by Steve Thomason | Nov 27, 2023 | Bible
This post offers visual resources for the Revised Common Lectionary and the Narrative Lectionary for December 3, 2023. This is the first week of Advent. We light the candle of HOPE. The RCL takes us to Isaiah, Psalms, 1 Corinthians, and Mark to offer texts of waiting and watching for the coming Messiah. The NL takes us to Jeremiah were we see another depiction of the Messiah as a shoot of Jesse emerging from the stump of Judah.
by Steve Thomason | Nov 20, 2023 | Bible
This post offers visual resources for the Revised Common Lectionary and the Narrative Lectionary for November 26, 2023. This is Christ the King Sunday, or The Reign of Christ Sunday. The RCL offers visions of the Messiah from Ezekiel 34 and Ephesians 1. The Gospel is Matthew 25:31-46. This scene of the Son of Man seated at the right hand of God concludes the Eschatological Discourse. The NL jumps to the story of Josiah in 2 Kings. He is an image of a good king in Judah. The Gospel reading is Luke 24:30-32 where Jesus eats with the disciples in Emmaus.
by Steve Thomason | Nov 13, 2023 | Bible
This post offers visual resources for the Revised Common Lectionary and the Narrative Lectionary for November 19, 2023. The RCL jumps to Judges and the story of Deborah for the first reading. The second reading is Zephaniah 1. The third reading marks the fifth week in 1 Thessalonians. The Gospel is Matthew 25:14-30. This is the parable of the talents that is part of the Eschatological Discourse. The NL jumps to the words of Isaiah 5 and 11 where Israel is compared to a vineyard that must be severely pruned. The Gospel reading is Mark 12:1-3 where Jesus tells the parable of the wicked tenants. I titled this Servants of the Vineyard because both lectionaries are dealing with the reckoning that must come when leaders misuse the gifts God has given them.
by Steve Thomason | Nov 6, 2023 | Bible
This post offers visual resources for the Revised Common Lectionary and the Narrative Lectionary for November 12, 2023. The RCL jumps to the end of Joshua for the first reading. The second reading is Amos 5. The third reading marks the fourth week in 1 Thessalonians. The Gospel is Matthew 25:1-13. This is the parable of the ten bridesmaids that is part of the Eschatological Discourse. The NL jumps to the words of Hosea 11:1-9. The Gospel reading is Mark 10:13-14 where Jesus welcomes the children to him. All of these passages are tough to read because they bring the balance of the suffering that comes when we don’t live in the love of God with the grace and forgiveness of the heart of God.
by Steve Thomason | Oct 30, 2023 | Bible
This post offers visual resources for the Revised Common Lectionary and the Narrative Lectionary for November 5, 2023. The RCL begins the story of Joshua with the crossing of the Jordan River. The second reading is Micah 3. The third reading marks the third week in 1 Thessalonians. The Gospel is Matthew 23:1-12 where Jesus speaks boldly to the crowd against the hypocrisy and failure of the religious leaders in Jerusalem. The NL explores the story of Elijah and his confrontation with the corrupt leaders of Israel and the prophets of Baal. The Gospel reading is Mark 9:2-4, the Transfiguration. I titled this post “When Leaders Lose Their Way” because both lectionaries have strong prophets speaking truth to corrupt power.
