A Year with Matthew 25
"A Year with Matthew 25" connects readings from the Scripture with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Matthew 25 vision of building congregational vitality, dismantling structural racism, and eradicating systemic poverty. This weekly podcast is designed for devotional use, formation for service, and preparation for worship for church members and leaders.
Episodes
55 episodes
Becoming a Matthew 25 Church: Matthew 25:31-46
Revised Common Lectionary, Reign of Christ, Year A. This vision focuses on service. In your congregation, how might you love and serve Christ as you love and serve your neighbors in need — living into the Matthew 25 vision of eradicating system...
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Season 1
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Episode 55
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8:43
Becoming a Matthew 25 Church: Matthew 25:14-30
Revised Common Lectionary, Proper 28, Year A. This parable focuses on treasure. In your congregation, how can you be good stewards of the gifts of God as you await Christ’s return— sharing in the Matthew 25 vision of eradicating systemic povert...
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Season 1
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Episode 54
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8:00
Becoming a Matthew 25 Church: Matthew 25:1-13
Proper 27, Revised Common Lectionary, Year A. This parable focuses on time. In your congregation, how will you use the resource of time as you watch for the coming of God’s realm — advancing the Matthew 25 vision of eradicating systemic poverty...
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Season 1
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Episode 53
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7:08
Glimpses of God's Realm: Matthew 5:1-12 and Matthew 23:1-12
Proper 26, Revised Common Lectionary, Year A. [vitality] In the realm of God, the humble are exalted. The “five books” of Matthew’s Gospel begin (Matthew 5:1–12) and end (Matthew 25:31–46) with an emphasis on humble service in Jesus’ n...
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Season 1
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Episode 52
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8:16
Glimpses of God's Realm: Matthew 22:34-46
Proper 25, Revised Common Lectionary, Year A. [racism] In the realm of God, we live by love. Jesus teaches that all of Scripture can be summarized in two commandments: loving God (Deuteronomy 6:5) and loving neighbors (Leviticus 19:18)...
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Season 1
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Episode 51
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7:12
Glimpses of God's Realm: Matthew 22:15-22
Proper 24, Revised Common Lectionary, Year A. [poverty] In the realm of God, we honor God’s image. The coin used to pay the tax was marked with the likeness of the emperor; each human being is made in the image of God. Jesus’ words in ...
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Season 1
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Episode 50
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6:46
Glimpses of God's Realm: Matthew 22:1-14
Proper 23, Revised Common Lectionary, Year A. [poverty] In the realm of God, a table is set. Many are called to the “marriage supper of the Lamb” (see Revelation 19:9). God’s gracious invitation upsets our expectations, overturning the...
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Season 1
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Episode 49
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7:38
Glimpses of God's Realm: Matthew 21:33-46
Proper 22, Revised Common Lectionary, Year A. [racism] In the realm of God, the crucified one is the cornerstone. Structural racism is built on hatred and fear. But the beloved community is built on God’s beloved Son—the very one who w...
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Season 1
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Episode 48
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7:42
Glimpses of God's Realm: Matthew 21:23-32
Proper 21, Revised Common Lectionary, Year A. [vitality] In the realm of God, Jesus is Lord. Jesus asks us only “one question” (Matthew 21:24): Will you follow me? We respond by doing God’s will. A vital congregation must answer to Jes...
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Season 1
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Episode 47
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7:42
Glimpses of God's Realm: Matthew 20:1-16
Proper 20, Revised Common Lectionary, Year A. [poverty] In the realm of God, the last will be first. God’s grace is extended to all. This is the scandal of the gospel—that by the grace of God, we don’t just get what we deserve...
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Season 1
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Episode 46
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8:11
Glimpses of God's Realm: Matthew 18:21-35
Proper 19, Revised Common Lectionary, Year A. [vitality] In the realm of God, debts are forgiven. In this parable, Jesus uses astronomical numbers—seventy-seven, ten thousand—to underscore the imperative of forgiving others as God forg...
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Season 1
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Episode 45
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8:06
Glimpses of God's Realm: Matthew 18:15-20
Proper 18, Revised Common Lectionary, Year A. [racism] In the realm of God, all will be reconciled. The work of dismantling structural racism begins with confessing sin, lamenting evil, and seeking justice; only then can right relation...
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Season 1
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Episode 44
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8:18
The Challenge of the Gospel: Matthew 16:21-28
Proper 17, Revised Common Lectionary, Year A. [poverty] Jesus again presents the paradox of “God’s economy." Those who seek to save their own lives will lose them. Those who want to acquire the world will lose what truly matters. How d...
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Season 1
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Episode 43
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8:04
The Challenge of the Gospel: Matthew 16:13–20
Proper 16, Revised Common Lectionary, Year A. [vitality] Jesus gives Simon a new name and identity: Peter, the rock on whom the church is built. Similarly, the challenge of building congregational vitality depends on our confession of ...
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Season 1
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Episode 42
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7:39
The Challenge of the Gospel: Matthew 15:21-28
Proper 15, Revised Common Lectionary, Year A. [racism] A courageous and persistent Canaanite woman speaks out with great faith to challenge the ethnic divisions and purity restrictions of Jesus’ time. Where do we find similar situation...
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Season 1
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Episode 41
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7:18
The Challenge of the Gospel: Matthew 14:22-33
Proper 14, Revised Common Lectionary, Year A. [vitality] In Christian imagination, the symbol of a boat has been an important metaphor for the church. How is your congregation like a boat? What storms have you weathered? What tempests ...
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Season 1
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Episode 40
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7:41
The Challenge of the Gospel: Matthew 14:13-21
Proper 13, Revised Common Lectionary, Year A. [poverty] In “God’s economy,” abundance comes from sharing. The story of Jesus feeding the multitude is a perfect illustration. How might this insight inform our ministry with people who ar...
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Season 1
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Episode 39
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7:41
The Challenge of the Gospel: Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52
Proper 12, Revised Common Lectionary, Year A. [racism] Small moments and subtle actions sometimes make a big difference in the struggle to challenge structural racism and white supremacy. Can you think of people who have been a mustard...
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Season 1
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Episode 38
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8:04
The Challenge of the Gospel: Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
Proper 11, Revised Common Lectionary, Year A. [racism] This parable may be applied to the hidden dimensions of racism—secret prejudice, implicit bias, and unconscious patterns of privilege. One challenge of dismantling structural racis...
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Season 1
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Episode 37
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8:23
The Challenge of the Gospel: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
Proper 10, Revised Common Lectionary, Year A. [poverty] The parable of the sower and the seeds illustrates God’s extravagant generosity, scattering out grace and truth in abundance. But this parable also challenges us to be good soil, ...
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Season 1
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Episode 36
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8:22
The Challenge of the Gospel: Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
Proper 9, Revised Common Lectionary, Year A. [vitality] Jesus’ call to discipleship involves constancy and change. In the changing contexts of each generation, vital congregations are challenged to discern how best to respond to Christ...
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Season 1
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Episode 35
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7:44
The Great Commission: Matthew 10:40-42
Proper 8, Revised Common Lectionary, Year A. [vitality] Real welcome involves real work. Authentic and effective evangelism requires something deeper and more difficult than accepting those who happen to enter our doors. It means going...
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Season 1
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Episode 34
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7:00
The Great Commission: Matthew 10:24-39
Proper 7, Revised Common Lectionary, Year A. [racism] The struggle against racism is fraught with danger. History tells us of prophets and martyrs who accepted this cost of discipleship and took up their cross to follow Christ. For peo...
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Season 1
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Episode 33
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8:34
The Great Commission: Matthew 9:35-10:8
Proper 6, Revised Common Lectionary, Year A. [poverty] The fundamental problem of poverty is not one of scarcity, but of the willingness to share God’s gifts. Moved with compassion for people in need, Jesus sends the apostles out to sh...
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Season 1
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Episode 32
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10:15
The Great Commission: Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26
Proper 5, Revised Common Lectionary, Year A. The reading for today begins with Jesus’ call to Matthew, a tax collector, and then concludes with demonstrations of Jesus’ healing, life-giving power. How does the call to discipleship surprise our ...
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Season 1
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Episode 31
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8:22