By the Well

Alistair and Fran discuss Jonah 3:1-6; 10 and Mark 1:14-20

We mention Daniel Smith-Christopher's A Biblical Theology of Exile

And Anna Carter Florence's address A Preacher's Alphabet - section on Jonah

This is a repost of a bonus episode for the lectionary Year of Mark recorded in 2021.  Robyn sat down with Rev. Dr. Sally Douglas to unpack the themes and theology of Mark’s gospel. Mark is the earliest, shortest and perhaps most dramatic of the gospels. It proclaims the good news of liberation from evil through divine inversion of power, epitomised in the cross. Costly discipleship, cosmic battles, and the cross are key themes throughout.

We mention “The Dark Side” documentary and Raquel St Clair’s “Call and Consequences: A Womanist Reading of Mark”.

Sharon and Fran discuss readings for Advent 4, focussing particularly on Luke 1:26-38 and Luke 1:46b-55, with brief reference to 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16

We mention Fleming Rutledge's book Advent

Sam Wells' How to Preach

and an ABC's Radio National Sunday Extra with Rev Dr Gary Mason

Craig Thompson steps in as guest co-host and speaks with Robyn about the readings for Advent 3. We discuss Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; Psalm 126; John 1:6-8, 19-28; and 1 Thess 5:16-24. 

We mention Fleming Rutledge's Advent: The Once and Future Coming of Jesus Christ.

Fran and Howard discuss two readings from Advent 2 - Isaiah 40:1-11 and Mark 1:1-8, with brief reference to Psalm 85 and 2 Peter 3

Howard and Fran discuss Isaiah 64:1-9 and Mark 13: 24-37

We mention Sam Wells' How to Preach: Times, Seasons, Texts and Contexts

Sally Douglas and Robyn Whitaker finish the lectionary year with the a discussion of kingship and other themes in Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24; Psalm 100; Ephesians 1:5-23; and Matthew 25:31-46.

We mention Ben Myers' "The Apostles Creed" and David Bentleigh Hart on reading "eternal punishment" in the New Testament.  

Sally and Robyn discuss Judges 4:1-7; Psalm 123; 1 Thess 5:1-11, and Matthew 25:14-30. 

The Thessalonians quote is from Nijay Gupta's commentary. The quote from Yahia Lababidi was from this episode of Soul Search. 

Kylie and Robyn discuss Matt 25.1–13, 1 Thess 4.13–18, and Josh 24.1–3a, 14–25. We set the Matthew reading in the context of the wider set of eschatological sayings in this section, noting some traps in translation (bridesmaids! lamps!), and the irony that all ten young women (including the wise ones) fall asleep! On 1 Thessalonians, we counter the idea of a rapture and talk about the pastoral issue being addressed by Paul. And in Joshua, we look at both the difficult claims about colonising the land and the passage's focus on choosing God. 

Fran and Robyn discuss Joshua 3:7-17; Matthew 23:1-12; and 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13.  We quote from Robert Alter's Hebrew Bible introduction to Joshua.