The Scriptures used in Liturgy

For many who celebrate in a Lutheran church, we tend to have some form of formal liturgy and the pastor generally uses Scripture passages from what is known as the Lectionary. We aren't the only Christians to worship in this manner. Catholics and Episcopalians are also known for using liturgy as the framework for their worship services as well as making use of a lectionary for scripture readings throughout the year.

I don't believe the use of the lectionary is right or wrong. I believe you have to do what it best for your congregation. One of the great benefits of using it is that the preacher is forced to use a wide variety of passages from Scripture and those passages have been chosen to go with what is happening in the church calendar. For example, during the season of Advent (which will be here all too soon!), the readings anticipate the birth of Christ and help us reflect on our desire to be reconciled with God through Christ but during the season of Easter, the reading focus on the Risen Christ and the days of the early church as recorded in Acts.

Additionally, in using a common lectionary, you are reading, studying, and contemplating the same Scripture passage countless other Christians are using at the same time. You are connected in a unique way to the Church around the world. And finally, in using the lectionary, you are likely seeing how passages from the Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms, and the Gospel all connect to and support each other. To say it a more scholarly manner, you are reading the Bible more wholistically.

But there are challenges in using the lectionary as well. There can be times when the Scripture passages simply do not lend themselves to the message the local congregation needs to hear. To preach on four different passages of scripture in one Sunday is A LOT of ground to cover. If you find yourself preaching over multiple decades, the passages can begin to feel repetitive and it can be oh so tempting to pull and old sermon from the las time a particular Scripture passage came up and simply re-use it instead of seeking out what God wants to speak to his people at this time.

So why I am going over this? Good question!

In the weeks and months ahead, we are going to be, very loosely, following the lectionary for our blog posts. Each week I'll pick one of the four lectionary passages and write about that passage of Scripture. It might be the Gospel, or it might be the Old Testament reading. As we go through the year and acknowledge the church season we are in, I hope you will appreciate the thoughtfulness which has gone into putting the lectionary together for the Christian church to use. If you use it in your church, I hope the posts are able to offer an additional perspective for you to think about when you hear your pastor on Sunday. If you don't use it in your church, each post should be able to stand on its own as a devotional reading for you to use as you wish.

And, in the interest of full transparency, as a part time pastor of a Lutheran Church who uses the lectionary most of the time, I'm hoping this will help me be more consistent in posting each week since I will be able to use the work put into researching the blog post in preparing my sermon for Sunday as well.

For Further Thought:

• To see just a handful of the churches around the world who use a common lectionary in their worship, click HERE.

• If your church does not use a lectionary regularly in worship, consider asking your pastor how they pick the passage of Scripture they are going to preach on each Sunday.

• If your church does use a lectionary regularly in worship, what is one passage of Scripture you have heard a sermon on lately you have not really given much thought to.