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 4: 2017 - 2018
Previous year: 2016-2017 | Next year: 2018-2019
| Date | Service/Theme | Readings | Search | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, Sep 10, 2017 | Creation | Genesis 1:1-2:4a; Creation by the word; light, life; It was good John 1:1-5; In the beginning was the Word, all things were made through him  Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Sep 17, 2017 | Abraham | Genesis 21:1-3, 22:1-14; God keeps his word to give Abraham and Sarah a son in their old age. Abraham is told to sacrifice his beloved son, but God provides the lamb John 1:29; Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Sep 24, 2017 | Jacob and Joseph | Genesis 27:1-4, 15-23, 28:10-17; Jacob obtains a blessing by trickery and flees. He dreams of a ladder on which the angels ascend and descend. Receives God's promise John 1:50-51; Angels ascending and descending on the Son of Man Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Oct 01, 2017 | Exodus | Exodus 2:23-25, 3:1-15, 4:10-17; God reveals that his name is "I Am." Moses is a reluctant messenger, but God uses him to deliver Israel. John 8:58; Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, before Abraham was, I Am" Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Oct 08, 2017 | Law and Wilderness | Exodus 16:1-18; People complain and God provides manna. To live by manna is to live by faith in what God gives. John 6:51; Jesus is the living bread that came down from heaven; the bread he gives is his flesh Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Oct 15, 2017 | Judges | 1 Samuel 3:1-21; God calls Samuel in the night. He says, Speak Lord for your servant is listening. Told to warn of sin in Israel. John 20:21-23; As the Father sent me so I send you; if you forgive the sins of any they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any they are retained Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Oct 22, 2017 | David | 1 Sam 16:1-13 Psalm 51:10-14; God does not look on outward appearance but on the heart; create in me a clean heart John 7:24; Do not judge by appearances but judge with right judgment Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Oct 29, 2017 | Solomon to the Divided Kingdom | 1 Kings 5:1-5, 8:1-13; Solomon's temple – a place of sacrifice and divine presence John 2:19-21; Destroy the temple and I will raise it in three days; he spoke of the temple of his body Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Nov 05, 2017 | Elijah and Elisha | 1 Kings 19:1-18; Elijah at Horeb; The prophet in despair, God speaks in the silence John 12:27-28; Jesus is troubled; What shall I say, Father save me from this hour? No, for this reason I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Nov 12, 2017 | Minor prophets | Amos 1:1-2, 5:14-15, 21-24; Let justice roll down like waters & righteousness like an ever- flowing stream John 7:37-38; Jesus said, "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water." Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Nov 19, 2017 | Isaiah and Hezekiah | Isaiah 9:1-7; People who walked in darkness have seen a great light John 8:12; I am the light of the world Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Nov 26, 2017 | Jeremiah and Josiah | Jeremiah 29:1, 4-14; Seek the welfare of the city; I know the plans I have for you John 14:27; Peace I leave with you; Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not let them be afraid Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Dec 03, 2017 | Into Exile | Daniel 3:1, 8-30; Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; God present in the fiery furnace John 18:36-37; Jesus tells Pilate that his kingdom is not from this world. He came to bear witness to the truth. Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Dec 10, 2017 | Return From Exile | Ezekiel 37:1-14; Ezekiel prophesies to the dry bones and they are raised to new life. John 11:25-26; Jesus is the resurrection and the life Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Dec 17, 2017 | Return from Exile | Isaiah 55:1-13; Let anyone who is thirsty come to the waters; God's word will not return empty John 4:13-14; Jesus promises the gift of living water to those who thirst Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Dec 24, 2017 | Preparing for the Messiah's birth | John 1:1-18; The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Dec 24, 2017 | Christmas Eve | Luke 2:1-14 (15-20); Birth of Jesus Psalm 96:7-10; Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Mon, Dec 25, 2017 | Christmas Day | Luke 2:8-20; Shepherds visit the infant Jesus or Matthew 2:1-12; The Magi Psalm 102:13-15; Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Dec 31, 2017 | Christmas 1 | John 1:19-34; John the Baptist questioned; says he is not the Christ, Elijah, or the prophet but a voice in the wilderness Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Jan 07, 2018 | Christmas 2 | John 1:35-51; Behold the Lamb of God, Call of disciples, "Come and see" Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Jan 14, 2018 | Epiphany 1 | John 2:1-11; Wedding at Cana, water into wine Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Jan 21, 2018 | Epiphany 2 | John 2:13-25; Jesus cleanses the temple, signifying the destruction and raising of the temple of his body Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Jan 28, 2018 | Epiphany 3 | John 3:1-21; Jesus and Nicodemus, being born anew, and God's love for the world Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Feb 04, 2018 | Epiphany 4 | John 4:1-42; Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at well, speaks of living water, true worship, and the fields white for harvest Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| (Not this year) | Epiphany 5 | John 4:46-54; Healing official's son, faith in the word of promise and/or John 5:1-18; Invalid at Bethesda, Jesus heals one who shows no faith Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| (Not this year) | Epiphany 6 | John 6:35-59; The Bread of Life that comes from heaven Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| (Not this year) | Epiphany 7 | John 7:37-52; Jesus' promise of the Spirit's living water Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| (Not this year) | Epiphany 8 | John 8:12-30; Light of the world Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Feb 11, 2018 | Transfiguration | John 9:1-41; Jesus is the light of the world – brings light to the eyes of a man born blind Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Wed, Feb 14, 2018 | Ash Wednesday | John 10:1-18; Jesus the gate and good shepherd, who lays down his life Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Feb 18, 2018 | Lent 1 | John 11:1-44; Raising Lazarus, Jesus as the resurrection and life Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Feb 25, 2018 | Lent 2 | John 13:1-17; Footwashing as a sign of Jesus' love and example Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Mar 04, 2018 | Lent 3 | John 18:12-27; Trial before Annas, Peter's denial Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Mar 11, 2018 | Lent 4 | John 18:28-40; Jesus and Pilate, kingdom not from this world Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Mar 18, 2018 | Lent 5 | John 19:1-16a; Jesus is condemned, they have no king but Caesar Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Mar 25, 2018 | Palm Sunday | John 19:16b-22; Sign above the cross proclaims curcified king Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Thu, Mar 29, 2018 | Maundy Thursday | John 19:23-30; Woman, behold your son, I thirst, It is finished Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Fri, Mar 30, 2018 | Good Friday | John 19:31-42; His bones are not broken (as Passover Lamb), water from the side, a royal burial Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Apr 01, 2018 | Easter | John 20:1-18; Resurrection, empty tomb, calls Mary by name EARLY CHURCH Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Apr 08, 2018 | Easter 2 | John 20:19-31; Giving of Spirit, appearance to Thomas Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Apr 15, 2018 | Easter 3 | Acts 9:1-19a; Paul and Ananias, each called into Christ's service (locally and globally) Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Apr 22, 2018 | Easter 4 | Acts 16:16-34; Paul and Silas in prison at Philippi, jailor and his family are baptized Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, Apr 29, 2018 | Easter 5 | Acts 17:16-31; Paul's sermon at Athens: What you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, May 06, 2018 | Easter 6 | Philippians 1:1- 18a; Paul in prison, thankful for the Philippians' partnership in the gospel Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, May 13, 2018 | Easter 7 | Phil 2:1-13; Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who became obedient to death Read all. | Find Related Songs | |
| Sun, May 20, 2018 | Pentecost | Acts 2:1-21, Phil 4:4-7; Pentecost and gift of the Spirit as miracle of communication optional: Phil 4:4-7; Rejoice in the Lord always. The peace of God Read all. | Find Related Songs |