Workingpreacher.org Narrative Lectionary

What does it mean to have "the mind of Christ"? In this episode of I Love to Tell the Story, hosts Rolf Jacobson and Kathryn Schifferdecker are joined by scholar Karoline Lewis to explore one of the most beloved and theologically rich passages in all of Paul's letters: the Christ hymn of Philippians 2:1-13.The conversation opens with Paul's appeal to a divided congregation: since there is encouragement in Christ, consolation from love, and sharing (koinonia) in the Spirit, the Philippians are called to unity and genuine humility. Ralph unpacks an important Greek grammatical point: the opening "if" is actually a second-class conditional, best translated as "since." The condition isn't in doubt; Paul is building on a foundation he and his readers already share.From there, the hosts dig into the Christ hymn itself, examining how the incarnation functions as Paul's paradigm for Christian community. It isn't the resurrection or even primarily the crucifixion that Paul holds up here, but the incarnation: the moment

What does it look like when a community takes on the mind of Christ? In this episode of I Love to Tell the Story, hosts Rolf Jacobson and Kathryn Schifferdecker, along with Johannine scholar Karoline Lewis, dig into one of the most beloved and theologically rich passages in all of Paul's letters: the Christ hymn of Philippians 2:1-13.In a culture that rewards self-promotion and personal branding, Paul's call to radical humility cuts against the grain. The hosts unpack why Paul reaches back to the incarnation (not the resurrection, not even the crucifixion) as the paradigm for Christian community, what it means that "every knee shall bow" in a world where Caesar claimed lordship, and why that second-class conditional in Greek matters more than you might think.Enter the Bible: Was Paul the real founder of Christianity?Commentary on Philippians 1:1-18a written by Timothy L. Adkins-JonesMentioned in this episode:The Bible in a Year from Luther SeminaryThe Bible in a Year Podcast from Luther Seminary

What do you do when you're surrounded by altars to gods you don't worship and one altar to a God nobody knows? In this episode, hosts Rolf Jacobson, Kathryn Schifferdecker, and scholar Karoline Lewis explore Paul's remarkable sermon at the Areopagus in Athens (Acts 17), where he meets a sophisticated, curious culture on its own terms.Mentioned in this episode:The Bible in a Year from Luther SeminaryThe Bible in a Year Podcast from Luther Seminary

What happens when the last person you'd trust becomes the one God chooses? In Acts 9, Saul, the man "breathing threats and murder" against the early church, is stopped in his tracks on the road to Damascus. But the real drama might belong to Ananias, the ordinary believer asked to welcome his worst enemy and call him brother.Mentioned in this episode:The Bible in a Year from Luther SeminaryThe Bible in a Year Podcast from Luther Seminary

When Paul and Silas land in a Philippian jail, beaten, chained, and singing, they model something the early church understood deeply: that faithfulness to God sometimes means refusing to play by the empire's rules. In this episode, Rolf Jacobson, Kathryn Schifferdecker, and Karoline Lewis unpack Acts 16:16-34, tracing the clash between the gospel and the powers of Rome, the surprising story of a slave girl with a "spirit of a python," and what it looks like to respond to violence with pacifism and praise.Mentioned in this episode:The Bible in a Year from Luther SeminaryThe Bible in a Year Podcast from Luther Seminary

"Unless I see the wounds… I will not believe." Thomas gets a bad reputation, but this passage is about something far more profound than doubt. In John 20:19–31, the resurrected Jesus appears twice: once to the disciples huddled behind locked doors, and a week later to Thomas. In doing so, he reveals a stunning truth: the risen Christ still bears the marks of the cross.Mentioned in this episode:The Bible in a Year from Luther SeminaryThe Bible in a Year Podcast from Luther Seminary

Mary Magdalene goes to the tomb alone — not to anoint, not to prepare, but simply to grieve. And what she finds there changes everything. In this Easter Sunday episode, hosts Rolf Jacobson and Kathryn Schifferdecker are joined by Johannine scholar Karoline Lewis to explore one of the most intimate resurrection encounters in all of Scripture.Mentioned in this episode:The Bible in a Year from Luther SeminaryThe Bible in a Year Podcast from Luther Seminary

What does it mean that Jesus died at the exact hour the Passover lambs were being slaughtered? And why did John include such specific, seemingly minor details — unbroken bones, blood and water, a burial garden — in his account of the crucifixion? In this Good Friday episode, hosts Rolf Jacobson and Kathryn Schifferdecker are joined by Johannine scholar Karoline Lewis to unpack the rich theological layers woven into John 19.Mentioned in this episode:The Bible in a Year from Luther SeminaryThe Bible in a Year Podcast from Luther Seminary

It Is Finished.What did Jesus mean when he said "It is finished"? Was it defeat — or completion? In this Maundy Thursday episode of I Love to Tell the Story, hosts Rolf Jacobson and Kathryn Schifferdecker are joined by Johannine scholar Karoline Lewis to unpack three of the seven last words of Jesus as recorded uniquely in John's Gospel. Drawing from John 19:23–30, they explore the profound theological layers woven into Jesus' final moments on the cross — and why John's telling is unlike any other.This episode is ideal for preachers, ministry leaders, and Bible study groups preparing for Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. Whether you're preaching the Seven Last Words, walking a congregation through John's extended Passion narrative, or simply seeking richer engagement with the crucifixion story, this conversation offers scholarly depth and pastoral warmth in equal measure.Mentioned in this episode:The Bible in a Year from Luther SeminaryThe Bible in a Year Podcast from Luther Seminary

In this episode of the 'I Love to Tell the Story' podcast, hosts Rolf Jacobson, Karoline Lewis, and Kathryn Schifferdecker delve into the narrative of John 19, focusing on the trial of Jesus before Pilate. They explore the complexities of Pilate's character, the political dynamics at play, and the profound choices presented to both the characters in the story and the listeners. The discussion highlights themes of power, judgment, and the choice between light and darkness, ultimately reflecting on the nature of kingship and the human condition.

In this episode of 'I Love to Tell the Story', hosts Rolf Jacobson, Karoline Lewis, and Kathryn Schifferdecker discuss the readings for Palm Sunday, focusing on the symbolism of the triumphal entry in John 12 and the crucifixion narrative in John 19. They explore themes of honor and shame in the Roman context, Jesus' identity as King, and the significance of his final words. The conversation emphasizes the importance of listening to Jesus' voice and recognizing his kingship, even in the face of suffering and death.Mentioned in this episode:The Bible in a Year from Luther SeminaryThe Bible in a Year Podcast from Luther Seminary

What is Truth?In this episode of the 'I Love to Tell the Story' podcast, hosts Karoline Lewis, Rolf Jacobson, and Kathryn Schifferdecker explore the themes of kingship, power, and truth as presented in the Gospel of John, particularly focusing on Jesus' trial before Pilate. They discuss the contrast between worldly power and the kingdom of Jesus, the nature of truth, and the choices presented to the people during this pivotal moment in the narrative.Mentioned in this episode:The Bible in a Year from Luther SeminaryThe Bible in a Year Podcast from Luther Seminary

"I Am Not": Peter's Denial and the Crisis of Discipleship | John 18:12-27In this Third Sunday of Lent episode, Rolf Jacobson, Kathryn Schifferdecker, and Karoline Lewis explore Peter's denial in John's Gospel—a moment that reveals something deeper than we often recognize. Unlike the synoptic gospels where Peter denies knowing Jesus, John's account presents a more profound crisis: Peter denies his own identity as a disciple.The hosts unpack how John's unique telling positions Peter's three denials ("I am not") against Jesus' bold declarations of identity ("I am") happening simultaneously inside Annas's courtyard. While Jesus speaks openly before authorities, Peter—interrogated by a servant woman at the gate—cannot claim who he truly is. The garden reference, unique to John's Gospel, connects this moment back to the place of intimacy and friendship where Jesus often met with his disciples, making Peter's denial even more poignant.Karoline Lewis highlights crucial details that preachers might miss: the gatekeepe

Join hosts Rolf Jacobson, Karoline Lewis, and Kathryn Schifferdecker for an intimate exploration of John 13:1-17, where Jesus washes his disciples' feet on the final night before his crucifixion. This episode unpacks one of the Gospel of John's most profound acts of love—a moment that transforms our understanding of servanthood, sacrifice, and what it means to love "to the end."Discover why the foot washing appears after dinner rather than at arrival, what connects this scene to Mary's anointing of Jesus in John 12, and why this act of love is directed toward both faithful disciples and those who will betray and deny him. Karoline Lewis explains the unique chronology of John's Gospel, where chapters 13-17 cover a single night—the same narrative space that chapters 1-12 use for three years of ministry.In This Episode:* The cultural context of foot washing and why Jesus performs this act after the meal* How Mary's anointing of Jesus in John 12 foreshadows and connects to the foot washing* Why there's no Lord's

Join hosts Rolf Jacobson, Kathryn Schifferdecker, and Karoline Lewis as they explore The Man Born Blind (John 9:1-41).Mentioned in this episode:The Bible in a Year from Luther SeminaryThe Bible in a Year Podcast from Luther Seminary

It is through Jesus that one becomes identified as insider or outsider.Join hosts Rolf Jacobson, Kathryn Schifferdecker with Johannine scholar, Karoline Lewis for an unexpected take on Ash Wednesday through John 10:1-21, the Good Shepherd discourse.Karoline reveals a crucial connection: Jesus' Good Shepherd discourse is his own interpretation of the healing of the man born blind in John 9. The man has already lived out this imagery—following Jesus' voice despite opposition and finding abundant life. This isn't abstract theology; it's enacted truth the listeners just witnessed.Why This Text for Ash Wednesday?While typically an Easter season passage, John 10 speaks powerfully to Lenten themes. Jesus' statement "I lay down my life in order to take it up again" (v. 17) previews the passion we're journeying toward. Ash Wednesday confronts us with mortality, yet this text paradoxically points beyond death to resurrection and abundant life.The shepherd metaphor carries messianic weight—"shepherd" was royal language

Such love is not about sentiment but about action for the beloved.Join Rolf Jacobson, Kathryn Schifferdecker, and Karoline Lewis as they explore one of the most profound narratives in John's Gospel: the raising of Lazarus (John 11:1-44). This episode examines the seventh and final sign in John's Gospel—a passage that reveals not only Jesus's power over death but also his deep solidarity with human grief and loss.The hosts unpack why this 44-verse narrative dedicates so much space to grief and death itself, rather than rushing to the miraculous sign. Caroline Lewis highlights a crucial theological insight: Jesus declares "I am the resurrection and the life"—two distinct promises, not one. Resurrection points to our future hope, while "the life" speaks to abundant life available in relationship with Jesus here and now.The episode explores the poignant words spoken by both Martha and Mary: "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." This lament echoes through our own experiences of loss and abs

Walking in Faith: Healing Stories in John's GospelJoin hosts Rolf Jacobson, Kathryn Schifferdecker, and Karoline Lewis as they explore two powerful healing narratives from the Gospel of John. In this episode, they examine Jesus healing the royal official's son (John 4:46-54) and the man ill for 38 years (John 5:1-18), uncovering what these signs reveal about faith, obedience, and life in relationship with Jesus.Key Insights:* The importance of following Jesus' word even before seeing results* How translation choices affect our understanding (Greek present tense: "your son lives" vs. "will live")* Why Jesus sometimes seems uncompassionate before healing* The pattern in John's Gospel: sign → dialogue → discourse* Living in the "not yet" of faith while walking toward promise* How signs point beyond themselves to Jesus' identity and the abundance of relationshipRolf offers personal reflections on what it means to believe Jesus' word while walking through uncertainty, comparing the official's journey home to exper

Rolf Jacobson, Kathryn Schifferdecker and Karoline Lewis explore the woman at the well—one of the New Testament's most transformative encounters. This episode unpacks how an unnamed Samaritan woman becomes the first person to receive Jesus' explicit "I am" declaration.The Readers' Theater script referred to in this episode is available for download here: https://www.workingpreacher.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/NL424_John4_script.pdfKey Discussion Points:- Correcting Misreadings: The woman is NOT immoral or "a woman of ill repute." The hosts challenge false assumptions about her five husbands and emphasize staying with what's actually in the text.- Old Testament Type Scene: The well setting echoes betrothal scenes (Jacob/Rachel, Moses/Zipporah), but Jesus subverts expectations—this meeting leads to spiritual rebirth and witness, not marriage.- Transformation Through Misunderstanding: Like Nicodemus with "born from above," the woman initially misunderstands "living water." But her openness moves her further i

Join hosts Rolf Jacobson, Kathryn Schifferdecker, and Karoline Lewis as they explore one of Scripture's most famous passages: Jesus' nighttime conversation with Nicodemus in John 3:1-21. This episode unpacks the Third Sunday after Epiphany text from the Narrative Lectionary, examining the encounter that contains perhaps the Bible's most well-known verse—John 3:16.The hosts dive deep into what it truly means to be "born from above" (anothen in Greek), clarifying common misconceptions about this phrase often translated as "born again." Karoline Lewis, a Johannine scholar, explains how belief (pisteuō) in John's Gospel functions not as cognitive assent but as an active relationship with Jesus—always a verb, never just a noun. The conversation explores how eternal life in John isn't merely about the afterlife but describes the abundant life possible now through relationship with God and Jesus (John 17:3).Discover why Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews, comes to Jesus under cover of darkness—a detail that contrasts s