The "What" and the "Why"

The "What" and the "Why"

Author: Cory Driver January 5, 2026 Duration: 6:12

Isaiah 42:1-9; Acts 10:34-43; Matthew 3:13-17 - A lot of times, we are searching for the "what?". What's the meaning of life? What is my purpose? What is the correct way to life? What am I doing? This week, the lectionary readings assume you already know the "what". Instead, they move to focus on the "why" behind these questions.


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
Jesus' Temple Welcome [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:23
Hebrews 9:24-28 & Mark 12:38-44: Have you ever been nervous to enter a religious space, like when visiting a new church for the first time? I know I have! This week, the lectionary texts talk about how, who and what Jesu…
Jesus' Kindness [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:53
Hebrews 9:11-14 & Mark 12:28-34 - One of my best friends started a program in New Testament, she loves the learning, but misses academic kindness and fuller inclusion. This experience is all too common in our congregatio…
For the Better, and for Good [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:05
Hebrews 7:23-38 & Mark 10:46-52 You like show tunes? I know I do! And as I was reading the passages for this week, I couldn't help but think how "wicked"ly aligned they were with being changed for the better and for good…
"Not this Way Among You!" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:36
Hebrews 5:1-10 & Mark 10:35-45 - Have you ever noticed that people in power like to, you know, wield that power? It's fun to be in charge and make other people do what you want them to do! We see this from the playground…
Faithfulness in the Wilderness [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:42
Hebrews 4:12-16 & Mark 10:17-31Blech! That in-between feeling where the action has started, but we haven't accomplished the goals yet. In the doldrums in-between starting a project and turning it in; beginning therapy an…
Jesus & Family [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:26
Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12 & Mark 10:2-16Is this the week when we're assigned one of the divorce passages? Yes. Can we locate this passage inside of God's care for humans and Jesus' welcome into a new kind of family? You'd be…
Wisdom of Preparation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:15
Proverbs 31:10-31; James 3:13-4:3 & Mark 9:30-37 - we all know "haste makes waste," right? But we don't always live it, and frequently wait until it's too late to prepare for challenges that come our way. Here's a little…
Choosing the Right Words [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:03
James 3: 1-12 & Mark 8:27-38 - Everybody knows that what we say matters, and that our words have consequences, right? Well, maybe not everybody... but still, Jesus and his brother James want us all to know that what we s…
Jesus Encounters Neighbors [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:00
Mark 7:24-37 - When a Syrophonenician woman impacts Jesus' ministry...