Sermon Brainwave from Working Preacher

Join hosts Rolf Jacobson, Karoline Lewis, and Matt Skinner for another engaging episode of Sermon Brainwave as they tackle the challenging texts for October 5th, 2025. In this episode, the hosts dive deep into Luke 17:5-10, exploring the disciples' request to "increase our faith" and Jesus' puzzling response about mustard seeds and mulberry trees. They grapple with the difficult connection between...

Join Karoline Lewis, Matt Skinner, and Rolf Jacobson for Sermon Brainwave as they dive deep into the lectionary readings for the 16th Sunday After Pentecost (September 28, 2025). In this thought-provoking episode, the hosts explore the parable of the rich man and Lazarus from Luke 16:19-31, examining themes of wealth, justice, and what it truly takes for someone to repent. They discuss how this ch...

Join Rolf Jacobson, Karoline Lewis, and Matt Skinner for another insightful episode of Sermon Brainwave as they dive deep into the challenging lectionary readings for September 21st, 2025. This week's discussion tackles some of the most complex biblical texts around wealth, justice, and faithful living. Our hosts offer practical preaching insights while acknowledging the complexity of these texts,...

Join Profs. Matt Skinner, Karoline Lewis, and Rolf Jacobson for another insightful episode of Sermon Brainwave as they dive deep into the lectionary texts for the 14th Sunday after Pentecost (September 14, 2025). In this episode, the hosts explore the powerful contrast between grumbling and joy found in Luke 15:1-10, where Jesus tells the parables of the lost sheep and lost coin. They discuss how...

Join Karoline Lewis, Matt Skinner, and Rolf Jacobson as they dive deep into the challenging texts for the 13th Sunday after Pentecost (September 7, 2025). This Rally Sunday episode tackles some of the most difficult discipleship passages in Scripture, including Jesus' radical call to "hate" family in Luke 14:25-33 and the powerful "choose life" message from Deuteronomy 30. The hosts explore what i...

In this episode of Sermon Brainwave, Karoline Lewis, Matt Skinner, and Rolf Jacobson discuss the readings for August 31st, 2025. They focus on themes of inclusivity in church communities, the social dynamics of Jesus' teachings, and the implications of Jeremiah's messages. They explore how meals serve as a metaphor for community, the importance of hospitality, and the theological insights from Psa...

Join Matt Skinner, Karoline Lewis, and Rolf Jacobson on Sermon Brainwave as they explore the readings for the 11th Sunday after Pentecost (August 24, 2025). This episode dives deep into Luke 13:10-17, the powerful story of Jesus healing a woman with a crooked back on the Sabbath - a healing that's really about liberation and freedom. The hosts unpack the unique aspects of this healing story, inclu...

Join Karoline Lewis, Matt Skinner, and Rolf Jacobson as they dive deep into the lectionary readings for the 10th Sunday after Pentecost (August 17, 2025). In this episode, they explore the challenging theme of division that Jesus brings, not as his goal, but as an inevitable result of following his way. Our hosts unpack Luke 12:49-56, where Jesus speaks of bringing fire rather than peace, and disc...

Join Rolf Jacobson, Karoline Lewis, and Matt Skinner for another episode of Sermon to Brainwave as they dive deep into the lectionary texts for August 10th, 2025. In this episode, our hosts explore the rich connections between Genesis 15:1-6 (Abraham's covenant and the promise to count the stars), Isaiah 1:1, 10-20 (God's call for justice over empty worship), Psalm 33:12-22, Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 (...

The Rich Fool, Ecclesiastes, and Finding True Wealth. Join Matt Skinner, Karoline Lewis, and Rolf Jacobson as they dive deep into the challenging texts for the Eighth Sunday after Pentecost (August 3rd, 2025). This episode explores Luke's parable of the rich fool, examining what this wealthy man actually did wrong and why Jesus calls him "fool" rather than "sinner." The hosts tackle tough question...

Join Profs. Karoline Lewis, Matt Skinner, and Rolf Jacobson as they delve into the multifaceted nature of prayer, exploring its significance, the role of trust, and the importance of teaching prayer within the Christian faith. Together, they discuss various biblical texts, their interpretations, and how they relate to contemporary spirituality and church practices. They emphasize the need for a de...

In this episode of the Sermon Brainwave podcast, Profs. Karoline Lewis, Matt Skinner, and Rolf Jacobson discuss the readings for July 20th, 2025, focusing on the themes of discipleship, hospitality, humor, judgment, and the sufficiency of Christ. They explore the story of Martha and Mary, the significance of hospitality in ancient culture, the humor in Genesis 18, the prophetic messages in Amos, a...

In this episode of the Sermon Brainwave podcast, Profs. Karoline Lewis, Matt Skinner, and Rolf Jacobson discuss the biblical texts for the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost, focusing on the Good Samaritan parable, the themes of neighbor love, compassion, and the connections to Deuteronomy and Amos. They explore the implications of these texts for understanding discipleship and the nature of God's comma...

Join Karoline Lewis, Matt Skinner, and Rolf Jacobson as they dive deep into the lectionary texts for the Fourth Sunday after Pentecost (July 6, 2025). This episode explores the fascinating dynamics of Jesus sending out the seventy disciples in Luke 10, where traditional concepts of hospitality get flipped upside down. The hosts bring their trademark blend of scholarly insight, practical preaching...

Welcome to another thought-provoking episode of Sermon Brainwave! This week, our hosts Karoline Lewis, Matt Skinner, and Rolf Jacobson discuss the readings for the third Sunday after Pentecost, focusing on the Gospel of Luke and its themes of discipleship, urgency, and the cost of following Jesus. They explore the significance of Elisha's inheritance and leadership, the prayerful reflections in Ps...

In this episode of Sermon Brainwave, hosts Matt Skinner, Karoline Lewis, and Rolf Jacobson discuss the lectionary texts for the second Sunday after Pentecost, focusing on the Gospel of Luke, the Old Testament readings from Isaiah and First Kings, and the epistle from Galatians. They explore themes of identity, transformation, and the implications of Jesus' ministry, particularly in relation to the...

What if the Trinity isn't about doctrine but about God's desire to be known? Join Karoline Lewis, Matt Skinner, and Rolf Jacobson live from the Festival of Homiletics 2025 in Atlanta as they unpack the lectionary texts for Holy Trinity Sunday (June 15, 2025). From Proverbs to Psalm 8 to Romans and John, they explore how the Trinity makes God visible in wisdom, creation, and love—not as an explanat...

In this episode of the Sermon Brainwave podcast, Profs. Karoline Lewis, Matt Skinner, and Rolf Jacobson discuss the readings for Pentecost, focusing on Acts 2, Genesis 11, and the implications of the Holy Spirit's presence. They explore themes of diversity, inclusion, and the transformative power of the Spirit in the early church, as well as the significance of the Paraclete in John 14 and the ass...

Welcome to another thought-provoking episode of Sermon Brainwave! This week, our hosts Karoline Lewis, Matt Skinner, and Rolf Jacobson discuss the texts for the Seventh Sunday of Easter, focusing on John 17's Priestly Prayer, the significance of glory in John's Gospel, and the challenges faced by Paul in Acts 16. They explore the story of the enslaved girl, the power of prayer and praise in advers...

In this enlightening episode of Sermon Brainwave, hosts Karoline Lewis, Matt Skinner, and Rolf Jacobson delve into the theological significance of the Ascension of Our Lord, which falls on May 29, 2025. The conversation explores why this often-overlooked feast day is crucial for understanding Jesus' ongoing authority and presence in the world today. The hosts discuss how the Ascension serves as th...

In this episode of the Sermon Brainwave podcast, Profs. Karoline Lewis, Matt Skinner, and Rolf Jacobson discuss the readings for the sixth Sunday of Easter, focusing on the Farewell Discourse in John, the role of the Holy Spirit, the call to Macedonia in Acts, and the significance of Lydia as a key figure in the early church. They also explore the imagery in Revelation 21, emphasizing the communal...

In this episode of the Sermon Brainwave podcast, Profs. Karoline Lewis, Matt Skinner, and Rolf Jacobson discuss the readings for the Fifth Sunday of Easter, focusing on love, community, and the significance of the Farewell Discourse in the Gospel of John. They explore how Jesus' command to love one another is foundational for discipleship and how this love is to be embodied within the community. T...

Welcome to another thought-provoking episode of Sermon Brainwave! This week, our hosts Karoline Lewis, Matt Skinner, and Rolf Jacobson dive deep into the lectionary texts for the Fourth Sunday of Easter (May 11, 2025)—including John 10:22-30, Acts 9:36-43, Psalm 23, and Revelation 7:9-17—with a special focus on Good Shepherd Sunday. We've all heard the image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd, but what...

In this episode of the Sermon Brainwave podcast, Profs. Karoline Lewis, Matt Skinner, and Rolf Jacobson explore the themes of resurrection, discipleship, and transformation as illustrated in the readings from John 21, Acts 9, Psalm 30, and Revelation 5. They discuss the significance of Jesus' resurrection appearances, the call to discipleship, the symbolism of feeding and shepherding, and the tran...

What happens when the risen Jesus walks through locked doors and says, "Peace be with you"? In this episode of Sermon Brainwave, join Matt Skinner, Rolf Jacobson, and Karoline Lewis as they dig into John 20:19–31, Acts 5:27–32, Revelation 1:4–8, and Psalm 150 to explore what Easter really means for our faith, our doubts, and our witness. ✨ Whether you're preaching, teaching, or just spiritually c...