Narrative Lectionary from Working Preacher

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:May 2026 WP Campaign

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:May 2026 WP Campaign

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 Supper in John's Gospel and what replaces it* The theological significance of "loved them to the end" (εἰς τέλος - eis telos)* Why Jesus washes the feet of Judas (his betrayer) and Peter (his denier)* The relationship between the foot washing and the love commandment* Personal stories of servanthood that embody Jesus' example* Whether foot washing should be considered a sacramentMentioned in this episode:May 2026 WP Campaign

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 in the ancient Near East. When Jesus declares "I am the good shepherd," he's making claims about divine kingship his audience would immediately recognize.This text overflows with themes: abundant life, sacrificial love, discipleship, dual shepherd/gate imagery. The hosts discuss focusing strategies for a single sermon, addressing the pastoral challenge of the hired hand reference, and connecting Jesus' garden arrest to this discourse—where he both protects his disciples and surrenders himself, acting as both gate and shepherd.Perfect for pastors, ministry leaders, seminary students, and anyone following the Narrative Lectionary.🎧 Listen now and equip yourself for your preaching journey! Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with fellow preachers.Mentioned in this episode:May 2026 WP Campaign

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 experiences of waiting through medical crises. Karoline, as a Johannine scholar, explains why Jesus challenges the crowd's focus on signs and wonders (verse 48), connecting this healing to the Nicodemus encounter and forward to later chapters.The episode traces Jesus' movement between Galilee and Jerusalem throughout John's Gospel, noting how these healing stories bookend different geographical locations—Cana in Galilee and Jerusalem—while developing consistent themes about belief, obedience, and the life Jesus offers.Perfect for:* Pastors preparing sermons for February 8, 2026 (Narrative Lectionary)* Bible study leaders exploring John's Gospel* Anyone wrestling with what it means to believe before seeing* Seminary students and ministry leaders seeking scholarly insights on * Johannine healing narrativesMentioned in this episode:May 2026 WP Campaign

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 sharply with the woman at the well who meets Jesus in broad daylight. The hosts examine the narrative function of misunderstanding in John's Gospel, showing how Nicodemus's confusion (and similar misunderstandings by the Samaritan woman, the man born blind, and even Thomas) serves as an invitation into deeper theological revelation.This episode addresses critical preaching challenges: How do we interpret John 3:16 beyond football game signs? What does it mean for traditions that practice infant baptism to engage with "born from above" language? The hosts trace Nicodemus's character arc throughout John's Gospel, from his nighttime visit in chapter 3, to his defense of Jesus in chapter 7, to his anointing of Jesus' body in chapter 19.Special attention is given to verse 19's crucial claim: God sent Jesus not to condemn the world but to save it, yet judgment comes through humanity's choice of darkness over light. This framing helps preachers connect ancient text with contemporary ministry, addressing how sin functions as a condition of separation from God rather than merely individual moral failings.Drawing on Craig Koester's forthcoming commentary on John and scholarly research on the Greek term anothen, this episode equips pastors and ministry leaders with tools for sermon preparation that balance academic rigor with accessibility for congregational settings.TIMECODES:00:00 Introduction to Nicodemus and John 3:1603:05 Understanding Belief and Eternal Life in John05:52 The Encounter Between Jesus and Nicodemus09:07 Misunderstandings and Revelations in the Gospel12:08 The Journey of Nicodemus13:29 Conclusion and Reflections on the Narrative LectionaryListen now and equip yourself for your preaching journey! Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with fellow preachers.Mentioned in this episode:May 2026 WP Campaign

Join Rolf Jacobson, Kathryn Schifferdecker, and Karoline Lewis as they explore Jesus' first miracle in the Gospel of John—the wedding at Cana. This episode unpacks the theological significance of John's "Book of Signs" and what it means that Jesus inaugurates his public ministry not with fasting or wilderness temptation, but with overflowing wine at a celebration.Key Themes Explored:* The Book of Signs: Understanding John's unique structure (chapters 1-12) and how the seven signs point to Jesus' identity and the grace he offers* Grace Upon Grace: How the abundance at Cana—six stone jars holding 20-30 gallons each, filled to the brim with the best wine—embodies John 1:16's promise of grace upon grace* Honor and Shame: The cultural context of first-century Palestinian weddings and how Jesus' intervention saves a family from public disgrace* The Role of Jesus' Mother: Mary's unique presence in John's Gospel, appearing only at the beginning and end of Jesus' public ministry, and her profound recognition of who Jesus is* Signs vs. Miracles: Why John calls these events "signs" (σημεῖα) rather than miracles—they point beyond the act itself to reveal God's presence and powerWhy This Matters for Preaching:The hosts discuss how this narrative offers multiple homiletical directions: the experience of abundance in our lives, the removal of shame through Christ's compassion, and the call to "do whatever he tells you"—a pattern that continues throughout John's Gospel where obedience to Jesus leads to transformation and abundance.Karoline Lewis brings her expertise in Johannine literature to illuminate how this first sign sets the pattern for Jesus' entire ministry in John and how it differs significantly from the synoptic gospels' approach to Jesus' early ministry.Mentioned in this episode:May 2026 WP Campaign