Lectionary blog: Geography of sin and righteousness
Lectionary Blog

Lectionary blog: Geography of sin and righteousness

Lectionary for July 25, 2021 Ninth Sunday after Pentecost 2 Samuel 11:1-15, Psalm 14 (5), Ephesians 3:14-21, John 6:1-21 This week is yet the latest in a series of Hebrew…

Lectionary blog: God’s humble service
Lectionary Blog

Lectionary blog: God’s humble service

Lectionary for July 18, 2021 Eighth Sunday after Pentecost 2 Samuel 7:1-14, Psalm 89:20-37 Ephesians 2:11-22, Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 It will come as no surprise to regular readers that the…

Lectionary blog: Royal overconfidence and the Spirit
Lectionary Blog

Lectionary blog: Royal overconfidence and the Spirit

Lectionary blog for July 11, 2021 Seventh Sunday after Pentecost 2 Samuel 6; Psalm 24 Ephesians 1:3-14; Mark 6:14-29 This week’s lectionary readings tell the story of two very different…

Lectionary blog: Exclusion and embrace
Lectionary Blog

Lectionary blog: Exclusion and embrace

Lectionary blog for July 4, 2021 Sixth Sunday after Pentecost 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10; Psalm 48 2 Corinthians 12:2-10; Mark 6:1-13 Like the title of theologian Miroslav Volf’s life-giving book,…

Lectionary blog: Blunting the sting of death
Lectionary Blog

Lectionary blog: Blunting the sting of death

Lectionary for June 27, 2021 Fifth Sunday after Pentecost 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27; Psalm 130; 2 Corinthians 8:7-15; Mark 5:21-43 In this week’s readings, both the king of Israel and…

Lectionary blog: Overcoming <i>spiritual</i> evil
Lectionary Blog

Lectionary blog: Overcoming spiritual evil

Lectionary for June 20, 2021 Fourth Sunday after Pentecost 1 Samuel 17:32-49; Psalm 9:9-20; 2 Corinthians 6:1-13; Mark 4:35-41 This week’s passages tell of two occasions when other-than-human evil attempted…

Lectionary blog: The Spirit is always working
Lectionary Blog

Lectionary blog: The Spirit is always working

Lectionary for June 13, 2021 Third Sunday after Pentecost 1 Samuel 15:34-16:13; Psalm 20; 2 Corinthians 5:6-10; Mark 4:26-34 This week’s Hebrew Bible passage tells the story of God choosing…

Lectionary: Who do you follow?
Lectionary Blog

Lectionary: Who do you follow?

Lectionary for June 2, 2021 Second Sunday after Pentecost 1 Samuel 8:4-11; Psalm 138; 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1; Mark 3:20-35 Both the Hebrew Bible and Gospel texts for this week carry…

Lectionary blog: Nicodemus and the heavenly temple
Lectionary Blog

Lectionary blog: Nicodemus and the heavenly temple

Lectionary for May 30, 2021 Trinity Sunday First Sunday after Pentecost Isaiah 6:1-8, Psalm 29, Romans 8:12-17; John 3:1-17 In this week’s readings, we return to the scene between Jesus…

Lectionary blog: Listen up!
Lectionary Blog

Lectionary blog: Listen up!

Lectionary for May 23, 2021 Day of Pentecost Acts 2:1-21, Psalm 104:24-34, 35b; John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 I love Pentecost. It’s my second favorite holiday in the ecclesial calendar. I just…

Lectionary blog: Jesus & graduation
Lectionary Blog

Lectionary blog: Jesus & graduation

Lectionary for May 16, 2021 Seventh Sunday of Easter Acts 1:15-26; Psalm 1 (6) 1 John 5:9-13; John 17:6-19 This week’s readings describe huge transitions on both sides of the…

Lectionary: Friendship, love & costly obedience
Lectionary Blog

Lectionary: Friendship, love & costly obedience

Lectionary blog for May 9, 2021 Sixth Sunday of Easter Acts 10:44-48; Psalm 98 (4); 1 John 5:1-6; John 15:9-17 The good news is blunt this week: Jesus’ friendship is…