Narrative Lectionary

The Narrative Lectionary is a four year reading plan that is designed to be read September through May, following the school year. These readings focus on the narrative from Genesis through Jesus life. Find out more about the Narrative Lectionary at WorkingPreacher.org.

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Year 1: 2010 - 2011

Next year: 2011-2012

DateService/ThemeReadingsSearch
Sun, Sep 12, 2010CreationGenesis 6:16-22, 9:8-15; Noah, the flood, and the promise of the rainbow
Matt 8:24-27; Jesus calms the storm

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Sun, Sep 19, 2010AbrahamGenesis 12:1-9; Call of Abraham, promise of land, descendants, blessing to the nations
Matt 28:19-20; Go therefore and make disciples of all nations

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Sun, Sep 26, 2010Jacob and JosephGenesis 39:1-23; Joseph is unjustly put in prison; yet God is present with him there
Matt 5:11-12; Blessed are you when people revile you and utter all kinds of evil falsely on my account

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Sun, Oct 03, 2010ExodusExodus 14:10- 14, 21-29; The sea parts at the exodus; this is God's gift of deliverance
Matt 2:13-15; Mary, Joseph, and Jesus in Egypt, out of Egypt have I called my son

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Sun, Oct 10, 2010Law and WildernessExodus 19:3-7, 20:1-17; God brings Israel to himself as on eagle's wings; 10 Commandments
Matthew 5:17; Jesus came not to abolish the law and prophets but to fulfill them

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Sun, Oct 17, 2010JudgesJoshua 24:1-15; Story of God's deliverance. Joshua says, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord"
Matthew 4:8-10; Satan offers Jesus all the kingdoms of the world, but Jesus says "Worship God and serve only him"

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Sun, Oct 24, 2010David2 Samuel 12:1-9; Psalm 51:1-9; Nathan's parable indicts David after his sin with Bathsheba. David is moved to repent.
Matt 21:33-41; Parable about the wicked tenants

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Sun, Oct 31, 2010Solomon to the Divided Kingdom1 Kings 3:4-9, (10-15), 16-28; Solomon prays for wisdom. The case of two prostitutes and a child
Matthew 6:9-10; Pray in this way, Our Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done

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Sun, Nov 07, 2010Elijah and Elisha2 Kings 5:1-14; Elisha heals Naaman the Syrian, who was a foreigner and leper
Matthew 8:2-3; Jesus heals a leper, "I will, be clean"

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Sun, Nov 14, 2010Minor prophetsMicah 5:2-4, 6:6-8; God's promise of a ruler from Bethlehem; God desires justice, kindness, walking humbly with God
Matthew 9:13; God desires mercy, not sacrifice

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Sun, Nov 21, 2010Isaiah and HezekiahIsaiah 36:1-3, 13-20, 37:1-7, 2:1-4; Assyria threatens Jerusalem and King Hezekiah despairs. Isaiah says the city will be saved. The greater promise is that Jerusalem will be a center for teaching and the nations will beat swords into plowshares
Matthew 5:14; Light of the world, city on a hill

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Sun, Nov 28, 2010Jeremiah and JosiahJeremiah 1:4- 10, 7:1-11; Jeremiah's call as promise and warning; the temple as a den of robbers
Matt 21:12-13; Jesus cleanses the temple, which has become a den of robbers

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(Not this year)Into ExileHabakkuk 1:1-4, 2:2-4, 3:17-19; The prophet is grieved by injustice and suffering. He watches for God's reply: Faith is a way of life, not an easy answer
Matt 26:36-38; In Gethsemane Jesus is grieved and asks the disciples to watch with him

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Sun, Dec 05, 2010Return From ExileEsther 4:1-17; For such a time as this, Esther was made queen.
Matthew 5:13-16;

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Sun, Dec 12, 2010Return from ExileIsaiah 42:1-9; God's servant in whom he delights. Through the Spirit he will bring justice and release to the prisoners. He will be a light to the nations
Matt 12:15-21; This passage is used for the ministry of Jesus

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Sun, Dec 19, 2010Preparing for the Messiah's birthMatthew 1:18-25; Announcement of Jesus' birth to Joseph; Jesus will be Immanuel

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Fri, Dec 24, 2010Christmas EveLuke 2:1-14 (15-20); Birth of Jesus
Psalm 96:10-13;

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Sat, Dec 25, 2010Christmas DayLuke 2:8-20; Shepherds visit the infant Jesus
Psalm 95:6-7;

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Sun, Dec 26, 2010Christmas 1Matthew 2:1-12; The Magi visit the infant Jesus

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Sun, Jan 02, 2011Christmas 2Matthew 2:1-23; The Magi visit the infant Jesus; flight into Egypt, massacre of the innocents, the return to Nazareth

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Sun, Jan 09, 2011Epiphany 1Matthew 3:1-17; John the Baptist, Jesus is baptized to fulfill all righteousness

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Sun, Jan 16, 2011Epiphany 2Matthew 4:1-17; Jesus tempted in the wilderness

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Sun, Jan 23, 2011Epiphany 3Matthew 5:1-20; Beatitudes, Salt of the earth Let your light shine

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Sun, Jan 30, 2011Epiphany 4Matthew 6:7-21; Lord's prayer, treasure in heaven
and/or Matthew 6:25-34; Lilies of the field

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Sun, Feb 06, 2011Epiphany 5Matthew 7:1-14, 24-29; Speck in the eye, narrow gate, wise man builds house on rock

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Sun, Feb 13, 2011Epiphany 6Matt 13:24-45; Parable of wheat and weeds

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Sun, Feb 20, 2011Epiphany 7Matt 14:13-33; Feeding the 5,000; walking on the sea

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Sun, Feb 27, 2011Epiphany 8Matt 15:10-20; Things that defile

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Sun, Mar 06, 2011TransfigurationMatthew 16:24 - 17:8; Passion prediction, bearing the cross, Transfiguration

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Wed, Mar 09, 2011Ash WednesdayMatthew 18:1-9; Debate about who is the greatest, become like a child; if your right hand causes sin cut it off

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Sun, Mar 13, 2011Lent 1Matt 18:15-38; Church discipline, forgiving 70x7, parable of unforgiving servant

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Sun, Mar 20, 2011Lent 2Matthew 20:1-16; Parable of laborers in vineyard

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Sun, Mar 27, 2011Lent 3Matthew 22:1-14; Parable of the wedding banquet

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Sun, Apr 03, 2011Lent 4Matthew 25:1-13; Parable of the bridesmaids
and/or Matt 25:14-30; Parable of the talents

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Sun, Apr 10, 2011Lent 5Matt 25:31-46; Parable of the Last judgment

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Sun, Apr 17, 2011Palm SundayMatthew 21:1-17; Triumphal entry, cleansing temple

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Thu, Apr 21, 2011Maundy ThursdayMatt 26:17-30; Preparing for the Last Supper, mention of betrayal, Words of Institution

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Fri, Apr 22, 2011Good FridayMatt 27:27-61; Crucifixion, My God, my God why have you forsaken me

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Sun, Apr 24, 2011EasterMatthew 28:1-10; Resurrection, empty tomb, women encounter the risen Jesus

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Sun, May 01, 2011Easter 2Matt 28:16-20; Great commission, Go therefore and make disciples of all nations

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Sun, May 08, 2011Easter 3Acts 10:1-17, 34-48; Peter's vision shows that God cleanses people of every nation

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Sun, May 15, 2011Easter 4Acts 13:1-3, 14:8-18; Beginning of Paul's mission. Healing at Lystra, gospel to the Gentile world

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Sun, May 22, 2011Easter 5Romans 1:1-17; Gospel as power of God for salvation to all, both Jews and Greeks

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Sun, May 29, 2011Easter 6Romans [3:28-30] 5:1-11; God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Spirit; Christ died for the ungodly

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Sun, Jun 05, 2011Easter 7Romans 6:1-14; We were buried with him by baptism into death, so that we might walk in newness of life; hope of resurrection

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Sun, Jun 12, 2011PentecostActs 2:1-4, Romans 8:14-39; The groaning of creation, Spirit helps us in our weakness, nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus

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Next year: 2011-2012