Category Archives: Lectionary

Passion Sunday

Posted on March 21, 2016 by theoutwardquest

Yesterday I used the taunts calling Jesus to come down from the cross as the basis for a Passion Sunday talk. The story is in Mark 15:29-32: Those who passed by defamed him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You who … Continue reading →

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Ezra and the mixture of joy and sorrow

Posted on December 14, 2015 by theoutwardquest

Our young preacher uses images projected on a screen to illustrate his sermons. Yesterday he made a point about the readings from Ezra that I discussed in a post last week. Solomon’s temple–the first temple–had been grander than the one Ezra … Continue reading →

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Advent 3-a meditation on the post-exilic period

Posted on December 8, 2015 by theoutwardquest

For the third Sunday in Advent the Narrative Lectionary has the theme of the Rebuilding of the Temple and uses Ezra 1:1-4; 3:1-4, 10-13 as the suggested reading. However, since it is a narrative lectionary and the next story will be … Continue reading →

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Advent meditation-a quiet exodus

Posted on December 1, 2015 by theoutwardquest

The narrative lectionary puts the reading for the second Sunday in Advent between the story of Josiah’s attempt to get the people of Jerusalem to worship the true God and John the Baptist’s much later call for repentance.  The words … Continue reading →

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Lectionary censorship and a proposal

Posted on November 30, 2015 by theoutwardquest

A lectionary is a collection of scripture readings appointed for reading in worship on a given day or occasion.  Christian lectionaries usually follow the seasons of the church year; Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, Pentecost, etc. For many years as a preacher … Continue reading →

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The historical Elijah

Posted on November 6, 2015 by theoutwardquest

The sermon I am preparing is about the prophet Elijah.  Our pastor uses something called the Narrative Lectionary.  So I am going to (sort of) use the scripture that comes up for November 8 in that.   I am going to … Continue reading →

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Easter-Psalm 118

Posted on April 14, 2014 by theoutwardquest

I live near Kansas City.  If you have been paying attention to the news at all, you know that an antisemite shot people in the parking lots at a Jewish complex in Overland Park, Kansas yesterday.  I am familiar with … Continue reading →

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Lent-Psalm 31

Posted on April 8, 2014 by theoutwardquest

On the Sunday before Easter there are options for the readings. You can treat the day as Palm Sunday and stress Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. It is a parade. People shout, “Hosanna”. In many churches there is a procession … Continue reading →

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Lent-Psalm 130

Posted on April 1, 2014 by theoutwardquest

Psalm 130 is the psalm  reading in the Revised Common Lectionary for the 5th Sunday in Lent this Psalm 130 is actually a very optimistic psalm. But it starts out with a cry from the depths. We have the phrase, … Continue reading →

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Lent-Psalm 23

Posted on March 24, 2014 by theoutwardquest

The 23rd Psalm is the reading for the 4th Sunday of Lent. This Psalm is so familiar that we have a hard time hearing it as though for the first time. One verse that jars a little is the one … Continue reading →

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