Lissa Wray Beal on Why Pastors Need the Old Testament, Faithfully Preaching Trauma Texts, and the Role of Seminary in a Changing Church

The Old Testament can feel daunting to preach, but it’s an essential part of the story we’re called to tell. Many pastors avoid preaching texts of violence, trauma, and grief but what if these difficult texts are exactly what our churches need to hear? In this conversation, Old Testament scholar and Anglican priest Dr. Lissa Wray Beal offers a thoughtful and deeply encouraging guide for engaging the harder parts of Scripture. Drawing from her current writing on the book of Jeremiah and her years of pastoral ministry and academic scholarship, Lissa makes the case that these ancient texts are essential for helping congregations find language in time of suffering and struggle.

Together Lissa and Jason explore:

- Preaching texts of trauma with both theological clarity and pastoral care, especially in communities shaped by grief, abuse, or injustice,

- Finding solidarity with Jeremiah as a model for faithful ministry in seasons of exhaustion, obscurity, or rejection,

- Navigating denominational shifts with humility, theological conviction, and an openness to the diverse expressions of the Church,

- Recovering the Psalms as vital resources for congregational prayer, especially in times of cultural and spiritual disorientation,

- Rethinking the future of seminaries: the importance of embodied formation, theological depth, and renewed partnership with the Church.

Lissa is thoughtful and pastoral, blending scholarly depth with real-world insight. This is a thoughtful conversation about formation in the word, pastoral faithfulness, and the steady grace of God in the complexity of everyday life.

Show Notes

• Lissa Wray Beal’s Publications
• The Pastorate Listener Survey
• Fall 2025 Pastors Retreat at Barnabas Landing

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Special thanks to the Canadian Bible Society for making this episode possible. We invite you to explore their ⁠Bible Course⁠ to help your church grow in Scripture engagement.