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.
Isaiah 50:4–9a
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!
Proverbs 22:1–2, 8–9, 22–23
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!
Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6–9
Carrot and Stick?
Lectionary Date: August 29, 2021 [14th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B]
Tim explores the gift (and threat?) of God’s instruction.
1 Kings 8:(1,6,10–11), 22–30, 41–43
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.
1 Kings 2:10–12; 3:3–14
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.
1 Kings 19:4–8
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.
2 Samuel 11:26–12:13a, with Sara Kipfer
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).
2 Kings 4:42–44
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?
Jeremiah 23:1–6
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.