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 1: 2018 - 2019
Previous year: 2017-2018 | Next year: 2019-2020
| Date | Service/Theme | Readings | Search | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, Sep 09, 2018 | Creation | Genesis 6:16-22, 9:8-15; Noah, the flood, and the promise of the rainbow Matt 8:24-27; Jesus calms the storm  Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Sep 16, 2018 | Abraham | Genesis 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 Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Sep 23, 2018 | Jacob and Joseph | Genesis 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 Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Sep 30, 2018 | Exodus | Exodus 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 Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Oct 07, 2018 | Law and Wilderness | Exodus 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 Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Oct 14, 2018 | Judges | Joshua 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" Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Oct 21, 2018 | David | 2 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 Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Oct 28, 2018 | Solomon to the Divided Kingdom | 1 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 Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Nov 04, 2018 | Elijah and Elisha | 2 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" Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Nov 11, 2018 | Minor prophets | Micah 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 Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Nov 18, 2018 | Isaiah and Hezekiah | Isaiah 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 Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Nov 25, 2018 | Jeremiah and Josiah | Jeremiah 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 Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Dec 02, 2018 | Into Exile | Habakkuk 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 Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Dec 09, 2018 | Return From Exile | Esther 4:1-17; For such a time as this, Esther was made queen. Matthew 5:13-16; Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Dec 16, 2018 | Return from Exile | Isaiah 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 Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Dec 23, 2018 | Preparing for the Messiah's birth | Matthew 1:18-25; Announcement of Jesus' birth to Joseph; Jesus will be Immanuel Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Mon, Dec 24, 2018 | Christmas Eve | Luke 2:1-14 (15-20); Birth of Jesus Psalm 96:10-13; Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Tue, Dec 25, 2018 | Christmas Day | Luke 2:8-20; Shepherds visit the infant Jesus Psalm 95:6-7; Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Dec 30, 2018 | Christmas 1 | Matthew 2:1-12; The Magi visit the infant Jesus Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| (Not this year) | Christmas 2 | Matthew 2:1-23; The Magi visit the infant Jesus; flight into Egypt, massacre of the innocents, the return to Nazareth Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Jan 06, 2019 | Epiphany 1 | Matthew 3:1-17; John the Baptist, Jesus is baptized to fulfill all righteousness Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Jan 13, 2019 | Epiphany 2 | Matthew 4:1-17; Jesus tempted in the wilderness Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Jan 20, 2019 | Epiphany 3 | Matthew 5:1-20; Beatitudes, Salt of the earth Let your light shine Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Jan 27, 2019 | Epiphany 4 | Matthew 6:7-21; Lord's prayer, treasure in heaven and/or Matthew 6:25-34; Lilies of the field Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Feb 03, 2019 | Epiphany 5 | Matthew 7:1-14, 24-29; Speck in the eye, narrow gate, wise man builds house on rock Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Feb 10, 2019 | Epiphany 6 | Matt 13:24-45; Parable of wheat and weeds Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Feb 17, 2019 | Epiphany 7 | Matt 14:13-33; Feeding the 5,000; walking on the sea Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Feb 24, 2019 | Epiphany 8 | Matt 15:10-20; Things that defile Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Mar 03, 2019 | Transfiguration | Matthew 16:24 - 17:8; Passion prediction, bearing the cross, Transfiguration Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Wed, Mar 06, 2019 | Ash Wednesday | Matthew 18:1-9; Debate about who is the greatest, become like a child; if your right hand causes sin cut it off Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Mar 10, 2019 | Lent 1 | Matt 18:15-38; Church discipline, forgiving 70x7, parable of unforgiving servant Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Mar 17, 2019 | Lent 2 | Matthew 20:1-16; Parable of laborers in vineyard Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Mar 24, 2019 | Lent 3 | Matthew 22:1-14; Parable of the wedding banquet Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Mar 31, 2019 | Lent 4 | Matthew 25:1-13; Parable of the bridesmaids and/or Matt 25:14-30; Parable of the talents Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Apr 07, 2019 | Lent 5 | Matt 25:31-46; Parable of the Last judgment Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Apr 14, 2019 | Palm Sunday | Matthew 21:1-17; Triumphal entry, cleansing temple Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Thu, Apr 18, 2019 | Maundy Thursday | Matt 26:17-30; Preparing for the Last Supper, mention of betrayal, Words of Institution Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Fri, Apr 19, 2019 | Good Friday | Matt 27:27-61; Crucifixion, My God, my God why have you forsaken me Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Apr 21, 2019 | Easter | Matthew 28:1-10; Resurrection, empty tomb, women encounter the risen Jesus Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Apr 28, 2019 | Easter 2 | Matt 28:16-20; Great commission, Go therefore and make disciples of all nations Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, May 05, 2019 | Easter 3 | Acts 10:1-17, 34-48; Peter's vision shows that God cleanses people of every nation Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, May 12, 2019 | Easter 4 | Acts 13:1-3, 14:8-18; Beginning of Paul's mission. Healing at Lystra, gospel to the Gentile world Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, May 19, 2019 | Easter 5 | Romans 1:1-17; Gospel as power of God for salvation to all, both Jews and Greeks Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, May 26, 2019 | Easter 6 | Romans [3:28-30] 5:1-11; God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Spirit; Christ died for the ungodly Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Jun 02, 2019 | Easter 7 | Romans 6:1-14; We were buried with him by baptism into death, so that we might walk in newness of life; hope of resurrection Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Jun 09, 2019 | Pentecost | Acts 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 Read all. | Find Related Songs |