I Love to Tell the Story' podcast, hosts Rolf Jacobson, Karoline Lewis, and Kathryn Schifferdecker delve into the narrative of John 19, focusing on the trial of Jesus before Pilate. They explore the complexities of Pilate's character, the political dynamics at play, and the profound choices presented to both the characters in the story and the listeners. The discussion high...

In this episode of 'I Love to Tell the Story', hosts Rolf Jacobson, Karoline Lewis, and Kathryn Schifferdecker discuss the readings for Palm Sunday, focusing on the symbolism of the triumphal entry in John 12 and the crucifixion narrative in John 19. They explore themes of honor and shame in the Roman context, Jesus' identity as King, and the significance of his final words. The conversation empha...

What is Truth? In this episode of the 'I Love to Tell the Story' podcast, hosts Karoline Lewis, Rolf Jacobson, and Kathryn Schifferdecker explore the themes of kingship, power, and truth as presented in the Gospel of John, particularly focusing on Jesus' trial before Pilate. They discuss the contrast between worldly power and the kingdom of Jesus, the nature of truth, and the choices presented to...

"I Am Not": Peter's Denial and the Crisis of Discipleship | John 18:12-27 In this Third Sunday of Lent episode, Rolf Jacobson, Kathryn Schifferdecker, and Karoline Lewis explore Peter's denial in John's Gospel—a moment that reveals something deeper than we often recognize. Unlike the synoptic gospels where Peter denies knowing Jesus, John's account presents a more profound crisis: Peter denies his...

Join hosts Rolf Jacobson, Karoline Lewis, and Kathryn Schifferdecker for an intimate exploration of John 13:1-17, where Jesus washes his disciples' feet on the final night before his crucifixion. This episode unpacks one of the Gospel of John's most profound acts of love—a moment that transforms our understanding of servanthood, sacrifice, and what it means to love "to the end." Discover why the f...

Join hosts Rolf Jacobson, Kathryn Schifferdecker, and Karoline Lewis as they explore The Man Born Blind (John 9:1-41). Mentioned in this episode: May 2026 WP Campaign

It is through Jesus that one becomes identified as insider or outsider. Join hosts Rolf Jacobson, Kathryn Schifferdecker with Johannine scholar, Karoline Lewis for an unexpected take on Ash Wednesday through John 10:1-21, the Good Shepherd discourse. Karoline reveals a crucial connection: Jesus' Good Shepherd discourse is his own interpretation of the healing of the man born blind in John 9. The m...

Such love is not about sentiment but about action for the beloved. Join Rolf Jacobson, Kathryn Schifferdecker, and Karoline Lewis as they explore one of the most profound narratives in John's Gospel: the raising of Lazarus (John 11:1-44). This episode examines the seventh and final sign in John's Gospel—a passage that reveals not only Jesus's power over death but also his deep solidarity with huma...

Walking in Faith: Healing Stories in John's Gospel Join hosts Rolf Jacobson, Kathryn Schifferdecker, and Karoline Lewis as they explore two powerful healing narratives from the Gospel of John. In this episode, they examine Jesus healing the royal official's son (John 4:46-54) and the man ill for 38 years (John 5:1-18), uncovering what these signs reveal about faith, obedience, and life in relation...

Rolf Jacobson, Kathryn Schifferdecker and Karoline Lewis explore the woman at the well—one of the New Testament's most transformative encounters. This episode unpacks how an unnamed Samaritan woman becomes the first person to receive Jesus' explicit "I am" declaration. The Readers' Theater script referred to in this episode is available for download here: https://www.workingpreacher.org/wp-content...

Join hosts Rolf Jacobson, Kathryn Schifferdecker, and Karoline Lewis as they explore one of Scripture's most famous passages: Jesus' nighttime conversation with Nicodemus in John 3:1-21. This episode unpacks the Third Sunday after Epiphany text from the Narrative Lectionary, examining the encounter that contains perhaps the Bible's most well-known verse—John 3:16. The hosts dive deep into what it...

Join hosts Rolf Jacobson, Kathryn Schifferdecker, and Karoline Lewis as they explore one of the most pivotal yet frequently misunderstood passages in John's Gospel—the cleansing of the temple. Why does John place this dramatic event at the beginning of Jesus' ministry instead of during Holy Week like the synoptic gospels? The answer reveals something profound about where God's presence truly dwell...

Join Rolf Jacobson, Kathryn Schifferdecker, and Karoline Lewis as they explore Jesus' first miracle in the Gospel of John—the wedding at Cana. This episode unpacks the theological significance of John's "Book of Signs" and what it means that Jesus inaugurates his public ministry not with fasting or wilderness temptation, but with overflowing wine at a celebration. Key Themes Explored: * The Book o...