# First Reading First Reading offers exegetical resources for the Old Testament Lectionary reading each week. Dr. Rachel Wrenn is Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies at Trinity Lutheran Seminary (Capital University), Rosy Kandathil is a PhD candidate in Hebrew Bible at Emory University, Dr. Tim McNinch is Assistant Professor of Hebrew Bible at Christian Theological Seminary, and Paul Essah is a PhD student in Hebrew Bible at Yale University. In addition to short weekly episodes, they periodically invite a… Page: Feed: --- ## [Habakkuk 1:1–4; 2:1–4](https://firstreadingpodcast.com/podcast/habakkuk-11-4-21-4-3/) _2025-09-22 · Rev. Rachel Wrenn, PhD; Rosy Kandathil, JD; Paul Essah, MDiv; Tim McNinch, PhD_ From the Vault Lectionary Date: October 5, 2025 \[17th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C\] Preaching from Habakkuk this week? Consider these episodes from the First Reading vault: Please take a moment to subscribe to the First Reading YouTube channel , and consider sharing with your networks and social media platforms. Thanks so much! [Listen](https://firstreadingpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Hab-1-2022.mp3) ## [Amos 6:1a, 4–7](https://firstreadingpodcast.com/podcast/amos-61a-4-7-2/) _2025-09-16 · Rev. Rachel Wrenn, PhD; Rosy Kandathil, JD; Paul Essah, MDiv; Tim McNinch, PhD_ Party Episode! Lectionary Date: September 28, 2025 \[16th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C\] It's a party episode: all four of us discuss Amos's scathing critique. Please take a moment to subscribe to the First Reading YouTube channel , and consider sharing with your networks and social media platforms. Thanks so much! [Listen](https://firstreadingpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Amos-6-2025.mp3) ## [Amos 8:4–7](https://firstreadingpodcast.com/podcast/amos-84-7-2/) _2025-09-08 · Rev. Rachel Wrenn, PhD; Rosy Kandathil, JD; Paul Essah, MDiv; Tim McNinch, PhD_ God Remembers Lectionary Date: September 21, 2025 \[15th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C\] Paul and Rosy are back for a conversation about economic exploitation—nothing new under the sun! Please take a moment to subscribe to the First Reading YouTube channel , and consider sharing with your networks and social media platforms. Thanks so much! [Listen](https://firstreadingpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Amos-8-2025.mp3) ## [Exodus 32:7–14](https://firstreadingpodcast.com/podcast/exodus-327-14-2/) _2025-09-01 · Rev. Rachel Wrenn, PhD; Rosy Kandathil, JD; Paul Essah, MDiv; Tim McNinch, PhD_ Repentance Lectionary Date: September 14, 2025 \[14th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C\] Rosy and Paul discuss the theme of repentance in all of this week's readings. Please take a moment to subscribe to the First Reading YouTube channel , and consider sharing with your networks and social media platforms. Thanks so much! [Listen](https://firstreadingpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Exod-32-2025.mp3) ## [Deuteronomy 30:15–20](https://firstreadingpodcast.com/podcast/deuteronomy-3015-20-2/) _2025-08-25 · Rev. Rachel Wrenn, PhD; Rosy Kandathil, JD; Paul Essah, MDiv; Tim McNinch, PhD_ Choosing Life Lectionary Date: September 7, 2025 \[13th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C\] Paul puts Moses and Jesus into conversation to discuss what it means to "choose life." Please take a moment to subscribe to the First Reading YouTube channel , and consider sharing with your networks and social media platforms. Thanks so much! [Listen](https://firstreadingpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Deut-30-2025.mp3) ## [Proverbs 25:6–7](https://firstreadingpodcast.com/podcast/proverbs-256-7-2/) _2025-08-20 · Rev. Rachel Wrenn, PhD; Rosy Kandathil, JD; Paul Essah, MDiv; Tim McNinch, PhD_ Genuine Humility Lectionary Date: August 31, 2025 \[12th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C\] What do pride and humility actually look like? Rosy sees a theme in this week's lectionary readings! Please take a moment to subscribe to the First Reading YouTube channel , and consider sharing with your networks and social media platforms. Thanks so much! [Listen](https://firstreadingpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Prov-25-2025.mp3) ## [Isaiah 58:9b–14](https://firstreadingpodcast.com/podcast/isaiah-589b14-vault/) _2025-08-12 · Rev. Rachel Wrenn, PhD; Rosy Kandathil, JD; Paul Essah, MDiv; Tim McNinch, PhD_ From the Vault: God's Call Lectionary Date: August 24, 2025 \[11th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C\] We'll be back with new full episodes starting next week! In the meantime, here's an episode on this week's lectionary text from the First Reading vault! Please take a moment to subscribe to the First Reading YouTube channel , and consider sharing with your networks and social media platforms. Thanks… [Listen](https://firstreadingpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Isa-58b.mp3) ## [Summer Shorts: Isaiah 5:1–7](https://firstreadingpodcast.com/podcast/summer-shorts-isaiah-51-7/) _2025-08-04 · Rev. Rachel Wrenn, PhD; Rosy Kandathil, JD; Paul Essah, MDiv; Tim McNinch, PhD_ A Painful Conversation Lectionary Date: August 17, 2025 \[10th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C\] Paul explores a painful AND hopeful dialogue between Israel and God, in the vineyard metaphor. Please take a moment to subscribe to the First Reading YouTube channel , and consider sharing with your networks and social media platforms. Thanks so much! [Listen](https://firstreadingpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/SS-Isa-5-2025.mp3) ## [Summer Shorts: Genesis 15:1–3](https://firstreadingpodcast.com/podcast/summer-shorts-genesis-151-3/) _2025-07-29 · Rev. Rachel Wrenn, PhD; Rosy Kandathil, JD; Paul Essah, MDiv; Tim McNinch, PhD_ Faith that Does No Harm Lectionary Date: August 10, 2025 \[9th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C\] Rosy traces the theme of faith through all of this week's readings. Please take a moment to subscribe to the First Reading YouTube channel , and consider sharing with your networks and social media platforms. Thanks so much! [Listen](https://firstreadingpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/SS-Gen-15-2025.mp3) ## [Earn crypto for idle GPUs (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/FMpacVGOkDLy) _2025-07-29 · **Sponsored**_ Run one CLI, host Qwen/Llama/Mistral, and earn BTC, ETH, SOL, or USDC ## [Summer Shorts: Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12–14; 2:18–23](https://firstreadingpodcast.com/podcast/summer-shorts-ecclesiastes-12-12-14-218-23/) _2025-07-21 · Rev. Rachel Wrenn, PhD; Rosy Kandathil, JD; Paul Essah, MDiv; Tim McNinch, PhD_ An Invitation to Discernment of Wisdom Lectionary Date: August 3, 2025 \[8th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C\] Tim's turn to point out a tension between Qohelet's wisdom and Jesus's parable. Please take a moment to subscribe to the First Reading YouTube channel , and consider sharing with your networks and social media platforms. Thanks so much! [Listen](https://firstreadingpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Qoh-2-2025.mp3)