Snakes on a Plain
Lectionary Date: March 14, 2021 [4th Sunday in Lent, Year B]
Fiery snake angels sent by God. Yup. This is an odd one.
Exodus 20:1–17, with Carmen Joy Imes
Bearing God’s Name
Lectionary Date: March 7, 2021 [3rd Sunday in Lent, Year B]
The ten commandments are both very familiar and largely misunderstood in congregations. We hear from an expert on these issues, our guest this week, Dr. Carmen Joy Imes. Carmen is Associate Professor of Old Testament at Prairie College in Alberta, Canada. Her research has opened up the significance of the commandments for biblical scholars and “normal people” alike. All of you should immediately purchase her book, Bearing God’s Name: Why Sinai Still Matters. She has also authored Illustrated Exodus in Hebrew, which was edited by Tim in the GlossaHouse Illustrated Biblical Texts series. You can find Carmen at her blog, https://carmenjoyimes.blogspot.com/, and at her new YouTube vlog.
Genesis 17:1–7, 15–16
Who Gets the Last Laugh?
Lectionary Date: February 28, 2021 [2nd Sunday in Lent, Year B]
Promises, inclusion, laughter. A close look at God’s encounter with Abram and Sarai.
Genesis 9:8–17
A Pledge of Peace
Lectionary Date: February 21, 2021 [1st Sunday in Lent, Year B]
Taking a second look at the rainbow—in historical context!
2 Kings 2:1–12 (and Psalm 111)
Here I Raise My Ebenezer
Lectionary Date: February 14, 2021 [Transfiguration Sunday, Year B]
A different sort of episode this week! First, if you want to think through some of the Hebrew tidbits and cultural context of 2 Kings 2, listen to this past episode of First Reading. In addition, I’m giving a sample of a COVID-era, online sermon on the lectionary psalm from last week, Psalm 111, to help spark your creative homiletical strategies (see below). If you’d like to view the whole service attached to this little sermon (about 30 min total), you can find that service here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reAf5hU0YKo.
Isaiah 40:21–31
Walk and Not Faint
Lectionary Date: February 7, 2021 [5th Sunday after the Epiphany, Year B]
Rachel shares a deep insight from one of her students.
Deuteronomy 18:15–20
A Prophet Like Moses
Lectionary Date: January 31, 2021 [4th Sunday after the Epiphany, Year B]
How do we hear what God wants to say to us?
Jonah 3:1–5 (AND our 100th Episode Look Back!)
Absurd Words for an Absurd World
Lectionary Date: January 24, 2021 [3rd Sunday after the Epiphany, Year B]
It’s our 100th podcast episode! We give some interpretive tips for Jonah 3, and then look back at some of the highlights of our first 100 episodes of First Reading! Also: take two minutes to check out our 100th celebration video here: https://youtu.be/m34A459ENYY
1 Samuel 3:1–10, (11–20)
Speaking Truth to Power
Lectionary Date: January 17, 2021 [2nd Sunday after the Epiphany, Year B]
The calling of Samuel is a nice story, but don’t forget the message itself!
Genesis 1:1–5
Bereshit Bara Elohim…
Lectionary Date: January 10, 2021 [1st Sunday after the Epiphany, Year B]
Fun with Hebrew, and a look at the connections between Genesis and the Baptism of Jesus in Mark’s Gospel.