Opening Doors

Opening Doors

Author: Cory Driver April 24, 2025 Duration: 7:02

Acts 5:27-32 & John 20:19-31 - We hear it all the time: "When God Closes a Door, God opens a window..." God opening and closing doors as a metaphor is both ancient and Biblical. What do the lectionary readings have to say about Jesus and doors? And why is knowing the difference between Pharisees and Sadducees so important? [I'm looking at you, "King of Kings" movie...]


For those who carry the responsibility of weekly preaching, the days are full-pastoral care, administration, and the quiet work of prayer can easily push sermon preparation to the margins. Moving Forward-Weekly Lectionary Podcast is designed to be a practical companion within that busy rhythm. Hosted by Cory Driver, this weekly audio resource arrives every Monday, offering roughly ten minutes of focused reflection on the upcoming Revised Common Lectionary readings. The idea is simple: to provide a thoughtful starting point early in your week, so you’re never truly beginning from a blank page, even if time forces you to start writing later. Driver shares his perspective to spark your own engagement with the texts, aiming to lighten the load of initial research. This isn't about delivering a finished sermon, but about offering a catalyst for your own creative and spiritual process. By integrating this short, consistent podcast into your routine, you gain a reliable touchpoint for the scriptural themes awaiting your congregation. It’s a tool for pastors and lay leaders alike who seek a structured yet flexible approach to connecting the ancient texts with contemporary life, helping you move forward with a bit more clarity and a little less pressure each week.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Moving Forward - Weekly Lectionary Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Reversals [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:22
Isaiah 1:10-18 & Luke 19:1-10 - Ever been surprised at what happens in a worship setting? Me too! Actually, according to Isaiah, God finds what goes in in worship shocking! God cannot stand public worship practiced by pe…
Righteousness & Contempt [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:30
Luke 18:9-14 - When someone creates Jesus as a mascot for their evil, what are we supposed to do about it? What happens when someone collaborates with evil, and oppresses their neighbors? The Gospel this week ruffles som…
Don't Let Go! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:10
Genesis 32 & Luke 18 - Like a mountain climber nearing the summit, like a wrestler at the end of a long match, or like a marginalized person struggling for justice in a corrupt system - we are called to stay in the quest…
Welcoming the "Wrong" Worship [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:42
2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15c; Luke 17:11-19 "But what if we don't believe the same things? How can we worship together? What if that person is hurting our community?" This is what I've been struggling with this week. What can th…
"Increase Our Faith[fulness]!" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:31
Hab 1:1-4, 2:1-4; Psa 37:1-9; Luke 17:5-10 In confusing, disorienting and sometimes scary times, what does God want from us? Probably the same thing that God wants from us in every other time - ordinary faithfulness to b…
Dangerous Wealth [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:27
Amos 6:1, 4-7; Psa 146; 1 Tim 6:6-19; Luke 16:19-31 "Get Rich or Die Trying"...? More likely, "get rich, and die [period]" The lectionary passages this week warn of the dangers of accumulating or even having wealth in a…
Serving Two Masters [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:09
Amos 8:4-7 & Luke 16:1-13It's not like this is EVER topical when it comes up, is it? There is a battle on, for the soul of humans, and God and mammon are fighting it. Both sides are trying to recruit you!
The Joy of Repentance [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:37
Exodus 32:7-14; Psalm 51:1-10; 1 Tim 1:12-17; Luke 15:1-10 - This week, the lectionary readings all focus on the joy of repentance and making it right.
Counting the Cost [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:20
Deut 30:15-20; Philemon; Luke 14:25-33 - Going out for a sport? Or, trying to meet a new special someone? Thinking about a change in work? or Thinking about a change in living situations? There are ALWAYS pros and cons w…
Exalting and Humbling [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:26
Proverbs 25:6-7; Psa 112; Hebr 13:1-8, 15-16; Luke 14:1, 7-14One of the axiomatic passages in Scripture for me is James 1:9-10: We rejoice in the humbling of the exalted, and the exalting of the humbling. We see this thr…