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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Skip to this week's readings.
Year 3: 2020 - 2021
Previous year: 2019-2020 | Next year: 2021-2022
| Date | Service/Theme | Readings | Search | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, Sep 13, 2020 | Creation | Genesis 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 20, 2020 | Abraham | Genesis 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 27, 2020 | Jacob and Joseph | Genesis 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, Oct 04, 2020 | Exodus | Exodus 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 11, 2020 | Law and Wilderness | Exodus 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 18, 2020 | Judges | 1 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 25, 2020 | David | 2 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, Nov 01, 2020 | Solomon to the Divided Kingdom | 1 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 08, 2020 | Elijah and Elisha | 1 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 15, 2020 | Minor prophets | Jonah 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 22, 2020 | Isaiah and Hezekiah | Isaiah 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 29, 2020 | Jeremiah and Josiah | Jeremiah 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 | |
| (Not this year) | Into Exile | Daniel 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 06, 2020 | Return From Exile | Joel 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 13, 2020 | Return from Exile | Isaiah 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 20, 2020 | Preparing for the Messiah's birth | Luke 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 | |
| Thu, Dec 24, 2020 | Christmas Eve | Luke 2:1-14 (15-20); Birth of Jesus Psalm 96; Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Fri, Dec 25, 2020 | Christmas Day | Luke 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 27, 2020 | Christmas 1 | Luke 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 | |
| Sun, Jan 03, 2021 | Christmas 2 | Luke 2:41-52; Jesus in the temple at age twelve. He is in "his Father's house" Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Jan 10, 2021 | Epiphany 1 | Luke 3:1-22; John baptizes, bear fruit worthy of repentance, share what you have Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Jan 17, 2021 | Epiphany 2 | Luke 4:14-30; Sermon at Nazareth (Isaiah fulfilled, Elijah and widow, Elisha and Naaman) Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Jan 24, 2021 | Epiphany 3 | Luke 5:1-11; Great catch of fish, Peter will fish for people Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Jan 31, 2021 | Epiphany 4 | Luke 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 07, 2021 | Epiphany 5 | Luke 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 6 | Luke 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 7 | Luke 7:36-50; Sinful woman weeps at Jesus' feet and is forgiven Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| (Not this year) | Epiphany 8 | Luke 8:1-3, 16-21; True family of Jesus Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Feb 14, 2021 | Transfiguration | Luke 9:28-45; Transfiguration, healing a boy with a demon, passion prediction Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Wed, Feb 17, 2021 | Ash Wednesday | Luke 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 21, 2021 | Lent 1 | Luke 10:25-42; Parable of the Good Samaritan Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Feb 28, 2021 | Lent 2 | Luke 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 07, 2021 | Lent 3 | Luke 15:1-32; Parables of the lost sheep, lost coin, Prodigal Son Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Mar 14, 2021 | Lent 4 | Luke 16:19-31; Parable of the rich man and Lazarus Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Mar 21, 2021 | Lent 5 | Luke 18:31-19:10; Healing a blind man, Zacchaeus. Jesus came to seek and save the lost Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Mar 28, 2021 | Palm Sunday | Luke 19:29-44; Triumphal entry, weeping over the city because it does not know what makes for peace Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Thu, Apr 01, 2021 | Maundy Thursday | Luke 22:1-27; Preparation for the Last Supper, Words of Institution, Jesus is one who serves Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Fri, Apr 02, 2021 | Good Friday | Luke 23:32-47; Crucifixion, Father forgive them, Today in Paradise, Into your hands I commend my Spirit Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Apr 04, 2021 | Easter | Luke 24:1-16; Empty tomb, women perplexed, bring the message. Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Apr 11, 2021 | Easter 2 | Luke 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 18, 2021 | Easter 3 | Acts 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 25, 2021 | Easter 4 | Acts 8:26-39; Ethiopian reads the Scriptures, comes to believe Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, May 02, 2021 | Easter 5 | Acts 15:1-17; Council at Jerusalem Faith gives identity to both Jews and Gentiles Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, May 09, 2021 | Easter 6 | Galatians 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 16, 2021 | Easter 7 | Gal 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 23, 2021 | Pentecost | Acts 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 |