Podcast
The Alabaster Jar
Hosted by Dr. Lynn Cohick · EN
The Alabaster Jar is a weekly podcast hosted by Dr. Lynn Cohick. Dr. Cohick is a highly respected New Testament scholar and the founding president of the Center for Women in Leadership, a 501C3 organization designed to encourage women as they minister and lead in the church and in the academy.
38episodes
Episodes
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S6 E50 | The Journey of The Alabaster Jar: Five Years of Women’s Voices and Vision
2w ago00:37:09Tap to summarizeIn this special episode of The Alabaster Jar, Dr. Lynn Cohick and co-host Dr. Josephine Stringer look back on over five years of conversations, featuring more than 250 episodes, 200,000 downloads, and listeners in 25 countries. Lynn shares the story and theological richness behind the podcast’s name, drawn from the New Testament account of the woman with the alabaster jar, and how that narrative has shaped her own discipleship. Together, they revisit memorable guests, humorous moments, tech mishaps, and powerful stories from women leaders, scholars, missionaries, pastors, and writers around the world. They also introduce Let Her Learn, a new initiative of LetHerLead.com designed to create hospitable, accessible spaces for women to pursue deeper theological learning in community. Finally, they reflect on where God may be leading next, especially through fresh scholarship on women in Scripture and a renewed focus on the cross and resurrection in women’s experiences of faith. Resources Mentioned: Women and the Gender of God by Dr. Amy PeelerRediscovering Scripture's Vision for Women: Fresh Perspectives on Disputed Texts by Dr. Lucy PeppiattWhen Courage Calls: Josephine Butler and the Radical Pursuit of Justice for Women by Dr. Sarah C. WilliamsMothers on the Margin?: The Significance of the Women in Matthew's Genealogy by Dr. E. Anne ClemensBecoming Queen Bathsheba by Amanda BedzrahNailing It: Why Successful Leadership Demands Suffering and Surrender by Dr. Nicole Massie Martin The Visual Museum of Women in ChristianityDr. Lynn CohickLet Her Lead Episode Sponsor: The Alabaster Jar is brought to you by The Center for Women in Leadership, a 501©3 nonprofit organization whose purpose is to equip women in a context that is biblically rooted, theologically robust, and ethnically diverse to thrive as leaders in the academy and the Church. Follow them on Instagram @leadershipwithoutapology.
Transcribe →S6 E49 | Dr. Preston Sprinkle | From Genesis to Junia: Rethinking What the Bible Says About Women in Leadership
3w ago00:52:32Tap to summarizeIn this conversation, Dr. Lynn Cohick interviews Dr. Preston Sprinkle about his new book, From Genesis to Junia: An Honest Search for What the Bible Really Says About Women in Leadership, which traces what the Bible says about women in leadership. Preston describes his work as a genuine research journey rather than a defense of a preconceived position, walking listeners through key texts like Genesis 1–3, the Gospels, and difficult Pauline passages. Together they explore how historical context, narrative shape, and women’s lived experience deepen our reading of Scripture. They also highlight the unique resilience and perspective women bring to the church and what men miss when they don’t receive teaching from women.Resources Mentioned: From Genesis to Junia: An Honest Search for What the Bible Really Says About Women in Leadership by Dr. Preston SprinkleTheology in the RawThe Center for Faith, Sexuality, and Gender The Visual Museum of Women in ChristianityLet Her Lead Episode Sponsor: The Alabaster Jar is brought to you by The Center for Women in Leadership, a 501©3 nonprofit organization whose purpose is to equip women in a context that is biblically rooted, theologically robust, and ethnically diverse to thrive as leaders in the academy and the Church. Follow them on Instagram @leadershipwithoutapology.
Transcribe →S6 E48 | Dr. M. Elizabeth Lewis Hall | When the Journey Hurts: Finding God’s Purpose in Our Suffering
4w ago00:51:13Tap to summarizeIn this conversation, Dr. Lynn Cohick interviews Dr. M. Elizabeth Lewis Hall (Liz Hall) about her book When the Journey Hurts: Finding Meaning in Suffering for Heart, Mind, and Soul. Drawing from her own stage two breast cancer diagnosis and a decade of research, Liz explains the psychological concept of meaning-making, distinguishing between global and situational meaning and how their tension fuels distress. They also explore common ways churches mishandle suffering—vagueness, triumphalism, and defensive theodicies—and instead emphasize purposes in suffering, especially deeper intimacy with Christ and participation in His sufferings. Liz and Lynn also discuss practices like lament, active surrender, forgiveness, and testimony as concrete ways Christians can honestly face pain while rooting their stories in God’s larger redemptive narrative.Resources Mentioned: When the Journey Hurts: Finding Meaning in Suffering for Heart, Mind, and Soul by Dr. Kelly Kapic, Dr. M. Elizabeth Lewis Hall, and Dr. Jason McMartinDr. Liz Hall The Visual Museum of Women in ChristianityLet Her Lead Episode Sponsor: The Alabaster Jar is brought to you by The Center for Women in Leadership, a 501©3 nonprofit organization whose purpose is to equip women in a context that is biblically rooted, theologically robust, and ethnically diverse to thrive as leaders in the academy and the Church. Follow them on Instagram @leadershipwithoutapology.
Transcribe →S6 E47 | Tiffany Stein | Mourning God, Mystery, and Hope After Unimaginable Loss
May 2500:49:20Tap to summarizeIn this conversation, Dr. Lynn Cohick interviews Tiffany Stein about her book, Mourning God: Grieving Loss, Wrestling with God, and Finding Your Way Back to Life. Tiffany shares the story of her son David, who lived 53 days in the NICU, and how his death led her into both profound grief and a disorienting season of feeling God’s absence after initially sensing His nearness. Drawing on Tim Keller and others, she describes different kinds of suffering—especially the “suffering of mystery” and the secondary loss of the God you thought you knew—and unpacks practices of lament, honest wrestling, and “joyful sorrow.” Lynn and Tiffany also explore how deep grief reshapes our understanding of God, the role of the church community in carrying the bereaved, and practical ways both to walk through our own grief and to accompany friends in theirs.Resources Mentioned: Mourning God: Grieving Loss, Wrestling with God, and Finding Your Way Back to Life by Tiffany SteinThe Critical Journey: Stages in the Life of Faith by Janet O. Hagberg and Robert A. Guelich Philippians (The Story of God Bible Commentary Book 11) by Dr. Lynn CohickDark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament by Mark VroegopWalking with God through Pain and Suffering by Tim KellerThe Visual Museum of Women in ChristianityLet Her Lead Episode Sponsor: The Alabaster Jar is brought to you by The Center for Women in Leadership, a 501©3 nonprofit organization whose purpose is to equip women in a context that is biblically rooted, theologically robust, and ethnically diverse to thrive as leaders in the academy and the Church. Follow them on Instagram @leadershipwithoutapology.
Transcribe →S6 E46 | Dr. Sandra L. Richter | Reclaiming Proverbs 31: The Heroic Woman at the Heart of Wisdom
May 1800:43:37Tap to summarizeIn this conversation, Dr. Lynn Cohick interviews Dr. Sandra L. Richter, the Robert H. Gundry Chair of Biblical Studies at Westmont College, to talk about reading Proverbs 31 in its ancient context. Richter explains that Proverbs 31 is the climactic conclusion of a high-level work of wisdom literature, framed as the queen mother’s counsel to her son, King Lemuel, about the kind of partner he truly needs. Together they challenge the way Proverbs 31 has been used to burden women with an impossible ideal, showing instead a heroic portrait of a woman, whose economic savvy, courage, and Torah-shaped wisdom build her family and community. Overall, they both highlight how this passage dignifies women’s work in both the domestic and public spheres and reveal the text as surprisingly life-giving and, in many ways, profoundly pro-woman. Resources Mentioned: The Epic of Eden: A Christian Entry into the Old Testament by Dr. Sandra L. RichterThe Epic of Eden Bible Study Guide plus Streaming Video, Updated Edition: Understanding the Old Testament as Your Story by Dr. Sandra L. Richter Psalms Bible Study Guide Plus Streaming Video: An Ancient Challenge to Get Serious About Your Prayer and Worship (Epic of Eden) by Dr. Sandra L. Richter The Visual Museum of Women in ChristianityLet Her Lead Episode Sponsor: The Alabaster Jar is brought to you by The Center for Women in Leadership, a 501©3 nonprofit organization whose purpose is to equip women in a context that is biblically rooted, theologically robust, and ethnically diverse to thrive as leaders in the academy and the Church. Follow them on Instagram @leadershipwithoutapology.
Transcribe →S6 E45 | 1 Corinthians Part 5: Resurrection, New Creation, and Everyday Faithfulness (1 Corinthians 15–16)
May 1100:41:01Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the Alabaster Jar Podcast, Dr. Lynn Cohick and Dr. Josephine Stringer complete the final episode of their 5-part series on the book of 1 Corinthians by exploring Paul’s rich teaching on the resurrection in chapters 15–16 and why a bodily resurrection is central to the Christian faith. They unpack how Christ’s resurrection defeats both sin and death, securing not only our personal hope but the restoration of the whole creation. They discuss the role of the Trinity in redemption, the promise of our own transformed, glorified bodies, and what it means to live in the “already and not yet” between Christ’s resurrection and His return. Resources Mentioned: The Visual Museum of Women in Christianity The Center for Women in Leadership Episode Sponsor: The Alabaster Jar is brought to you by The Center for Women in Leadership, a newly formed 501©3 nonprofit organization whose purpose is to equip women in a context that is biblically rooted, theologically robust, and ethnically diverse to thrive as leaders in the academy, the marketplace, and the Church. Follow them on Instagram @leadershipwithoutapology.
Transcribe →S6 E44 | 1 Corinthians Part 4: Headship, Hierarchy, and the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 11-14)
May 400:42:46Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the Alabaster Jar Podcast, Dr. Lynn Cohick and Dr. Josephine Stringer cover part 4 of their 5-part series on the book of 1 Corinthians by exploring 1 Corinthians 11–14, where Paul addresses worship, headship, and life together in the church. Dr. Cohick unpacks the debated term kephalē (“head”) and considers how early church voices, cultural context, and Paul’s own rhetoric shape our understanding of hierarchy, source, and representation. They then move to women praying and prophesying, spiritual gifts, and the call for orderly worship that builds up the whole body of Christ. Then they conclude on the Lord’s Supper and how status, power, and neglect of the vulnerable can distort true communion, challenging listeners to embody a freedom that expresses itself in love for one another. Resources Mentioned: 1 Corinthians: A Theological, Pastoral, and Missional Commentary by Dr. Michael J. GormanWomen and Worship at Corinth: Paul's Rhetorical Arguments in 1 Corinthians by Dr. Lucy PeppiattThe Visual Museum of Women in Christianity The Center for Women in Leadership Episode Sponsor: The Alabaster Jar is brought to you by The Center for Women in Leadership, a newly formed 501©3 nonprofit organization whose purpose is to equip women in a context that is biblically rooted, theologically robust, and ethnically diverse to thrive as leaders in the academy, the marketplace, and the Church. Follow them on Instagram @leadershipwithoutapology.
Transcribe →S6 E43 | 1 Corinthians Part 3: Freedom to Love in Community (1 Corinthians 7–10)
Apr 2700:34:25Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the Alabaster Jar Podcast, Dr. Lynn Cohick and Dr. Josephine Stringer begin part 3 of their 5-part series on the book of 1 Corinthians by exploring 1 Corinthians, un 7-10, showing that Paul’s vision of freedom in Christ is not for personal autonomy but for loving service within community. They highlight Paul’s radically countercultural teaching on mutuality in marriage and his affirmation of singleness as a faithful vocation, especially for women. Dr. Cohick also unpacks the complex issue of food sacrificed to idols, explaining how knowledge without love can damage weaker believers and compromise Christian witness. Resources Mentioned: The Visual Museum of Women in Christianity The Center for Women in Leadership Episode Sponsor: The Alabaster Jar is brought to you by The Center for Women in Leadership, a newly formed 501©3 nonprofit organization whose purpose is to equip women in a context that is biblically rooted, theologically robust, and ethnically diverse to thrive as leaders in the academy, the marketplace, and the Church. Follow them on Instagram @leadershipwithoutapology.
Transcribe →S6 E42 | 1 Corinthians Part 2: Relearning the Wisdom of the Cross (1 Corinthians 1–6)
Apr 2000:39:36Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the Alabaster Jar Podcast, Dr. Lynn Cohick and Dr. Josephine Stringer embark on episode 2 of this 5-part series on the book of 1 Corinthians by exploring 1 Corinthians 1–6, unpacking Paul’s call to a cross-shaped life marked by humility rather than status or eloquence. Lynn explains how the Corinthians’ fascination with elite leaders, worldly wisdom, and personal freedom clashes with the shame and power of the cross. She also highlights Paul’s warnings about divisions in the church, misguided ideas of “servant leadership,” sexual immorality, and lawsuits among believers, all rooted in a distorted view of spiritual freedom. Resources Mentioned: The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis Leaf by Niggle by J.R.R. Tolkien The Visual Museum of Women in Christianity The Center for Women in Leadership Episode Sponsor: The Alabaster Jar is brought to you by The Center for Women in Leadership, a newly formed 501©3 nonprofit organization whose purpose is to equip women in a context that is biblically rooted, theologically robust, and ethnically diverse to thrive as leaders in the academy, the marketplace, and the Church. Follow them on Instagram @leadershipwithoutapology.
Transcribe →S6 E41 | 1 Corinthians Part 1: Setting the Stage for Corinth
Apr 1300:38:33Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the Alabaster Jar Podcast, Dr. Lynn Cohick and Dr. Josephine Stringer introduce a 5-part series on the book of 1 Corinthians by setting the historical and cultural scene of ancient Corinth. Dr. Cohick explains Paul’s 18‑month ministry there, the city’s significance as a hub for the Isthmian Games, and how its love of rhetoric, status, and public performance shaped the church’s problems and priorities. She also highlights the presence and agency of influential women such as Junia Theodora, Phoebe, and Priscilla, challenging assumptions about women’s roles in Corinth and the early church. They also sketch Paul’s multi‑letter, sometimes painful relationship with the Corinthian church and preview key theological themes of the series: the cross and resurrection, the church as the body of Christ, Christian love, and living in the “now and not yet” between Christ’s resurrection and his return. Resources Mentioned: The Satires by JuvenalThe Visual Museum of Women in Christianity The Center for Women in Leadership Episode Sponsor: The Alabaster Jar is brought to you by The Center for Women in Leadership, a newly formed 501©3 nonprofit organization whose purpose is to equip women in a context that is biblically rooted, theologically robust, and ethnically diverse to thrive as leaders in the academy, the marketplace, and the Church. Follow them on Instagram @leadershipwithoutapology.
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