Sermon Brainwave #1111: Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost - November 8, 2026

Preaching Matthew 5:1-12 on All Saints Sunday? Matt Skinner, Karoline Lewis, and Cody Sanders explore the Beatitudes as apocalyptic promises, not a checklist for Christian living. They unpack the great reversal at the heart of Jesus’ blessings. They also dig into Revelation 7:9-17, Psalm 34, and 1 John 3:1-3 for November 1, 2026. Discover why the Lamb still stands as if slain. Learn how remembering the dead becomes an act of hope and resistance. Plus, see how Psalm 34 can shape your communion liturgy. Mentioned in this episode: Support Working Preacher this month! During Working Preacher's fall fundraising campaign, we're celebrating our website's upcoming 19th birthday! Thank you for your generous support of Working Preacher. Support Working Preacher

Preaching Matthew 23:1-12 this Sunday? Karoline Lewis, Cody Sanders, and Matt Skinner dig into one of the hardest chapters in the New Testament. They show how to handle Jesus’ sharp words about the scribes and Pharisees with care. They also name the self-aggrandizing religiosity that still shows up in our own churches. Cody imagines a community where the greatest among you will be your servant. The hosts also explore Micah 3:5-12, Joshua 3:7-17, Psalm 43, and 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13. This episode covers November 1, 2026, the 23rd Sunday after Pentecost. Mentioned in this episode: Support Working Preacher this month! During Working Preacher's fall fundraising campaign, we're celebrating our website's upcoming 19th birthday! Thank you for your generous support of Working Preacher. Support Working Preacher

Love your neighbor as yourself sits at the heart of Jesus’ answer about the greatest commandment in Matthew 22:34-46. Cody Sanders, Karoline Lewis, and Matt Skinner help preachers get ready for the 22nd Sunday after Pentecost. They ask why the struggle lives between knowing and doing. They show how Leviticus 19 roots neighbor love in God’s own holiness. The hosts reflect on Moses’ intimate friendship with God in Deuteronomy 34. They linger with the tree planted by streams of water in Psalm 1. Then they unpack Paul’s tender “gospel of God” in 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8. Mentioned in this episode: Support Working Preacher this month! During Working Preacher's fall fundraising campaign, we're celebrating our website's upcoming 19th birthday! Thank you for your generous support of Working Preacher. Support Working Preacher

What did Jesus really mean by "render unto Caesar"? Matt Skinner and Cody Sanders dig into Matthew 22:15-22 for the 21st Sunday after Pentecost, October 18, 2026. They unpack the trap, the coin, and what Jesus means by giving back to God. Jesus refuses a false choice and asks whose image is on the coin. The hosts explore the coinage of God's kingdom: mercy, justice, and righteousness. They also turn to Isaiah 45 and Cyrus, God's anointed. Exodus 33 reveals a migrant God who journeys with the people. Psalm 96 calls all creation to worship. Finally, the hosts launch a five-week series in 1 Thessalonians and its rich vision of hope. Mentioned in this episode: Support Working Preacher this month! During Working Preacher's fall fundraising campaign, we're celebrating our website's upcoming 19th birthday! Thank you for your generous support of Working Preacher. Support Working Preacher

The parable of the wedding banquet in Matthew 22:1-14 is one of the toughest texts preachers face. Karoline Lewis, Matt Skinner, and Cody Sanders explore it for the 20th Sunday after Pentecost, October 11, 2026. They examine Jesus' anger at religious leaders and the wide-open invitation to both good and bad. They also explain why preachers don't need to tie a parable up neatly. Next, they explore Isaiah 25's feast, the golden calf in Exodus 32, Psalm 23, and Philippians 4. Mentioned in this episode: Support Working Preacher this month! During Working Preacher's fall fundraising campaign, we're celebrating our website's upcoming 19th birthday! Thank you for your generous support of Working Preacher. Support Working Preacher