First Reading

Dem Bones: Hear the Word of the Lord! Lectionary Date: March 29, 2020 [5th Sunday in Lent, Year A] This week, Rachel walks us through an iconic text of hope.

How God Sees Lectionary Date: March 22, 2020 [4th Sunday in Lent, Year A] This week, Tim looks at a text that usually gets translated backwards.

Testing and Quarreling Lectionary Date: March 15, 2020 [3rd Sunday in Lent, Year A] This week, Tim explores a reassuring text.

Lekh Lekha—Get Going! Lectionary Date: March 8, 2020 [2nd Sunday in Lent, Year A] This week, Rachel gives some preaching tips for a foundational text.

Becoming Human Lectionary Date: March 1, 2020 [1st Sunday in Lent, Year A] This week, Tim defamiliarizes a familiar text.

Experiencing God's Glory Lectionary Date: February 23, 2020 [Transfiguration Sunday, Year A] This week, Rachel and Tim are joined by Dr. Amanda Mbuvi, Assistant Professor of Religion at High Point University in High Point, NC. She holds a BA in Philosophy and Literary Theory from Bryn Mawr College, an MTS in Biblical Studies from Palmer Theological Seminary, and a PhD in Religion from Duke University—as well as a Certificate in Nonprofit Management, Duke University! She was drawn to the Hebrew Bible because of its vivid stories and rich language, and because of the way it connects the various streams of her identity, especially as for one who grew up Jewish in the Black church. Her work focuses on questions of identity and community, both in the Bible and in contemporary conversations about how we live with those texts and with each other. We commend to you her first book, Belonging in Genesis: Biblical Israel and the Politics of Identity Formation, which was recently published by Baylor University Pr

Choose Life Lectionary Date: February 16, 2020 [6th Sunday after the Epiphany, Year A] This week, Tim attempts to put a familiar text into context.

Cry Out! Lectionary Date: February 9, 2020 [5th Sunday after the Epiphany, Year A] This week, Rachel helps us hear the prophetic call to stop hurting ourselves by hurting others.

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.