Pebbles, Not Stones - Proper 18A (September 6, 2026)

Comedians with Pastors Talking Bible — Pittsburgh standup comics read the week's gospel text cold and talk it out with a couple of Lutheran pastors. It should go badly. It somehow keeps not going badly.

This week Abby Evans and Erick Williams tackle Jesus's step-by-step guide to confronting someone who's wronged you — and end up asking the harder question: what do you do when the institution itself is the one doing the harming?

Also in this episode:

• Jesus, apparently, runs a tight bringer show
• A scientifically rigorous (seventh grade science fair-tested) angels-on-a-pin headcount
• Are we eschatologically done, or just scatologically done? Yes.

"Talk about things when they're pebbles and not yet stones." — Erick Williams

A quick note from Pastor Bob: This one's coming at you a little scrappier than usual — Good Shepherd is in the middle of an actual physical move this week, and it turns out Matthew 18 has no verses covering "what to do when a stack of moving boxes refuses to listen no matter how many witnesses you bring." Grace over timeliness this week, friends.

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Matthew 18:15–20 (NRSVue)

[15] “If your brother or sister sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If you are listened to, you have regained that one. [16] But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. [17] If that person refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church, and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a gentile and a tax collector. [18] Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. [19] Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. [20] For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”

Hosted by Pastor Eric Damon and Pastor Bob Schaefer.

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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.