Join Karoline Lewis, Rolf Jacobson, and Matt Skinner for Sermon Brainwave as they explore the texts for All Saints Sunday (Year C). In this episode, the hosts dive deep into Luke 6:20-31 (the Beatitudes and Woes), Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18, Psalm 149, and Ephesians 1:11-23.
The conversation examines Luke's unique "Sermon on the Plain" where Jesus comes down to be with the people, addressing them directly with "blessed are you" (all y'all) rather than Matthew's third-person "blessed are those." The hosts discuss the challenging juxtaposition of blessings and woes, exploring how these words hit differently depending on whether you're in a position of privilege or disadvantage.
Key themes include:
* Jesus' solidarity with those who grieve ("He came down with them and stood on a level place")
* The interconnectedness of our liberation and wholeness
* God's mercy as the foundation for Jesus' vision of the Kingdom
* The role of saints as models of faith (not just a necrology)
* Daniel's theological shift: persecution as a badge of faithfulness
* Christ as "all in all" in Ephesians
The hosts bring humor, scholarly insight, and practical preaching wisdom as they wrestle with these complex texts, offering preachers fresh perspectives for All Saints Sunday.
Looking for the Sermon Brainwave podcast episode covering the Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost, go to https://youtu.be/Xe8Mp6VbyfI.
NOTE: We acknowledge that the cameras were not in focus for this episode — apologies from the production team.
⏰Timecodes⏰
00:00 Introduction to All Saints Sunday Texts
01:30 Exploring Blessings and Woes in Luke
04:54 The Concept of Community and Responsibility
10:15 Understanding Saints in Protestantism
12:17 Theological Reflections on Vengeance
16:57 Ephesians and the Cosmic Scope of Christ
* * *
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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/P1Y2yXp5DRM.
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