Preachers get the best of lectionary and topical series preaching with this comprehensive manual of sermon series ideas based on the Revised Common Lectionary. Designed to frame consecutive weeks of lectionary texts into seasonal and short-term series, a diverse group of twelve preachers outline multiple thematic series plans for each lectionary year. Each series plan provides a series overview, chart that outlines each segment of the series, tips and ideas, scriptural references, and a brief sermon starter. The series honors holy days and seasons and responds to typical patterns of church attendance, maximizing visitor retention and member engagement. Pastors can honor their commitment to lectionary preaching while taking advantage of the benefits series preaching can offer with this truly unique resource. Contributors include: Theresa Cho, Pastor of St. John's Presbyterian Church, San Francisco, California Bob Dannals, Rector of St. Michael's and All Angels Episcopal Church, Dallas, Texas Magrey R. DeVega, Pastor of Hyde Park United Methodist Church, Tampa, Florida Brian Erickson, Pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church, Birmingham, Alabama Mihee Kim-Kort, Presbyterian Minister and Campus Ministry Leader at University of Indiana, Bloomington, Indiana Jessica LaGrone, Dean of Chapel at Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore, Kentucky Cleophus J. LaRue, Professor of Homiletics, Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, New Jersey Jacqueline J. Lewis, Senior Minister, Middle Collegiate Church, New York City, New York Katherine Willis Pershey, Pastor of First Congregational Church, Western Springs, Illinois Paul Rock, Pastor of Second Presbyterian Church, Kansas City, Kansas Martin Thielen, Pastor of First United Methodist Church, Cookeville, Tennessee Winnie Varghese, Priest and Director of Community Outreach at Trinity Wall Street, New York, New York

Focusing on passages about women in the Bible and feminine imagery of God,The Women's Lectionaryreimagines the liturgical calendar of preaching for one year. These women are daughters, wives, and mothers. They are also strong leaders, evil queens, and wicked stepmothers. They are disciples, troublemakers, and prophetesses. Ashley Wilcox explores how the feminine descriptions of God in the Bible are similarly varied—how does it change our understanding if God is feminine wisdom, has wings, or is an angry mother bear? Discover this must-have lectionary, perfect for every female clergyperson or anyone seeking to incorporate more insights from a female perspective into their preaching. From well-known figures like Miriam and Mary to lesser-known women like Huldah and Sapphira to feminine metaphors, this comprehensive resource features more than one hundred commentary essays with an Old Testament and New Testament passage for each Sunday of the year and special holy days in the calendar.

Beyond the Lectionary gives preachers a new year of Biblical texts that are not found on Sundays (or other mainline Protestant holy days) in the three-year cycle of the Revised Common Lectionary. It provides readings from the Hebrew Bible, Psalms, Epistles/New Testament and Gospels for each Sunday of the liturgical year, along with several midweek observances. The texts have been selected with an eye toward continuity (progressing in order) and complementarity (textual completion or harmony), and they are accompanied by commentaries and prayers. Written in language that is accessible to both lay people and professionals, Beyond the Lectionary has the potential to transform congregational culture by bringing more of the content of scripture to people's awareness. ,

The next installment in the critically acclaimed lectionary series that focuses on women's stories. In this second volume of the three-volume Women's Lectionary for the Whole Church, widely praised womanist bible scholar and priest Wil Gafney selects scripture readings that emphasize women's stories. Focusing especially on the Gospel of Mark, Year B of A Women's Lectionary features Gafney's fresh, inclusive, and thought-provoking translations of every reading, alongside commentary on each reading. Designed for liturgical use or scriptural study, this resource offers a new perspective on the Bible and the liturgical year. “Gafney's paradigm-shifting scholarship will influence biblical preaching and teaching for generations to come." —National Catholic Reporter

"In this commentary on the Gospel readings in the Revised Common Lectionary, Allen and Williamson call attention to ways in which the lections are continuous with the theology, values, and practices of Judaism and reflect critically on the caricatures in the readings. They explain the polemics in their first-century setting but criticize them historically and theologically. They also suggest ways that preachers can help their congregations move beyond these contentious themes to a greater sense of kinship and shared mission with Judaism."--BOOK JACKET.

Psalms for Preaching and Worship a key addition to the critically acclaimed three-volume Lectionary Commentary / Despite the rich resources available for studying the Psalms, few are as focused on their place in worship and preaching as is this volume. The responsorial Psalms of the Revised Common Lectionary are here taken up in careful and often illuminating interpretation with attention also to their interaction with other lectionary texts. The many ways that psalms can function meaningfully in the liturgical life of congregations are explored especially in John Witvliet s concluding section. I know of no work that combines practice and substance better than this lectionary commentary. Patrick D. Miller / Princeton Theological Seminary / A fascinating book well organized, well written and edited, thorough, and informative. . . . An excellent resource not only for preachers using the Revised Common Lectionary but also for those wishing to preach a series of sermons on the Psalms. In addition, worship leaders and worship committees will appreciate the many excellent ideas for using the Psalms in worship. Highly recommended. Sidney Greidanus / author of Preaching Christ from the Old Testament and Preaching Christ from Genesis / Here is something even better than a simple completion of The Lectionary Commentary, which would be cause enough for gratitude. . . . Serious attention paid to this one book could go a long way toward remedying the scandalous neglect of the treasure of the Psalms in too much contemporary worship. Marguerite Shuster / Fuller Theological Seminary / Contributors: Nancy R. Bowen, William P. Brown, Walter Brueggemann, Richard J. Clifford, Nancy L. deClaiss-Walford, Jennifer S. Green, Karl N. Jacobson, Rolf A. Jacobson, Melody D. Knowles, Eunny P. Lee, Joel M. LeMon, James Limburg, J. Clinton McCann, James K. Mead, Carol A. Miles, Luke A. Powery, Stephen Breck Reid, Sandra L. Richter, Cynthia L. Rigby, Kathryn L. Roberts, Brent A. Strawn, Beth LaNeel Tanner, Roger E. Van Harn, Raymond C. Van Leeuwen, J. Ross Wagner, Gerald H. Wilson, John Witvliet, Christine Roy Yoder.