Moving Forward - Weekly Lectionary Podcast

Acts 10:34-43; Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; Col 3:1-4; Matthew 28:1-10 - Why listen to the same old story - even if it's a particularly good one - year after year? The repetition and reminding of what we already know does something in the hearer, right?

Isa 50:4-9a; Psa 31 (all of it!); Matthew 26:14-27:66 (and Psalm 136) - What do people remember at the end of their lives? I've been in enough nursing homes and hospices to know the enduring power of songs. This week, we hear several songs with Jesus, and develop the ears of disciples.

Ezekiel 37:1-14; Psalm 130; John 11:1-45 - The center of our Christian faith is resurrection! This week (and every week), we celebrate passages that address our great hope.

1 Sam 16:1-13; Psalm 23; John 9:1-41 Has everything always gone right for you? No? Me either! The lectionary texts this week are all about when we need to resort to other plans.

Exodus 17:1-7; Psalm 95; John 4:5-42 - Did you ever go for a run, and forget to hydrate properly? We get sweaty and NEED water! The lectionary passages this week are about dealing with thirst that comes from movement.

Gen 12:1-4a; Psalm 121; John 3:1-17 - As we continue our Lenten journey, what does the Bible have to teach us about the purpose of journeys? Genesis, John (and by special request, the psalms) help us frame the journey we are on right now.

Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7; Matthew 4:1-11: There's plenty of temptation in Scripture, and in life. The passages appointed for this week offer stories of people responding positively and negatively to temptation.

Exodus 24:12-18 & Matthew 17:1-9 (and a little 1 Kings 19) - Who doesn't love a mountaintop experience? Concerts, Superbowl parties, conferences, graduations... but then what do we do on the following Monday? This week, the lectionary texts help us see God on the mountaintop, and in the valley.

Isaiah 58:1-9a & Matthew 5:13-20 - Look, there are all kinds of ways to act just now. But, what are God's priorities and how does God want us to spend our energy?

Micah 6:1-8 & Matthew 5:1-12 - Lots of examples of anti-meekness out there right now... How does knowing the context of Micah and Matthew help us think about what God wants in our own times of injustice and idolatry?