Comfort, Comfort Now My People
Lectionary Date: December 6, 2020 [2nd Sunday of Advent, Year B]
This famous passage isn’t about Pollyannaism—it’s comfort from the middle of real trauma (something many of us can relate to this Advent).
Podcast: First Reading
Isaiah 64:1–9
Preach Advent Slant
Lectionary Date: November 29, 2020 [1st Sunday of Advent, Year B]
Welcome to Advent and to Year B in the lectionary! Rachel is taking the lead during Advent with tips on how to preach it “slant” — to use Emily Dickinson’s term.
Ezekiel 34:11–16, 20–24, with Safwat Marzouk
I Myself Will Shepherd Them
Lectionary Date: November 22, 2020 [25th Sunday after Pentecost, Reign of Christ Sunday, Year A]
The 23rd Psalm is not the only biblical text to feature the shepherding metaphor! This week Rev. Dr. Safwat Marzouk joins Rachel and Tim to discuss Ezek 34, a powerful critique of Judah’s “shepherds” and a promise of divine shepherding for the vulnerable of God’s flock. Dr. Marzouk is Assoc. Professor of Old Testament/Hebrew Bible at Anabapist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, in Elkhart, IN. We recommend his books, Intercultural Church: A Biblical Vision for an Age of Migration and Egypt as a Monster in the Book of Ezekiel. Safwat is also a contributor to the “Politics of Scripture” blog at politicaltheology.com. First Reading is happy to be partnering with the Political Theology Network by sharing this week’s episode as the “Politics of Scripture” blog entry for Nov 16!
Judges 4:1–7
By the Hand of a Woman
Lectionary Date: November 15, 2020 [24th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A]
It’s the only entry from the fabulous book of Judges in the Lectionary! Tim has a couple ways to think about preaching this text about Deborah.
Joshua 24:1–3a, 14–25
Gotta Serve Somebody
Lectionary Date: November 8, 2020 [23rd Sunday after Pentecost, Year A]
At the end of Joshua, he calls the people to make a choice—but it’s not an uninformed decision. Tim has some thoughts about this.
Joshua 3:7–17
They Crossed on Dry Ground
Lectionary Date: November 1, 2020 [22nd Sunday after Pentecost, Year A]
Tim talks about how crossing the Jordan River is a bookend to the liminality of the wilderness, and what that could mean for us in this strange, time-out-of-time COVID/Election moment.
Deuteronomy 34:1–12, with Denise Flanders
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.
Exodus 33:12-23
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.
Exodus 32:1–14
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?
Exodus 20:1–4, 7–9, 12–20
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.