Sunday School; A Pillar Bible Study

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...

It’s the Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, and we’re back in Wisdom literature for our first reading. Dr. Scott Powell explores the meaning of the Hebrew word ‘hevel,' which most modern English-language bibles translate as ‘vanity.’ Then, Scott unpacks St. Paul’s challenge of Ecclesiastes in his letter to the Colossians, and Jesus’ parable in response to a man demanding justice in the distributi...

This episode contains discussion of sexual violence and may not be suitable for children. Join Dr. Scott Powell, JD Flynn, and Kate Olivera as they unpack the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, and discuss how it could be connected to this week’s other readings from the Psalms and Colossians. Then, Scott makes the argument the Our Father is all about the Exodus. Already read the readings? Skip ahead to...

It’s the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time! Join Dr. Scott Powell, JD Flynn, and Kate Olivera as they explore the temptation to make idols in the Old Testament, and the connection between Old Testament blessings and curses and the corporal works of mercy Catholics practice today. Then, Scott provides some context for the well-known Gospel story of Martha and Mary. You can find Scott’s book here: W...

It’s the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time! Join Dr. Scott Powell, JD Flynn, and Kate Olivera as they wrestle with the paradox of the Mosaic law and the parable of the Good Samaritan. Already read the readings? Skip ahead to 6:06. Reading 1 - Deuteronomy 30: 10-14 Psalm 69: 14, 17, 30-31, 33-34, 36, 37 Reading 2 - Colossians 1: 15-20 Gospel - Luke 10: 25-37 This is a public episode. If you'd like...

Join Dr. Scott Powell and Kate Olivera as they talk about the purpose of ordinary time, why God allows bad things to happen, and Jesus’ appointment of 72 to go ahead of him on the way to Jerusalem. Check out Scott’s book here: Walking with Christ: A Journey Through the Gospel of Luke Already read the readings? Skip ahead to 7:00. Reading 1 - Isaiah 66:10-14c Psalm 66: 1-7, 16, 20 Reading 2 - Galat...

It’s the Solemnity of Ss. Peter and Paul! Join Dr. Scott Powell, JD Flynn, and Kate Olivera to talk about St. Peter’s exodus from prison on the Feast of Unleavened Bread, St. Paul’s final letter, and Jesus’ giving the keys of the kingdom to St. Peter. Already read the readings? Skip ahead to 6:52. Reading 1 - Acts 12: 1-11 Psalm 34: 2-9 Reading 2 - 2 Timothy 4: 6-8, 17-18 Gospel - Matthew 16: 13-1...

It’s time to celebrate Corpus Christi! Join Dr. Scott Powell, Kate Olivera, and JD Flynn as they explore the identity of the mysterious Melchizedek, and the connection between the priesthood and the feeding of the 5,000 in the Gospel. Reading 1 - Genesis 14: 18-20 Psalm 110: 1-4 Reading 2 - 1 Corinthians 11: 23-26 Gospel - Luke 9: 11b-17 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with...

It’s Trinity Sunday! Join Dr. Scott Powell, JD Flynn, and Kate Olivera as they wrestle with chokmah, St. Paul’s Christological reshaping of chokmah in his letter to the Romans, and Jesus’ farewell discourse at the Last Supper. Reading 1 - Proverbs 8:22-31 Psalm 8: 2a, 4-9 Reading 2 - Romans 5:1-5 Gospel - John 16:12-15 Interested in advertising on Sunday School? Email Michelle at mlarosa@pillarcat...

Come, Holy Spirit! It’s Pentecost Sunday, and Dr. Scott Powell is here to share some of the biblical language that gives context to these readings. Reading 1 - Acts 2:1-11 Psalm 104: 1, 24, 29-31, 34 Reading 2 - Romans 8: 8-17 Gospel - John 20:19-23 - This episode of Sunday School was brought to you by Amazing Parish. Amazing Parish coaches hundreds of Catholic pastors across the United States eac...

This Sunday— in most dioceses— we celebrate the Ascension of the Lord. Dr. Scott Powell explains why the Ascension is actually the pinnacle of the Easter season and the connection between these readings and the often misunderstood parable of the ten virgins. Already read the readings? Skip ahead to 7:50 Reading 1 - Acts 1: 1-11 Psalm 47: 2-3, 6-7, 8-9 Reading 2 - Ephesians 1:17-23 Gospel - Luke 24...

In these readings for the Sixth Sunday of Easter, we hear about the Council of Jerusalem and Jesus’ last discourse to his apostles. Already read the readings? Skip ahead to 8:35 Reading 1 - Acts 15 :1-2, 22-29 Psalm 67: 2-3, 5, 6, 8 Reading 2 - Revelation 21:10-14, 22-23 Gospel - John 14:23-29 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus epi...