First Reading

woman holding sign saying
Commentary on Genesis 32:22-31

This beautiful story leaves its listeners hanging on every word. [...]

Man with hands outstretched in a field
Commentary on 2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15c

Commentators often focus on Naaman the Aramean as the main [...]

Chef with apron in kitchen
Commentary on Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4

Sermon-writing fingers might get itchy at Habakkuk 2:4—”Look at the [...]

two people hold bowl of cherry tomatoes
Commentary on Amos 6:1a, 4-7

When we think of the prophet Amos there is a tendency to emphasize the outsider [...]

Group of people standing on beach watching sunset
Commentary on Amos 8:4-7

This is the first of two weeks in which the Old Testament reading is from the prophet [...]

Boy under sprinkler in summer grass
Commentary on Exodus 32:7-14

The foundation from which to build your sermon for this week is Exodus 32:1, appearing [...]

Girl in field of flowers gazing at sunset
Commentary on Deuteronomy 30:15-20

When my children were small, I read parenting advice about [...]

lavish spread of fruit and crackers
Commentary on Proverbs 25:6-7

A preacher following the lectionary rarely encounters the book of Proverbs, but it might be [...]

bird with extended wings feeding from open hand
Commentary on Isaiah 58:9b-14

Isaiah 56-66 addresses the community returning from the Babylonian exile to the dysfunctional and disappointing [...]

Night sky with stars, silhouetted figures visible in foreground.
Commentary on Jeremiah 23:23-29

The hunger for leadership has reached every sector of our [...]