Page updated 21 Mar 2024
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The Journey Through the Word Bible discussion group has been discontinued.
Information and resources for a lectionary-based Bible discussion group are archived below but the information will not be updated (e.g. current church season’s lectionary readings).
- About Our Group
- Lectionary Readings for the Current Season
- What is the Lectionary?
- Why Use the Lectionary for Bible Study?
- Resources for Engaging the Lectionary Texts
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About Journey Through the Word
The Journey Through the Word Bible study discussion group is open to women and men of any religious affiliation. Sessions will last about an hour. We use the Zoom online platform; (download the free Zoom app here). Our discussions focus on the scripture selections from the Revised Common Lectionary for the Sunday following Thursday’s meetings. Even if your congregation doesn’t use the lectionary texts in worship on a regular basis, exploration of these scripture passages can inspire disciplined engagement with a broad scope of New Testament and Hebrew Scriptures, tied to the seasons of the church year. There is no required guide book, homework, or preparation. However, participants are urged to read the selected scripture texts ahead of time. Everyone taking part is encouraged to join actively in an open conversation but no one will be called on or singled out.
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Lectionary Readings for the Current Season
This table of Revised Common Lectionary readings for the season of Lent in Year B is from the Vanderbilt Library website. Click or tap on a Sunday or on a scripture citation to see full texts for that week.
| Lent Year B | First reading | Psalm | Second reading | Gospel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Sunday in Lent February 18, 2024 | Genesis 9:8-17 | Psalm 25:1-10 | 1 Peter 3:18-22 | Mark 1:9-15 |
| Second Sunday in Lent February 25, 2024 | Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 | Psalm 22:23-31 | Romans 4:13-25 | Mark 8:31-38 or Mark 9:2-9 |
| Third Sunday in Lent March 3, 2024 | Exodus 20:1-17 | Psalm 19 | 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 | John 2:13-22 |
| Fourth Sunday in Lent March 10, 2024 | Numbers 21:4-9 | Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22 | Ephesians 2:1-10 | John 3:14-21 |
| Fifth Sunday in Lent March 17, 2024 | Jeremiah 31:31-34 | Psalm 51:1-12 or Psalm 119:9-16 | Hebrews 5:5-10 | John 12:20-33 |
| Palm Sunday March 24, 2024 | Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 | Mark 11:1-11 or John 12:12-16 |
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What is the Lectionary?
There are various different lectionaries. A lectionary is just a table of scripture readings. The term comes from Latin meaning “to read.” Arising from synagogue worship, lectionaries originated as early as the 4th century CE. As the Christian Church calendar took form, relevant readings became fixed for major celebrations (“feasts”), with continuous readings from various Bible passages for the rest of the year (lectio continuo – pronounced “LEX-ee-oh”).
The Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) was was published in 1992; it was developed by two ecumenical groups, the North American Consultation on Common Texts and the International English Language Liturgical Consultation. The RCL is used by many Protestant churches worldwide.
Like the Roman Catholic Sunday Lectionary, from which it was derived, the RCL consists of a 3-year cycle of readings recommended for worship on Sunday and other major Christian feast days. The lectionary cycles are designated as years A, B, and C with a new lectionary year beginning the first Sunday of Advent—we are currently in Year B. During the 3-year cycle, a major portion of the New Testament is read, with the Gospel passages for Year A focusing on Matthew, Year B on Mark, and Year C on Luke. The Gospel of John is used on major feast days and during Lent, Holy Week and Easter throughout all three years.
The RCL recommends four readings for each Sunday:
- A passage from the Hebrew Scriptures
- A Psalm (related to the passage from the Hebrew Scriptures)
- An Epistle Selection
- A Gospel Lesson
Depending on the church season, selections from the Epistles, Psalms, and Hebrew Scriptures, may or may not be directly related to the Gospel lesson. The Psalm is generally a response to or meditation on the Hebrew Bible passage. The Epistle usually doesn’t relate directly to the other readings except on major Christian feast days. During Eastertide, readings from the book of Acts are read in place of the passage from the Hebrew Bible. During the season after Pentecost (also known as Ordinary Time), the RCL offers two sets of parallel readings from the Hebrew Scriptures. The first set of “semicontinuous” readings follows major stories/themes, beginning in Year A with Genesis and ending in Year C with the later prophets. Alternatively, “complementary” readings follow the tradition of thematically pairing the Hebrew Scripture texts with the Gospel reading. Note, as mentioned above, that the psalm for each Sunday is intended to be paired with a particular reading from the Hebrew Scriptures (whether the semi-continuous or complementary selection).
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Why Use the Lectionary for Bible Study?
If your congregation uses the lectionary texts for Sunday worship on a regular basis, an obvious advantage of using the lectionary in faith formation and Bible study is that it provides the opportunity to engage the texts ahead of time and reinforce connections to Sunday worship.
Even if your congregation does not use the lectionary texts on a regular basis in Sunday worship, there are advantages to using the lectionary texts in a disciplined practice of Bible study. The lectionary cycle reflects the themes of the seasons of the church year and follows major events and themes of the Hebrew Bible as well as the life and ministry of Jesus. Reflecting on the lectionary texts provides an organized way to move through Scripture in tune with the Christian calendar and the seasons that shape our lives. Within the seasons of Lent, Easter, Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany, the flow and meaning of the seasons are reflected in the Scripture texts selected for each Sunday. Over a 3-year period, a significant portion of the Bible can be experienced in a systematic and balanced way.
On a larger scale, the lectionary can connect us to the wider Church universal in a deeply spiritual way; others, all over the world, are hearing and connecting with the messages expressed in the same set of texts. Thus, the lectionary can be a thread binding us together, and keeping us from falling into ruts of only reading “favorite” passages. It challenges us to read scripture more broadly than we might otherwise. It calls us to structure and discipline, to growth and order, by giving us a framework for scripture study. And because the Revised Common Lectionary is on a three-year cycle, it calls us to revisit the same passages time and again, so that the texts can meet us anew in different stages of our lives.
Finally, because of its widespread use, there are many free or inexpensive commentaries, studies, devotions, and other resources based on the RCL scripture selections, including many online resources.
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Resources for Engaging the Lectionary Texts
Use the underlined links below to access free online lectionary resources that may enhance your Bible study:
- The Vanderbilt Divinity School Library publishes a table of readings from the Revised Common lectionary, with the full text of the readings from the NRSV translation
- The Vanderbilt Divinity School Library also publishes artwork for each of the weekly lectionary readings in PowerPoint and PDF formats.
- God Pause, provided by Luther Seminary, is a very brief daily devotion based on the lectionary readings for the coming Sunday. Each post contains the full text of one of the lectionary passages, a brief commentary and a prayer. You can subscribe to have them delivered daily to your email.
- The Episcopal Church has adopted a slightly modified form of the Revised Common Lectionary. You can fin the approved Episcopalian lectionary readings here.
- Lesson Plans that Work is a resource sponsored by the Episcopal Church that provides lesson plans and discussion questions related to the weekly gospel readings from the Revised Common Lectionary.
- The Text this Week has study links and resources related to the lectionary texts for each week in the Church year.
- Lectionary Study Guide, provided by the First Methodist Church of Baton Rouge, contains the full text of each weekly lectionary selection, a brief commentary, and a question for reflection.
- Daily Discipleship, provided by the Lutheran (ELCA) church has a commentary and questions for contemplation for the lectionary gospel selection each week. You need to download a compressed zip file to access the individual studies.
- Working Preacher, provided by Luther Seminary, contains commentary on the lectionary readings each week. It is designed for sermon preparation but can also offer useful insights for lay Bible study.
- Sing for Joy, produced by St. Olaf College, is a weekly program of sacred choral music related to the lectionary selections for the coming Sunday. New episodes come out on Fridays.
- The Seedbed Psalter is an open source metrical psalter for public and private worship. Every psalm has been translated into singable verse set to familiar public-domain hymn tunes. Permission is granted to use these metrical settings for public worship with acknowledgement of the source.
- If you’re wondering when (and whether) a particular Scripture verse might be included in the lectionary (note, all scripture verses aren’t included in the lectionary), you can look it up in this “Reverse Lectionary.”
Presbyterian Church in Burlington 