This week we discuss Matthew’s version of Jesus’ walking on the water, which includes the story of Peter asking to walk on the water to him. Following the hint from John Calvin and others, we discuss the question whether Peter “doubted” when he saw the wind and the waves or when he asked to get out of the boat! We conclude by talking about ideas for preaching a sermon on “staying with the boat” by staying on the path of discipleship.

This week we discuss Matthew’s version of Jesus’ feeding the “great crowd” of 5000 men, plus women and children. We take the opportunity afforded by a passage that is found in all four Gospels to discuss Gospel origins. We also discuss the various ways this passage has been interpreted, focusing on the idea that Matthew emphasizes Jesus has both the compassion and the power to feed the great crowd.

This week we discuss Matthew’s “Parables Discourse” in Matthew 13. We focus on the parable of the “Wheat and the Tares,” and the significant difficulties with the parable and the “interpretation” offered. In our opinion, this parable reflects Matthew’s situation and perhaps his apocalyptic theology rather than Jesus’ teaching on the kingdom of God. We also discuss John Calvin’s use of this passage, not only to support “double predestination,” but also from a “pastoral” perspective. Finally, we discuss ways to approach this difficult text in preaching.

This week we re-visit Matthew 11, which deals with the response to the Words and Deeds of the Messiah, from John, from the crowds, from the cities of Galilee. It concludes with an affirmation of Jesus’ relationship with the Father that parallels “Wisdom” and may have laid the groundwork for the theology of John’s Gospel, as well as an invitation to learn from Jesus and find rest. We discuss Calvin’s views on Jesus’ identity and the question of “wisdom” in light of the text. Finally, we discuss the question of how much we should talk about the historical and critical questions in our preaching.

This week we wrap up our discussion of Matthew’s “Missionary Discourse” with the three verses in the Lectionary. In order to “rightly explain” the passage, we have to take it in context of the chapter as a whole. We wrap up our discussion by talking about how to share the insights of our work without leading our congregations “into the weeds.”

This week we discuss the rest of Matthew’s “Missionary Discourse” in Matthew chapter 10. In comparison with Mark and Luke, Matthew has shaped the tradition about Jesus’ sending out the Twelve with a view toward instructing his own community in their own mission endeavor. In part, it serves as a challenge for them to extend the work of Jesus, and in part it serves as a warning that they will share his fate. We discuss Calvin’s treatment of one of the verses in terms of his view of humanity under God’s sovereignty. Then we discuss the question raised by Gene Boring in the New Interpreter’s Bible as to why this passage seems so foreign to contemporary Christians.

This week we discuss the first part of Matthew’s “Missionary Discourse” in Matthew chapter 10. In comparison with Mark and Luke, Matthew has shaped the tradition about Jesus’ sending out the Twelve with a view toward instructing his own community in their own mission endeavor. In part, it serves as a challenge for them to extend the work of Jesus, and in part it serves as a warning that they will share his fate. As we look into the Reformers, we discuss this “class of kingdoms.” Finally, we discuss the idea that “the priesthood of all believers” leads us to the ministry of all members.

This week we discuss Matthew’s presentation of Jesus’ ministry with authority in word and deed. We also talk about how the Reformers related faith and practice. And finally we discuss the origins of faith.

This week we are back with a brand-new episode where we discuss the “Great Commission” in Matthew’s Gospel from the perspective of how it functions in the narrative and theology of Matthew’s Gospel, how it relates to the concept of the Trinity, and why Trinity matters for our lives as Christians.

This week we discuss Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances according to John’s Gospel, including his encounter with “Doubting” Thomas. On that basis we talk about the process by which our faith grows.