“That sort of Christianity …”
Lectionary Blog

“That sort of Christianity …”

Lectionary for June 21, 2026 Fourth Sunday after Pentecost Jeremiah 20:7-13; Psalm 69:7-10, 16-18; Romans 6:1-11; Matthew 10:24-39 One of my favorite movies is Kingdom of Heaven from 2005 (the…

Do you really want it?
Lectionary Blog

Do you really want it?

Lectionary for June 14, 2026 Third Sunday after Pentecost Exodus 19:2-8a; Psalm 100; Romans 5:1-8; Matthew 9:35–10:8 My job is to help college students integrate their faith-driven values into their…

Loving-kindness, not sacrifice
Lectionary Blog

Loving-kindness, not sacrifice

Lectionary for June 7, 2026 Second Sunday after Pentecost Hosea 5:15–6:6; Psalm 50:7-15; Romans 4:13-25; Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26 Have you ever been in a difficult position, such as financial trouble…

New things!
Lectionary Blog

New things!

Lectionary for May 31, 2026 The Holy Trinity First Sunday after Pentecost Genesis 1:1–2:4a; Psalm 8; 2 Corinthians 13:11-13; Matthew 28:16-20 It seems like a lifetime ago, but I had…

Little fires and contextualized words of Pentecost!
Lectionary Blog

Little fires and contextualized words of Pentecost!

Lectionary for May 24, 2026 Day of Pentecost Acts 2:1-21; Numbers 11:24-30; Psalm 104:24-34, 35b; 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13; John 20:19-23 Since I don’t serve a congregation, I rarely put on…

Scattering enemies and making friends
Lectionary Blog

Scattering enemies and making friends

Lectionary for May 17, 2026 Seventh Sunday of Easter Acts 1:6-14; Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35; 1 Peter 4:12-14, 5:6-11; John 17:1-11 Every time I speak at a conference or lead a…

Comforting companion
Lectionary Blog

Comforting companion

Lectionary for May 10, 2026 Sixth Sunday of Easter Acts 17:22-31; Psalm 66:8-20; 1 Peter 3:13-22; John 14:15-21 What is the most recent thing that really brought you comfort? Some…

On martyrdom and violence
Lectionary Blog

On martyrdom and violence

Lectionary for May 3, 2026 Fifth Sunday of Easter Acts 7:55-60; Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16; 1 Peter 2:2-10; John 14:1-14 In the New Testament, Jesus’ followers kill exactly zero people. Christians…

The doorkeeper’s voice
Lectionary Blog

The doorkeeper’s voice

Lectionary for April 26, 2026 Fourth Sunday of Easter Acts 2:42-47; Psalm 23; 1 Peter 2:19-25; John 10:1-10 I’ve been a professor long enough now that I’m starting to hear…

Talk it <i>all</i> out!
Lectionary Blog

Talk it all out!

Lectionary for April 19, 2026 Third Sunday of Easter Acts 2:14a, 36-41; Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19; 1 Peter 1:17-23; Luke 24:13-35 There’s just so much information available right now. Do you…

Giving good gifts
Lectionary Blog

Giving good gifts

Lectionary for April 12, 2026 First Sunday of Easter Acts 2:14a, 22-32; Psalm 16; 1 Peter 1:3-9; John 20:19-31 One of the great joys of being a father is witnessing…

We already know
Lectionary Blog

We already know

Lectionary for April 5, 2026 Resurrection of Our Lord Acts 10:34-43; Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; Colossians 3:1-4; Matthew 28:1-10 What’s worse than someone beating you to your punchline when you try…