Narrative Lectionary from Working Preacher

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...

Join hosts Rolf Jacobson, Kathryn Schifferdecker, and Karoline Lewis as they explore the calling of Jesus' first disciples in John 1:35-51 for the Second Sunday of Christmas and the beginning of Epiphany. This episode delves into the powerful questions that frame discipleship in John's Gospel: "What are you looking for?" and "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Discover how the verb "finding"...

The conversation explores first-century Jewish apocalyptic expectations, drawing on scholarly work about messianic figures and prophetic forerunners. Discover why John's Gospel omits the heavenly voice at Jesus's baptism—because Jesus doesn't need confirmation of his identity. Instead, the baptism becomes John the Baptist's moment of witness, setting up the gospel's major theme: discipleship as te...

Join hosts Rolf Jacobson, Kathryn Schifferdecker, and Craig Koester as they explore the beloved Christmas story from Luke 2 in this special Christmas Eve and Christmas Day episode. While the Narrative Lectionary typically follows the Gospel of John this year, the hosts return to Luke's account because "you got to have the shepherds and the angels at Christmas." This conversation moves beyond senti...

Join hosts Rolf Jacobson, Kathryn Schifferdecker, and Craig Koester as they explore John's magnificent prologue for the Fourth Sunday of Advent (December 21st). This episode examines one of Scripture's most eloquent passages - the opening 18 verses of John's Gospel that present a cosmic perspective on the incarnation. The hosts dive deep into the poetic and hymnic qualities of John's prologue, con...

Join Profs. Rolf Jacobson, Kathryn Schifferdecker, and Craig Koester for the Third Sunday of Advent as they explore Isaiah 55:1-13, a climactic prophetic word from the end of Second Isaiah that offers hope at the close of exile. This episode examines the vivid marketplace imagery of God's free invitation—"Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price"—and unpacks how this passage bridges...

When everything feels dead and hope seems lost, can dry bones live again?  In this powerful episode for the Second Sunday of Advent, hosts Rolf Jacobson, Kathryn Schifferdecker, and Craig Koester explore Ezekiel's stunning vision of the valley of dry bones—a message of hope for exiles who believed they were completely cut off from God. The conversation unpacks the rich Hebrew word "ruach" (sp...

Join Rolf Jacobson, Kathryn Schifferdecker, and Craig Koester as they explore Daniel 3:1 [2-7] 8-30 for the First Sunday of Advent (November 30, 2025). This episode kicks off the Advent season, a season of hope and reflection. It offers lessons from the Book of Daniel on exile, hope, martyrdom, and humor/satire as one way to exercise faithfulness in the face of authority.   🎧 Listen now and...

Join Rolf Jacobson, Kathryn Schifferdecker, and Craig Koester as they explore Jeremiah 29:1, 4-14 for Christ the King Sunday (November 23, 2025). This powerful episode examines Jeremiah's shocking letter to the Babylonian exiles, where God calls His people not to resist, but to settle down, build homes, and seek the welfare of the very city that conquered them. The hosts unpack the jarring nature...

Join Rolf Jacobson, Kathryn Schifferdecker, and Craig Koester as they explore Isaiah 9 in this week's Narrative Lectionary podcast. Moving from the northern prophets to the southern kingdom, the hosts examine Isaiah's vision of hope and justice centered in Jerusalem. This familiar passage—"For unto us a child is born"—is often associated with Advent and Handel's Messiah, but what did it mean in it...

Join Rolf Jacobson, Kathryn Schifferdecker, and Craig Koester as they explore the powerful message of the prophet Amos in this week's episode of I Love to Tell the Story, a podcast on the Narrative Lectionary for November 9th, 2025. The prophet Amos brings one of the most challenging messages in Scripture—calling out the disconnect between religious observance and social justice. Though he was a f...

In this episode of "I Love to Tell the Story," hosts Rolf Jacobson, Kathryn Schifferdecker, and Craig Koester explore one of the most dramatic narratives in the Hebrew Bible: Elijah's journey to Mount Horeb and his encounter with God in the "sound of sheer silence" (or "still small voice"). After his dramatic victory over the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, the prophet Elijah flees from Queen Je...

Join Rolf Jacobson, Kathryn Schifferdecker, and Craig Koester on "I Love to Tell the Story" as they explore the narrative lectionary reading for October 26th, focusing on the building of Solomon's Temple from 1 Kings 8:1-13. In this episode, the hosts discuss the transition from King David's reign to his son Solomon, who fulfills David's vision of building a permanent temple for worship. They exam...

Join hosts Rolf Jacobson, Kathryn Schifferdecker, and Craig Koester as they dive deep into one of the most compelling stories from the Hebrew Bible - the call and anointing of David from 1 Samuel 16:1-13, paired with the powerful verses from Psalm 51 about creating a clean heart. In this episode, we explore: * Why Samuel's mission to anoint David was an act of treason * The dramatic irony of Samue...

Welcome to "I Love to Tell the Story," a podcast exploring the Narrative Lectionary! In this episode for October 12th, 2025, hosts Rolf Jacobson, Kathryn Schifferducker, and Craig Koester dive into 1 Samuel 3 - the powerful story of God calling the young boy Samuel. Join us as we explore: * The crisis of leadership in ancient Israel at the end of the judges era * Why Samuel didn't initially recogn...