First Reading

Halloweenreformation Day Lectionary Date: October 31, 2021 [23rd Sunday after Pentecost, Year B] And when better to preach from Ruth, the story of two saints perched on the precipice of death?!

God's Consolation Lectionary Date: October 24, 2021 [22nd Sunday after Pentecost, Year B] Job is a long book that only gets a small showing in the Revised Common Lectionary. So we invited a scholar to help us unpack this week's conclusion to the book in the context of the themes raised by the whole. Dr. Will Kynes is Associate Professor of Biblical Studies at Samford University. His research focuses on wisdom and suffering in the Hebrew Bible viewed from the varied perspectives of various biblical texts and their readers across history. Dr. Kynes is currently working on a book on how different cultures have found hope in the biblical tradition of wrestling with God. He is also the cohost (with Rony Kozman) of a great new podcast, "The Two Testaments," which you can find over at www.thetwotestaments.com. So (after you listen to First Reading), head over there and give them the First Reading bump!

Melchi-who? Lectionary Date: October 17, 2021 [21th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B] Tim opts for the Second Reading (Third Reading?) since it has lots of OT in it.

Divine Intervention Lectionary Date: October 10, 2021 [20th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B] Rachel hears the voice of a concerned friend in this challenging text.

They will Become One Flesh Lectionary Date: October 3, 2021 [19th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B] Tim revisits the garden to rethink the creation of gendered humans.

For Such a Time as This Lectionary Date: September 26, 2021 [18th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B] Esther is a rich and complex biblical story—which is why it's unfortunate that it only appears once in the 3-year lectionary cycle. But to help us make the most of this occasion, we invited Rosy Kandathil to join us for a deep dive into Esther. Rosy is a PhD candidate in Hebrew Bible at Emory University, where she is writing a dissertation on the collision of humor and violence in the book of Esther. Rosy's insights help us get to the core relevant issues of the book: how it navigates multiple identities at once, deals with the challenges of thriving in diaspora, and hosts some of our own deep questions about violence and vengeance. Buckle up for a great episode!

A Person of Valor Lectionary Date: September 19, 2021 [17th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B] Rachel explores the expansive meaning of an often-pigeonholed text.

The Tongue of a Learner Lectionary Date: September 12, 2021 [16th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B] Tim sets his face like flint to offer a nonviolent interpretation of this famous text!

The Sharing is the Blessing Lectionary Date: September 5, 2021 [15th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B] Rachel gives an overview of wisdom literature, and tackles the prosperity gospel—all in one episode!

Carrot and Stick? Lectionary Date: August 29, 2021 [14th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B] Tim explores the gift (and threat?) of God's instruction.

Dialogue with God Lectionary Date: August 22, 2021 [13th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B] Rachel does her best to turn this monologue of a prayer into a dialogue with God.

Lead With a Listening Heart Lectionary Date: August 15, 2021 [12th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B] Tim traces the two perspectives on Solomon and finds a key leadership skill.

Eat or the Journey Will Be Too Much Lectionary Date: August 8, 2021 [11th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B] Rachel cautions against an overly psychological interpretation of Elijah's depressed state.

You Are the Man! Lectionary Date: August 1, 2021 [10th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B] The David and Bathsheba story is complex. And it's challenging to know what to make of the way the story plays out when David is confronted with his sin. Fortunately, we have a leading Samuel scholar to help walk through the text with us! Dr. Sara Kipfer teaches Old Testament at Heidelberg University, Germany. She has written extensively on emotions in the ancient near east, in the Bible, and in the artistic reception of the Bible. She has also engaged deeply with the book of Samuel in her book, David Under Threat (German), which is extremely relevant to our discussion here (you can find an English summary here).

Eat and Have Leftovers Lectionary Date: July 25, 2021 [9th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B] Tim has some thoughts about the miraculous feeding of the... one-hundred?

What does a "Good Shepherd" actually do? Lectionary Date: July 18, 2021 [8th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B] Rachel reflects on the way leaders are meant to care for the most vulnerable.

Don't Skip Uzzah! Lectionary Date: July 11, 2021 [7th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B] Tim highlights the way that Uzzah changes everything in this passage.

David Took Jerusalem Lectionary Date: July 4, 2021 [6th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B] Rachel takes a critical look at the origins of Judahite Jerusalem.

Processing a Communal Trauma Lectionary Date: June 27, 2021 [5th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B] The lectionary cherry picks the one quasi-hopeful moment from the book of Lamentations as the first reading this week. But when we read it in the context of the sadness and trauma of the book as a whole, it reveals an even more powerful and relevant meaning. Our guest this week is Dr. Kathleen O’Connor. Kathleen is the William Marcellus McPheeters Professor Emerita of Old Testament at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, GA. She is widely known for her work studying trauma and disaster in the Bible, as well as present-day intercultural and ecumenical issues for biblical studies. We highly recommend her Lamentations and Jeremiah commentaries, which have become go-to resources for many, many scholars and pastors.

Are we David, or are we Goliath? Lectionary Date: June 20, 2021 [4th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B] Tim has a new historical take on a classic text.