Working Preacher Books Podcast

015: Elisabeth R. Jones, Midrashic Imagination: Texts and Textures for Pulpit and Pew

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 11:00:00 -0500

What is midrash, and why should Christian preachers care? In this episode of the Working Preacher Books Podcast, hosts Karoline Lewis and Rolf Jacobson sit down with Elisabeth R. Jones, author of Midrashic Imagination: Texts and Textures for Pulpit and Pew.

Jones unpacks midrash as a participatory, communal practice of biblical interpretation. She explains how naming discomfort with a text opens the door to curiosity and transformation. The conversation covers the Jewish roots of midrash, how Christians can engage it respectfully, and the practice of "following the rabbit" to find what a text is really saying. Jones shares a powerful example from her own congregation, where a hard text collided with a real-world crisis and changed how her community preached. This episode offers preachers a fresh way to approach scripture with honesty, imagination, and communal wisdom.

Midrashic Imagination: Texts and Textures for Pulpit and Pew | Fortress Press

014: Sunggu Yang, Digital Homiletics: The Theology and Practice of Online Preaching

Thu, 23 May 2024 06:00:00 -0500

In this episode, Karoline Lewis and Rolf Jacobson speak with Sunggu Yang, author of "Digital Homiletics: The Theology and Practice of Online Preaching" in the Working Preacher Books series.

Working Preacher Books podcast is a series focused on igniting your curiosity as a preacher and connecting you with the living Word. Join us as we gain insights and hear stories straight from Working Preacher authors about proclaiming an authentic Word in challenging times.

YouTube URL: https://youtu.be/HXv1bvLLfSE

013: Jennifer Ackerman, Preaching the Gospel of Justice

Mon, 13 May 2024 21:00:00 -0500

In this episode, Karoline Lewis and Rolf Jacobson speak with Jennifer Ackerman, author of "Preaching the Gospel of Justice" in the Working Preacher Books series.

Watch on YouTube at https://youtu.be/gMicrA_q5b0

012: Beverly Zink-Sawyer and Donna Giver-Johnston, For Every Matter Under Heaven: Preaching on Special Occasions

Thu, 16 Mar 2023 06:00:00 -0500

In this episode, Karoline Lewis, Rolf Jacobson and Bandit the podcat with Beverly Zink-Sawyer and Donna Giver-Johnston, authors of "For Every Matter Under Heaven: Preaching on Special Occasions" in the Working Preacher Books series.

011: Karl N. and Rolf A. Jacobson, Divine Laughter: Preaching and the Serious Business Of Humor

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 18:43:00 -0500

In this episode, Karoline Lewis talk with Karl N. Jacobson and Rolf A. Jacobson, authors of "Divine Laughter: Preaching and the Serious Business Of Humor" in the Working Preacher Books series.

Watch the video version on Youtube.

010: Steve Thomason, The Visual Preacher: Proclaiming an Embodied Word

Thu, 08 Dec 2022 15:19:00 -0500

In this episode, Rolf Jacobson and Karoline Lewis talk with Steve Thomason, author of "The Visual Preacher: Proclaiming an Embodies Word" in the Working Preacher Books series.

Watch the video version on Youtube.

009: Cindy Halvorson, Real People, Reach Faith: Preaching Biblical Characters

Tue, 17 May 2022 00:00:37 -0500

In this episode, Rolf Jacobson and Karoline Lewis talk with Cindy Halvorson, author of "Real People, Reach Faith: Preaching Biblical Characters" in the Working Preacher Books series.

Watch the video podcats version: https://youtu.be/0_xx-T98IKY

008: Brent Strawn, Honest to God Preaching

Thu, 03 Feb 2022 19:07:34 -0500

Rolf Jacobson and Karoline Lewis talk with Brent Strawn, author of "Honest to God Preaching: Talking Sin, Suffering, and Violence" in the Working Preacher Books series. Watch video version: https://youtu.be/5e_xCHTqTaM Working Preacher Books podcast is a series focused on igniting your curiosity as a preacher and connecting you with the living word. Join us as we gain insights and hear stories straight from Working Preacher authors about proclaiming an authentic Word in challenging times.

007: Shauna Hannan, The Peoples' Sermon

Tue, 11 Jan 2022 17:44:49 -0500

Rolf Jacobson and Karoline Lewis talk with Shauna Hannan, author of "The Peoples' Sermon: Preaching as a Ministry of the Whole Congregation" in the Working Preacher Books series. Watch video version: https://youtu.be/UwzzJYMkgR0

006: Donna Giver-Johnston, Writing for the Ear, Preaching from the Heart

Thu, 04 Nov 2021 17:00:00 -0500

In this episode, Rolf Jacobson and Karoline Lewis talk with Donna Giver-Johnston, author of "Writing for the Ear, Preaching from the Heart" in the Working Preacher Books series. Watch video version at https://youtu.be/6TFlZdETRbM

005: Lisa L. Thompson, Preaching the Headlines

Thu, 07 Oct 2021 10:00:00 -0500

In this episode, Rolf Jacobson and Karoline Lewis talk with Lisa Thompson, author of "Preaching the Headlines" in the Working Preacher Books series. Watch an extended video version at https://youtu.be/JybALrOCNbY

004: Karoline Lewis, A Lay Preacher's Guide

Thu, 05 Aug 2021 17:00:00 -0500

In this episode, Rolf Jacobson and Amy Butler talk with Karoline Lewis, author of "A Lay Preacher's Guide" in the Working Preacher Books series. Watch an extended video version at https://youtu.be/xpNcG2yRLBk

003: Will Willimon, Leading with the Sermon

Thu, 01 Jul 2021 05:01:00 -0500

In this episode, we talk with William H. Willimon, author of "Leading with the Sermon" in the Working Preacher Books series. Watch an extended video version at https://youtu.be/9xhXCzESUbk

002: Lisa Cressman, The Gospel People Don't Want to Hear

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 05:00:00 -0500

In this episode, we talk with Lisa Cressman, author of "The Gospel People Don't Want to Hear" in the Working Preacher Books series.

Watch the video version at https://youtu.be/xY3Srw9l4TE

001: Walter Brueggemann, Preaching Jeremiah

Tue, 04 May 2021 03:11:55 -0500

In this episode, we talk with Walter Brueggemann, author of Preaching Jeremiah and Preaching from the Old Testament in the Working Preacher Books series. Watch video version at https://youtu.be/1O7vTtTyC7c