The Will to Dream Commentary & Preaching Guide

The Will to Dream Commentary & Preaching Guide is an Advent–Epiphany resource offering scripture commentary, weekly sermon scaffolds, and practical tools to support preachers and worship planners.

Theme Overview

In a time when trust feels fragile and divisions run deep, The Will to Dream calls us into holy longing—a sacred desire for a world made whole. Rooted in prophetic imagination, this Advent–Epiphany series helps communities confront despair, embody justice, and claim hope as a radical act. Together, we learn to dream not as escape, but as spiritual resistance—shaped by the visions of Isaiah, the song of Mary, and the stories surrounding Jesus’ birth.

Dreaming is not escape—it’s spiritual resistance. This Commentary & Preaching Guide opens the scriptures with honesty and hope, naming injustice and nurturing prophetic imagination so sermons can move communities toward embodied love.

Weekly Themes:

• Week One: Vigilant Hope (Isaiah’s Vision)
  Isaiah 2:1–5 & Mark 13:24–37
• Week Two: Prophetic Peace (John the Baptist’s Story)
  Matthew 3:1–12 & Malachi 3:1–6
• Week Three: Unexpected Joy (Elizabeth’s Story)
  Luke 1:39–55 & Isaiah 61:1–4, 8–11
• Week Four: Merciful Love (Zechariah’s Story)
  Luke 1:57–80 & Psalm 89:1–4, 19–26
• Christmas: Embodied Promise (Mary’s Story)
  Luke 2:1–20 & Isaiah 9:2–7
• First Sunday after Christmas: Generational Praise (Anna’s Story)
  Luke 2:22–40 & Psalm 148
• Epiphany: Courageous Defiance (Joseph’s Story)
  Matthew 2:1–15 & Exodus 1:8–2:10

Description

Created for pastors, worship leaders, and teachers, this resource helps ground your community in the season’s prophetic imagination. In addition to original commentaries, the preaching guide also includes many tools which will be helpful in planning your Advent–Epiphany preaching. Each week includes:

• Two scripture texts framing the week’s direction
• Original commentary on both texts, written by an experienced biblical scholar to inspire faithful and practical preaching
• A theological summary with justice-centered interpretation
• A character spotlight to engage the text through lived experience
• Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy objectives to guide formation (from remembering to creating)
• A sermon scaffold with suggested paths, illustrations, and applications
• Concise prophetic statements for refrains or takeaways
• Reflection and community questions for small groups or study
• Additional resources to deepen engagement (articles, art, music, media)

What I Get

ZIP File Download

• PDF with Commentary & Preaching Guide covers Advent, Christmas, the First Sunday after Christmas, and Epiphany
• PDF with Hymn Recommendations