Pulpit Fiction Podcast

By Robb McCoy and Eric FistlerReligion & Spirituality Christianity Education

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Pulpit Fiction Podcast episodes

November 17, 2013Ep. 38: JC- King of the Ring! or Christ the King/Proper 29C/Ordinary 34C/Pentecost +27
Opening Music: Do Lord Remember Me by Mississippi John Hurt

For Sunday, November 24
Luke 23:33-43 - Death of Jesus
Luke 1:68-79 - Zechariah's Canticle
Episode 38- Christ the King Sunday or Reign of Christ Sunday

Welcome to the Pulpit Fiction Podcast, where two local pastors discuss the lectionary reading for the week. Rooted in scholarship and grounded in progressive theology, we hope to keep the discussion lively, challenging, insightful, and from time to time a little humorous. This is episode 38 for Sunday November 24, Proper 29C, Ordinary 34C and 27 weeks after Pentecost also known as Christ the King Sunday. We will be discussing:
Luke 23:33-43 - Death of Jesus
Luke 1:68-79 - Zechariah's Canticle

Check-in
Advent cometh! TNS plug?
Thursday November 21, 2013
Christmas Songs before Dec 24?
Purple Candle Blue Candle?
Hope, Peace, Joy, Love or Patriarchs, Prophets, Angels, Shepherd? Hope, Search, Follow, Believe, Rejoice (from Ministry Matters)
#BeChristInChristmas
Fat Pastor Virtual Run to Bethlehem
All this and more!
Rachel Held Evans and the super boost - one week to share on facebook or twitter

Primary Scripture - Luke 23:33-43 - Death of Jesus
“father forgive them”- v. 34
not included in earliest manuscripts
echo of Stephens prayer in Acts 7:60
Characteristic of Jesus who often to prayed to God as “Father” and the theme of forgiveness is definitely consistent.
Escalating violence
leaders make fun of/scoff
soldiers ridicule/mock
criminal blasphemes/derides
questions Jesus as the Messiah
is concerned only for his physical life
he doesn't understand grace
grace is not a ticket away from judgement, but through
doesn’t want to pay for his crimes
Kingdom of the world
“save yourself”
Beaten, mocked, humiliated
anger
vengeance
outrage
Kingdom of God
“give yourself”
forgiveness
forbearance
patience
empathy
What is the Kingdom of God like?
Bless those who persecute you and curse you (6:28)
a wasteful son returning to a father’s loving arms
a shepherd searching for one lost sheep
a weed grown in a garden to provide shelter for the birds
a rich man’s feast opened to the poor and the lame
“We would rather have had Jesus say that God loves the people we like and the people we say we are like, and that God does not love the people we do not like and the people we say are not like us. We would prefer if God did not love the crackheads and addicts, the adulterers, the thieves, the prostitutes, the rebellious teenagers, and the disgruntled employees. We would prefer it if paradise were exclusively for the nice people, the clean people, the polite people, the well-behaved people, the right people.” - Nancy Lynn Westfield, Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary - Feasting on the Word – Year C, Volume 4: Season After Pentecost 2 (Propers 17-Reign of Christ).
Secondary scripture - Luke 1:68-79 - Zechariah's Canticle/Benedictus
Zechariah’s Canticle
Year C Advent 2 - about bringing a new era about
honors the birth of John the Baptist
Mainly about Jesus whom John will “prophesy” v. 77
Zechariah means “God Remembered”
God remembers the covenant with creation
Jesus
mighty savior (69)
save from enemies (71)
give light to those who sit in darkness (v 79)
Guide people to peace (v. 79)
Different Theme from Mary’s Song (Which was Advent 4C)
Mary - Good news to the poor
Zechariah - Freedom for Israel
68 - delivered God’s people
71 - brought salvation from enemies
72 - promise of ancestors and remembered his holy covenant
74 - rescued from the power of our enemies
79 - guide us on the path of peace
In contrast to the Roman peace, which is no peace at all
Zechariah sees a mission for his son
Rejoices over the coming of his son. He sees great promise in the child, and praises God.
“Zechariah praised God when his son was born. He praised God for the promises that God made. He praised God for the promises that God kept. He praised God for the promise that was in his son. For he knew that his son was created for a purpose.” (Robb McCoy in “Declare that the Dawn is Coming”
“But I’m here to tell you that God rejoices no less for you than did Zechariah for his son. Zechariah so loved his son that he could glimpse him through God’s eternal eyes. God so loves you that he has laid out a path for you to follow. God has given you something that makes you uniquely you. There is something in you that transcends employment, labels, gender, race, or status. God has created you with a purpose, and is calling you to that purpose today. You were created to do no less than John once did – to prepare the way of the Lord, and “to show the people the way to salvation through the forgiveness of sins.” (Robb McCoy in “Declare that the Dawn is Coming”
Closing - King of King and Lord of Lords by Zambian Acapella

TY: listeners
Opening Music: Do Lord Remember Me by Mississippi John Hurt
Transition Music: King of King and Lord of Lords by Zambian Acapella
Theme Music: Dick Dale and the Deltones “Misirlou”
TY: Closing music, Paul and Storm, “Oh No”

Contact us/ Leave comments:

Shout outs:
Pulpitfiction.us, @pulpitfpodcast, facebook.com/pulpitfiction, iTunes,
[email protected].
39 min
November 10, 2013Ep. 37: THE END (of year C) IS NEAR! or Proper 28C / Ordinary 33C / Pentecost +26
SHOW NOTES - 11/17/2013

THE END (of year C) IS NEAR!
Luke 21:5-19 - Jesus warns about Temple and persecution
2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 Warning against idleness

Opening Music: Bang on the Drum All Day by Todd Rundgren
For Sunday, November 17
Episode 37 - Proper 28C / Ordinary 33C / 26 weeks after Pentecost

Check-in
Second to last week of year C- thinking of Advent?
Movember!
Primary Scripture -– Luke 21:5-19 - Warning of Temple and persecution
Interesting passage for pre-Thanksgiving post Stewardship
The riches of the temple are not important - they will be thrown down (but my words will not pass away v 33)
The following is a response to the disciples question:
False prophets claiming the time is near
Wars
Earthquakes
famines
plagues
Persecution
betrayal
in short - YOU WILL NOT KNOW!
The disciples are not asking about the end time, but of the destruction of the temple- all of which happened in 70 CE about 20 years before the Gospel of Luke was written.
There is a triumphal arch in Rome depicting the sacking of Jerusalem in 70 CE.
Josephus discusses a comet in the sky at the fall of the temple
Rome surrounded Jerusalem before besieging and sacking it
What should amazing us? The beauty of the temple or the love and grace of God?
“Do not be terrified”
So much fear about the end of the world
terrorism
global warming
ZOMBIES!
Opportunity
Endurance- steadfast faithfulness
not “"Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die" (Isa. 22:13; 1 Cor. 15:32)
Thomas Jefferson Learning Greek on his death bed
Martin Luther planting his apple tree on judgement day - remain vigilant
We are not in control. Only God is.
How do we testify in the midst of persecution?
We are called to be faithful and to trust God- are we content with trusting God?
Song connections:
Tim McGraw - Live Like You Were Dying
Garth Brooks - If Tomorrow Never Comes
Secondary scripture - 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 - Warning against idleness
Cannot remove 2 Thess from historical context
There is a challenging question surrounding 2 Thessalonians: “What significance does this letter have for the life of the church two millennia after its composition? [It] plainly reflects an atmosphere in which believers are experiencing persecution. The situation has become so intense that some believers cope with it by imagining that the “day of the Lord is already here” (2:2), while others refuse to participate in the world of work (3:6-16). The author probably imagines that his enraged reminders about God’s inevitable justice will serve to comfort his audience; however, those same reminders sound a harsh note for readers removed from [its] time and situation.” Beverly Roberts Gaventa (Interpretation: First and Second Thessalonians, p. 95)
Rep. Kevin Cramer quoted this verse in response to someone posting Matthew 25:36-43 on his Facebook page
Using this passage to moralize against the poor is to misuse the text. This ignores the whole of Scripture that commends people to give away their wealth in support of the poor.
This cannot be used as proof that poor people are lazy, and should thus be ignored (or worse). The ultimate goal of this admonition is to bring the people back into the community.
First two chapters deal with outside pressure and reliance upon God. Chapter 3 shifts to inner workings of the community.
Warning against idleness and undisciplined
Beverly Gaventa, in Texts for Preaching, stresses that ataktos is about behavior that is “insubordinate or irresponsible” (p. 599).
Idleness takes the shape of eating the food of others, but it goes to a deeper motivation that is detrimental to the community.
Especially in times of persecution, both physical and economic, this behavior goes deeper than being “lazy.”
Unknown motivation for this behavior
Is it linked to thinking “The day of the Lord has come”? So there is no need to put in the work for a long-term commitment?
Are they so discouraged by persecution that there is no motivation to participate.
Being a part of the community requires something in return.
Appeals to “tradition,” of the apostles.
There are responsibilities that come along with being part of the community
Adam Hamilton paraphrase: “Your privileges are revoked upon membership. You lose the good parking place. You lose the good seats. You lose the good worship times.”
Michael Kinnamon paraphrase: “What is your responsibility as a person in the community to participate in the act of worship? You are cheating others of your presence, gifts, and talents when you are not at the table.”
putting their own food on the table, not their table - the communal table
The question should not be, “Do I need to go to church today?” but instead, “Who needs me to be there in worship today?”
Being judgmental vs using good judgment
To a comfortable, middle class Christian, this seems like advice to be the worst kind of Christian.
Feel like passive-aggressive shunning.
Being judgmental is not a Christian virtue. Jesus warned against pointing out the speck in your neighbor’s eye.
What about when one’s actions are detrimental to the community?
This advice does not include public shame
All directions are to reminders to keep the faith, not to admonish those that are struggling.
The “undisciplined life” includes “meddling in other people’s business.”
Closing - Get Together by the Youngbloods
TY: listeners

Opening music:Bang on the Drum All Day by Todd Rundgren
Transition Music: Get Together by the Youngbloods
Theme Music: Dick Dale and the Deltones “Misirlou”
TY: Closing music, Paul and Storm, “Oh No”

Contact us/ Leave comments:
Shout outs: Diann Bailey, who made it her personal mission to get us to 200 Facebook likes this week. Mission accomplished! We’re at 201. We are so glad she’s on our side. Kory Trinrud, who gave us another 5-star iTunes review and claims that Pulpit Fiction makes her smarter. Look at the big brain on Kory!

Check out our latest interview with Rachel Held Evans! Retweet or share on Facebook our original posting of that interview for a chance to win a signed copy of Evolving in Monkey Town by Rachel Held Evans

Pulpitfiction.us, @pulpitfpodcast, facebook.com/pulpitfiction, iTunes, [email protected].
36 min
November 07, 2013 Thurs. Night Special 4: Rachel Held Evans!
We sat down with Rachel Held Evans over a warm cup of Skype to talk about her books, her faith, the Church and not being "morning people"! Thursday Night Special: We're Not Worthy, where Robb and Eric interview amazing people!
1 hr
November 04, 2013 Ep. 36: Resurrectaggedon or Proper 27C / Ordinary 32C /Pentecost +25
Sunday November 10, 2013, Discussion of lectionary texts - Luke 20:27-38 and 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17 by Robb McCoy, UMC pastor, and Eric Fistler, UCC pastor.
39 min
October 27, 2013 Ep. 35: Zacchaeus was FRAMED! or Proper 26C / Ordinary 31C /Pentecost +24
Sunday November 3, 2013, Discussion of lectionary texts - Luke 19:1-10 and 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12 by Robb McCoy, UMC pastor, and Eric Fistler, UCC pastor.
40 min
October 24, 2013 Thurs. Night Special 3: Helloween, Halloween & the Church
Robb and Eric, two mainline pastors, review and discuss Helloween and whether Halloween has a place in the church and our Christian faith. Pros, Cons and Candy!
18 min
October 21, 2013 Ep. 34: Happy Jesus-ween or Proper 25C / Ordinary 30C / Pentecost +23
Sunday Oct 27, 2013, Discussion of lectionary texts - Luke 18:9-14 and Psalm 65 by Robb McCoy, UMC pastor, and Eric Fistler, UCC pastor.
53 min
October 13, 2013 Ep. 33: Bob Loblaw's Law Psalm or Proper 24C / Ordinary 29C / Pentecost +22
Sunday Oct 20, 2013, Discussion of lectionary texts - Luke 18:1-8 and Psalm 119:97-102 by Robb McCoy, UMC pastor, and Eric Fistler, UCC pastor.
38 min
October 06, 2013 Ep. 32: Happy Thanksgiving Eh! or Proper 23C / Ordinary 28C / Pentecost +21
Sunday Oct 6, 2013, Discussion of lectionary texts - Luke 17:11-19 and Psalm 66:1-12by Robb McCoy, UMC pastor, and Eric Fistler, UCC pastor.
35 min
September 30, 2013 Ep. 31: By The Rivers of Comic Con or Proper 22C / Ordinary 27C / Pentecost +20
Discussion of lectionary texts for Sunday Oct 6, 2013- Proper 22C / Ordinary 27C / Pentecost +20, Luke 17:1-10 and Psalm 137 by Robb McCoy UMC pastor and Eric Fistler UCC pastor.
39 min

About Pulpit Fiction Podcast

From the publisher's feed

Pulpit Fiction is a podcast hosted by Rev. Eric Fistler and Rev. Robb McCoy. It is a conversation guided by the Revised Common Lectionary, and includes thoughts about pop culture and current events.…