My Favorite Text Study

Jennie English-Dumont
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Christianity
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Host Jennie English-Dumont, an ELCA pastor with over 25 years of preaching experience, engages in collegial conversations with different guests each week about the coming texts in the Revised Common Lectionary. It's like an old-fashioned text study -- and you are invited! Are you a preacher longing for a group of colleagues who can explore the texts together and inspire your preaching? Are you someone who listens to sermons, interested in peeking behind the curtain to see how they are made? Whoever you are, pull up a chair and join my favorite text study.

  1. 5d ago

    Lectionary 33A/Proper 28 A - Rev. Christina Garrett Klein

    Welcome to the text study for Sunday, November 15, 2026. This week I will be discussing the parable of the talents with Pastor Christian Garrett Klein. Pastor Christina serves at Edgebrook Lutheran Church in Chicago. You can find Edgebrook on Facebook and YouTube. We will reference two poems. One is A Summer's Day by Mary Oliver and the other is Enriching the Earth by Wendell Berry. Enjoy the conversation! Theme music: Happy Acoustic Pop Folk by Music for Creators from Free Music Archive FMA -- License CC Attribution 4.0 InternationalDeed - Attribution 4.0 International - Creative Commons

  2. Nov 2

    Lectionary 32A/Proper 27A (November 8, 2026) - Pastor Kim Adams

    Welcome to the text study for Sunday, November 8, 2026. My conversation partner this week is Pastor Kim Adams. Pastor Kim serves as campus pastor at both Concordia College, Moorhead, MN, and Crossroads Lutheran Campus Ministry on the campus of North Dakota State University. We will be digging into yet another of the separation parables in Matthew's gospel. We will be asking questions like what does it mean to be "wise" or "foolish" and who gets to decide? I so enjoyed getting the perspective she has from working with young adults and their commitment to following Jesus in ways that connect to Amos' vision of justice. A correction: Dr. King does not talk about when justice tarries; in fact he says that "justice delayed is justice denied." I was thinking about Habakkuk 2:3. Preaching resources Pastor Kim referenced include the poetry of Cole Arthur Riley Jan Richardson Susan Palo Cherwin You are invited to be part of the conversation over at Substack. If you are enjoying the podcast, please take 15 seconds and give us a five-star review so others can find us! Introduction: 0:00 - 1:47 Preaching Context: 1:48 - 5:39 Announcing the Texts: 5:40 - 6:10 Wait, it's Advent already?: 6:11 - 7:40 Why it's hard to wait: 7:41 - 9:53 Be Prepared -- to help: 9:54 - 13:12 Being left out: 13:13 - 16:08 Amos enters the chat: 16:09 - 19:48 Costly grace: 19:49 - 23:37 Playing with the parable: 23:38 - 27:04 Paying attention in the waiting: 27:05 - 34:22 REALLY playing with the parable: 34:23 - 37:57 Preaching "hacks": 37:58 - 39:42 Prayer and conclusion: 39:43 - end Theme Music: Happy Acoustic Pop Folk by Music for Creators from Free Music Archive FMA -- License CC Attribution 4.0 International Deed - Attribution 4.0 International - Creative Commons

  3. Oct 26

    All Saints Sunday A -- Rev. Dr. Lawrence Clark

    On this week's text study, host Jennie English-Dumont speaks with Rev. Dr. Lawrence Clark, pastor of St. Mark Lutheran Church (ELCA) in Chicago, about the revised common lectionary texts assigned for Sunday, November 1, 2026, All Saints Sunday in year A. St. Mark is a traditional Lutheran congregation steeped in the cultural rich history and heritage of the African. Pastor Clark has been a pastor for 31 years and has served in both congregations and on synod staffs in various parts of the country. The texts this week are Revelation 7:9-17 Psalm 34:1-10, 22 1 John 3:1-3 Matthew 5:1-12 Be part of the conversation over at the free My Favorite Text Study Substack. Some of the resources Pastor Clark uses in preaching preparation include the Vanderbilt Revised Common Lectionary library, The Text This Week, and Exegetical Notes by Brian Stoffregen. Introduction: 0:00 - 1:38 Preaching Context: 1:39 - 5:27 Announcing the Texts: 5:28 - 5:58 Preaching on All Saints Sunday: 5:59 - 11:24 Revelation 7: 11:25 - 27:19 Psalm 34: 27:20 - 29:16 1 John 3: 29:17 - 33:03 Preaching The Beatitudes: 33:04 - 41:49 Preaching "Hacks": 41:50 - 43:20 Pray and Conclusion: 43:21 - end Theme Music:Happy Acoustic Pop Folk by Music for Creators from Free Music Archive FMA -- License CC Attribution 4.0 International Deed - Attribution 4.0 International - Creative Commons

  4. Oct 12

    Lectionary 29A (Proper 24A) - Pastor Heidi Torgerson

    A collegial conversation with diverse voices around the Church about the lectionary texts for the coming Sunday. We are back after a short fall break with a wonderful conversation with Pastor Heidi Torgerson. Pastor Heidi serves at Grace Lutheran Church (ELCA) in La Grange, IL. Pastor Heidi also writes a Substack newsletter, Tender Resistance, about the ministry she and her congregation do accompanying our immigrant neighbors, particularly at the local ICE detention center. We are discussing the texts for October 18, 2026 (Lectionary 29A/Proper 24A). The texts are Isaiah 45:1-7 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 Matthew 22:15-22 What does Jesus mean when he says to render unto Caesar what is Caesar's and render unto God what is God's? Is this really a lesson in taxes...or do we learn more from the way Jesus disarms the political trap? What traps try to catch us? Join the conversation on these texts over at the free My Favorite Text Study Substack. There will be no text study for next week, October 25. See you in two weeks with a line up of more wonderful guests and diverse voices from around the Church!

  5. Sep 14

    Lectionary 25A/Proper 20A - Pastor Kathy Morris

    Welcome to this week's conversation about the texts in the Revised Common Lectionary for September 20, 2026. My guest this week is Pastor Kathy Disbro Morris. Pastor Kathy serves at Holy Cross Lutheran Church (ELCA) in Reno, NV. This week we are discussing the texts for Lectionary 25A (Proper 20A): Jonah 3:10 - 4:11 Psalm 145:1-8 Philippians 1:21-30 Matthew 20:1-16 Pastor Kathy also just self-published her first novel! You can check it out on Amazon: Finally Home: A Story of Faith, Forgiveness, and Second Chances, by Kathy Disbro Intro: 0:00 - 1:17 Preaching Context: 1:18 - 6:46 Announcing the Texts: 6:47 - 7:22 When God forgives our enemies: 7:23 - 11:54 What's fair and what's just: 11:55 - 16:52 Who is first in the Christian community?: 16:53 - 23:44 God always creates room for more: 23:45 - 27:16 Reward Vs. Grace: 27:17 - 30:34 The solution to envy and coveting: 30:35 - 34:00 What's the "for you": 34:00 - 38:30 Philippians: 38:31 - 44:20 Preaching "hack": 44:21 - 46:24 Conclusion and prayer: 46:25 - end Referenced: Matthew Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching, by Douglas Hare (John Knox Press, Knoxville, TN: 1993) Workingpreacher.org Journey With Jesus Theme Music:Happy Acoustic Pop Folk by Music for Creators from Free Music Archive FMA -- License CC Attribution 4.0 International Deed - Attribution 4.0 International - Creative Commons

  6. Sep 8

    Lectionary 24A (Proper 19A) - Pastor Maria Rojas-Banda

    This week Pastor Maria Rojas-Banda, pastor at Misión Luterana Unidad de Berwyn (Unity Lutheran Church) joins the text study as we talk about the lectionary texts for Sunday, September 13, 2026, particularly about what it means to forgive. Pastor Maria points out that while we often think of forgiveness as a favor we do for someone else, the true power of forgiveness happens within ourselves, as we let go of resentment, hatred, and animosity. Of course, this is easier said than done. The grace we receive from God through Jesus is what allows us to forgive ourselves, which, in turn, makes it possible for us to forgive others. This text is difficult for people -- because forgiveness is a complicated subject. What is on your mind as you think about the texts this week? Theme Music:Happy Acoustic Pop Folk by Music for Creators from Free Music Archive FMA -- License CC Attribution 4.0 International Deed - Attribution 4.0 International - Creative Commons

  7. Aug 31

    Lectionary 23A (Proper 18A) - Pastor Jennie English-Dumont

    Another solo episode! I'll be talking about the Lectionary texts for Lectionary 23A (Proper 18A), which are the scripture texts for Sunday, September 6, 2026. In these texts we have some very practical advice about conflict resolution, wrapped up in Jesus' teaching about what it means to be part of the faith community he is creating. Ezekiel 33:7-11 Psalm 119:33-40 Romans 13:8-14 Matthew 18:15-20 Tune in next week when our guests return! Intro and texts: 0:00 - 1:24 Sermon series idea: 1:25 - 4:04 Matthew 18 and direct conflict resolution: 4:05 - 7:08 Conflict and the community: 7:09 - 12:52 Speaking the difficult truth: 12:53 - 16:00 The good news: 16:01 - 19:38 My preaching hacks: 19:39 - 22:27 Prayer and end: 22:28 - end Theme Music: Happy Acoustic Pop Folk by Music for Creators from Free Music Archive FMA -- License CC Attribution 4.0 International Deed - Attribution 4.0 International - Creative Commons

  8. Aug 24

    Lectionary 22A - Pastor Jennie English-Dumont

    Welcome to the first solo episode of My Favorite Text Study! While this podcast is built around collegial conversation around the texts for the Revised Common Lectionary for the coming Sunday, sometimes calendars don't line up. I hope you will enjoy my thoughts about the texts for Sunday, August 30, 2026. This week I introduce you to my preaching context. I serve as pastor at Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church, ELCA, in Chicago, IL. Next week you'll get to hear my preaching hack! The texts are from Lectionary 22/Proper 17 A Jeremiah 15:15-21 Psalm 26:1-8 Romans 12:9-21 Matthew 16:21-28 I will spend much of the time talking about the power of a theology of the cross and the ways that our theologies of glory so often become the cause of our suffering. I hope you enjoy the conversation. And remember, it' s not a conversation without other voices! Join the free community at Substack and share your thoughts about what you heard on the podcast, as well as what you are wrestling with this week. Intro: 0:00 - 1:46 Preaching Context: 1:47 - 4:11 Announcing the Texts: 4:12 - 4:36 Jeremiah -- A startling turn: 4:37 -- 11:24 Matthew -- It is necessary: 11:25 - 19:00 Theology of the Cross: 19:01 - 22:26 Romans - More persecution!: 22:27 - 24:29 Final Thoughts: 24:30 - end Theme Music: Happy Acoustic Pop Folk by Music for Creators from Free Music Archive FMA -- License CC Attribution 4.0 International Deed - Attribution 4.0 International - Creative Commons

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About

Host Jennie English-Dumont, an ELCA pastor with over 25 years of preaching experience, engages in collegial conversations with different guests each week about the coming texts in the Revised Common Lectionary. It's like an old-fashioned text study -- and you are invited! Are you a preacher longing for a group of colleagues who can explore the texts together and inspire your preaching? Are you someone who listens to sermons, interested in peeking behind the curtain to see how they are made? Whoever you are, pull up a chair and join my favorite text study.

Information

  • Creator
    Jennie English-Dumont
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    16
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Jennie English-Dumont
  • Show Website
    My Favorite Text Study