What is the Lectionary?
WHY THE WEIRD WORD?
The word "lectionary" has such a solemn tone, doesn't it? But don't get intimidated; it's only a more traditional word for a "Bible Reading Plan." Reading selected parts of the Scriptures ('readings,' 'lections,' or 'lessons') in public worship is very ancient. The Jewish tradition likely began with particular Scripture readings appointed for the major festivals. Christian references to lectionaries can be traced back to as early as the fourth century. Of course, the length and cycles have changed over the many years in different times and traditions. Still, the aim of all of them has remained the same - for the people of God to hear the story of God read regularly! The lectionary is a discipleship tool that keeps us rooted in the depth and width of God's redemptive story told throughout the entirety of the Scriptures over time. It is a well-worn path on the journey of meditating on and immersing ourselves in the Scriptures.
HOW IS THE LECTIONARY STRUCTURED:
The lectionary pattern follows a three-year cycle (years A, B, C). Each Sunday, there will be four readings: A Psalm, a passage from the Old Testament, the New Testament, and particularity, a reading from the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. They provide the basis of each cycle, and the gospel of John is spread out throughout those years.
The lectionary helps remind us that both the Old and New Testaments tell one coherent story of God rescuing and redeeming humanity from sin and death. Although the lectionary doesn’t read straight or chronologically through the scriptures, it assumes and enhances our understanding of the big picture. Sometimes the connection between the Old and New Testament readings is really evident; other times, it’s not. But either way, we are engaged in the scriptures together.
HOW DO WE DO THIS TOGETHER?
Each Sunday, as we gather in our house churches, we will end our time reading this week's scripture reading. It will look something like this:
Since there are only four passages for the reading on Sunday, we want to invite you to take the week and meditate on those passages. If you don't have a bible reading plan already, this is a great way to develop the habit of reading the scriptures throughout the week. Maybe you can read one passage a day or split the passage up for morning and evening devotions. Get creative on how you can immerse that week's passages into your regular rhythm of Scripture reading. The Hebrew word for meditate is the word "hagah," and it's the same word used when a lion gets its prey in its mouth and begins to gnaw and chew it and have that low-level growl while he does it. It's graphic, I know, sorry! But it's like that, though, when we meditate on the Scriptures. It's a “slow chew” where we take our time with a passage, explore it, contemplate it, mumble it under our breath, and even read it aloud to ourselves. We meditate on it as we consider what parts of the passage are meaningful or that the Spirit is illuminating in our life. What parts disturb me? What questions arise when I think about this? How do I apply this to my life? The following Sunday at House Church, there will be a time to discuss the passages we read throughout the week. Maybe you come prepared with a short exhortation from the passage that week or even an unanswered question for your community.
The beautiful thing about reading the scripture using the lectionary is that it is an invitation to read the Scriptures in community. Not only are all of our house churches reading these weekly scripture readings, but we are also joining the universal church of Christians worldwide who use the lectionary as well.
Check out this great overview video on the public reading of Scripture from The Bible Project
