Narrative Lectionary: The Gifts of Pentecost

Acts 2:1-4 and 1 Corinthians 12:1-13 Our Narrative Lectionary Year ends this week with Pentecost. There are suggested sermon series through the summer, if you’re interested, at Working Preacher. Today’s WP commentary is here. Bible Worm Podcast is here. Bible Worm also suggests a summer preaching series at their site. But before summer preaching decisions,… Read More

Narrative Lectionary: The World Turned Upside Down (Acts 17:1-9, 1 Thess 1)

The Narrative Lectionary continues its sweep through Acts, this week with the story of Paul and Silas in Thessalonica. We see the story as Luke tells it in Acts and the way Paul refers to it in a letter to the church. This is a good text to offer when people in the pews tell… Read More

Narrative Lectionary: Ash Wednesday (Mark 9:30-37) and Lent One–All You Have (Mark 10:17-31)

This week is a twofer! Ash Wednesday is tomorrow and we begin Lent with this passage from Mark 9:30-37. Working Preacher commentary here.  While Jesus tries to teach the disciples about the suffering, betrayal, and death that he’s heading toward, the disciples are arguing about which of them is the greatest. Not their finest moment,… Read More

Narrative Lectionary: An Intent to Heal (Mark 5:21-43)

Mark 5:21-43 This week, we continue through Mark’s story of Jesus, where he’s healing people society isn’t all that sure they want healed, and he’s calming storms. He’s teaching in parables. Today’s story has the story of the woman who touches Jesus in the crowd, bookended by the story of Jairus’ daughter. Working Preacher commentary… Read More

Narrative Lectionary: Beginning of the Good News

Merry Christmas Eve, and I apologize for showing up here and reminding us that as soon as we get done with Silent Night, we get to do it again on Sunday. Merry Christmas, preachers! The Narrative Lectionary moves to the Gospel of Mark with the beginning of the Good News, which begins with John the… Read More

Narrative Lectionary: Many Verses to God’s Love Song

This week’s Narrative Lectionary passage gives us two passages from Isaiah. The first is the love song of the vineyard yielding bad fruit in chapter five. The second is from chapter eleven, a passage we often hear during Advent, where a shoot grows from the stump of Jesse. Commentary at Working Preacher is here. A… Read More

Narrative Lectionary:Saints and Servants

This week we have a reading from 1 Kings 12:1-17, 25-29. Commentary at Working Preacher is here. Last week, we had an idyllic glimpse of King David, a united kingdom, and a moment where David danced before the Lord, as the ark was brought back and God was centered in the life of Israel. That… Read More

Narrative Lectionary:God’s People Let Go

This week, we leave behind the matriarchs and patriarchs of Genesis and have one week in the Exodus story. The passage is Exodus 1:8-14 [15-2:10]; 3:1-15. Commentary at Working Preacher is here. As I read through the text, I was heartbroken to recognize the strategy of Pharaoh in my own governmental leaders as they speak… Read More

Pentecost Preacher Party

Pentecost is this weekend. It’s one of my congregation’s favorite church days, and they like to decorate boldly. We make Pentecost a “season” because we never want to take down the decorations. Will you celebrate the church’s ‘birthday’? Some congregations have birthday parties, where people bring gifts of paper towels, copy paper, coffee, or other… Read More