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This alternative gospel text, John 7:37-39, may seem a strange choice for Pentecost Sunday. [Find commentaries on the main gospel reading, John 20:19-23, by Matt Skinner (2011) and Karoline Lewis (2008).] After all, it takes place (...)

Today’s text occurs in Athens. Paul has been brought here to escape violent opposition (Acts 16-17:15). In Athens, he preaches in the synagogues and marketplace (17:16-17). Epicureans bring him to the Areopagus, wanting to know (...)

Paul was the chosen instrument to carry Christ’s name to the Gentiles (Acts 9:15). Yet only twice in Acts is Paul’s missionary preaching aimed at an exclusively Gentile audience: in Paul’s address to the residents (...)

Jeremiah’s ministry extended for some forty years (about 625-585 BC). At the mid-point of his ministry, the Babylonian empire under Nebuchadnezzar began expanding in the Middle East and Israel’s existence was threatened. Jeremiah warned Israel (...)

After two harrowing stories — the near-deaths of both Ishmael and Isaac — today we have a love story, a love story that has been foreshadowed already in the account of the sacrifice of Isaac.1 (...)

This text is familiar to us from its use in the gospel accounts of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem; however, it presents a number of puzzles for the preacher to solve. First, one might wonder why (...)

After two harrowing stories — the near-deaths of both Ishmael and Isaac — today we have a love story, a love story that has been foreshadowed already in the account of the sacrifice of Isaac.  (...)

There is an old hymn that testifies, “Jesus calls us o’er the tumult of our life’s wild, restless sea.” In the Gospel reading this week, Jesus indeed calls to his disciples in the midst of (...)

The lectionary does us no favors by splitting Romans 11 into an opening question followed by the tail end of an answer. If this pericope is read aloud, most hearers will not know to whom (...)

As I write this commentary, I am only 2 weeks removed from the events of June 5, 2014.  On that day a gunman with a history of mental illness, stepped onto the campus of the (...)