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 3: 2024 - 2025

Previous year: 2023-2024 | Next year: 2025-2026

DateService/ThemeReadingsSearch
Sun, Sep 08, 2024CreationGenesis 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

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Sun, Sep 15, 2024AbrahamGenesis 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

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Sun, Sep 22, 2024Jacob 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

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Sun, Sep 29, 2024ExodusExodus 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

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Sun, Oct 06, 2024Law 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"

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Sun, Oct 13, 2024Judges1 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

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Sun, Oct 20, 2024David2 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

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Sun, Oct 27, 2024Solomon 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

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Sun, Nov 03, 2024Elijah 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

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Sun, Nov 10, 2024Minor 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

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Sun, Nov 17, 2024Isaiah 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

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Sun, Nov 24, 2024Jeremiah 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

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Sun, Dec 01, 2024Into 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

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Sun, Dec 08, 2024Return 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

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Sun, Dec 15, 2024Return 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

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Sun, Dec 22, 2024Preparing 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

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Tue, Dec 24, 2024Christmas EveLuke 2:1-14 (15-20); Birth of Jesus
Psalm 96;

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Wed, Dec 25, 2024Christmas DayLuke 2:8-20; Shepherds visit the infant Jesus
or Matthew 2:1-12; The Magi
Psalm 123:1-2;

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Sun, Dec 29, 2024Christmas 1Luke 2:21-38; Simeon and Anna, Lord now you let your servant depart in peace, my eyes have seen your salvation

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Sun, Jan 05, 2025Christmas 2Luke 2:41-52; Jesus in the temple at age twelve. He is in "his Father's house"

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Sun, Jan 12, 2025Epiphany 1Luke 3:1-22; John baptizes, bear fruit worthy of repentance, share what you have

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Sun, Jan 19, 2025Epiphany 2Luke 4:14-30; Sermon at Nazareth (Isaiah fulfilled, Elijah and widow, Elisha and Naaman)

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Sun, Jan 26, 2025Epiphany 3Luke 5:1-11; Great catch of fish, Peter will fish for people

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Sun, Feb 02, 2025Epiphany 4Luke 6:1-16; Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath (plucking grain, healing a man) and call of disciples

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Sun, Feb 09, 2025Epiphany 5Luke 7:1-17; Healing the centurion's slave by a word and raising the widow's son at Nain

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Sun, Feb 16, 2025Epiphany 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

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Sun, Feb 23, 2025Epiphany 7Luke 7:36-50; Sinful woman weeps at Jesus' feet and is forgiven

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(Not this year)Epiphany 8Luke 8:1-3, 16-21; True family of Jesus

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Sun, Mar 02, 2025TransfigurationLuke 9:28-45; Transfiguration, healing a boy with a demon, passion prediction

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Wed, Mar 05, 2025Ash 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

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Sun, Mar 09, 2025Lent 1Luke 10:25-42; Parable of the Good Samaritan

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Sun, Mar 16, 2025Lent 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

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Sun, Mar 23, 2025Lent 3Luke 15:1-32; Parables of the lost sheep, lost coin, Prodigal Son

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Sun, Mar 30, 2025Lent 4Luke 16:19-31; Parable of the rich man and Lazarus

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Sun, Apr 06, 2025Lent 5Luke 18:31-19:10; Healing a blind man, Zacchaeus. Jesus came to seek and save the lost

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Sun, Apr 13, 2025Palm SundayLuke 19:29-44; Triumphal entry, weeping over the city because it does not know what makes for peace

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Thu, Apr 17, 2025Maundy ThursdayLuke 22:1-27; Preparation for the Last Supper, Words of Institution, Jesus is one who serves

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Fri, Apr 18, 2025Good FridayLuke 23:32-47; Crucifixion, Father forgive them, Today in Paradise, Into your hands I commend my Spirit

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Sun, Apr 20, 2025EasterLuke 24:1-16; Empty tomb, women perplexed, bring the message.

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Sun, Apr 27, 2025Easter 2Luke 24:13-35; Emmaus road Our hearts burned along the road, as he opened to us the Scriptures

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Sun, May 04, 2025Easter 3Acts 6:1-7:2a, 7:44-60; Controversy in the early church; some set aside for service. Stephen forgives and is martyred.

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Sun, May 11, 2025Easter 4Acts 8:26-39; Ethiopian reads the Scriptures, comes to believe

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Sun, May 18, 2025Easter 5Acts 15:1-17; Council at Jerusalem Faith gives identity to both Jews and Gentiles

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Sun, May 25, 2025Easter 6Galatians 1:13- 17, 2:11-21; Paul's former life Conflict with Peter at Antioch Justification by faith, living by faith

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Sun, Jun 01, 2025Easter 7Gal 3:1-9, 23-29; Neither Jew or Greek, slave or free, male and female; one in Christ

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Sun, Jun 08, 2025PentecostActs 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

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Previous year: 2023-2024 | Next year: 2025-2026