Welcome to another thought-provoking episode of Sermon Brainwave! This week, our hosts Karoline Lewis, Matt Skinner, and Rolf Jacobson dive deep into the lectionary texts for the Fourth Sunday of Easter (May 11, 2025)—including John 10:22-30, Acts 9:36-43, Psalm 23, and Revelation 7:9-17—with a special focus on Good Shepherd Sunday. We’ve all heard…

In this episode, Professors Rolf Jacobson, Jennifer Pietz, and Lois Malcolm explore the story of the Ethiopian eunuch from Acts 8, focusing on the themes of the Holy Spirit's guidance in spreading the gospel, the inclusivity of baptism, and the significance of reaching out to those who seek God. They discuss the historical context of the eunuch's s…

In this episode of the Sermon Brainwave podcast, Profs. Karoline Lewis, Matt Skinner, and Rolf Jacobson explore the themes of resurrection, discipleship, and transformation as illustrated in the readings from John 21, Acts 9, Psalm 30, and Revelation 5. They discuss the significance of Jesus' resurrection appearances, the call to discipleship, the …

Welcome to I Love to Tell the Story, a podcast on the Narrative Lectionary from Luther Seminary’s Working Preacher. In this episode, Professors Rolf Jacobson, Jennifer Pietz, and Lois Malcolm explore the powerful and provocative story of Stephen from Acts 6 and 7. 🎧 Listen now and equip yourself for your preaching journey! Don’t forget to like, sub…

What happens when the risen Jesus walks through locked doors and says, “Peace be with you”? In this episode of Sermon Brainwave, join Matt Skinner, Rolf Jacobson, and Karoline Lewis as they dig into John 20:19–31, Acts 5:27–32, Revelation 1:4–8, and Psalm 150 to explore what Easter really means for our faith, our doubts, and our witness. ✨ Whether …

What happens when the risen Jesus walks with you, but you don’t recognize him? And how does scripture set our hearts on fire even before we break the bread? In this episode of I Love to Tell a Story, Rolf Jacobson, Lois Malcolm, and Jennifer Pietz unpack the rich theological and pastoral layers of the Emmaus Road story. As the disciples journey awa…

In this episode of the Sermon Brainwave podcast, Profs. Karoline Lewis, Matt Skinner, and Rolf Jacobson discuss the significance of various Easter texts. They focus on the resurrection narratives in Luke and John, the role of women in these stories, and the implications of Easter for understanding God's intentions and the future of believers. They …

In this episode, Professors Rolf Jacobson, Jennifer Pietz, and Lois Malcolm explore the powerful resurrection narrative in Luke 24, focusing on the role of women as the first witnesses to the empty tomb. 💬 What does it mean to "remember" Jesus' words? 🕊️ How does the Holy Spirit empower believers in the wake of the resurrection? 🌿 What does it look…

In this episode of the Sermon Brainwave podcast, Profs. Karoline Lewis, Matt Skinner, and Rolf Jacobson reflect on the profound significance of Good Friday, diving into the assigned texts from Isaiah 52–53, Psalm 22, and the Passion narrative in John. Together, they unpack the emotional weight of the day and the challenge of preaching on such a sol…

In this episode, Profs. Rolf Jacobson, Jennifer Pietz, and Lois Malcolm deeply dive into Luke 23:32-47, exploring the powerful and poignant account of Jesus' crucifixion. They discuss the trial, execution, and profound imagery of Jesus’ suffering, emphasizing his innocence and the significance of his final words in Luke compared to other gospels. ⏰…

Join Profs. Karoline Lewis, Matt Skinner, and Rolf Jacobson as they explore the significance of Maundy Thursday in Holy Week 2025. Our hosts dive into the rich themes of foot washing, love, betrayal, and the Lord's Supper, drawing from the texts of Exodus, Psalms, Corinthians, and John. Together, they reflect on the importance of community, the pro…

What really happened at the Last Supper? In this episode, Profs. Rolf Jacobson, Jennifer Pietz, and Lois Malcolm unpack Luke’s account of this pivotal moment, exploring: - The role of Satan in influencing Judas’ betrayal - Jesus’ radical servant leadership and its challenge to worldly power - The human weakness and ambition at play among the discip…

Join Karoline Lewis, Matt Skinner, and Rolf Jacobson as they delve into the revised common lectionary texts for Palm Sunday/Passion Sunday. This episode for April 13, 2025 offers insightful commentary on Luke's narratives of both Jesus's entry into Jerusalem (Luke 19:28-40) and the Passion (Luke 22:14-23:56), exploring the unique way Luke portrays …

Join Profs. Rolf Jacobson, Jennifer Pietz, and Alan Padgett as they discuss Luke 19:29-44 for April 13, 2025. In this episode, our theological experts explore Jesus' arrival at Jerusalem—his "triumphal entry" riding on a donkey—and his heartfelt lament over the city. The conversation highlights how Luke's narrative fulfills the Messianic promises f…

As we approach the fifth Sunday in Lent, this episode of Sermon Brainwave dives deep into love, betrayal, and the weight of Jesus’ final days. Join Profs. Rolf Jacobson, Karoline Lewis, and Matt Skinner as they explore the tension between Mary’s extravagant love and Judas’ tragic betrayal, reflecting on what these contrasting responses reveal about…

Who truly sees Jesus? In this episode of the Narrative Lectionary Podcast from Working Preacher, Profs. Rolf Jacobson, Alan Padgett, and Jennifer Pietz unpack Luke 18:31–19:10, exploring the powerful stories of Zacchaeus and the blind man. As Jesus journeys toward Jerusalem, he encounters a blind man seeking sight and a tax collector seeking transf…

Is your wealth a blessing or a barrier? In this episode, Profs. Rolf Jacobson, Alan Padgett, and Jennifer Pietz dive deep into Luke 16:19-31—the rich man and Lazarus parable. What does Jesus' story reveal about judgment, compassion, and discipleship? Are we using our resources to help others, or have we allowed wealth to become an idol? Join us as …

What if the Prodigal Son isn’t the only one who’s lost? In this episode of Sermon Brainwave, Profs. Karoline Lewis, Rolf Jacobson, and Matt Skinner explore the parable of the Prodigal Son, examining its themes of grace, family dynamics, and reconciliation — all with fresh insights for 2025. They discuss how the parable's title shapes interpretation…

What does it mean to bear fruit in a season of waiting? In this episode of Sermon Brainwave, Profs. Karoline Lewis, Rolf Jacobson, and Matt Skinner explore the lectionary texts for the third Sunday in Lent, diving into themes of repentance, spiritual growth, and God's abundant grace. They unpack the parable of the fig tree, reflecting on the tensio…

In this episode of I Love to Tell the Story, Profs. Rolf Jacobson, Alan Padgett, and Jennifer Pietz dive into the powerful parables of Luke 15, exploring the Prodigal Son and the profound themes of divine love, grace, and community. Why does Jesus tell these stories together? What do they reveal about repentance, inclusion, and the heart of God? Jo…

Join the Sermon Brainwave hosts, Profs. Matt Skinner, Karoline Lewis, and Rolf Jacobson, as they dive into the themes of Lent, the significance of Jerusalem, and Jesus' journey toward the cross. This episode explores the role of prophets, the human condition, and God's covenant with Abram, while reflecting on the beauty of the Lord in Psalm 27. Dis…

In this episode of I Love to Tell the Story, Profs. Rolf Jacobson, Alan Padgett, and Jennifer Pietz dive into Jesus’ teachings on suffering, repentance, and the powerful symbolism of the barren fig tree. As Jesus journeys to Jerusalem, he calls his followers to respond to God’s grace with urgency. What does this mean for us today? How do we make se…

Preaching this Lent? The wilderness journey of Jesus offers profound insights into identity, vocation, and the church’s mission today.In this episode of Sermon Brainwave, Profs. Karoline Lewis, Rolf Jacobson, and Matt Skinner dig into the testing of Jesus in the wilderness—what it reveals about identity, vocation, and trust in God. Guided by the we…

What does it truly mean to love your neighbor? In this episode of the Narrative Lectionary Podcast, Profs. Rolf Jacobson, Alan Padgett, and Jennifer Pietz explore one of Jesus' most well-known and challenging parables—the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). The hosts unpack the story’s radical message of compassion, cultural boundaries, and the call to…

How do you preach on one of the most mysterious and awe-inspiring moments in the Gospels? In this episode of Sermon Brainwave, Profs. Matt Skinner, Karoline Lewis, and Rolf Jacobson explore the Transfiguration of Jesus, diving deep into its biblical foundations, theological weight, and emotional impact. From its connections to the Exodus narrative …