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.

Click on "Find Related Songs" to search for worship songs for a given service.

Skip to this week's readings.

Year 3: 2012 - 2013

Previous year: 2011-2012 | Next year: 2013-2014

DateService/ThemeReadingsSearch
Sun, Sep 09, 2012CreationGenesis 2:4b-7, 15-17, 3:1-8; Creation, Garden of Eden, fall into sin
Luke 11:4; Forgive our sins, save us from the time of trial

Read all.
Find Related Songs
Sun, Sep 16, 2012AbrahamGenesis 15:1-6; God promises Abraham descendants as numerous as the stars. Abraham believed the Lord and it was reckoned to him as righteousness
Luke 3:8; People are to bear the fruit of repentance, for God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones

Read all.
Find Related Songs
Sun, Sep 23, 2012Jacob and JosephGenesis 37:3-8, 26-34, 50:15-21; Joseph's dreams lead to family conflict and he is sold into slavery. Yet in the end Joseph forgives. Behind the scenes God works for good.
Luke 6:35; Love your enemies and you will be children of God, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked

Read all.
Find Related Songs
Sun, Sep 30, 2012ExodusExodus 12:1-13, 13:1-8; Passover: the blood of the lamb and unleavened bread signify God's sacrifice of the lamb God's deliverance
Luke 22:14-20; Jesus' words at Passover, bread and cup are his body and blood

Read all.
Find Related Songs
Sun, Oct 07, 2012Law and WildernessExodus 32:1-14; Golden calf shows unfaithfulness at the foot of Mount Sinai. Moses intercedes and God forgives.
Luke 23:34; Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing"

Read all.
Find Related Songs
Sun, Oct 14, 2012Judges1 Samuel 1:9-11, 19-20, 2:1-10; Samuel's birth as God's answer to Hannah's prayer. She sings of God's care for the needy.
Luke 1:47-55; Mary's magnificat echoes Hannah's song

Read all.
Find Related Songs
Sun, Oct 21, 2012David2 Samuel 7:1-17; God's promise to David concerning his heir, who will be God's Son and whose kingdom will endure forever
Luke 1:30-33; The angel tells Mary that she will bear the one who will receive the throne of his ancestor David

Read all.
Find Related Songs
Sun, Oct 28, 2012Solomon to the Divided Kingdom1 Kings 5:1-5, 8:27-30, 41-43; Solomon fulfills the promise to David and builds the temple. It is a place of prayer for all nations
Luke 19:45-46; Jesus says the temple is to be a house of prayer; he cleanses it

Read all.
Find Related Songs
Sun, Nov 04, 2012Elijah and Elisha1 Kings 17:1-16 (or 17:1-24); Elijah and the widow; God's care for those on the margin
Luke 4:24-26; Jesus' sermon about Elijah and the widow: God's mercy to an outsider

Read all.
Find Related Songs
Sun, Nov 11, 2012Minor prophetsJonah 1:1-17, 3:1-10 (4:1-11); Jonah's attempted escape from God, God's mercy on the repentant at Nineveh
Luke 18:13; Lord be merciful to me, a sinner

Read all.
Find Related Songs
Sun, Nov 18, 2012Isaiah and HezekiahIsaiah 6:1-8; Call of Isaiah: Holy, holy, holy is God; the prophet's sin, cleansing, and sending
Luke 5:8-10; Peter says depart from me for I am a sinful man; Jesus says Peter will be catching people

Read all.
Find Related Songs
Sun, Nov 25, 2012Jeremiah and JosiahJeremiah 36:1-8, 21-23, 27-28, 31:31-34; Jeremiah's words are written on a scroll. He calls for repentance, but the king burns the scroll and Jeremiah must produce another. His message promises a new covenant.
Luke 22:19-20; At the last supper: This cup is the new covenant in Jesus' blood

Read all.
Find Related Songs
Sun, Dec 02, 2012Into ExileDaniel 6:6-27; Daniel in the lions' den; deliverance; hope for God's kingdom which shall never be destroyed
Luke 23:1-5; False charges against Jesus. Pilate says Jesus is innocent, but the charges lead to condemnation

Read all.
Find Related Songs
Sun, Dec 09, 2012Return From ExileJoel 2:12-13, 28-29; Turning to a merciful God, promise of the Spirit
Luke 11:13; God's gift of the Spirit to people

Read all.
Find Related Songs
Sun, Dec 16, 2012Return from ExileIsaiah 61:1-11; The Spirit of the Lord is upon me to bring good news to the oppressed, liberty to the captives, to make an everlasting covenant
Luke 4:16-21; Jesus' sermon at Nazareth: Isaiah 61 is fulfilled in him

Read all.
Find Related Songs
Sun, Dec 23, 2012Preparing for the Messiah's birthLuke 1:26-49; Announcement of Jesus' birth to Mary; he will receive the throne of David and be Son of God

Read all.
Find Related Songs
Mon, Dec 24, 2012Christmas EveLuke 2:1-14 (15-20); Birth of Jesus
Psalm 96;

Read all.
Find Related Songs
Tue, Dec 25, 2012Christmas DayLuke 2:8-20; Shepherds visit the infant Jesus
or Matthew 2:1-12; The Magi
Psalm 123:1-2;

Read all.
Find Related Songs
Sun, Dec 30, 2012Christmas 1Luke 2:21-38; Simeon and Anna, Lord now you let your servant depart in peace, my eyes have seen your salvation

Read all.
Find Related Songs
(Not this year)Christmas 2Luke 2:41-52; Jesus in the temple at age twelve. He is in "his Father's house"

Read all.
Find Related Songs
Sun, Jan 06, 2013Epiphany 1Luke 3:1-22; John baptizes, bear fruit worthy of repentance, share what you have

Read all.
Find Related Songs
Sun, Jan 13, 2013Epiphany 2Luke 4:14-30; Sermon at Nazareth (Isaiah fulfilled, Elijah and widow, Elisha and Naaman)

Read all.
Find Related Songs
Sun, Jan 20, 2013Epiphany 3Luke 5:1-11; Great catch of fish, Peter will fish for people

Read all.
Find Related Songs
Sun, Jan 27, 2013Epiphany 4Luke 6:1-16; Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath (plucking grain, healing a man) and call of disciples

Read all.
Find Related Songs
Sun, Feb 03, 2013Epiphany 5Luke 7:1-17; Healing the centurion's slave by a word and raising the widow's son at Nain

Read all.
Find Related Songs
(Not this year)Epiphany 6Luke 7:18-35; Tell John what you see and hear, the blind receive, sight, the lame walk, and blessed are those who take no offense at Jesus

Read all.
Find Related Songs
(Not this year)Epiphany 7Luke 7:36-50; Sinful woman weeps at Jesus' feet and is forgiven

Read all.
Find Related Songs
(Not this year)Epiphany 8Luke 8:1-3, 16-21; True family of Jesus

Read all.
Find Related Songs
Sun, Feb 10, 2013TransfigurationLuke 9:28-45; Transfiguration, healing a boy with a demon, passion prediction

Read all.
Find Related Songs
Wed, Feb 13, 2013Ash WednesdayLuke 9:51-62; Jesus starts for Jerusalem, rejected in Samaria, Don't put your hand to the plow and turn back (the challenge of following Jesus

Read all.
Find Related Songs
Sun, Feb 17, 2013Lent 1Luke 10:25-42; Parable of the Good Samaritan

Read all.
Find Related Songs
Sun, Feb 24, 2013Lent 2Luke 13:1-9, 31- 35; The tower in Siloam and need for repentance, parable of fig tree that bore no fruit, lament over Jerusalem

Read all.
Find Related Songs
Sun, Mar 03, 2013Lent 3Luke 15:1-32; Parables of the lost sheep, lost coin, Prodigal Son

Read all.
Find Related Songs
Sun, Mar 10, 2013Lent 4Luke 16:19-31; Parable of the rich man and Lazarus

Read all.
Find Related Songs
Sun, Mar 17, 2013Lent 5Luke 18:31-19:10; Healing a blind man, Zacchaeus. Jesus came to seek and save the lost

Read all.
Find Related Songs
Sun, Mar 24, 2013Palm SundayLuke 19:29-44; Triumphal entry, weeping over the city because it does not know what makes for peace

Read all.
Find Related Songs
Thu, Mar 28, 2013Maundy ThursdayLuke 22:1-27; Preparation for the Last Supper, Words of Institution, Jesus is one who serves

Read all.
Find Related Songs
Fri, Mar 29, 2013Good FridayLuke 23:32-47; Crucifixion, Father forgive them, Today in Paradise, Into your hands I commend my Spirit

Read all.
Find Related Songs
Sun, Mar 31, 2013EasterLuke 24:1-16; Empty tomb, women perplexed, bring the message.

Read all.
Find Related Songs
Sun, Apr 07, 2013Easter 2Luke 24:13-35; Emmaus road Our hearts burned along the road, as he opened to us the Scriptures

Read all.
Find Related Songs
Sun, Apr 14, 2013Easter 3Acts 6:1-7:2a, 7:44-60; Controversy in the early church; some set aside for service. Stephen forgives and is martyred.

Read all.
Find Related Songs
Sun, Apr 21, 2013Easter 4Acts 8:26-39; Ethiopian reads the Scriptures, comes to believe

Read all.
Find Related Songs
Sun, Apr 28, 2013Easter 5Acts 15:1-17; Council at Jerusalem Faith gives identity to both Jews and Gentiles

Read all.
Find Related Songs
Sun, May 05, 2013Easter 6Galatians 1:13- 17, 2:11-21; Paul's former life Conflict with Peter at Antioch Justification by faith, living by faith

Read all.
Find Related Songs
Sun, May 12, 2013Easter 7Gal 3:1-9, 23-29; Neither Jew or Greek, slave or free, male and female; one in Christ

Read all.
Find Related Songs
Sun, May 19, 2013PentecostActs 2:1-4, Galatians 4:1-7 [5:16-26]; God pours the Spirit into hearts so that we can call on God as Father
and/or Galatians 5:16-26; Fruit of the Spirit

Read all.
Find Related Songs

Previous year: 2011-2012 | Next year: 2013-2014