First Reading

First Reading

By Rev. Rachel Wrenn, PhD; Rosy Kandathil, JD; Paul Essah, MDiv; Tim McNinch, PhDReligion & SpiritualityChristianity
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First Reading episodes

  • Jeremiah 1:4–10, with Brent Strawn
    A Prophet's Call

    Lectionary Date: August 25, 2019 [11th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C]

    This week, Rachel and Tim are joined by Dr. Brent Strawn. Brent joined the Duke Divinity School faculty as Professor of Old Testament in 2019 after teaching for eighteen years at the Candler School of Theology at Emory University, where he was the William Ragsdale Cannon Distinguished Professor of Old Testament. Brent is a prolific author, but we would highly recommend to our audience one of his most recent books, The Old Testament Is Dying: A Diagnosis and Recommended Treatment (Baker Academic, 2017). Brent is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church and regularly speaks and preaches at churches across the country. He has appeared on CNN on matters ranging from Easter celebrations to Pope Francis to gun violence, and served as both translator and member of the editorial board for The Common English Bible.

    49 min
  • Jeremiah 1:4–10, with Brent Strawn
    A Prophet’s Call
    Lectionary Date: August 25, 2019 [11th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C]
    This week, Rachel and Tim are joined by Dr. Brent Strawn. Brent joined the Duke Divinity School faculty as Professor of Old Testament in 2019 after teaching for eighteen years at the Candler School of Theology at Emory University, where he was the William Ragsdale Cannon Distinguished Professor of Old Testament. Brent is a prolific author, but we would highly recommend to our audience one of his most recent books, The Old Testament Is Dying: A Diagnosis and Recommended Treatment (Baker Academic, 2017). Brent is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church and regularly speaks and preaches at churches across the country. He has appeared on CNN on matters ranging from Easter celebrations to Pope Francis to gun violence, and served as both translator and member of the editorial board for The Common English Bible.
    49 min
  • Isaiah 5:1–7
    A Wedding Toast Gone Wrong

    Lectionary Date: August 18, 2019 [10th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C]

    This week, Tim explores a metaphor within a metaphor.

    13 min
  • Isaiah 5:1–7
    A Wedding Toast Gone Wrong
    Lectionary Date: August 18, 2019 [10th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C]
    This week, Tim explores a metaphor within a metaphor.
    13 min
  • Isaiah 1:1, 10–20
    The Divine Gag Reflex

    Lectionary Date: August 11, 2019 [9th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C]

    This week, Rachel gives some insight into the futility of worship in a context of injustice.

    11 min
  • Isaiah 1:1, 10–20
    The Divine Gag Reflex
    Lectionary Date: August 11, 2019 [9th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C]
    This week, Rachel gives some insight into the futility of worship in a context of injustice.
    11 min
  • Hosea 11:1–11, with Johanna Bos
    Love Overcomes Wrath

    Lectionary Date: August 4, 2019 [8th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C]

    This week, Rachel and Tim are joined by Dr. Johanna van Wijk-Bos. Dr. Bos taught for four decades as Professor of Old Testament at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in KY. She continues to serve the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) as an ordained pastor. In addition to her teaching, speaking, and preaching, she is a prolific author and an engaged activist, especially around issues of equity in terms of gender, race, and sexual orientation. Among her many great books, we recommend for our audience, Making Wise the Simple: The Torah in Christian Faith and Practice. Her latest project is a multi-volume commentary on Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings titled, A People and A Land (the first volume is available soon from Eerdmans).

    49 min
  • Hosea 11:1–11, with Johanna Bos
    Love Overcomes Wrath
    Lectionary Date: August 4, 2019 [8th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C]
    This week, Rachel and Tim are joined by Dr. Johanna van Wijk-Bos. Dr. Bos taught for four decades as Professor of Old Testament at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in KY. She continues to serve the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) as an ordained pastor. In addition to her teaching, speaking, and preaching, she is a prolific author and an engaged activist, especially around issues of equity in terms of gender, race, and sexual orientation. Among her many great books, we recommend for our audience, Making Wise the Simple: The Torah in Christian Faith and Practice. Her latest project is a multi-volume commentary on Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings titled, A People and A Land (the first volume is available soon from Eerdmans).
    49 min
  • Hosea 1:2–10
    A Broken Metaphor

    Lectionary Date: July 28, 2019 [7th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C]

    This week, Rachel urges you to preach this word (even though it has a metaphor that no longer works)!

    9 min
  • Hosea 1:2–10
    A Broken Metaphor
    Lectionary Date: July 28, 2019 [7th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C]
    This week, Rachel urges you to preach this word (even though it has a metaphor that no longer works)!
    9 min

About First Reading

From the publisher's feed

First Reading offers exegetical resources for the Old Testament Lectionary reading each week. Dr. Rachel Wrenn is Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies at Trinity Lutheran Seminary (Capital…