Shows
By the WellC236 Pentecost 10Sally and Monica reflect on Isaiah 5:1-7; Psalm 80:1-2 and 8-19; Hebrews11:29-12:2; Luke12:49-56. God's desire for justice, the need to deform in order to form or reform, the place of conflict and division are some of the issues discussed against what is happening in Gaza as a backdrop. they bring attention the the recent Central Committe of the World Council of Churches statement2025-08-0730 minBy the WellC235 Pentecost 9Robyn is joined by special guest, Rev. Dr Kristel Clayville, to discuss the readings for the 9th week of Pentecost - Isaiah 1:1, 1-20, Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 and Luke 12:32-40.
We explore themes of relationship / covenant, promise, transformation, and hope.2025-07-3130 minBy the WellC234 Pentecost 8Howard and Sally does Hosea 11.1-11, Psalm 107.1-9, 43, Colossians 3.1-11(12), Luke 12.13-21. They explore the imagery of God as parent in Hosea, new life in Christ in Colossians and the parable of the rich fool in Luke.2025-07-2425 minBy the WellC233 Pentecost 7Howard and Adrian explore Hosea 1:2-10; Psalm 85; Colossians 2:6-15; and Luke 11:1-13.
Listeners may be interested in the upcoming Northey Lecture at Pilgrim Theological College "Dei Ex Machina: The Images of God in Our Conceptions of AI" on 29 July.2025-07-1630 minBy the WellC232 Pentecost 6Sally and Monica reflect on Amos 8:1-12; Psalm 52; Colossians 1:15-28 and Luke 10:38-42. We explore the prophetic indictment against misuse of power and wealth for personal gain and against the wellbeing of the community; early NT texts and the Nicene creed and the discipleship of women followers.
2025-07-0926 minBy the WellC231 Pentecost 5Fran and Howard discuss the readings for the fifth week after Pentecost, focussing on Amos 7:7-17, Psalm 82 and Luke 10:25-37
We mention Bruce Barber's sermon on Luke 10 in Lanterns at Dusk2025-07-0331 minBy the WellC230 Pentecost 4 (Proper 9)Monica and Robyn dicsuss the Naaman story in 2 Kings 5:1-14, the cry of the Psalmist in Psalm 30, and Jesus' commissioning of the 70 (72) in Luke 10:1-11, 16-20.
We mention an article by Jione Havea on 2 Kings 5, which you can find here.
2025-06-2430 minBy the WellC229 Pentecost 3 (Proper 8)Robyn and Brendan discuss 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14; Galatians 5:1, 13-25, and Luke 9:51-62. We discuss the echoes of the Elijah / Elisha tradition in the gospels, the tension between prophetic glory and suffering, transitions, change, and the demands of following Jesus. 2025-06-1735 minBy the WellC228 Pentecost 2 (Proper 7)Fran and Sally discuss 1 Kings 19.1-15, Psalm 42, Galatians 3.23-29, Luke 8.26-39. They explore the place of silence, langauge and imagery for God, and the problem of evil (among other things).2025-06-1135 minBy the WellC227 Trinity SundaySally and Fran discuss Proverbs 8:1-4;22-31; Romans 5:1-5; John 16:12-15
We mention Sally's book Jesus Sophia: Returning to Woman Wisdom in the Bible;
the Nomad podcast interview with Sally;
Martin Scott's Sophia and the Johanine Jesus
Ben Myers Tweeting the trinity: because heresy is meh
2025-06-0422 minBy the WellC226 PentecostRobyn Whitaker is joined by theologian, Daniel Sihombing, to talk about the Spirit and Pentecost. We look at the various snapshots of the Holy Spirit in all the readings this week - Acts 2:1-21, Genesis 11:1-9, Psalm 104:24-35, Romans 8:14-17, and John 14:8-17 - discussing the range of activities of the Spirit and the centrality of her for Christian life. 2025-06-0237 minBy the WellC225 Easter 7Fran and Robyn discuss John 17:20-26, Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21, and Acts 16:16-34 with brief mention of Psalm 97.
We mentioned Willy James Jennings' Acts Commentary and Dorothy Lee's The Gospels Speak. 2025-05-2131 minBy the WellC224 Easter 6Robyn is joined by Rev. Brendan Byrne to discuss John 5:1-9, John 14:23-29 and Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5, with a brief mention of Psalm 67. We talk about the social justice dimensions of the healing in John 5 and the way Jesus' healing undermines moral assessments. We also noted the way John 14 and Revelation 22 talk about the movement of God towards God's people and creation to recreate a vision of an end where all the nations stream to God and God's dwelling place is with us.
Those wanting to preach about Lydia in Acts 16 can tune in to our episode from 2022.2025-05-1630 minBy the WellC223 Easter 5"A man may share in his prayer his concern for peace in the world and yet, in his own little world, be unwiliing to change his private attitude of antagoism or prejudice towards his fellows" Howard Thurman, Meditations of the Heart.
In this episode Sally and Robyn discuss the "new commandment" to love one another (John 13:31-35) as a mark of Christian community. We also look at the visions of God's expansive kingdom in Revelation 21:1-6, Acts 11:1-18, and the way the whole cosmos praises God in Psalm 148.
We mention Willie Jennings' Acts Commentary. 2025-05-0729 minBy the WellC222 Easter 4This Sunday is Good Shepherd Sunday in some traditions and Dorothy Lee and Robyn Whitaker explore images of both lamb and shepherd for Jesus in John 10:22-30, Psalm 23, and Revelation 7:9-17. Acts 9:36-43 continues the story of God's activity in the early church, this time through the resurrection of Tabitha, a female disciple of Jesus.
You can read more about Tabitha and the background to Acts 9 at Marg Mowczko's blog. We also mention CS Lewis's The Last Battle. 2025-04-3029 minBy the WellC221 Easter 3Dorothy Lee and Robyn Whitaker discuss John 21:1-19, Psalm 30, Acts 9:1-20, and Revelation 5:11-14 (or 1-14). We explore themes of call / recall, transformation, and commissioning into resurrection life.2025-04-2837 minBy the WellC220 Special Episode - Introduction to The Book of RevelationRobyn Whitaker and Adrian Jackson give an overview of The Book of Revelation and the particular themes in the lectionary passages throughout the Easter season.
We recommend the following resources:
- Unveiling Apocalypse podcast by U-wen Low
- Robyn Whitaker's Revelation for Normal People
- Scott McKnight's Revelation for the Rest of Us
- Lynn Huber, Revelation commentary
- Eugen Boring's Revelation Commentary
- Bible for Normal People podcast on Revelation (with Robyn Whitaker)2025-04-2040 minBy the WellC219 Easter 2Robyn Whitaker and Dorothy Lee discuss John 20:19-31, Revelation 1:4-8, and Acts 5:27-32.
We mention the work of Candida Moss on the scars of Jesus as well as Lynn Huber's Revelation commentary.
For those wanting to listen to the special episode introducing the Book of Revelation, it was published as C219. 2025-04-1734 minBy the WellC218 Easter SundayRobyn Whitaker and Dorothy Lee discuss Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-18, and Acts 10:34-43 to explore the different ways early Christians talked about the resurrection of Jesus.
2025-04-1133 minBy the WellC217 Palm/Passion SundayRachel Kronberger and Fran discuss liturgical and homiletical choices for Palm/Passion Sunday, with reference to Isaiah 50:4-9a; Philippians 2:5-11; Luke 19:28-40 and Luke 23:1-49
We mention Stanley Hauerwas' Cross-shattered Christ: Mediations on the seven last words2025-04-0329 minBy the WellC216 Lent 4Monica and Fran discuss Joshua 5:9-12; Psalm 32 and Luke 15:1-3; 11b-322025-03-2033 minBy the WellC215 Lent 3Howard and Robyn discuss themes of repentence, grace, judgment, and transformation in Isaiah 55:1-9, Psalm 63:1-8, and Luke 13:1-9.2025-03-1328 minBy the WellC214 Lent 2Fran and Robyn discuss images of violence, sacrifice, and covenant in Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18; imitating Paul in Philippians 3:17-4:1; and Jesus as mother hen in Luke 13:31-35.
We mention Fleming Rutledge's "And God Spoke to Abraham".2025-03-0634 minBy the WellC213 Lent 1Monica and Fran discuss Deuteronomy 26:1-11; Psalm 91:1-2; 9-16; Romans 10:8b-13 and Luke 4:1-13
We mention David H Kelsey's Imagining Redemption (Westminister John Knox) and
Robyn Whitaker's Even the Devil Quotes Scripture and
Arvind P Nirmal's work on Dalit Theology2025-02-2831 minBy the WellC212 TransfigurationMonica and Sally discuss the readings for Transfiguration Sunday: Exodus 34:29-35, Psalm 99, 2 Cor 3:12–4:2; Luke 9:28–36.2025-02-2029 minBy the WellC211 Epiphany 7Robyn is joined by guest co-host, Rev, Brendan Byrne, to discuss Genesis 45:3-11, 15 and Luke 6:27-38. Jesus' radical teaching to "love your enemies" is unpacked and embodied in both readings with themes of forgiveness, mercy, and compassion.
For those who want to focus on 1 Corinthians 15:15-35, please check out our old episode that included that passage - https://bythewell.com.au/episodes/c109-epiphany-7 2025-02-1429 minBy the WellC210 Epiphany 6Sally and Fran discuss Jeremiah 17:10; Psalm 1; 1 Corinthians 15:12-20 and Luke 6:17-26 2025-02-0626 minBy the WellC209 Epiphany 5Robyn is joined by Adrian Jackson to talk about the way God appears in Isaiah 6:1-8 (9-13), Luke 5:1-11, and 1 Corinthians 15:1-11. These texts contrast holiness and sinfulness, poverty and abundance, and grace and unworthiness in interesting ways.
We refer to temple reliefs and the way the Isaiah 6 text might be a political satire of Assyrian temple imagery. You can find an example of such a relief here- https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/W_1849-0502-15 (note the posture of the attendants)2025-01-2931 minBy the WellC208 Epiphany 4Hi listeners, we're on a summer hiatus so this episode is a re-post from 3 years ago. We believe its still relevant and will assist you in preparing to preach from these texts.
Jeremiah 1:4-10, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, and Luke 4:21-30 are the focus this episode. We discuss Paul’s ode to love and locate this ethic within his and other Christian teaching. Jeremiah and Luke both point to the challenge of prophetic call. Luke 4 continues to reveal Jesus’ identity and ministry focus.
We refer to bell hooks and Oda Wischmeyer’s Love as Agape.2025-01-2231 minBy the WellC207 Epiphany 3Hi listeners, we're on a summer hiatus so this episode is a re-post from 3 years ago. We believe its still relevant and will assist you in preparing to preach from these texts.Nehemiah 8:1-10, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31, and Luke 4:14-21 are discussed this week. Luke and Nehemiah invite reflection on how we interpret Scripture and its fundamental role in grounding and forming the gathered people of God. In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul offers the metaphor of the body to describe the way the Christian community is in unity through the Spirit and yet has difference and diversity as an essential...2025-01-1530 minBy the WellC206 Epiphany 2Fran and Robyn discuss Isaiah 62:1-5; 1 Cor 12:1-11, and the wedding at Cana passage from John 2:1-11. 2025-01-1532 minBy the WellC205 Baptism of Jesus (Epiphany 1)Robyn and Fran discuss Isaiah 43:1-7; Acts 8:14-17; Luke 3:15-17, 21-222025-01-0229 minBy the WellC204 Advent 4Dorothy and Fran discussed Micah 5:2-5, Hebrews 5:1-10 and Luke 1:39-55, and mentioned Brendan Byrne’s Hospitality of God2024-12-1129 minBy the WellC203 Advent 3Dorothy and Fran discussed: Zephaniah 3:14-20 and Luke 3:7-18.
We mentioned Nick Cave’s Red Hand Files2024-12-0927 minBy the WellC202 Advent 2In this episode Dorothy Lee and Robyn Whitaker delve into the Advent 2 themes. We unpack Malachi 3:1-4; Luke 1:68-79 and Luke 3:1-6.
We mention the following books:
Brendan Byrne's Hospitality of God
Fleming Rutledge, Advent: The Once and Future Coming of Jesus Christ
During Advent we are delighted to have Dorothy Lee as a special guest co-host. The Rev'd Professor Dorothy Lee is an Australian theologian, New Testament scholar and Anglican priest, formerly dean of the Trinity College Theological School, Melbourne, a college of the University of Divinity, and Stewart Professor of N...2024-11-2829 minBy the WellC201 Advent 1During Advent we welcome Dorothy Lee as a special guest co-host. The Rev'd Professor Dorothy Lee is an Australian theologian, New Testament scholar and Anglican priest, formerly dean of the Trinity College Theological School, Melbourne, a college of the University of Divinity, and Stewart Professor of New Testament. She is author of numerous books including The Ministry of Women in the New Testament, Transfiguration, and Flesh and Glory.
In this episode Dorothy Lee and Robyn Whitaker delve into the Advent 1 theme of HOPE. We unpack Jeremiash 33:14-16 and Luke 21: 25-36.
2024-11-2129 minBy the WellC200 Preaching Luke in Year CAs we prepare for the focus on Luke's Gospel for Year C, Robyn Whitaker sat down to talk about themes in Luke with two experts. Bart Bruehler and Kylie Crabbe have both worked extensively on Luke-Acts. In this special episode we unpack the background to Luke, themes and theology, how Luke relates to the other gospels, and what preachers might want to think about as they delve into Luke's gospel in the year ahead.
Professor Bart Bruehler is Director of Biblical Studies at Uniting College for Leadership and Theology, Adelaide, within the University of Divinity. He is au...2024-11-1845 minBy the WellB249 Reign of ChristFor the week of Christ the King/Reign of Christ Robyn, David Kim and Fran discuss 2 Samuel 23:1-7, Revelation 1:4b-8 and John 18:33-372024-11-1432 minBy the WellB248 Pentecost 26Monica and Fran discuss 1 Samuel 1:4-20; 2:1-10, and Mark 13:1-82024-11-0733 minBy the WellB247 Pentecost 25Sean and Robyn discuss Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17 and Mark 12:38-44 with a slight reference to Hebrews 9:24-28.2024-10-3026 minBy the WellB245 Pentecost 23Howard and Fran discuss Job 42:1-6, 10-17; Psalm 34:1-8 (19-22); Mark 10:46-52
We mention Kylie Crabbe's website Biblical Disability2024-10-1733 minBy the WellB244 Pentecost 22Sally and Monica discuss the readings for October 20, 2024 (Pentecost 22) - Job 38:1-7 (34-41); Ps 91:9-16 Hebrews 5:1-10 and Mark 10:35-45. 2024-10-1029 minBy the WellB243 Pentecost 21Robyn and Sally discuss suffering and questions of theodicy and discipleship in Job 23:1-9, 16-17; Psalm 22:1-15; and Mark 10:17-31 with a brief note about Hebrew 4:12-162024-10-0233 minBy the WellB242 Pentecost 20Monica Melanchthon and Miguel de la Torre talk about Job1:1, 2:1-10 and Mark 10:2-16 for Pentecost Week 20.2024-09-2623 minBy the WellB241 Pentecost 19Howard and Fran discuss Esther 7:1-6, 9010; 9:20-22
We mention the Bible Project's Esther video
Sam Wells' commentary from the Brazos series on Esther2024-09-1830 minBy the WellB240 Pentecost 18Monica and Fran discuss Psalm 1; Proverbs 31:10-31; James 3:13-4:3; 7-8a; Mark 9:30-37
We mention Sally Douglas' Jesus Sophia
Brendan Byrne's A Costly Freedom: A Theological Reading of Mark's Gospel2024-09-1233 minBy the WellB239 Pentetost 17Robyn Whitaker and guest co-host Rev. Alistair Macrae explore the dynamics of speech in Psalm 19 and James 3:1-12 as well as the call to "pick up one's cross" and be prepared to suffer for the gospel in Mark 8:27-38.
we refer to Call and Consequence by Racquel St Clair, Morality by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, and C.S. Lewis.2024-09-0528 minBy the WellB238 Pentecost 16Robyn is joined by Rev. Alistair Macrae to discuss Psalm 125, James 2:1-7, and Mark 7:24-37. We talk about favouritism, racism, and how the gospel compels us to act across boundaries.
We mention Garry Deverell's book Gondwana Theology.2024-08-2931 minBy the WellB237 Pentecost 15In this episode Sean talks with Sandy about readings from the Song of Songs 2:8–13; Mark 7:1–5, 14–15, 21–23; and James 1:17–27. They talk about the spring time imagery in the Song's celebration of love, about Jesus' teaching on purity and defilement, and the practical wisdom of James.
The Bible Studies prepared for the 2022 Synod of the Uniting Church in Victoria and Tasmania on the theme 'Arise and Come With Me' can be found in .pdf form with study / reflection questions here.2024-08-2029 minBy the WellB236 Pentecost 14Kyie and Fran discuss 1 Kings 8: (1, 6, 10-11), 22-30; 41-43; Psalm 84; Ephesians 6:10-20
We mention a video about the Solomon's Temple Construction;
an article by Walter Brueggemann in Sojourners
and Martin Wright's book The Dividing Wall: Ephesians and the Integrity of the Corpus Paulinum2024-08-1535 min