Before listening to this 20 minute conversation, read and/or listen to the Revised Common Lectionary texts for this first week in Advent:

Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19; Romans 15:4-13; Matthew 3:1-12.

• What text is most recognizable or memorable to you?
• Which text is the most challenging or raises the most concerns?

Engage your curiosity. Ask yourself: What don’t I know about my own tradition? If this question seems disconnected from these readings consider the writers and original hearers of these texts. How have their traditions informed or not informed my own?

Topics and terms covered in this episode: Holy History (Heilsgeschichte), Soteria, Ecclesia, and Torah,

Video for this episode is at https://youtu.be/7SxwD84jtKU and additional Advent 2025 resources are at https://www.sdsynodlearns.org/pages/advent-resources-2025