In these COVID-weary times, this has become a signature scripture for lots of worn-out pastors. Meeting up with Elijah after his big showdown with the prophets of Baal, we find him exhausted. Discouraged. Unable to see that his work is making any difference. Anyone feeling that way about now? Nurses, doctors, teachers, parents, mental health… Read More
RCL: Hungry
In the midst of these bread sagas, we get a narrative of what everlasting bread means from Jesus. Jesus promises to be enough for us. Jesus promises to be nourishment, to be what we need in John 6:35, 41-51. This follows the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000. Everyone saw how Jesus fed the… Read More
Sunday Prayer: Stubborn
Most Holy Judge:for what we plainly knowbut cannot bring ourselves to confront,forgive us and be merciful to those harmed by the fallout. The truth does not need prophets yet you send them anyway,each one an invitation to understand and repent,to make way for what is needed.But we say: be silent. If you do not speak,… Read More
Narrative Lectionary: Stuck in the Middle with You (1 Kings 18:[17-19] 20-39)
Oh Elijah. What have we done? What have you done? And how are we supposed to preach about it? For a reading of this week’s text check out Working Preacher’s Commentary. And if you’re not listening to NL;DR with Dr. Amy Robertson and Dr. Robert Williamson then GET THEE TO THE PODCAST NOW! So where… Read More
Revised Common Lectionary: Angels and Demons Edition
The Revised Common Lectionary offers a number of great options for this Sunday! Will you be preaching on Jesus and the Geresene (or Gadarene) man who had been living with demons? If so, will you address the inconsistencies in the text – for example, the fact that Gerasa was over 30 miles from the Sea of… Read More
Narrative Lectionary: Foreign Widow Saves Prophet Edition (1 Kings 17:1-16[17-24])
This week, the Narrative Lectionary makes another big jump, all the way to 1 Kings 17:1-16 [17-24]. The accompanying gospel text is Luke 4:24-26. Working Preacher resources for this week’s text is here. Have you been spending time connecting the dots between texts each week? The leaps across scripture have seemed big to me. I’ve been encouraging… Read More
Revised Common Lectionary: Sons of Widows
The readings for this Sunday include two stories about a widow’s son being raised from the dead. Elijah raises the son of the widow at Zarephath, who has provided for him while he was in hiding. (Both alternatives for the OT reading include this story!) Jesus raises the son of the widow at Nain, a… Read More
11th Hour Preacher Party – A-minus Three Weeks, and counting…
Wherever in the world you are, hopefully times changes are past, seasons have decided to behave themselves appropriately, and holiday madness hasn’t taken over yet! In my home in the upper Midwest of the USA, I was doing yardwork in shorts and a tank top this past week! Somehow that doesn’t make me believe that… Read More
Narrative Lectionary: Ineffable Silence (1 Kings 19:1-18)
“Prophet Elijah” Icon by Sallie Thayer This week’s text can be found here… The podcasters at Working Preacher have told us that we are in the midst of a kind of miniseries, and today is its last episode. In my preaching I have named the miniseries: “The Rise and Fall of the Monarchy!” And truly,… Read More
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