Sunday School; A Pillar Bible Study

Join Dr. Scott Powell, JD Flynn, and Kate Olivera as they look ahead to the readings for the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time— including a servant song in Isaiah, a Davidic psalm, and new creation in the Gospel of John. This episode is brought to you by 5 Stones, a trusted Catholic partner for apostolates who need help with mission-critical services like marketing, fulfillment, technology, or custom...

Join Dr. Scott Powell and Kate Olivera as they look ahead to the readings for the Baptism of the Lord— including the first of the servant songs in Isaiah, a turning point in the New Testament, and Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan river. Already read the readings? Skip ahead to 5:10 Reading 1 - Isaiah 42: 1-4, 6-7 Psalm 29: 1-4, 9-10 Reading 2 - Acts 10:34-38 Gospel - Matthew 3: 13-17 This is a public...

Join Dr. Scott Powell and Kate Olivera as they look ahead to the readings for the Epiphany of the Lord— including a psalm for the coronation of a wicked king, one of the Church’s first encyclicals, and the retelling of the magi’s search for Jesus. Already read the readings? Skip ahead to 5:56 Reading 1 - Isaiah 60: 1-6 Psalm 72: 1-2, 7-8, 10-13 Reading 2 - Ephesians 3: 2-3a, 5-6 Gospel - Matthew 2...

Join Dr. Scott Powell and Kate Olivera as they look ahead to the readings for the Feast of the Holy Family— including St. Paul’s heavily misunderstood words to Christians in Colossae about family structure, and the Holy Family’s flight to Egypt. Already read the readings? Skip ahead to 7:11 Reading 1 - Sirach 3: 2-6, 12-14 Psalm 128: 1-5 Reading 2 - Colossians 3: 12-21 Gospel - Mt 2:13-15, 19-23 T...

Dr. Scott Powell, JD Flynn, and Kate Olivera look ahead to the readings for the Christmas Vigil Mass— including St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, and the genealogy that launches the New Testament. If you like listening to Sunday School, consider becoming a paying subscriber to The Pillar. It’s just $8 a month, and it helps make this podcast possible. You can subscribe here: pillarcatholic.com/su...

Join Dr. Scott Powell and Kate Olivera as they look ahead to the readings for the Fourth Sunday of Advent— including a royal narrative in Isaiah, St. Paul’s understanding of the word ‘gospel,’ and the angel’s appearance to St. Joseph. Already read the readings? Skip ahead to 4:25 Reading 1 - Isaiah 7:10-14 Psalm 24: 1-6 Reading 2 - Romans 1:1-7 Gospel - Matthew 1:18-24 This is a public episode. If...

Look ahead to the readings for the Third Sunday of Advent with Dr. Scott Powell, JD Flynn and Kate Olivera— including a poem from Isaiah about a wilderness in bloom, and St. John the Baptist asking Jesus about his identity. This episode of Sunday School is sponsored by the Aquinas Institute of Theology’s Doctor of Ministry in Preaching program. Become the kind of preacher the Church needs today. L...

Join Dr. Scott Powell, JD Flynn, and Kate Olivera as they look ahead to the readings for the Second Sunday of Advent— including the Isaiah prophecy that ushers in what Scott describes as the “long Advent of the Old Testament,” and the Gospel story of John the Baptist preaching repentance in the wilderness. This episode of Sunday School is sponsored by the Aquinas Institute of Theology’s Doctor of...

Join Dr. Scott Powell and Kate Olivera as they look ahead to the First Sunday of Advent— and the beginning of a new liturgical year— with readings from Isaiah, Romans and Matthew. This episode of Sunday School is sponsored by the Aquinas Institute of Theology’s Doctor of Ministry in Preaching program. Become the kind of preacher the Church needs today. Learn more at ai.edu/DMin - Already read the...

It’s the Solemnity of Christ the King, a feast Dr. Scott Powell describes as an exclamation point to end this liturgical year. Join Scott, JD Flynn, and Kate Olivera as they talk about David’s coronation, St. Paul’s letter to the Colossians, and the revolutionary’s recognition of Jesus’ kingship. This episode of Sunday School is sponsored by the Aquinas Institute of Theology’s Doctor of Ministry i...

As we approach the end of the liturgical year, our Sunday readings are turning more intense and apocalyptic. Join Dr. Scott Powell, JD Flynn, and Kate Olivera as they unpack the readings for the Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time— including God’s last words in the Old Testament and Jesus’ eschatological discourse in the Gospel of Luke. This episode of Sunday School is sponsored by the Aquinas In...

Join Dr. Scott Powell, JD Flynn, and Kate Olivera as they unpack the readings for this week’s Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica— including Ezekiel’s eschatological vision of a temple and Jesus’ cleansing of the Temple. This episode of Sunday School is sponsored by the Aquinas Institute of Theology’s Doctor of Ministry in Preaching program, where you can become the kind of preacher th...

Join Dr. Scott Powell and Kate Olivera as they look ahead to the readings for All Souls’ Day— including one of the very few Old Testament references to life after death, and Jesus’ cryptic message in the Gospel of John about doing the will of God. This episode of Sunday School is sponsored by SEEK 2026. Invite your parish to experience encounter, community, and transformation at SEEK 2026—January...

Join Dr. Scott Powell, JD Flynn, and Kate Olivera as they unpack the readings for the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time— including Jesus’ parable about a pharisee and a tax collector making offerings in the temple. This episode of Sunday School is sponsored by SEEK 2026. Invite your parish to experience encounter, community, and transformation at SEEK 2026—January 1–5 in Columbus, OH • Fort Worth,...

It’s the Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time! This week, Moses holds up his staff to secure victory in battle against the Amalekites. Then, St. Paul writes to Timothy about good governance and Jesus tells the parable of the arrogant judge. This episode of Sunday School is sponsored by SEEK 2026. Invite your parish to experience encounter, community, and transformation at SEEK 2026—January 1–5 in...

It’s the Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time! Join Dr. Scott Powell and JD Flynn as they talk about the healing of Naaman, St. Paul’s final letter, and a Samaritan’s confession of faith in Jesus, the high priest. Already read the readings? Skip ahead to 4:45 Reading 1 - 2 Kings 5:14-17 Psalm 98: 1-4 Reading 2 - 2 Timothy 2:8-13 Gospel - Luke 17:11-19 This is a public episode. If you'd like to di...

It’s the Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. Join Dr. Scott Powell, JD Flynn and Kate Olivera as they talk about this week’s readings— including God’s answer to Habakkuk’s question about pending suffering, St. Paul’s last letter, and Jesus’ words about the power of faith the size of a mustard seed. This episode of Sunday School is sponsored by Mission Ignite at The Mark 5:19 Project. We exist...

It’s the Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Join Dr. Scott Powell, JD Flynn, and Kate Olivera as they talk more about the minor prophet Amos’ warnings to the northern kingdom, an Allelujah psalm and St. Paul’s pastoral letter to Timothy. Then, Scott unpacks the Gospel parable about Lazarus and the rich man. - This episode of Sunday School is sponsored by FOCUS Retreats, offering deeply Catholic...

It’s the Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Join Dr. Scott Powell and Kate Olivera as they talk about the minor prophet Amos, the Egyptian Hallel, and one of St. Paul’s pastoral letters. Then, Scott gives a helpful framework for approaching the confusing parable of the shrewd scoundrel. This episode of Sunday School is sponsored by the St. Paul Center. Priests, grow in your love for Christ and...

It’s the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Join Dr. Scott Powell and Kate Olivera as they talk about how the Book of Numbers got its name, the importance of memory, and the kenotic hymn in Philippians. Then, Nicodemus has a dialogue with Jesus in the Gospel of John. This episode of Sunday School is sponsored by SEEK. Invite your parish to experience encounter, community, and transformatio...

It’s the Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time! Join Dr. Scott Powell, JD Flynn, and Kate Olivera as they talk about one of the greatest stories in the Bible. But first, we’ll hear from the Book of Wisdom and a rare psalm attributed to Moses. Then, in the Gospel of Luke Jesus shares two confusing mini-parables. This episode of Sunday School is sponsored by the St. Paul Biblical Center. Priests, gro...

It’s the Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time! Join Dr. Scott Powell, JD Flynn, and Kate Olivera as they talk about Sirach and its place within Wisdom literature. Then, they talk about a call to humility in Hebrews and a Gospel parable about guests and seats of honor. This episode of Sunday School is sponsored by FOCUS Retreats, empowering parishes and leaders to offer deeply Catholic, low-lift r...

It’s the Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time! Join Dr. Scott Powell, JD Flynn and Kate Olivera as they talk about the cyclical nature of the Old Testament, and parenting imagery in this week’s readings from Isaiah and Hebrews. Then, Jesus responds to the question “Who will be saved?” in the Gospel of Luke. This episode of Sunday School is sponsored by FOCUS Retreats, empowering parishes and leade...

It’s the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Join Dr. Scott Powell and Kate Olivera as they explore the context for the book of Jeremiah, and talk about why exactly Jesus comes "to set the earth on fire." This episode of Sunday School was brought to you by the St. Paul Center. Priests, grow your love for Christ and for your ministry through study, faith and fellowship at a St. Paul Center Priest Co...

It’s the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, and our readings are filled with little riddles. Join Dr. Scott Powell, JD Flynn and Kate Olivera as they talk about what it means that the Passover was “known beforehand to our fathers.” Then, Scott gives the context of the Letter to the Hebrews and suggests Jesus’ Gospel parable about the master returning home at an unknown hour should evoke feelings...