I’ve Been to the Mountaintop
Lectionary Date: October 25, 2020 [21st Sunday after Pentecost, Year A]
The Torah ends with the description of Moses’ death—kind of a downer! How can we make sense of this scene and how could it inspire a helpful sermon in the age of COVID-19? This week, Rachel and Tim are joined by Dr. Denise Flanders, assistant professor of Biblical Studies at Taylor University in Upland, IN, and an adjunct professor of Biblical Languages at Fuller Theological Seminary. She is currently working on the 1–2 Samuel volume for the commentary series The Bible in God’s World. Denise is passionate about introducing students to the ethical and spiritual relevance of the Hebrew Bible to faith and life today. To see more of her work, visit her website at www.deniseflanders.com.
Show Me Your Glory
Lectionary Date: October 18, 2020 [20th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A]
Rachel keeps the story rolling in Exodus, with the roller coaster going from scary threat of divine abandonment to powerful experience of divine intimacy.
What will the Egyptians think?
Lectionary Date: October 11, 2020 [19th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A]
Tim is stumped by the violence of this difficult text. Can you help him out?
Other Gods? — Don’t You Go-der.
Lectionary Date: October 4, 2020 [18th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A]
Rachel looks at the famous “ten commandments” and proposes a couple ways to preach this familiar/unfamiliar text.
The People are Thirsty
Lectionary Date: September 27, 2020 [17th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A]
Is God really among us? In the midst of pandemic, natural disaster, and centuries-deep racial violence, you and your congregation might be asking this question—but you are not the first! This week, Rachel and Tim look back at this same question in the wilderness narrative of Exodus, with guest exegete, Rev. Dr. Valerie Bridgeman. Dr. Bridgeman is a perfect fit for the podcast, because she is an Associate Professor of Homiletics and Hebrew Bible at Methodist Theological School in Ohio, where she is also the Dean and Vice President for Academic Affairs. Her research interests range from Womanist approaches, to prophetic biblical literature, to African-American women preachers, to embodied ritual remembrance… If you’re also interested in more of her work, we’d recommend you check out her contributions to WorkingPreacher.
Manna From Heaven
Lectionary Date: September 20, 2020 [16th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A]
Tim helps us see how this “grumbling” story is about a growing relationship of trust.
Horse and Rider Thrown Into the Sea
Lectionary Date: September 13, 2020 [15th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A]
Rachel offers some reflections on preaching an (in)famous war text.
Liberation and Decimation
Lectionary Date: September 6, 2020 [14th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A]
Tim finds some helpful angles into a text about massive loss of life.
Divine Invitation to Critique
Lectionary Date: August 30, 2020 [13th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A]
This week, Rachel and Tim tackle a rich passage with the help of the podcast’s first professional homiletician, Rev. Dr. Debra Mumford. She is Professor of Homiletics at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary (Tim’s alma mater). Debra is an ordained American Baptist minister, and has served in several church ministry contexts. Her academic work has centered around the topics of African American prophetic preaching, prosperity preaching, eschatology and the reign of God, and the intersections between preaching and health. And, as of this Summer, Dr. Mumford has been installed as the new Academic Dean at Louisville Seminary! Her latest book, from Judson Press, titled Envisioning the Reign of God: Preaching for Tomorrow, is all about making “eschatology” practical for preachers and congregations.
Unexpected Allies
Lectionary Date: August 23, 2020 [12th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A]
Rachel walks us through the moment when everything changes for Israel in Egypt.
