Sermon Brainwave 1022: Fourth Sunday of Easter - May 11, 2025

Welcome to another thought-provoking episode of Sermon Brainwave! This week, our hosts Karoline Lewis, Matt Skinner, and Rolf Jacobson dive deep into the lectionary texts for the Fourth Sunday of Easter (May 11, 2025)—including John 10:22-30, Acts 9:36-43, Psalm 23, and Revelation 7:9-17—with a special focus on Good Shepherd Sunday.

We’ve all heard the image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd, but what if your understanding of that metaphor is incomplete—or even "lame," as the hosts boldly say? What if the image of shepherd is not just pastoral comfort, but a royal claim, a radical act of intimacy, and a call to relationship?

🔍 In this episode: - Discover why John 10:22-30 isn’t just a sweet sheep story but a bold revelation of Jesus’ divine identity. - Learn how Psalm 23 is about more than comfort—it’s about pursuit, provision, and power. - Explore the deeply human and touching story of Tabitha/Dorcas in Acts 9, a leader, disciple, and clothing maker whose resurrection reveals the personal and communal dimensions of new life. - Unpack the apocalyptic hope of Revelation 7, where the Shepherd becomes the Lamb, and where tears are wiped away for good.

✨ Whether you’re preparing to preach or simply longing to deepen your spiritual insight, this episode will equip you with fresh angles, biblical depth, and a few laughs along the way.

Commentaries for the Fourth Sunday of Easter can be found on the Working Preacher website at https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/fourth-sunday-of-easter-3/commentary-on-john-1022-30-6.

⏰Timecodes⏰ 00:00  Introduction to texts for the Fourth Sunday of Easter 01:20  Exploring the Good Shepherd Theme 08:40  The Significance of the Temple and Jesus' Identity 13:34  The Role of Tabitha in Acts 9 20:29  Revelation 7: The Great Multitude and Martyrdom 23:02  Outro

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Reminder: We have commentaries for the Revised Common Lectionary, the Narrative Lectionary, and Evangelio (Spanish-language Gospel). We're here for you, working preachers!

Learn more by visiting https://www.workingpreacher.org/.

Watch this episode on YouTube at https://youtu.be/ZogsBSOeVno.