First Reading

Gut Check Lectionary Date: April 19, 2020 [2nd Sunday of Easter, Year A] This week, Rachel explores insights from the body language of Psalm 16.

Resurrection Hope in the OT Lectionary Date: April 12, 2020 [Easter Sunday, Year A] For this Easter episode, Rachel and Tim are joined by Dr. Michael Chan. Michael is an Assistant Professor of Old Testament at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN. He did his PhD at our own Emory University. His research interests are wide ranging, from iconography to biblical emotion to Ancient Near Eastern comparative data. He is the coauthor of the book, Exploring the Bible, with Eric Barreto, and hosts the podcast, Gospel Beautiful, an interview-based podcast that features theologians, artists, and thinkers who are wrestling with the challenging task of preaching the Gospel in the 21st century.

Hosanna: Oh Save Us! Lectionary Date: April 5, 2020 [Palm/Passion Sunday, Year A] Thank you, preachers, for the creative work you are doing in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis! This week, Tim leads us with a peek at the psalm that inspired the Palm Sunday shouts of "Hosanna!"

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.