Sermon Brainwave 1052: Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost - November 16, 2025
Working Preacher's Sermon Brainwave
Release Date: 10/31/2025
Sermon Brainwave 1060: First Sunday of Christmas - December 28, 2025
Working Preacher's Sermon Brainwave
Join Profs. Matt Skinner, Karoline Lewis, and Rolf Jacobson as they explore the lectionary readings for the First Sunday of Christmas on December 28, 2025. ⏰Timecodes⏰ 00:00 Introduction to the Christmas Podcast 01:06 Exploring the Texts for the First Sunday of Christmas 03:06 The Character of Herod and His Role in the Christmas Story 06:00 The Threat of Jesus to Tyranny and Power 09:08 God's Subversive Action in the Christmas Narrative 11:49 The Tragedy of Innocent Lives in the Christmas Story 15:06 Connecting the Texts: Matthew, Isaiah, and Hebrews 17:47 Conclusion and Reflections on the...
info_outline
Sermon Brainwave 1059: Christmas Day (III) - December 25, 2025
Working Preacher's Sermon Brainwave
Join Profs. Matt Skinner, Karoline Lewis, and Rolf Jacobson as they explore the lectionary readings for Christmas Day (Proper III), Year A. Read the commentaries for Christmas Day (Proper III) for December 25, 2025 at . ⏰Timecodes⏰ 00:00 Introduction to Christmas Day Podcast 03:00 Exploring John 1: The Prologue and Its Significance 05:52 The Role of Witness in the Christmas Narrative 08:50 Life and Light in John 1 12:08 Connecting Isaiah 52 and the Good News 15:00 Hebrews 1: God's Communication Through the Son * * * Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share to stay connected...
info_outline
Sermon Brainwave 1058: Christmas Eve: Nativity of Our Lord - December 24, 2025
Working Preacher's Sermon Brainwave
Join Profs. Rolf Jacobson, Karoline Lewis, and Matt Skinner for Christmas Eve: Nativity of Our Lord on December 24, 2025. Commentaries for Christmas Eve: Nativity of Our Lord can be found on the Working Preacher website at .
info_outline
Sermon Brainwave 1057: Fourth Sunday of Advent - December 21, 2025
Working Preacher's Sermon Brainwave
Join Profs. Rolf Jacobson, Karoline Lewis, and Matt Skinner for the Fourth Sunday of Advent on December 21, 2025. Commentaries for the Fourth Sunday of Advent can be found on the Working Preacher website at . ⏰Timecodes⏰ 00:00 Introduction to Advent and Scripture Readings 02:59 John the Baptist's Doubts and Expectations 06:00 Jesus' Response to John and the Nature of His Ministry 08:49 The Role of Isaiah in Advent Themes 11:56 The Highway of Return and God's Promise 15:03 The Significance of the Psalm and God's Justice 17:59 James' Call for Patience and Endurance 20:58 Reflections on...
info_outline
Sermon Brainwave 1055: Second Sunday of Advent (Year A) - December 07, 2025
Working Preacher's Sermon Brainwave
Join Profs. Matt Skinner, Karoline Lewis, and Rolf Jacobson as they explore the lectionary readings for the Second Sunday of Advent, Year A, featuring John the Baptist's prophetic ministry and Isaiah's vision of the peaceable kingdom. In this episode, the hosts examine John the Baptist's dramatic appearance in Matthew's gospel, styled after Elijah as the forerunner to the Messiah. They discuss why John positions himself in the wilderness, his confrontational message to the religious authorities ("brood of vipers"), and how his call to repentance mirrors Jesus' own first words of ministry. The...
info_outline
Sermon Brainwave 1056: Third Sunday of Advent (Year A) - December 14, 2025
Working Preacher's Sermon Brainwave
Join hosts Rolf Jacobson, Karoline Lewis, and Matt Skinner for this Third Sunday of Advent episode as they explore John the Baptist's profound question from prison: "Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?" (Matthew 11:2-11) The hosts examine John's struggle with doubt and disappointment while imprisoned by Herod Antipas, offering a deeply human perspective on faith when reality doesn't match expectations. They explore how Jesus responds not with rebuke but with evidence of the kingdom unfolding: the blind see, the lame walk, the deaf hear, and the dead are raised....
info_outline
Sermon Brainwave 1054: First Sunday of Advent (Year A) - November 30, 2025
Working Preacher's Sermon Brainwave
Join Matt Skinner, Karoline Lewis, and Rolf Jacobson for the Sermon Brainwave podcast as they explore the texts for the First Sunday of Advent, Year A. This episode kicks off the new church year with a deep dive into themes of watchfulness, waiting, and Christ's coming in history, mystery, and majesty. In this episode, the hosts discuss: * Isaiah 2:1-5 and the vision of peace among nations * Psalm 122 and Jerusalem as a means of grace * Romans 13:11-14 on waking from sleep and walking in the light * Matthew 24:36-44 and the mystery of Christ's coming The conversation addresses common...
info_outline
Sermon Brainwave 1053: Christ the King - November 23, 2025
Working Preacher's Sermon Brainwave
Join Rolf Jacobson, Caroline Lewis, and Matt Skinner for Sermon Brainwave as they explore the texts for Christ the King/Reign of Christ Sunday (November 23, 2025) - the final Sunday of the church year and Year C. In this episode, the hosts dive deep into what it means for Jesus to be called "king" and how we understand Christ's reign in a world unfamiliar with monarchies. They examine the Gospel reading from Luke 23:33-43, where Jesus is crucified alongside two criminals, asking: What kind of king is this? A crucified king who sees those we overlook and extends mercy to the marginalized. The...
info_outline
Sermon Brainwave 1052: Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost - November 16, 2025
Working Preacher's Sermon Brainwave
Join Profs. Karoline Lewis, Rolf Jacobson, and Matt Skinner for Sermon Brainwave as they explore the texts for the Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost (November 16, 2025). This episode dives into Luke 21:5-19, focusing on Jesus's apocalyptic speech about the destruction of the temple and the call to bear witness through endurance. The hosts discuss what it means to testify in times of difficulty, how endurance is not just about getting through hard times but about embodying witness to God's provision. They explore connections between vulnerability and the desire for security, Luther's theology...
info_outline
Sermon Brainwave 1051: Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost - November 9, 2025
Working Preacher's Sermon Brainwave
Join Matt Skinner, Karoline Lewis, and Rolf Jacobson as they explore the lectionary texts for the Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost (November 9, 2025). This episode dives deep into Luke 20:27-38, where the Sadducees challenge Jesus with a seemingly absurd question about resurrection and marriage. Is there such a thing as a stupid question? The hosts discuss what it means to live without fear of death, how to sit in the promise of resurrection rather than our own expectations, and why the urgency of worship matters. They also explore Job 19:23-27a (including the famous "I Know That My...
info_outlineJoin Profs. Karoline Lewis, Rolf Jacobson, and Matt Skinner for Sermon Brainwave as they explore the texts for the Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost (November 16, 2025). This episode dives into Luke 21:5-19, focusing on Jesus's apocalyptic speech about the destruction of the temple and the call to bear witness through endurance.
The hosts discuss what it means to testify in times of difficulty, how endurance is not just about getting through hard times but about embodying witness to God's provision. They explore connections between vulnerability and the desire for security, Luther's theology of vocation, and the ecological dimensions of Psalm 98. The conversation also tackles the challenging passage from 2 Thessalonians about work and busybodies, reframing Christian witness as living faithfully in everyday vocations.
This episode offers practical preaching insights for the end of the liturgical year, emphasizing testimony, endurance, and faithful witness in a world of upheaval.
Commentaries for the Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost can be found on the Working Preacher website at https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/ordinary-33-3/commentary-on-luke-215-19-6.
⏰Timecodes⏰
00:00 Introduction to the Texts for the 23rd Sunday after Pentecost
02:52 Exploring the Apocalyptic Themes in Luke 21
06:00 Endurance and Witness in Times of Persecution
08:58 The Role of Hope and God's Provision
11:51 Connecting Malachi and Isaiah's Messages
14:57 The Joyful Anticipation of New Creation
18:08 Understanding 2 Thessalonians and Christian Living
* * *
Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share to stay connected with more insightful lectionary discussions!
Reminder: We have commentaries for the Revised Common Lectionary, the Narrative Lectionary, and Evangelio (Spanish-language Gospel). We're here for you, working preachers!
ABOUT SERMON BRAINWAVE:
Sermon Brainwave is a production of Luther Seminary's Working Preacher, which has been providing trusted biblical interpretation and preaching inspiration since 2007.
Find more episodes and resources by visiting https://www.workingpreacher.org/.
Watch this episode on YouTube at https://youtu.be/8JdZ_9BnpY0.