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Sermon Brainwave 1085: Day of Pentecost - May 24, 2026
May 7, 2026
Unknown duration
Sermon Brainwave 1084: Seventh Sunday of Easter - May 17, 2026
Apr 30, 2026
Unknown duration
Sermon Brainwave 1083: Sixth Sunday of Easter - May 10, 2026
Apr 23, 2026
Unknown duration
Sermon Brainwave 1082: Fifth Sunday of Easter - May 3, 2026
Apr 7, 2026
Unknown duration
Sermon Brainwave 1081: Fourth Sunday of Easter - April 26, 2026
Apr 7, 2026
Unknown duration
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| Date | Episode | Description | Length | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5/7/26 | Sermon Brainwave 1085: Day of Pentecost - May 24, 2026 | The Day of Pentecost offers preachers more than one path in. Matt, Karoline, and Cody explore all four lectionary texts for this week and find each one illuminating a different dimension of the Spirit's work.John 20 gets special attention: instead of the dramatic rush of wind and fire in Acts, the risen Jesus enters a room of grieving, frightened disciples and breathes the Spirit into them at close range. The contrast is striking. Acts invites awe and wonder. John offers intimacy. Both are worth preaching.The conversation ranges across all four texts, with discussion of the Spirit's creative power in Psalm 104, the radical inclusivity of Joel's prophecy poured out on all flesh, and Paul's vision in 1 Corinthians 12 of diverse gifts working together for the common good. Cody offers a "telescoping lens" framework for preachers who want to weave all four readings together.Mentioned in this episode:May 2026 WP Campaign | — | ||||||
| 4/30/26 | Sermon Brainwave 1084: Seventh Sunday of Easter - May 17, 2026 | What does "eternal life" actually mean? In this episode, Matt Skinner, Karoline Lewis, and Cody Sanders dig into the texts for the Seventh Sunday of Easter (May 17, 2026): Acts 1:6–14, Psalm 68:1–10, 32–35, 1 Peter 4:12–14 and 5:6–11, and John 17:1–11.The conversation opens with a close look at the High Priestly Prayer in John 17 and a reframe of eternal life as a quality of relationship with God rather than a quantity of time. Cody's Working Preacher commentary on this passage shapes much of the discussion, including the insight that eternal life is a matter of identity, not duration.The hosts also explore the Ascension text in Acts 1, where wonder becomes a spiritual posture and witness becomes a charge to the whole church. On Psalm 68, the group pushes back against triumphalism by centering the psalm's vision of God as protector of orphans, widows, and the desolate. And in 1 Peter, a sharp discussion of solidarity and suffering asks what it truly means to stand beside those whose backs are against the wall.New episodes of Sermon Brainwave drop weekly. Subscribe and visit workingpreacher.org for commentaries, sermon resources, and more.Mentioned in this episode:May 2026 WP CampaignSupport Working Preacher | — | ||||||
| 4/23/26 | Sermon Brainwave 1083: Sixth Sunday of Easter - May 10, 2026 | What does it mean to abide in love when Jesus is leaving? On this Sixth Sunday of Easter, Matt Skinner, Karoline Lewis, and Cody Sanders explore the farewell discourse in John 14:15-21, where Jesus promises the Advocate — the Paraclete — and calls his disciples into an active, world-directed form of love. The hosts trace what "keeping the commandments" really means in John's Gospel, connect the Paraclete to Ascension and Pentecost, and consider how the Spirit keeps equipping the church to love.They also dig into Paul's speech at the Areopagus in Acts 17, examining his surprising respect for his audience's spiritual curiosity and what that might mean for preachers today. Plus: the household codes in 1 Peter, a spacious-place connection between Psalm 66 and Psalm 23, and a mention of Mother's Day for preachers navigating that Sunday dynamic.Mentioned in this episode:Support Working PreacherMay 2026 WP Campaign | — | ||||||
| 4/7/26 | Sermon Brainwave 1082: Fifth Sunday of Easter - May 3, 2026 | What does Jesus actually mean when he says "I am the way, the truth, and the life"? And what about those troubling words: "no one comes to the Father except through me"?In this episode of Sermon Brainwave, Cody Sanders, Karoline Lewis, and Matt Skinner explore the Fifth Sunday of Easter texts: John 14:1–14, Acts 7:55–60, Psalm 31, and 1 Peter 2:1–10. Together, they unpack the farewell discourse as a post-Easter text, the meaning of "dwelling places" and the Greek root meno (abide), the mysticism of John's Gospel, and what it means to hear Jesus' "I am" statements as a promise rather than an act of exclusion.They also discuss Stephen's martyrdom in Acts 7, its striking parallels to the death of Jesus in Luke's Gospel, and how Psalm 31 bridges the two texts. They close with 1 Peter 2 and how a letter written to exiles can speak to communities facing questions of identity, belonging, and solidarity, without tipping into Christian exceptionalism or nationalism.Mentioned in this episode:May 2026 WP CampaignSupport Working Preacher | — | ||||||
| 4/7/26 | Sermon Brainwave 1081: Fourth Sunday of Easter - April 26, 2026 | The Fourth Sunday of Easter is Good Shepherd Sunday, but in Year A, the primary image isn't the shepherd. It's the door. In John 10:1–10, Jesus describes himself as the gate that protects the vulnerable and invites the imperiled into safety. Hosts Karoline Lewis, Cody Sanders, and Matt Skinner explore what that image means for preaching today: Who are the thieves and bandits? What does it look like to imitate Jesus' open-door posture in our communities right now?The conversation moves through all four lectionary texts for the day. Psalm 23 gets a fresh look, not as a sentimental comfort, but as a bold, radical claim of faith in the darkest valleys. The hosts examine the complex preaching challenges of 1 Peter 2:19–25, including how to handle a text that has historically been used to keep people in abusive situations, and how reading it as crisis survival literature changes everything. Acts 2:42–47 rounds out the discussion with a vision of the early church as a counter-community of mutual aid, awe, and wonder, and what that means for congregations engaged in healing ministries today.Mentioned in this episode:Support Working Preacher | — | ||||||
| 3/23/26 | Sermon Brainwave 1080: Third Sunday of Easter - April 19, 2026 | What does it mean to recognize the risen Christ? And why is resurrection faith never automatic? In this episode of the Sermon Brainwave podcast, Matt Skinner, Karoline Lewis, and Cody Sanders dig into the Third Sunday of Easter texts: the Emmaus road story in Luke 24, Peter's Pentecost sermon in Acts 2, Psalm 116, and 1 Peter 1.The disciples on the road to Emmaus don't recognize Jesus, and the hosts explore why that matters for preaching today. Resurrection reveals itself slowly, through long walks, honest grief, and the intimacy of a shared meal. The table becomes the place of recognition, connecting Emmaus to the Feeding of the 5,000 and the Lord's Supper. The conversation also surfaces a provocative question from Margaret Ami's commentary: what does it mean that the risen Christ appears as a migrant or resident foreigner?From Acts, the hosts ask what "repentance" really means in response to the resurrection, and how Peter's audience models the question preachers still face: What should we do? Psalm 116 and 1 Peter 1 deepen that question, pointing toward holy living, genuine mutual love, and a faith grounded in the living word of God.Mentioned in this episode:Support Working Preacher | — | ||||||
| 3/20/26 | Sermon Brainwave 1079: Second Sunday of Easter - April 12, 2026 | What does Thomas really want in John 20? It's not proof. It's what every disciple already had: a direct encounter with the risen Christ. In this episode of Sermon Brainwave, Cody Sanders, Karoline Lewis, and Matt Skinner reframe Thomas as a figure of courage rather than doubt, explore the layered meaning of "Peace be with you," and trace the Spirit's arrival in John 20 all the way back through the farewell discourse.The hosts also dig into Acts 2 and Peter's first resurrection sermon, including a striking reread of how God "breaks people out of prisons," and consider how 1 Peter's vision of "living hope" speaks to those still waiting, still longing, still not seeing it all tied up neatly. This is a rich episode for preachers navigating a congregation full of people at very different places in their Easter faith.Mentioned in this episode:Support Working Preacher | — | ||||||
| 3/16/26 | Sermon Brainwave 1078: Resurrection of Our Lord - April 5, 2026 | In this episode of Sermon Brainwave, hosts Karoline Lewis, Cody Sanders, and Matt Skinner dig into the lectionary texts for Easter Sunday and explore what it means to preach resurrection to a congregation carrying both fear and joy.Mentioned in this episode:May 2026 WP Campaign | — | ||||||
| 3/13/26 | Sermon Brainwave 1077: Good Friday - April 3, 2026 | Good Friday arrives with some of the heaviest texts of the liturgical year — and Matt Skinner, Karoline Lewis, and Cody Sanders are here to help you preach them well.This episode covers all four lectionary readings for Good Friday (April 2, 2026): Isaiah 52:13–53:12, Psalm 22, Hebrews 10:16–25, and John 18–19. The hosts explore where preachers might "drop into" the long Johannine passion narrative, discuss Jesus' three last words in John ("I thirst," "Woman, here is your son," and "It is finished"), and reflect on what they reveal about Jesus' full humanity and divinity.The conversation also takes up Pilate's conflicted role as a study in the corrupting logic of power, René Girard's scapegoat theory as a lens on Jesus' innocence, the underrepresentation of lament in the lectionary (30 of 45 omitted psalms are lament psalms), and how Hebrews 10 speaks both to the meaning of the cross and to the life of the community gathered around it.Whether you're preaching a full sermon, leading a Seven Last Words service, or simply holding space for grief this Good Friday, this episode offers rich theological grounding and pastoral encouragement.Mentioned in this episode:May 2026 WP Campaign | — | ||||||
| 3/9/26 | Sermon Brainwave 1076: Maundy Thursday - April 2, 2026 | Love, Feet, and the Table.What if Maundy Thursday isn't just somber — but also joyful? In this episode, Cody Sanders, Karoline Lewis, and Matt Skinner explore the rich intimacy of John 13 and its foot washing scene, unpacking why embodiment matters in preaching, how Judas's betrayal is really an act of walking away from intimacy, and why the farewell discourse (chapters 14–17) is essential context for understanding the night's meaning.They also dig into Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 11, reading the Lord's Supper not as liturgical formula, but as a communal act of resistance against social fracture — and a source of strength in the face of coming trauma. Plus: how Mary's anointing of Jesus connects to his washing of the disciples' feet, and why a jail chapel hymn sing brings it all home.Mentioned in this episode:May 2026 WP Campaign | — | ||||||
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| 3/5/26 | Sermon Brainwave 1075: Sunday of the Passion (Palm Sunday) - March 29, 2026 | "The Passion story is a story about us."This episode of the Sermon Brainwave podcast explores the significance of Palm Sunday and Passion narratives, emphasizing the earth's role in biblical stories, the political and theological implications of Jesus' trial, and how these texts challenge our understanding of power, trust, and God's presence.Mentioned in this episode:May 2026 WP Campaign | — | ||||||
| 3/4/26 | Sermon Brainwave 1074: Fifth Sunday in Lent - March 22, 2026 | The Intersection of Grief and Faith.In this episode of Sermon Brainwave, hosts Karoline Lewis, Matt Skinner, and Cody Sanders discuss the readings for the Fifth Sunday of Lent, focusing on the raising of Lazarus from the dead, the complexities of grief, and the interplay between the divine and human aspects of Jesus. They explore how these themes relate to the community's understanding of resurrection and the importance of acknowledging grief in the context of faith.The conversation also delves into Ezekiel's vision of dry bones and the significance of the body in spiritual life, culminating in a discussion of Romans 8 and the promise of life and peace through the spirit.Mentioned in this episode:May 2026 WP Campaign | — | ||||||
| 2/26/26 | Sermon Brainwave 1073: Fourth Sunday in Lent - March 15, 2026 | In this episode of Sermon Brainwave, Karoline Lewis, Matt Skinner, and Cody Sanders discuss the readings for the Fourth Sunday in Lent, focusing on the Gospel of John 9:1-41, Psalm 23, and Ephesians 5:8-14. They explore themes of healing, disability, community, and the role of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. The conversation delves into the implications of the blind man's healing, the significance of testimony in faith communities, and the challenges of interpreting scripture in the context of leadership and moral dualism. The hosts emphasize the importance of recognizing God's initiative in choosing leaders and the call to awaken to the light of Christ in a world filled with darkness.Mentioned in this episode:May 2026 WP Campaign | — | ||||||
| 2/19/26 | Sermon Brainwave 1072: Third Sunday in Lent - March 8, 2026 | This conversation between hosts Karoline Lewis, Matt Skinner, and Cody Sanders for the Sermon Brainwave podcast delves into the readings for the third Sunday in Lent, focusing on John 4:1-42, Exodus 17, and Psalm 95. The discussion highlights the significance of the woman at the well as a model of evangelism, the role of the disciples, and the importance of the incarnation. It also connects the themes of wilderness experiences and divine provision, emphasizing the need for witness and testimony in faith, and reflecting on endurance in light of Romans 5:1-5.Mentioned in this episode:May 2026 WP Campaign | — | ||||||
| 2/3/26 | Sermon Brainwave 1071: Second Sunday in Lent - March 1, 2026 | In this episode of Sermon Brainwave, hosts Cody Sanders, Karoline Lewis, and Matt Skinner delve into the readings for the Second Sunday in Lent, focusing on the Gospel of John, particularly the encounter between Jesus and Nicodemus. The conversation highlights the complexities of faith, the nature of understanding Jesus' teachings, and the significance of personal journeys in faith. Cody shares his insights on the Gospel of Mark and the importance of recognizing the subtlety of Nicodemus' confusion rather than labeling it as outright resistance. The hosts explore themes of light versus darkness, the nature of eternal life, and the relational aspect of faith, emphasizing that faith is an active journey rather than a mere cognitive exercise.Mentioned in this episode:May 2026 WP Campaign | — | ||||||
| 1/30/26 | Sermon Brainwave 1070: First Sunday in Lent - February 22, 2026 | Sermon Brainwave dives into the First Sunday in Lent exploring Jesus' testing in the wilderness from Matthew 4:1-11. Hosts Matt Skinner, Karoline Lewis, and new co-host Cody Sanders examine what this familiar text reveals about power, identity, and God's empire versus earthly empire. The conversation moves through wilderness, temple, and mountain—locations that speak to where we expect to find God and how Jesus manifests divine authority through self-giving ministry rather than control.The team explores Warren Carter's insights on empire and political critique, connecting the devil's temptations to Jesus' ministry of compassion versus power-seeking. Dostoevsky's Grand Inquisitor makes a surprising appearance, highlighting themes of freedom versus control that resonate in our current moment of rising authoritarianism. The discussion extends to Genesis 2-3, examining knowledge of good and evil not as moral abstraction but as the capacity to manipulate both for advantage. Psalm 32 offers a confessional counterpoint about concealing versus confessing sin, while Romans 5:12-19 frames the cosmic scope of reconciliation God pursues in Jesus.Join the conversation as these biblical scholars and preachers help you prepare for sermon preparation during this Lenten season of risk and revelation, precarity and possibility.Mentioned in this episode:May 2026 WP Campaign | — | ||||||
| 1/30/26 | Sermon Brainwave 1069: Ash Wednesday - February 18, 2026 | Sermon Brainwave Episode 1069: Ash Wednesday — Practicing Righteousness in Times of CrisisJoin hosts Karoline Lewis, Matt Skinner, and new co-host Cody Sanders for this Ash Wednesday podcast as they explore the lectionary readings for February 18, 2026. This episode introduces Cody Sanders, Associate Professor of Congregational and Community Care Leadership at Luther Seminary, who brings a Baptist perspective and pastoral care voice to the Sermon Brainwave team.The hosts examine Joel 2:1-2, 12-17, Psalm 51:1-17, 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10, and Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21, exploring critical questions about righteousness, forgiveness, and reconciliation. Karoline highlights the significant translation shift in Matthew 6:1 from "piety" to "righteousness" in the NRSVUE, connecting it to the Sermon on the Mount's opening theme of hungering and thirsting for righteousness.Matt and Cody discuss the distinction between forgiveness and reconciliation, emphasizing the importance of careful, compassionate preaching on these topics, particularly in contexts of abuse and violence. Cody draws on historic faith communities—including enslaved people in hush arbors and LGBTQ believers exiled from their churches—to illustrate what it means to be "treated as imposters yet are true, having nothing yet possessing everything."This episode provides practical sermon preparation insights while addressing the affective dimension of faith in challenging times, making it essential listening for preachers navigating Ash Wednesday and the Lenten season.Mentioned in this episode:May 2026 WP Campaign | — | ||||||
| 1/29/26 | Sermon Brainwave 1068: Transfiguration of Our Lord - February 15, 2026 | In this Sermon Brainwave episode, hosts Rolf Jacobson, Karoline Lewis, and Matt Skinner explore the Transfiguration of Jesus from Matthew 17:1-9 for Transfiguration Sunday (February 15, 2026). The team examines how this pivotal moment bridges the season of Epiphany and the journey into Lent, highlighting God's voice declaring "This is my son, the beloved" and the crucial addition: "listen to him."The conversation unpacks why the disciples are terrified not by seeing Jesus transformed, but by hearing God's voice—and how Jesus' compassionate touch and words "get up and do not be afraid" offer reassurance for facing the unknown. The hosts discuss the significance of Moses and Elijah as eschatological figures, the narrative context following Jesus' predictions of suffering, and how the glory of the mountaintop contrasts with the immediate return to ministry in the epileptic boy's healing.Drawing on Mark Throntveit's powerful sermon framework, the team contrasts two mountains: the Transfiguration's radiant glory with Moses and Elijah versus Calvary's darkness with two thieves. Both mountains declare "This is my son," yet reveal the Jesus we want versus the Jesus we get.In a special moment, Rolf Jacobson announces his departure from the podcast to focus on his academic dean responsibilities and launch a new podcast series on Rudolf Bultmann, with colleague Cody Sanders stepping in to continue Sermon Brainwave's work.Mentioned in this episode:May 2026 WP Campaign | — | ||||||
| 1/26/26 | Sermon Brainwave 1067: Fifth Sunday after Epiphany - February 8, 2026 | Join hosts Rolf Jacobson, Matt Skinner, and Karoline Lewis as they explore the Fifth Sunday after Epiphany lectionary readings for February 8, 2026. This episode dives into Matthew 5:13-20, where Jesus declares "You are the salt of the earth" and "You are the light of the world" - not as invitations, but as statements of fact about Christian identity.The hosts unpack what these metaphors meant in the ancient world. Salt served as both a flavor enhancer and a crucial preservative in a society without refrigeration, making it essential for sustaining life. Light represents the impossibility of keeping faith private in a pluralistic world. These aren't suggestions for what Christians might become, but declarations of who they already are.The conversation explores how believers manifest the kingdom of heaven through their identity as salt and light. The discussion connects this gospel passage with Isaiah 58:1-9a, which challenges fasting practices and calls for genuine justice, Psalm 112:1-9 about those who fear the Lord, and 1 Corinthians 2:1-12, where Paul discusses God's hidden wisdom revealed through the Spirit.Rolf shares insights from his new book "God Meets Us in Our Suffering," connecting Paul's theology of the cross to how God meets us not primarily in our glory and success, but in the places where we think it's impossible for God to be. The conversation emphasizes that having "the mind of Christ" means participating in God's life through the Spirit, not just receiving benefits from Christ's death.Discover how these ancient texts speak to modern questions about public faith, Christian identity, and what it means to be caught up in the life of God.Mentioned in this episode:May 2026 WP Campaign | — | ||||||
| 1/9/26 | Sermon Brainwave 1066: Fourth Sunday after Epiphany - February 1, 2026 | Join Matt Skinner, Karoline Lewis, and Rolf Jacobson for an exploration of the Fourth Sunday after Epiphany lectionary texts. This episode unpacks the Beatitudes as Jesus' mission statement and inaugural address, revealing where God's kingdom breaks into the world.The hosts discuss how Matthew's Beatitudes function as Jesus' announcement of the people he will be found with—those the world overlooks or considers unblessed. Matt Skinner explores how these verses bracket Matthew's entire gospel ministry with deep compassion and mercy.Karoline Lewis highlights the transition in the Beatitudes from blessing to action, showing how disciples participate in God's alternative community. Rolf Jacobson connects the Beatitudes to the crowds of suffering people who followed Jesus at the end of Matthew chapter 4.The conversation tackles Micah 6:1-8, examining its powerful indictment and the call to justice, kindness, and humble walking with God. The hosts place this famous verse back into its original context, challenging surface-level readings.The discussion of 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 focuses on Paul's theology of the cross. Rolf explains how Paul argues that the world cannot know God through human wisdom alone—the cross is God's fundamental revelation. Matt introduces Michael Gorman's concept of "cruciformity," exploring what it means to be a cross-shaped community. The hosts connect Paul's message about God choosing the foolish, weak, and lowly to the Beatitudes' vision of blessing.This episode offers preachers and biblical educators practical insights for sermon preparation, showing how these texts speak to contemporary issues of power, blessing, and God's upside-down kingdom.Mentioned in this episode:May 2026 WP Campaign | — | ||||||
| 1/6/26 | Sermon Brainwave 1065: Third Sunday after Epiphany - January 25, 2026 | Join hosts Matt Skinner, Karoline Lewis, and Rolf Jacobson for Sermon Brainwave as they explore the readings for the Third Sunday after Epiphany (January 25, 2026). Mentioned in this episode:May 2026 WP Campaign | — | ||||||
| 1/4/26 | Sermon Brainwave 1064: Second Sunday after Epiphany - January 18, 2026 | Join hosts Matt Skinner, Karoline Lewis, and Rolf Jacobson for Sermon Brainwave as they explore the readings for the Second Sunday after Epiphany (January 18, 2026). This episode examines how John the Baptist serves as the primary witness to Jesus' identity in John's Gospel, highlighting the importance of testimony and discipleship.The hosts dive deep into John 1:29-42, examining how John the Baptist functions not as the one who baptizes Jesus, but as the testifier and witness to who Jesus is. Unlike the Synoptic Gospels where Jesus performs signs before people follow him, in John's Gospel, people are drawn to Jesus simply because of who he is—revealed through testimony. The conversation explores the significance of the "Lamb of God" title, connecting it to Passover imagery and God's provision and protection throughout Israel's history.The hosts discuss how this passage invites contemporary disciples to consider: What have you seen? What will you see? And to whom will you testify? They emphasize that in John's Gospel, revelation comes not primarily through divine acts but through Jesus' identity being witnessed to and shared among people. The episode also explores translation challenges in Psalm 40's opening ("I waited and waited") and the communal nature of spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians.This is the first of four consecutive weeks featuring readings from 1 Corinthians, offering preachers an opportunity to develop a thematic series during this short Epiphany season (only four Sundays this year).Mentioned in this episode:May 2026 WP Campaign | — | ||||||
| 12/19/25 | Sermon Brainwave 1063: Baptism of Our Lord - January 11, 2026 | Join Karoline Lewis, Matt Skinner, and Rolf Jacobson as they explore the lectionary texts for the Baptism of Our Lord (January 11, 2026), diving deep into what makes this pivotal moment in Jesus' ministry more than just a baptismal event.The hosts examine why this Sunday marks the beginning of Epiphany rather than simply a theology of baptism. Jesus undergoes John's baptism of repentance—not Christian baptism—which troubled the early church and explains why John's Gospel omits Jesus' baptism entirely. Matt Skinner suggests John the Baptist served as a teacher to Jesus, with repentance signaling Jesus' readiness to embrace God's calling rather than washing away sins.The conversation emphasizes the Holy Spirit's central role: the Spirit's arrival empowers Jesus for ministry and leads him into the wilderness. This is Matthew's first instance of God speaking directly, publicly affirming "This is my Son, the beloved, with whom I am well pleased." The hosts connect this voice to Psalm 2's coronation language and explore whether God's voice thundered like Psalm 29 describes or arrived as a quiet whisper. Isaiah 42's servant songs provide crucial context for understanding Matthew's gentle yet justice-oriented Jesus. The hosts preview how this passage becomes essential for navigating Matthew's gospel, which balances Jesus' easy yoke with uncompromising demands. The discussion touches on how the early church searched scriptures post-resurrection to understand Jesus' identity.Acts 10:34-43 offers Peter's thumbnail sketch of Jesus' ministry, emphasizing God's anointing with the Holy Spirit and power. The hosts note this Sunday functions as a "mini-Pentecost" in Jesus' life, examining how baptism sets a particular way of life in motion—both for Jesus and for contemporary Christians reflecting on their own baptismal calling.Mentioned in this episode:May 2026 WP Campaign | — | ||||||
| 12/18/25 | Sermon Brainwave 1062: Epiphany of Our Lord - January 06, 2025 | Join hosts Rolf Jacobson, Karoline Lewis, and Matt Skinner as they explore the profound themes of divine guidance, resistance, and illumination in the story of the Magi for the Day of Epiphany, January 6th. This episode unpacks how the Magi's journey represents not just a physical pilgrimage but a theological model for following God's leading—even when it requires non-compliance with earthly powers and going "by another road."The conversation examines how Matthew's Gospel presents multiple pathways to knowing Jesus: through celestial signs, scriptural interpretation, and the accumulated wisdom of seekers from beyond Israel's borders. The hosts discuss the Magi's act of resistance when they refuse to return to Herod, highlighting how Christmas and Epiphany demand non-cooperation with tyrannical agendas. Dreams and divine warnings play crucial roles as God redirects the Magi and the Holy Family, demonstrating how God persistently seeks to guide us through various means.Drawing on Warren Carter's commentary, the discussion emphasizes how "the other way" the Magi take thwarts the tyrant's will and refuses cooperation with empire. The episode also explores the rich intertextuality between Matthew's narrative and the Old Testament readings, particularly Isaiah 61's themes of illumination and wealth, and Psalm 72's vision of an ideal Davidic king fulfilled in Jesus—a very different type of lordship than political dominance.The hosts wrestle with the nature of the Magi's act of prostration (proskuneo), discussing whether it represents worship, homage, respect, or political acknowledgment, and how this ambiguity enriches our understanding of who Jesus is. They also reflect on what it means to follow God when competing voices and apparent certainties pull us in different directions, acknowledging the human tendency to stop listening or refuse God's direction.Mentioned in this episode:May 2026 WP Campaign | — | ||||||
| 12/11/25 | Sermon Brainwave 1061: Second Sunday of Christmas - January 04, 2025 | Join hosts Rolf Jacobson, Karoline Lewis, and Matt Skinner for the Second Sunday of Christmas on January 4, 2025⏰Timecodes⏰00:00 Introduction to the Second Sunday of Christmas01:30 Exploring the Texts: John 1 and Its Significance05:33 The Nature of God: Intimacy and Relationality in Jesus08:35 The Incarnation: Understanding Flesh and Humanity12:20 Cosmic Implications: Ephesians and the Scope of Christmas15:41 God as Sustainer: Themes from Jeremiah and the Psalm18:46 Conclusion and Reflections on the PodcastMentioned in this episode:May 2026 WP Campaign | — | ||||||
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