First Reading

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.

Judgment and Natural Consequences Lectionary Date: September 15, 2019 [14th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] This week, Tim helps us face the consequences of persistent evil.

The Mercy of Rock Bottom Lectionary Date: September 8, 2019 [13th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] This week, Rachel explores the potential of grace in a message of judgment.

Living Water and Cracked Cisterns Lectionary Date: September 1, 2019 [12th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] This week, Tim invites you to sip from the living water.

A Prophet's Call Lectionary Date: August 25, 2019 [11th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] This week, Rachel and Tim are joined by Dr. Brent Strawn. Brent joined the Duke Divinity School faculty as Professor of Old Testament in 2019 after teaching for eighteen years at the Candler School of Theology at Emory University, where he was the William Ragsdale Cannon Distinguished Professor of Old Testament. Brent is a prolific author, but we would highly recommend to our audience one of his most recent books, The Old Testament Is Dying: A Diagnosis and Recommended Treatment (Baker Academic, 2017). Brent is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church and regularly speaks and preaches at churches across the country. He has appeared on CNN on matters ranging from Easter celebrations to Pope Francis to gun violence, and served as both translator and member of the editorial board for The Common English Bible.

A Wedding Toast Gone Wrong Lectionary Date: August 18, 2019 [10th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] This week, Tim explores a metaphor within a metaphor.

The Divine Gag Reflex Lectionary Date: August 11, 2019 [9th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] This week, Rachel gives some insight into the futility of worship in a context of injustice.

Love Overcomes Wrath Lectionary Date: August 4, 2019 [8th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] This week, Rachel and Tim are joined by Dr. Johanna van Wijk-Bos. Dr. Bos taught for four decades as Professor of Old Testament at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in KY. She continues to serve the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) as an ordained pastor. In addition to her teaching, speaking, and preaching, she is a prolific author and an engaged activist, especially around issues of equity in terms of gender, race, and sexual orientation. Among her many great books, we recommend for our audience, Making Wise the Simple: The Torah in Christian Faith and Practice. Her latest project is a multi-volume commentary on Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings titled, A People and A Land (the first volume is available soon from Eerdmans).

A Broken Metaphor Lectionary Date: July 28, 2019 [7th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] This week, Rachel urges you to preach this word (even though it has a metaphor that no longer works)!

Divine Discipline Lectionary Date: July 21, 2019 [6th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] This week, Rachel unpacks the purpose behind some startling prophetic predictions.