Lectionary for Beginners

[[Admin] danroth]

A lectionary is a three year cycle of Bible readings read in some churches during their worship service. Each set of readings includes four readings - one from the gospels, one from the epistles, one from the psalms, and one from elsewhere in the Old Testament. Usually the sermon is based on one or more of the readings.

When read in the full three year cycle, nearly the entire Bible is covered.
There are both pros and cons to the use of a lectionary.

The most commonly used lectionary is the Revised Common Lectionary, although there are other lectionaries in use.

[ABHin]

i think that lectionary can be changed according to the needs. just like in china, we had a great earthquake by 5.12. and the next sunday is Trinity Sunday. The passages of OT was Gen 1.

It's about Creation.

Of course we can link up with the earthquake(it depends on your skills)
but i think that what people need is promise of God(Rainbow of Noah), or something like that. We are fine tune the lectionary always.
The most important thing is not something fixed, it's god, and people who attend the service.

[[Admin] danroth]

Originally Posted by ABHin

i think that lectionary can be changed according to the needs.

Agreed.

The point of this lectionary forum is not to suggest everyone should use a lectionary, nor how those who do use a lectionary should use it.

It is simply to help those who do ministry using a lectionary.

[[Director] Joseph B]

Don't use a lectionary but this certainly is interesting. Now when you say go through the entire bible in about 3 years, do you mean you hit each chapter or the entire bible?

[[Admin] danroth]

Originally Posted by Joseph B

Don't use a lectionary but this certainly is interesting. Now when you say go through the entire bible in about 3 years, do you mean you hit each chapter or the entire bible?

As I said, it covers "nearly" the entire Bible.
I think the percentage is somewhere around 85%, but I don't remember exactly.

This explains a little more:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revised...cripture_usage

[madill]

Originally Posted by Joseph B

Don't use a lectionary but this certainly is interesting. Now when you say go through the entire bible in about 3 years, do you mean you hit each chapter or the entire bible?

In a lectionary bible study we had my pastor said all the lectionary readings link together one way or another albeit might take some "work" to see the link.

[[Admin] danroth]

Originally Posted by madill

In a lectionary bible study we had my pastor said all the lectionary readings link together one way or another albeit might take some "work" to see the link.

That's the intention, and it can be either a strength or a weakness of the lectionary, depending on your viewpoint.

The creators of the lectionary tried linking the four readings together. Most often this is thematic. However, it can be other ways - for instance, often an Old Testament passage will be given which can be seen to be fulfilled in the life of Christ in the Gospel reading.

Sometimes it is more of a stretch than others. ("Gee, they both mention goats.")

[madill]

Originally Posted by Joseph B

Don't use a lectionary but this certainly is interesting.

From "lectionary" found in wikipedia...

In antiquity the Jews created a schedule of scripture readings assigned to be read in the synagogue. Selections were read from the Torah and the haftorah. Jesus likely read one of these pre-assigned readings when he read from Isaiah 61:1-2, as recorded in Luke 4:16-21, when he inaugurated his public ministry. The early Christians adopted the Jewish custom of reading extracts from the Old Testament on the sabbath. They soon added extracts from the writings of the Apostles and Evangelists.

The use of pre-assigned, scheduled readings from the scriptures can be traced back to the early church.

[hussra]

Originally Posted by danroth

That's the intention, and it can be either a strength or a weakness of the lectionary, depending on your viewpoint.

Our lectionary has both a "related" and a "continuous" track for the Sundays after Trinity; the "related" track has the OT reading and Psalm somehow related to Gospel, whereas the "continuous" track lets you read somewhat more sequentially through the OT books (this year, good chunks of Genesis and Exodus).

Does the proper, undoctored RCL do the same?

[Gene]

I don't know about the RCL, but the Lutheran lectionary also has a similar dual track in parts, "Complementary Series" and "Semicontinuous Series". For this coming Sunday (P+3) it's:
Complementary Series
Deuteronomy 11:18-21, 26-28
Psalm 31:1-5, 19-24 (3)
Romans 1:16-17; 3:22b-28 [29-31]
Matthew 7:21-29

Semicontinuous Series
Genesis 6:9-22; 7:24; 8:14-19
Psalm 46 (7)
Romans 1:16-17; 3:22b-28 [29-31]
Matthew 7:21-29

[ABHin]

lectionary is COOL!!!
you will find out that you read throughout the bible (main parts) when you are in the worship...
It is a good thing , rather than we read the GOLDEN verses only(the most favorite verses)