The Narrative Lectionary is a four-year cycle of readings for use in worship and preaching. The goal is to preach annually through the biblical narrative to center believers in God’s story. Each week, two texts are provided: a preaching text and an accompanying text.

The ReadingsThe Narrative Lectionary follows the academic/program year—September to May—and is shaped by the church calendar. Each year the preaching texts provide an overview of the biblical story:

• Old Testament: From the Sunday after Labor Day through Advent, Old Testament readings (with accompanying texts from the Gospels) move through the story of God’s interactions with Israel and culminate in Advent with the prophets’ longing and hope for the coming Messiah.

• Gospel: From Christmas to Easter, readings from one Gospel (with accompanying texts from the Psalms) tell the story of the birth of the Messiah at Christmas, the revelation of the Messiah during Epiphany, and Jesus’ passion through Lent and Holy Week.

• Early Church: From Easter Sunday through the Day of Pentecost, readings from the Gospels, Acts, and Paul’s letters reveal the power of the Holy Spirit in the early church’s story.

Summer Preaching Series Readings for preaching series are provided from the Sunday after Pentecost through the summer:

• Old Testament series (such as Psalms, Wisdom, or Ruth)

• New Testament series (such as Hebrews, Ephesians, 1 John, or Revelation)

• Catechetical series (such as creeds, Ten Commandments, or the Lord’s Prayer)

Join God’s StoryThe Narrative Lectionary continues to grow across denominations and around the globe. Through the Narrative Lectionary, the Holy Spirit connects people with God’s story. Pastors and other leaders report the power of God’s Word as preached through the Narrative Lectionary.

Email nl@luthersem.edu with your questions about the Narrative Lectionary.

The Narrative Lectionary

2 0 1 9 – 2 0 ( M a r k )

Sign up for free Narrative Lectionary downloads at workingpreacher.org/narrativefaq.

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Narrative LectionaryFaith Formation for the

Whole Congregation

I thought I would share the comments from our teachers: “Love it!” “Way better.” “Always something that works!” “It is all so good, I want to do everything.”– Rev. Dawn Leger, Christ Church Anglican, Stouffville, ON (Canada)

FREESample Lessons!

Worship God. Form Faith. Live Love.

Free Software for Studying and Preaching the Biblical Narrative

by Faithlife

Get free software, plus Luther’s Table Talk at Logos.com/LutherDeal

Narrative Lectionary Readings for 2019–20

Date Church Year Texts Story

9/8/2019 Pentecost 23 Genesis 2:4b–25 Garden of Eden

9/15/2019 Pentecost 24 Genesis 18:1–15; 21:1–7 Isaac Born to Sarah

9/22/2019 Pentecost 25 Genesis 32:[9–13] 22–30 Jacob Wrestles God

9/29/2019 Pentecost 26 Exodus 1:8–14 [1:15–2:10]; 3:1–15 Moses and God's Name

10/6/2019 Pentecost 27 Deuteronomy 5:1–21; 6:4–9 Hear O Israel

10/13/2019 Pentecost 28 Ruth 1:1–17 Ruth

10/20/2019 Pentecost 29 2 Samuel 5:1–5; 6:1–5; Psalm 150 David Anointed King

10/27/2019 Pentecost 30 1 Kings 12:1–17, 25–29 Kingdom Divided

11/3/2019 Pentecost 31 1 Kings 18:[17–19] 20–39 Elijah at Mount Carmel

11/10/2019 Pentecost 32 Hosea 11:1–9 Hosea

11/17/2019 Pentecost 33 Isaiah 5:1–7; 11:1–5 Isaiah's Vineyard Song

11/24/2019 Christ the King 2 Kings 22:1–10 [11–20]; 23:1–3 Josiah's Reform

12/1/2019 Advent 1 Jeremiah 33:14–18 Promise of the Messiah

12/8/2019 Advent 2 Isaiah 40:1–11 Isaiah of the Exile

12/15/2019 Advent 3 Ezra 1:1–4; 3:1–4, 10–13 Rebuilding the Temple

12/22/2019 Advent 4 Luke 1:5–13 [14–25], 57–80 Zechariah's Song

12/24/2019 Christmas Eve Luke 2:1–14 [15–20] Birth of Jesus

12/25/2019 Christmas Day Luke 2:8–20 Shepherds Visit

12/29/2019 Christmas 1 Mark 1:1–20 Beginning of Good News

1/5/2020 Christmas 2 Mark 1:21–45 Jesus' Ministry Begins

1/12/2020 Baptism of Our Lord Mark 2:1–22 Jesus Heals and Teaches

1/19/2020 Epiphany 2 Mark 4:1–34 Parables in Mark

1/26/2020 Epiphany 3 Mark 5:1–20 Jesus and the Gerasene Demoniac

Date Church Year Texts Story

2/2/2020 Epiphany 4 Mark 5:21–43 Jairus' Daughter Healed

2/9/2020 Epiphany 5 Mark 6:1–29 Death of John the Baptist

2/16/2020 Epiphany 6 Mark 7:1–23 What Defiles?

2/23/2020 Transfiguration Mark 8:27–9:8 Transfiguration

2/26/2020 Ash Wednesday Mark 9:30–37 Passion Prediction

3/1/2020 Lent 1 Mark 10:17–31 First Last and Last First

3/8/2020 Lent 2 Mark 10:32–52 Bartimaeus Healed

3/15/2020 Lent 3 Mark 12:1–12 [13–17] Parable of the Tenants (or Taxes to Caesar)

3/22/2020 Lent 4 Mark 12:28–44 Great Commandment

3/29/2020 Lent 5 Mark 13:1–8, 24–37 End of the Age

4/5/2020 Palm/Passion Sunday Mark 11:1–11; 14:3–9 Triumphal Entry (or

Anointing at Bethany)

4/9/2020 Maundy Thursday Mark 14:22–42 Lord's Supper; Prayer in Gethsemane

4/10/2020 Good Friday Mark 15:16–39 Crucifixion

4/12/2020 Easter Mark 16:1–8 Resurrection

4/19/2020 Easter 2 Acts 1:1–14 You Shall Be My Witnesses

4/26/2020 Easter 3 Acts 3:1–10 Peter Heals in Jerusalem

5/3/2020 Easter 4 Acts 17:1–9; 1 Thessalonians 1:1–10 Church at Thessalonica

5/10/2020 Easter 5 Acts 18:1–4; 1 Corinthians 1:10–18 Church at Corinth

5/17/2020 Easter 6 1 Corinthians 13:1–13 Faith, Hope, and Love

5/24/2020 Easter 7 1 Corinthians 15:1–26, 51–57 Death Swallowed in Life

5/31/2020 Pentecost Acts 2:1–4; 1 Corinthians 12:1–13 Gifts of the Spirit