Faith Sold Separately - Proper 14A (August 9, 2026)

Two Pittsburgh comedians and two Lutheran pastors read the week's gospel cold and see what happens. This week: Peter gets out of the boat, immediately regrets it, and Jesus does not let him drown.

Resident Comic Theologians Abby Evans and Erick Williams join Pastor Bob and Pastor Eric to work out what walking on water actually feels like (bouncy house floor, it turns out), whether Jesus timed his midnight lake stroll for maximum dramatic effect, and why the guy who sinks is the one the church gets built on.

Also discussed:

• Whether a library card is the sexiest thing on the planet, and whether a second library card in the next town over improves on that
• The Sea of Galilee's rumored walk-on-water tourist platform, and whether monetizing Christianity is still Christianity
• Christian comedy as one of the few scenes that actually pays mid-tier artists — and the very serious cost of that bargain, especially for young women
• A 50-second detour into Jonathan Rundman's "Xian Bookstore" that stops the room cold
• Judas volunteering to handle the money, which everyone agrees should have been a red flag
• Mike Flanagan's Midnight Mass, and why "be not afraid" is load-bearing advice
• The Jesus Christ lizard of central Florida

"You are going to do amazing things that you have no idea how you did. You're going to somehow find the courage to do them. Then you're going to mess them up, and Jesus is still going to love you and take care of you. That's more of the gospel in a nutshell to me than John 3:16." — Pastor Eric Damon

Matthew 14:22–33 (NRSVue)

[22] Immediately he made the disciples get into a boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. [23] And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, [24] but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. [25] And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. [26] But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. [27] But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” [28] Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” [29] He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. [30] But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” [31] Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” [32] When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. [33] And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

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"Xian Bookstore" by Jonathan Rundman, used by special permission of the artist. Find more at jonathanrundman.bandcamp.com.

Follow Abby on Instagram @itsabbye and Erick @comicaledubs. Follow the show @cptbpod.

Hosted by Pastor Eric Damon and Pastor Bob Schaefer.

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Music: Trickster by Phat Sounds
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10864-trickster
Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Scripture quotations are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.