C123 – Easter 6
Sally and Robyn discuss the activity of the Holy Spirit, Lydia, New Jerusalem, and much more in this week’s jam-packed episode. The readings are Acts 16:9-15, Psalm 67, Rev 21:10, 22-22:5, and John 5:1-9 or 14:23-29.
C122 – Easter 5
Fran and Monica discuss the readings for Easter 5: Acts 11:1-18; Psalm 148 and John 13:31-35.
C121 – Easter 4
Robyn and Fran sit down and talk about Acts 9:36-43, Revelation 7:9-17; John 10:22-30. We mention Willie Jennings’ commentary on Acts, and our episode B118 on Psalm 23
C120 – Easter 3
In this episode, U-Wen and Robyn discuss the role of Ananias in bringing Saul into the Christian community (Acts 9:1-20), Peter’s restoration to discipleship and mission (John 21:1-19), and the entire creation’s worship of the Lamb and enthroned one in Revelation (Rev 5:11-14). All exemplify the kinds of faithful responses to the resurrection available to…
C119 – Easter 2
Robyn and U-Wen discuss the lectionary readings from Acts 5:27-32, Rev 1:4-8, and John 20:19-31. Each record responses to the resurrection, the activity of the Spirit, the role of forgiveness, and early Christian witness to the resurrection. We mention Willie Jenning’s Acts Commentary, this book on Revelation, Frank Moloney’s Reading Revelation at Easter, and U-Wen’s…
C118 – Easter Sunday
This Easter, can we testify like Mary who declared “I have seen the Lord”? How might we invite others into the posture of discipleship and invite them to “come and see”? Kylie and Robyn talk about preaching the meaning of the resurrection rather than trying to explain or defend it. Themes of new creation, promise,…
C117 – Good Friday
In this special, longer episode for Good Friday, Robyn Whitaker sits down with two guests: Dorothy Lee brings her literary and theological insights to John’s passion (John 18-19) and Andrew McGowan discusses preaching traditions for Good Friday, his book Seven Last Words, and atonement theologies.
C116 – Palm Sunday
Sean and Fran discuss the readings for Palm Sunday: Psalm 118:1-2; 19-29 and Luke 19:28-40.
C115 – Lent 5 (Isaiah 43:16-21 & John 12:1-8)
In this week’s podcast, Howard and Sally explore Isaiah 43:16-21 & John 12:1-8. We make mention of Sandra Schneiders “Written That You May Believe”.
C114 – Lent 4
U-Wen and Fran sit down to discuss Luke 15:1-3; 11-32 and 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 for Lent 4.
C113 – Lent 3
Howard and Fran sat down to discuss three readings for Lent 3: Isaiah 55:1-9; Psalm 63:1-8; Luke 13:1-9.
C112 – Lent 2
We discuss Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18; Phil 3:17-4:1; and Luke 13:31-35.
C111 – Lent 1
Robyn sits down with special guest Rev. Prof. Andrew McGowan from Yale University to discuss the nature of lent and the temptations of Jesus in Luke 4:1-13. We refer to Andrew’s book Seven Last Words: Cross and Creation.
C110 – Transfiguration
Fran and Robyn discuss themes of change and transformation after divine encounter in Exodus 34:29-35, 2 Cor 3:12-4:2, and Luke 9:28-36.
C109 – Epiphany 7
U-Wen and Robyn discuss Psalm 37, 1 Cor 15:35-50, and Luke 6:27-38. Themes of ethical Christian living continue in the gospel and teaching on the centrality of the resurrection continue in Corinthians. We discuss how concepts relating to heavenly bodies affect attitudes to earthly bodies and refer to Candida Moss’s Divine Bodies.
Rev Carolyn Francis, co-pastor at Collins Street Baptist Church joins Robyn and Fran to talk about the woman at the well in John 4 – the story which inspired the name of this podcast. We discuss the vulnerability and transformation in the encounter between Jesus and the woman. We touch on the profundity of the…
Abraham’s faith and God’s faithfulness are the focus on this week’s podcast. We discuss how radical the particularity of the covenant with Abraham in its ancient context and the theology it introduces which pervades so much of scripture. We refer to Fleming Rutledge’s And God Spoke to Abraham and Brueggemann’s Genesis commentary.
As Lent begins, we go back to the beginning with a focus on Genesis 2. Fran dispels some mistruths about this mythic tale. We ask what it reveals about human identity, freedom, and our propensity to alienate ourselves from one another and creation. We suggest that Genesis 2 and its reception in Romans 5 is…
Dorothy Lee joins Robyn and Fran to discuss the Transfiguration in Mathew 17:1-9. What’s at stake in this unusual story? We talk about the apocalyptic and aesthetic character of the Transfiguration, and about the way the story depicts the transformation of Jesus but also of us, the church, as we taken up into the beauty…
Bill Loader joins Robyn & Fran to discuss the part of Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount” which addresses anger, adultery, lust, divorce, and the possibility of hell. We discuss the tension between righteous anger and anger that leads to harm or hatred. Similarly, we unpack the difference between good desire and sexually objectifying or exploiting…
Sally Douglas joins Robyn and Fran to discuss Christian identity, as Matthew portrays it and in our own post-Christendom context. We talk about the relationship between belief and behaviour, and specifically what Matthew means by righteousness. In this podcast we refer to Bonhoeffer’s The Cost of Discipleship, David Bentley Hart’s New Testament: A Translation; Stanley…
Sally Douglas joins Robyn and Fran to talk about the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-12. We discuss how they are more than ethical aspirations, but instead descriptions of Kingdom life where nonviolence as embodied by Jesus upends the world’s ‘normal’ ordering of things. We talk about what blessedness means, and explore the profound transformation that results…
Alistair Macrae, minister at Wesley Uniting Church, joins Robyn & Fran to discuss discipleship, call, and repentance in Matthew 4. We discuss being disciples not admirers of Christ. As an experienced minister, Alistair shares his approach to preaching. In this podcast we refer to Being Disciples by Rowan Williams, a terrific sermon by Rev Dr…
Dorothy Lee joins Robyn and Fran to discuss John 1:29-42 and baptism by the Holy Spirit. Desire, identity, invitational evangelism, sin, and purpose are discussed in relation write papers to this passage. We also unpack the theology associated with the title “Lamb of God” for Jesus. Dorothy Lee is author of The Gospels Speak: Addressing…
Why does Jesus come to John for a “baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins”? And, how is Jesus’ baptism similar or different to our own? What does baptism mean for our identity? In this episode Fran and Robyn discuss Jesus’ baptism as presented in Matthew 3. We suggest the water is not the…