Narrative Lectionary from Working Preacher

Luther Seminary
  • 0,0 (0)
  • Kristendom
  • Varje vecka

Working Preacher hosts "I Love to Tell the Story," an engaging conversation on upcoming Narrative Lectionary readings. Each episode is fun, informative, and creative—and will help you and your congregation become fluent in the first language of faith.

  1. 19 aug.

    Narrative Lectionary 677 (NL101): Flood and Promise - September 13, 2026

    Welcome to a new year of the Narrative Lectionary. This year we're in the Gospel of Matthew, and we're kicking things off with a six week sub series on covenant and commandment, starting with the genesis flood narrative. Rolf Jacobson and Cameron Howard dig into one of the most uncomfortable stories in Scripture, the one we somehow turned into nursery decor. Why do we put a story about God wiping out nearly all life on earth on baby blankets and crib mobiles? Rolf and Cameron talk through the tension in Genesis 6 through 9, the idea that divine judgment fits the crime, and what it means that in a monotheistic tradition, God has to wrestle with God's own justice and mercy internally, with no "good god versus bad god" to divide the blame. They also unpack the covenant itself in Genesis 9, why it's easy to overlook the Noahic covenant when we jump straight to Abraham or Sinai, and why this first covenant, made with "every living creature," might be the best place to start a year of preaching on God's care for the whole earth, not just humanity. Overview to Narrative Lectionary Year 1 Readings - Featuring Rolf Jacobson, Kathryn Schifferdecker, and Kristofer Phan Coffman (airdate: Sept. 2022)Commentary on Genesis 6:5-22; 8:6-12; 9:8-17 by Dennis Olson

  2. 22 maj

    Narrative Lectionary 676: Preaching Series on 1 & 2 Timothy - July 12, 2026

    What does it mean to follow Jesus not as first-generation believers, but as the second, third, or fourth generation of the church? In this episode of I Love to Tell the Story, host Kathryn Schifferdecker welcomes Dr. Edward Piller, New Testament scholar and minister at Evesham Baptist Church in Worcestershire, England, for a rich conversation on the Narrative Lectionary's five-week summer series in 1 and 2 Timothy. Dr. Piller brings pastoral wisdom and scholarly insight to bear on these often-overlooked letters, exploring what it means for a church community to inherit a living faith and pass it on. Together, Kathryn and Edward walk through all five weeks of the lectionary series, offering preachers a road map for each passage: * Week 1, 1 Timothy 1:12-17: Salvation as ongoing, daily experience, not a one-time event * Week 2, 1 Timothy 6:6-19: The call to pursue righteousness and "take hold of the life that really is life" * Week 3, 2 Timothy 1:1-14: Rekindling the gift of God, for individuals and for congregations * Week 4, 2 Timothy 2:8-15: The faithfulness of God even when we are faithless ("I hold and I am held") * Week 5, 2 Timothy 3 - 4: Scripture as living, breathing, dynamic word, and the final sign-off of a life well-lived in faith Dr. Piller also reflects on preaching the epistles with personal vulnerability, the challenge of wealth and comfort in second-generation Christianity, and what it looks like to receive and pass on a living tradition.

  3. 30 apr.

    Narrative Lectionary 675: Preaching Series on Ruth & Esther - May 31, 2026

    What happens when a story of radical loyalty meets a story of dangerous courage? In this special summer series introduction, hosts Rolf Jacobson and Kathryn Schifferdecker open the books of Ruth and Esther, the only two biblical books named for women, and explore why these compact, powerful narratives deserve a place at the center of your preaching and teaching.

  4. 21 apr.

    Narrative Lectionary 674 (NL443): Pentecost; Rejoice in the Lord - May 24, 2026

    It's the final episode of the Narrative Lectionary year, and what a way to close: the arrival of the Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2) paired with Paul's call to rejoice from prison (Philippians 4:4-7). Rolf, Kathryn, and Karoline reflect on what makes this day so significant, and why it's not just a day on the calendar but a way of life. In this episode: * Why Acts 2 isn't the Spirit's first appearance in Luke-Acts, and what makes Pentecost different * The Jewish Festival of Weeks (Shavuot/Pentecost) and why diaspora Jews from across the empire were gathered in Jerusalem * How Acts 1:8 functions as a "theme verse" for the entire book, and how Pentecost begins to fulfill it * The surprising pastoral comfort of Philippians 4 alongside the drama of Acts: "The Lord is near" * A word of encouragement for congregations who feel like Pentecost is someone else's story

  5. 14 apr.

    Narrative Lectionary 673 (NL442): The Christ Hymn - May 17, 2026

    What does it mean to have "the mind of Christ"? In this episode of I Love to Tell the Story, hosts Rolf Jacobson and Kathryn Schifferdecker are joined by scholar Karoline Lewis to explore one of the most beloved and theologically rich passages in all of Paul's letters: the Christ hymn of Philippians 2:1-13. The conversation opens with Paul's appeal to a divided congregation: since there is encouragement in Christ, consolation from love, and sharing (koinonia) in the Spirit, the Philippians are called to unity and genuine humility. Ralph unpacks an important Greek grammatical point: the opening "if" is actually a second-class conditional, best translated as "since." The condition isn't in doubt; Paul is building on a foundation he and his readers already share. From there, the hosts dig into the Christ hymn itself, examining how the incarnation functions as Paul's paradigm for Christian community. It isn't the resurrection or even primarily the crucifixion that Paul holds up here, but the incarnation: the moment God chose to enter human life not as a pharaoh or emperor, but as a servant. Caroline highlights how the call to "have the same mind" is an active, directional verb, pointing the community toward a specific vision of what it means to follow Jesus. The episode closes with a reminder not to stop at the cross: the hymn ends in exaltation, with the bold counter-imperial declaration that Jesus Christ is Lord, not Caesar. Whether you're preparing a sermon, leading a Bible study, or just wrestling with what Christian community looks like in an age of personal branding, this episode offers deep resources for reflection.

  6. 2 apr.

    Narrative Lectionary 672 (NL441): Partnership in the Gospel - May 10, 2026

    What does it look like when a community takes on the mind of Christ? In this episode of I Love to Tell the Story, hosts Rolf Jacobson and Kathryn Schifferdecker, along with Johannine scholar Karoline Lewis, dig into one of the most beloved and theologically rich passages in all of Paul's letters: the Christ hymn of Philippians 2:1-13. In a culture that rewards self-promotion and personal branding, Paul's call to radical humility cuts against the grain. The hosts unpack why Paul reaches back to the incarnation (not the resurrection, not even the crucifixion) as the paradigm for Christian community, what it means that "every knee shall bow" in a world where Caesar claimed lordship, and why that second-class conditional in Greek matters more than you might think. Enter the Bible: Was Paul the real founder of Christianity?Commentary on Philippians 1:1-18a written by Timothy L. Adkins-Jones

  7. 24 mars

    Narrative Lectionary 671 (NL440): Paul's Sermon at Athens - May 3, 2026

    What do you do when you're surrounded by altars to gods you don't worship and one altar to a God nobody knows? In this episode, hosts Rolf Jacobson, Kathryn Schifferdecker, and scholar Karoline Lewis explore Paul's remarkable sermon at the Areopagus in Athens (Acts 17), where he meets a sophisticated, curious culture on its own terms.

  8. 23 mars

    Narrative Lectionary 670 (NL439): Paul and Silas - April 26, 2026

    When Paul and Silas land in a Philippian jail, beaten, chained, and singing, they model something the early church understood deeply: that faithfulness to God sometimes means refusing to play by the empire's rules. In this episode, Rolf Jacobson, Kathryn Schifferdecker, and Karoline Lewis unpack Acts 16:16-34, tracing the clash between the gospel and the powers of Rome, the surprising story of a slave girl with a "spirit of a python," and what it looks like to respond to violence with pacifism and praise.

Visa alla (679)

Om

Working Preacher hosts "I Love to Tell the Story," an engaging conversation on upcoming Narrative Lectionary readings. Each episode is fun, informative, and creative—and will help you and your congregation become fluent in the first language of faith.

Information

  • Skapad av
    Luther Seminary
  • Aktiva år
    2020 - 2026
  • Avsnitt
    679
  • Åldersgräns
    Barnvänligt
  • Copyright
    © Working Preacher podcast episodes are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 License.
  • Programmets webbplats
    Narrative Lectionary from Working Preacher

Du kanske också gillar