First Reading

First Steps in a Journey toward Justice Lectionary Date: February 2, 2020 [4th Sunday after the Epiphany, Year A] This week, Rachel's up with an encouragement to begin the conversation about racial justice with this beloved text.

With Us in the Midst of the Wilderness Lectionary Date: January 26, 2020 [3rd Sunday after the Epiphany, Year A] This week, Rachel and Tim are joined by Dr. Kristin J. Wendland for a rich discussion about this week’s psalm. Kristin is Assistant Professor of Old Testament at her alma mater, Wartburg College in Waverly, IA. Her work focuses on personification, gender, and the divine-human relationship in exilic and post-exilic literature. She is an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and holds degrees from Luther Seminary (where she overlapped with Rachel) and Princeton Theological Seminary. You can find her work at WorkingPreacher.org and in the journal, Word and World.

A Greater Calling Lectionary Date: January 19, 2020 [2nd Sunday after the Epiphany, Year A] This week, Tim explores the power of God's calling.

Just Service Lectionary Date: January 12, 2020 [1st Sunday after the Epiphany, Year A] This week, Rachel goes deep in the mishpat.

Arise! Shine! Lectionary Date: January 6, 2020 [Epiphany of the Lord, Year A] This week, Tim orients us to some of the themes of a classic Epiphany text.

Unto Us a Child is Born! Lectionary Date: December 24, 2019 [Nativity of the Lord, Year A] This week, Rachel takes a historical look at one of the most famous "Christmas" texts of the Bible. As a supplement to this episode, check out her commentary on this same passage over at WorkingPreacher.org.

Invitation to Trust Lectionary Date: December 22, 2019 [4th Sunday of Advent, Year A] This week, Rachel explores a fresh approach to Advent 4. As a supplement to this episode, check out her commentary on this text over at WorkingPreacher.org.

Reversal of Fortunes Lectionary Date: December 15, 2019 [3rd Sunday of Advent, Year A] This week, Tim and Rachel chat about Advent from sunny San Diego.

A Shoot from Jesse's Stump Lectionary Date: December 8, 2019 [2nd Sunday of Advent, Year A] This week, Tim and Rachel chat about Advent from sunny San Diego.

Walk in the Light Lectionary Date: December 1, 2019 [1st Sunday of Advent, Year A] This week, Rachel and Tim are joined by Dr. Tyler Mayfield, Professor of Old Testament/Hebrew Bible at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary (Tim’s alma mater!). He is the author of Literary Structure and Setting in Ezekiel (2010), which argues for a new reading of the biblical book of Ezekiel, and A Guide to Bible Basics (2018), which presents the contents of the Christian Bible to strengthen biblical literacy. Look for his forthcoming book, Unto Us A Child Is Born: Isaiah, Advent, and Our Jewish Neighbors, available for pre-order now at Eerdmans! He has written several book chapters and journal articles and enjoys writing regularly for the website, WorkingPreacher.org .

Christ the King Sunday Lectionary Date: November 24, 2019 [Christ the King Sunday, Year C] This week, Rachel offers a new angle on an old sermon.

New Heavens and New Earth Lectionary Date: November 17, 2019 [23rd Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] This week, Rachel traces a hopeful theme of renewal in Isaiah.

Glory in God's Presence Lectionary Date: November 10, 2019 [22nd Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] This week, Tim looks at another minor prophet—with major implications!

Learning to Lament Lectionary Date: November 3, 2019 [21st Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] This week, Rachel has some venting to do.

Renewal After the Swarm Lectionary Date: October 27, 2019 [20th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] This week, Rachel and Tim are joined by Dr. Rolf Jacobson, Professor of Old Testament at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN (Rachel’s alma mater!). With Craig Koester, Rolf developed and supports the Narrative Lectionary. His voice can be heard on two weekly preaching podcasts, “Sermon Brainwave” and “The Narrative Lectionary,” as well as singing the high lonesome with a Lutheran bluegrass band, “The Fleshpots of Egypt.” His collaborative projects include The Book of Psalms (NICOT; with Beth Tanner and Nancy deClaissé-Walford), Invitation to the Psalms (with Karl Jacobson), Crazy Talk: A Not-So-Stuffy Dictionary of Theological Terms (with five fellow Luther Seminary graduates), and Crazy Book: A Not-So-Stuffy Dictionary of Biblical Terms (with Hans Wiersma and Karl Jacobon). He is also the author of The Homebrewed Christianity Guide to the Old Testament: Israel’s In-Your-Face, Holy God.

Inscribed on the Heart Lectionary Date: October 20, 2019 [19th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] This week, Rachel reads some of Jeremiah's body language.

Pray for Peace Lectionary Date: October 13, 2019 [18th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] This week, Rachel explores a the setting of a famous quote from Jeremiah.

A Well-Ordered Mess Lectionary Date: October 6, 2019 [17th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] This week, Tim gives some tips on understanding and preaching from Lamentations.

Hope in the Face of Certain Disaster Lectionary Date: September 29, 2019 [16th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] This week, Rachel and Tim are joined by Dr. Carol Newsom. One of the giants of modern biblical scholarship, Carol recently retired from her post as the Charles Howard Candler Professor of Old Testament at Candler and a senior fellow at Emory's Center for the Study of Law and Religion. Carol came to Candler in 1980, only the second woman to hold a tenure-track position. In 2005, she became a C.H. Candler Professor, a university-based endowed chair. Her research focuses on the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Wisdom tradition, the book of Daniel, and apocalyptic literature. She has written and edited 13 books and scores of articles, book chapters, translations, encyclopedia articles and reviews. She co-edited the acclaimed Women’s Bible Commentary, which explores the implications of and challenges long-held assumptions about the Bible’s portrayal of women and other marginalized groups. We also recommend h

Grieving God Lectionary Date: September 22, 2019 [15th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] This week, Rachel delves into a prophetic reflection about what provokes God's grief.