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 misinterpretations of the "rapture" theology, examines what it means to be ready and watchful during Advent, and reflects on the contested reality of Jerusalem today in contrast to the biblical vision of peace. Plus, hear about Matt Skinner's new resources for Advent and the Year of Matthew!
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- "Voices of Advent" by Matt Skinner - https://www.cokesbury.com/voices-of-advent"
- "Matthew: The Gospel of Promised Blessings" by Matt Skinner - https://www.abingdonpress.com/product/9781791030162/
- "Paul Among the People" by Sarah Ruden - https://sarahruden.com/book/paul-among-the-people/
Commentaries for the First Sunday of Advent can be found on the Working Preacher website at https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/first-sunday-of-advent/commentary-on-matthew-2436-44-7.
⏰Timecodes⏰
00:00 Introduction to Advent and New Beginnings
03:03 Understanding the Meaning of Advent
05:49 Theological Reflections on Readiness and Watchfulness
08:53 Exploring Isaiah's Vision of Peace
16:42 Psalm 122
18:04 The Role of Jerusalem in Advent
21:58 The Significance of Romans 13 in Advent -- Being Awake
25:50 Walking Decently and Sarah Rudin's "Paul Among the People"
26:45 Outro
* * *
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/9f29qmFOdbA.
Popular Podcasts
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.