Working Preacher's Narrative Lectionary

Working Preacher hosts "I Love to Tell the Story," an engaging conversation on upcoming Narrative Lectionary readings. Each episode is fun, informative, and creative—and will help you and your congregation become fluent in the first language of faith.

Narrative Lectionary 646 (NL414): Ezekiel: The Valley of Dry Bones - December 07, 2025 11/17/2025

Narrative Lectionary 646 (NL414): Ezekiel: The Valley of Dry Bones - December 07, 2025 When everything feels dead and hope seems lost, can dry bones live again? In this powerful episode for the Second Sunday of Advent, hosts Rolf Jacobson, Kathryn Schifferdecker, and Craig Koester explore Ezekiel's stunning vision of the valley of dry bones—a message of hope for exiles who believed they were completely cut off from God. The conversation unpacks the rich Hebrew word "ruach" (spirit/breath/wind) that runs throughout Ezekiel 37, revealing how God promises to breathe new life into seemingly hopeless situations. Unlike Jeremiah who wrote from Jerusalem to the exiles, Ezekiel himself was living in exile, speaking directly into the despair of a displaced people whose city had been destroyed and who felt abandoned by God. This isn't just ancient history. Whether you're an individual feeling spiritually dried up, or part of a congregation that seems to have lost its vitality, this text speaks directly to that despair. As the hosts emphasize, the Israelites' lament—"our bones are dried up, our hope is lost, we are cut off completely"—represents the deepest kind of spiritual crisis. Yet God's response through Ezekiel is a vivid, visual promise: I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live. The discussion highlights how Advent functions as a season of holy waiting and exile, longing for home. Kathryn notes Michael Chan's powerful observation that "Ezekiel's audience lives life with an open wound," and that the journey to genuine hope begins with "a hard stare into the eyes of truth." This isn't false optimism—it's hope grounded in the God of life who has the power to bring resurrection even from death-dealing situations. Whether you're preparing a sermon, teaching a Bible study, or seeking personal encouragement, this episode offers both scholarly insight and pastoral wisdom for one of Scripture's most memorable visions of hope. TIMECODES: 00:00 Advent Life and Exile 02:54 Ezekiel's Vision of Hope 05:52 The Power of God in Despair 09:00 Understanding Yahweh's Promise 11:07 Hope Amidst Exile 🎧 Listen now and equip yourself for your preaching journey! Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with fellow preachers. 🔗 Find more episodes and resources here: Follow along with the commentary on Ezekiel 37:1-14 written by Michael J. Chan at . 📢 Follow us for updates: Watch this episode on YouTube at . /episode/index/show/narrativelectionary/id/39062740

Narrative Lectionary 645 (NL413): Daniel - The Fiery Furnace - November 30, 2025 10/27/2025

Narrative Lectionary 644 (NL412): Jeremiah's Letter to Exiles - November 23, 2025 10/24/2025

Narrative Lectionary 643 (NL411): Isaiah: A Child is Born - November 16, 2025 10/24/2025

Narrative Lectionary 642 (NL410): Amos: Justice Rolls Down - November 9, 2025 10/21/2025

Narrative Lectionary 642 (NL410): Amos: Justice Rolls Down - November 9, 2025 Join Rolf Jacobson, Kathryn Schifferdecker, and Craig Koester as they explore the powerful message of the prophet Amos in this week's episode of I Love to Tell the Story, a podcast on the Narrative Lectionary for November 9th, 2025. The prophet Amos brings one of the most challenging messages in Scripture—calling out the disconnect between religious observance and social justice. Though he was a farmer from the Southern Kingdom, Amos was sent to speak truth to power in the Northern Kingdom around 760-780 BCE. His ministry may have lasted only two years, but his words continue to resonate today. In this episode, we discuss: * The meaning of "The Lord roars from Zion" and Amos's prophetic mission * The dangerous disconnect between piety and justice * What biblical justice (mishpat) and righteousness (tzedek) really mean * Why Amos declares "I hate, I despise your festivals" * The call to "let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream" * How this message connects to modern calls for justice, including Martin Luther King Jr.'s use of Amos As one of the hosts shares: "If you like the prophet Amos, you don't understand him." This episode will challenge you to examine the gap between religious practice and care for the vulnerable in our own time. TIMECODES: 00:00 Introduction to Amos and Contextual Background 02:47 The Call for Justice and Social Awareness 05:51 Understanding Justice and Righteousness 08:51 The Nature of Seeking God 12:18 Conclusion and Reflection on Amos' Message 14:21 Outro 🎧 Listen now and equip yourself for your preaching journey! Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with fellow preachers. 🔗 Find more episodes and resources here: Follow along with the commentary on Amos 1:1-2; 5:14-15, 21-24 written by Mark Hamilton at . Watch this episode on YouTube at . /episode/index/show/narrativelectionary/id/38727570

Narrative Lectionary 641 (NL409): God Speaks to Elijah - November 2, 2025 10/21/2025

Narrative Lectionary 641 (NL409): God Speaks to Elijah - November 2, 2025 In this episode of "I Love to Tell the Story," hosts Rolf Jacobson, Kathryn Schifferdecker, and Craig Koester explore one of the most dramatic narratives in the Hebrew Bible: Elijah's journey to Mount Horeb and his encounter with God in the "sound of sheer silence" (or "still small voice"). After his dramatic victory over the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, the prophet Elijah flees from Queen Jezebel's threats and travels from the northern territories all the way to Mount Horeb in the south—literally going "off the map." Exhausted and despairing, Elijah asks God to take his life, claiming he alone is left faithful to God. But God has other plans. In a powerful theophany (divine appearance), God shows Elijah that the divine presence is not in the mighty wind, earthquake, or fire—as it was for Moses—but in the sound of sheer silence. God redirects the self-righteous prophet back to his calling, reminding him that he's not alone and that his work isn't finished yet. The hosts discuss how this passage functions as a mirror for our own tendencies toward self-righteousness, the importance of reading it dramatically to capture its emotional depth, and how God's gracious persistence calls us out of ourselves and into service for others. TIMECODES: 00:00 Introduction to the Narrative Lectionary 02:06 Elijah's Journey and Emotional Turmoil 08:16 God's Communication and the Theophany 11:49 Elijah's Vocation and God's Call 12:47 Conclusion and Reflection on God's Grace 🎧 Listen now and equip yourself for your preaching journey! Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with fellow preachers. 🔗 Find more episodes and resources here: Follow along with the commentary on 1 Kings 19:1-18 written by Mark Hamilton at . 📢 Follow us for updates: https://www.facebook.com/workingpreacher https://www.instagram.com/workingpreacher/ Watch this episode on YouTube at . #narrativelectionary #lutherseminary #workingpreacher /episode/index/show/narrativelectionary/id/38730705