First Reading

Lectionary Date: December 31, 2023 [1st Sunday after Christmas, Year B]

Welcome to the First Reading Christmas Party! All four hosts are together for a jam-packed conversation around this week's first reading.

Lectionary Date: December 24, 2023 [4th Sunday of Advent, Year B]

Our advent episodes this year were recorded live at Trinity Lutheran Seminary's "Trinity Days" event, with an encouraging studio audience! In this episode, for Advent 4, Tim expands the scope of the New Testament reading by exploring its inspiration in the divine promise to David.

Lectionary Date: December 17, 2023 [3rd Sunday of Advent, Year B]

Our advent episodes this year were recorded live at Trinity Lutheran Seminary's "Trinity Days" event, with an encouraging studio audience! In this episode, for Advent 3, Paul looks at the Messianic hope of Isaiah's prophecy for those living in traumatic times.

Lectionary Date: December 10, 2023 [2nd Sunday of Advent, Year B]

Our advent episodes this year were recorded live at Trinity Lutheran Seminary's "Trinity Days" event, with an encouraging studio audience! In this episode, for Advent 2, Rosy explores the music of Isaiah 40.

Lectionary Date: December 3, 2023 [1st Sunday of Advent, Year B]

Our advent episodes this year were recorded live at Trinity Lutheran Seminary's "Trinity Days" event, with an encouraging studio audience! In this episode, for Advent 1, Rachel takes up the psalm (surprise, surprise) to talk about the "Shepherd" of God's people.

Lectionary Date: November 26, 2023 [26th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A]

In this episode, Paul and Rachel dive into Ezekiel 34, discussing the peculiar character of Ezekiel, the metaphor of shepherds representing kings, and the consequences of bad leadership that led to Israel’s exile. The passage emphasizes God’s promise to become Israel’s true shepherd.

Join Paul and Rachel in this insightful discussion that goes beyond the historical context of the passage, touching on themes of justice, God as a homemaker, and the potential connection to Jesus as the Good Shepherd.

Lectionary Date: November 19, 2023 [25th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A]

Rachel challenges the brevity of the RCL and the bias of our English translations.

Lectionary Date: November 12, 2023 [24th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A]

This week, First Reading welcomes Rev. Dr. Paul R. Hinlicky, as our guest. Dr. Hinlicky is a Lutheran theologian and author, a Lutheran pastor, and a “regenerative agriculture” farmer on his Virginia property, St. Gall Farm. He is Professor Emeritus of Lutheran theology at Roanoke College and the Distinguished Fellow and Research Professor of the Institute of Lutheran Theology. Dr. Hinlicky's most recent major project was a theological commentary on the book of Joshua with Brazos Theological Commentary Series (Baker Publishing Group). Together with his daughter the Rev. Dr. Sarah Hinlicky-Wilson, Paul co-hosts the podcast Queen of the Sciences: Conversations between a Theologian and Her Dad, where they address issues of theology, ministry, and the Bible together. We are grateful to Sarah and Paul for proposing this episode for both of our podcast feeds. Enjoy!

Lectionary Date: November 5, 2023 [23rd Sunday after Pentecost, Year A]

Paul takes us into the Promised Land.

Lectionary Date: October 29, 2023 [22nd Sunday after Pentecost, Year A]

Rachel explores the often-overlooked "world forming" of Leviticus.