Topics Archive
Past themes and scriptures for the Nurturing Faith Bible Study Curriculum
2023 Scope & Sequence
New Year’s Day
Jan. 1 – Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 – “It’s Always Time”
Season of Epiphany: What Does God Expect?
Jan. 8 – Isaiah 42:1-9 – “Bringing Justice”
Jan. 15 – Isaiah 49:1-7 – “Bearing Light”
Jan. 22 – Isaiah 9:1-7 – “Multiplying Joy”
Jan. 29 – Micah 6:1-8 – “Defining Expectations”
Feb. 5 – Matthew 5:13-20 – “Demanding Action”
Feb. 12 – Matthew 5:21-37 – “Getting Serious”
Feb. 19 – Matthew 17:1-19 – “Keeping Secrets”
Season of Lent: What Faith Produces
Feb. 26 – Romans 5:12-19 – “Unearned Righteousness”
Mar. 5 – Romans 4:1-17 – “Lasting Trust”
Mar. 12 – Romans 5:1-11 – “Hopeful Peace”
Mar. 19 – Ephesians 5:8-14 – “Shining Fruit”
Mar. 26 – Romans 8:1-11 – “Spiritual Guidance”
Apr. 2 – Matthew 21:1-11 – “Royal Humility”
Season of Easter: A Church on the Move
Apr. 9 – Jeremiah 31:1-6 – “A New Heart and a New Start”
Apr. 16 – Acts 2:14-36 – “Making Sense of It All”
Apr. 23 – Acts 2:14a, 36-41 – “An Evangelistic Explosion”
Apr. 30 – Acts 2:42-47 – “A Common Cause – and Common Purse?”
May 7 – Acts 6:1-7:60 – “A Death-Defying Faith”
May 14 – Acts 17:1-31 – “Proclaiming an Unknown God”
May 21 – Acts 1:1-14 – “An Awesome Assignment”
May 28 – John 7:37-39 – “A Pentecostal River”
Season After Pentecost: Lessons Old and New
June 4 – Genesis 1:1-2:4a – “Beginning to Begin”
June 11 – Genesis 12:1-9 – “A Man for All Peoples”
June 18 – Genesis 18:1-15, 21:1-7 – “Not Dead Yet”
June 25 – Genesis 21:8-21 – “Not Long Alone”
July 2 – Genesis 22:1-19 – “Saved by the Bell”
July 9 – Genesis 24:34-67 – “A Long Back Story”
July 16 – Genesis 25:19-34 – “Birth Rights and Wrongs”
July 23 – Genesis 28:10-22 – “Climbing Jacob’s Ladder”
July 30 – Genesis 29:1-30 – “Jacob Meets His Match(es)”
August 6 – Matthew 14:13-21 – “A Picnic to Remember”
August 13 – Matthew 14:22-33 – “Skiing Without a Boat
August 20 – Matthew 15:1-28 – “When Crumbs Are Enough”
August 27 – Matthew 16:13-20 – “Know, but Don’t Tell”
Sept. 3 – Matthew 16:21-28 – “That Far? Really?”
Sept. 10 – Matthew 18:15-20 – “Confrontation and Community”
Sept. 17 – Matthew 18:21-35 – “The Power of Forgiveness”
Sept. 24 – Matthew 20:1-16 – “A Question of Fairness”
Oct. 1 – Matthew 21:23-32 – “Who Decides What Is Right?”
Oct. 8 – Matthew 21:33-46 – “Can Stony Hearts Break?”
Oct. 15 – Matthew 22:1-14 – “Hoping for Hyperbole”
Oct. 22 – Matthew 22:15-22 – “A Taxing Question”
Oct. 29 – Deuteronomy 34:1-12 – “A Good End to a Good Life”
Nov. 5 – Micah 3:1-12 – “Unfounded Assumptions”
Nov. 12 – Amos 5:18-24 – “One Thing After Another”
Nov. 19 – Zephaniah 1:1-2:3 – “People, Get Ready”
Nov. 26 – Ezekiel 34:1-31 – “Bad Shepherd – Good Shepherd”
Season of Advent: A New Day Coming
Dec. 3 – Isaiah 64:1-9 – “The Cry of the Clay”
Dec. 10 – Isaiah 40:1-11 – “A Promise Like a Hug”
Dec. 17 – Isaiah 61:1-11 – “Uplifting News for Downhearted People”
Dec. 24 – Psalm 89:1-52– “Promises to Keep”
Season of Christmas
Dec. 31 – Psalm 148 – “Praise Squared”
2022 Scope & Sequence
Year C into Year A
These include 17 lessons from the OT and 35 from the NT. Total lessons after 2022: 600
Season after Christmas, continued (January 2)
January 2 – Psalm 147:12-20 — “A Good Beginning”
In Christ We Have…
We celebrate the season of Epiphany with reflections on life in relationship with God.
Season of Epiphany (January 9-February 27)
January 9 – Acts 8:4-17 (RCL 8:14-17) – “Amazing Grace”
January 16 – 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 – “Amazing Gifts”
January 23 – 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a – “Amazing Oneness”
January 30 – 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 – “Amazing Love”
February 6 – Psalm 138 – “Amazing Care”
February 13 – 1 Corinthians 15:12-20 – “Amazing Hope”
February 20 – 1 Corinthians 15:35-50 (RCL 15:35-38, 42-50) – “Amazing Thoughts”
February 27 – 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2 – “Amazing Growth”
Season of Lent and Easter (March 6- April 17)
During Lent we turn to Luke and Philippians for lessons in life.
March 6 – Luke 4:1-13 – “When Facing Temptation”
March 13 – Luke 13:31-35 – “When Foxes Prowl”
March 20 – Luke 13:1-9 – “When Feeling Fruitless”
March 27 – Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 – “When Far Away”
April 3 – Philippians 3:4b-14 – “Living with Purpose”
April 10 – Philippians 2:1-13 – “Living Mindfully”
April 17 – Easter – Luke 24:1-12 – “Living with Questions”
A Strange Kind of Hope
Glimpses from the book of Revelation take us from Easter to Pentecost.
Season After Easter to Pentecost (April 24-June 5)
April 24 – Revelation 1:4-8 – “A Hopeful Promise”
May 1 – Revelation 5:11-14 – “A Bizarre Picture”
May 8 – Revelation 7:9-17 – “A Hallelujah Chorus”
May 15 – Revelation 21:1-6 – “A New Day”
May 22 – Revelation 21:10-22:5 (RCL 21:10, 22-22:5) – “A Life-Giving River”
May 29 – Revelation 22:12-21 (RCL 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21) – “A Desperate Hope”
June 5 – Pentecost – John 14:8-17 – “An Eternal Advocate”
Season After Pentecost (June 12- November 20)
Songs for the Soul
Lady Wisdom’s imperative leads to psalms that comfort and challenge
June 12 – Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31 – “Listen to the Lady”
June 19 – Psalms 42-43 – “Don’t Give Up”
June 26 – Psalm 77:1-2, 11-20 – “Don’t Forget”
July 3 – Psalm 30 – “Learn to Dance”
July 10 – Psalm 82 – “Practice Justice”
July 17 – Psalm 52 – “Choose Wisely”
July 24 – Psalm 85 – “Celebrate Salvation”
July 31 – Psalm 49 (RCL 49:1-12) – “Vanquish Fear”
Crotchety Old Preachers
We hear from three old preachers whose sermons can still speak
August 7 – Isaiah 1:1-20 (RCL 1:1, 10-20) – “Ritual Wrongs”
August 14 – Isaiah 5:1-10 (RCL 5:1-7) – “Rotten Fruit”
August 21 – Isaiah 58:9b-14 – “Phony Faith”
August 28 – Jeremiah 2:1-13 (RCL 2:4-13) – “Lost Love”
Learning from Jesus
We return to Luke for nine lessons from Jesus’ teaching
September 4 – Luke 14:25-33 – “Counting the Cost”
September 11 – Luke 15:1-10 – “Counting Sheep”
September 18 – Luke 16:1-13 – “Counting Coins”
September 25 – Luke 16:19-31 – “Counting Options”
October 2 – Luke 17:5-10 – “Forgiveness and Faith”
October 9 – Luke 17:11-19 – “Gratitude and Grace”
October 16 – Luke 18:1-8 – “Persistence and Prayer”
October 23 – Luke 18:9-14 – “Pomp and Penitence”
October 30 – Luke 19:1-10 – “Repentance and Refunds”
Darkness into Light
We work our way to Advent with three declarations of hope
November 6 – Job 19:23-27a – “Trust for the Darkness”
November 13 – Isaiah 65:17-25 – “Hope for the Despairing”
November 20 – Psalm 46 – “Refuge for the Troubled”
Advent (November 27-December 18)
As We Wait
For Advent, we turn to the Epistles for helpful thoughts
November 27 – Romans 13:8-14 (RCL 12:11-14) – “Salvation is Near”
December 4 – Romans 15:4-13 – “Promises to Remember”
December 11 – James 5:7-11 (RCL 5:7-10) – “Patience in Trials”
December 18 – Romans 1:1-7 – “Defining Identity”
Christmas (December 25)
Christmas (December 25)
December 25 – Luke 2:1-20 – “The Old New Story”
2021 Topics
Season after Christmas, continued (January 3)
January 3 – Ephesians 1:3-14 – “Where Hope Belongs”
Who Is Jesus?
We begin the year with 12 gospel texts from Jesus’ life plus an epistle, taking us from Epiphany to Easter.
Season of Epiphany (January 6 - February 7)
January 10 – Mark 1:4-11 – “Jesus, the Beloved”
January 17 – John 1:43-51 – “Jesus, the Convincer”
(Lesson # 500) January 24 – Mark 1:14-20 – “Jesus, the Summoner”
January 31 – Mark 1:21-28 – “Jesus, the Healer”
February 7 – Mark 1:29-39 – “Jesus, the Traveler”
Season of Lent (February 21 – March 28)
February 21 – Mark 1:9-15 – “Jesus, the Preacher”
February 28 – Mark 8:31-38 – “Jesus, the Challenger”
March 7 – John 2:13-22 – “Jesus, the Activist”
March 14 – John 3:14-21 – “Jesus, the Savior”
March 21 – John 12:20-33 – “Jesus, the Lover”
March 28 – Mark 15:1-47 – “Jesus, the Sufferer”
Transfiguration Sunday (February 14)
February 14 – Mark 9:2-9 – “Jesus, the Dazzler”
Season of Easter (April 4)
April 4 – (Easter Sunday) 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 – “Jesus, the Victor”
Following Jesus: What Does It Mean?
Six studies from 1 John and one from the Psalms examine what it means to follow Jesus as we move toward Pentecost.
Season of Easter (April 11-May 23)
April 11 – 1 John 1:1-2:2 – “To Follow Jesus, Walk in the Light”
April 18 – 1 John 3:1-7 – “To Follow Jesus, Do What Is Right”
April 25 – 1 John 3:16-24 – “To Follow Jesus, Love One Another”
May 2 – 1 John 4:7-21 – “To Follow Jesus, ‘Abide in Christ’”
May 9 – 1 John 5:1-6 – “To Follow Jesus, Work with Faith”
May 16 – 1 John 5:7-13 (RCL 5:9-13) – “To Follow Jesus, Believe in Life”
May 23 (Day of Pentecost) – Psalm 104:24-34 – “To Follow Jesus, Receive the Spirit”
A Long Look Back
We spend the summer reviewing the significance of memorable stories from the Hebrew Bible.
Season After Pentecost (May 30-August 22)
May 30 – Isaiah 6:1-13 (RCL 6:1-8) – “A Strange Call”
June 6 – 1 Samuel 8:1-22 (RCL 8:4-11, [12-15], 16-20, [11:14-15]) – “An Uncertain Demand”
June 13 – 1 Samuel 15:34-16:13 – “An Unexpected King”
June 20 – 1 Samuel 17:1-58 (RCL 17: [1a, 4-11, 19-23], 32-49) – “A Bold Beating”
June 27 – 2 Samuel 1:1-27 (RCL 1:1, 17-27) – “A Strategic Lament”
July 4 – 2 Samuel 5:1-10 (RCL 5:1-5, 9-10) – “A Rising Star”
July 11 – 2 Samuel 6:1-19 (RCL 6:1-5, 12b-19) – “A Tense Celebration”
July 18 – 2 Samuel 7:1-17 (RCL 7:1-14a) – “An Eternal Promise”
July 25 – 2 Samuel 11:1-25 (RCL 11:1-15) – “A Tragic Error”
August 1 – 2 Samuel 11:26-12:23 (RCL 11:26-12:13a) – “A Painful Lesson”
August 8 – 2 Samuel 18:1-33 (RCL 18:5-9, 15, 31-33) – “A Mournful Monarch”
August 15 – 1 Kings 2:10-12, 3:3-14 – “A Wise Request”
August 22 – 1 Kings 8:1-43 (RCL 8:[1, 6, 10-11], 22-30, 41-43) – “A Solemn Dedication”
Troublesome Teachings
We go back to the gospel of Mark to consider five troubling teachings: did Jesus really mean what the gospel writer says?
Season After Pentecost (August 29-September 26)
August 29 – Mark 7:1-23 (RCL 7:1-8, 14-15 21-23) – “Something Rotten”
September 5 – Mark 7:24-37 – “Something Surprising”
September 12 – Mark 8:27-38 – “Something Confusing”
September 19 – Mark 9:30-37 – “Something Different”
September 26 – Mark 9:38-50) – “Something Serious”
From Suffering to Praise
We take detour to travel with Job on the road of suffering, but arrive at praise.
Season After Pentecost (October 3-31)
October 3 – Job 1:1-2:10 (RCL 1:1, 2:1-10) – “When Trouble Comes”
October 10 – Job 23:1-17 (RCL 23:1-9, 16-17) – “When God Hides”
October 17 – Job 38:1-7, 34-41 – “When God Roars”
October 24 – Job 42:1-7 (RCL 42:1-6, 10-17) – “When God Judges”
October 31 – Psalm 146 – “When God Liberates”
Getting Real
We work our way to Advent with three challenging teachings from Jesus.
Season After Pentecost (November 7-21)
November 7 – Mark 12:38-44 – “True Generosity”
November 14 – Mark 13:1-8 – “Wise Waiting”
November 21 – John 1833-37 – “True Kingship”
New Things Coming
For Advent through Christmas, we consider God’s work to bring newness to the world.
Advent (November 28-December 19)
New Things Coming
For Advent through Christmas, we consider God’s work to bring newness to the world.
November 28 – Jeremiah 33:14-16 – “A New Hope”
December 5 – Luke 3:1-6 – “A New Voice”
December 12 – Luke 3:7-18 – “A New Perspective”
December 19 – Luke 1:39-55 – “A New Dawn”
Season after Christmas (December 26)
December 26 – Luke 2:41-52 – “A New Teacher”
2020 Topics
These include 18 lessons from the OT and 33 from the NT.
Season after Christmas (January 5) / Epiphany (January 12-February 23)
Now Appearing
(we begin with New Testament texts, 5 gospels > 3 epistles)
January 5, John 1:1-9, 10-18
“The Word that Reveals”
January 12, Matthew 3:13-17
“A Son Who Pleases”
January 19, John 1:29-42
“A Lamb Who Leads”
January 26, Matthew 4:12-23
“A Preacher Who Calls
February 2, Matthew 5:1-12
“A Teacher Who Challenges”
February 9, 1 Corinthians 2:1-16
“A Savior Who Died”
February 16, 1 Corinthians 3:1-9
“Children Who Grow”
February 23, 2 Peter 1:16-21
“A Message that Glows”
Season After Pentecost (June 7 – November 22)
What the World Needs Now…
(we spend the summer with 8 lessons from Matthew and 5 from the OT)
June 7, Matthew 28:16-20
“The World Needs the Gospel”
June 14, Matthew 9:35-10:8
“The World Needs Healing”
June 21, Matthew 10:24-39
“The World Needs Shaking”
June 28, Matthew 10:40-42
“The World Needs Kindness”
July 5, Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
“The World Needs Rest”
July 12, Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
“The World Needs the Word”
July 19, Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
“The World Needs Patience”
July 26, Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52
“The World Needs Wisdom”
August 2, Genesis 32:22-32
“The World Needs Engagement”
August 9, 1 Kings 19:9-18
“The World Needs Faith”
August 16, Isaiah 56:1-8 (RCL 1, 6-8)
“The World Needs Justice”
August 23, Isaiah 51:1-6
“The World Needs to Remember”
August 30, Jeremiah 15:15-21
“The World Needs Mercy”
A Prayer List for Today
(Seven weeks in the Psalms)
September 6, Psalm 119:33-40
“Teach Me, Lord”
September 13, Psalm 103:1-13
“Forgive Me, Lord”
September 20, Psalm 78:1-7, 34-38
“Convict Me, Lord”
September 27, Psalm 25:1-9
“Deliver Me, Lord”
October 4, Psalm 80:7-15
“Restore Us, Lord”
October 11, Psalm 23
“Lead Us, Lord”
October 18, Psalm 96:1-13
“Be Honored, Lord”
The Right Stuff
(Four lessons from Matthew take us to Advent)
October 25, Matthew 22:34-46
“The Right Questions”
November 1, Matthew 23:1-12
“The Right Stance”
November 8, Matthew 25:1-13
“The Right Preparation”
November 15, Matthew 25:14-30
“The Right Investment”
Thanksgiving
November 22, Psalm 100
“Good God!”
Lent / Easter / Pentecost
All Things New
(Six Old Testament texts for Lent, March 1-April 5)
Lent
March 1, Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7
“A New Choice”
March 8, Genesis 12:1-4a
“A New Start”
March 15, Psalm 95
“A New Song”
March 22, 1 Samuel 16:1-13
“A New King”
March 29, Ezekiel 37:1-14
“A New Life”
April 5, Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29
“A New Foundation”
Easter
(Seven Epistles for Easter season, April 12-May 24)
April 12, Colossians 3:1-11 (RCL 1-4)
“A New Wardrobe”
April 19, 1 Peter 1:3-9
“A New Future”
April 26, 1 Peter 1:17-23
“A New Birth”
May 3, 1 Peter 2:19-25
“A New Example”
May 10, 1 Peter 2:2-10
“A New Hope”
May 17, 1 Peter 3:13-22
“A New Approach”
May 24, 1 Peter 4:12-14, 5:6-11
“A New Strength”
Pentecost Sunday
May 31, Acts 2:1-21
“A New Spirit”
Advent and Christmas (November 29-December 27)
(Advent and Christmas follow the Epistles for five weeks)
Christmas Letters
Advent
November 29, 1 Corinthians 1:3-9
“Every Good Gift”
December 6, 2 Peter 3:8-15a
“Patience and Peace”
December 13, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
“A Sanctified Season”
December 20, Romans 16:25-27
“A Christmas Benediction”
Season after Christmas
December 27, Galatians 4:4-7
“Children of the Child”
2019 Topics
Epiphany (January 6-March 3)
What Are We Praying For?
January 6, 2019 – Psalm 72 (RCL 1-7, 10-14) – “A Prayer for Justice”
January 13, 2019 – Psalm 29 – “A Prayer for Peace”
January 20, 2019 – Psalm 36 (RCL 5-10) – “A Prayer for Love”
January 27, 2019 – Psalm 19 – “A Prayer for Goodness”
February 3, 2019 – Psalm 71:1-6 – “A Prayer for Deliverance”
Not Your Typical Teacher
February 10, 2019 – Luke 5:1-11 – “Going Deep”
February 17, 2019 – Luke 6:17-26 – “Finding Joy”
February 24, 2019 – Luke 6:27-38 – “Being Kind”
March 3, 2019 – Luke 9:28-43 – “Climbing Higher”
Lenten Season (Sundays March 10-April 14)
Deliberate Devotion
March 10, 2019 – Deuteronomy 26:1-11 – “A Joyous Confession”
March 17, 2019 – Genesis 15:1-21 (RCL 1-12, 17-18) – “A Hair-Raising Prediction”
March 24, 2019 – Isaiah 55:1-9 – “A Stunning Invitation”
March 31, 2019 – Joshua 5:1-12 (RCL 9-12) – “A Cutting Reaffirmation”
Purposeful Love
April 7, 2019 – John 12:1-8 – “The Scent of Love”
April 14, 2019 – Luke 22:14-23:56 – “Of Passion and Pain”
Easter Season (April 21-June 2)
April 21, 2019 – John 20:1-8 – “Best. News. Ever.”
Resurrection Realities
April 28, 2019 – Acts 5:27-32 – “First Allegiance”
May 5, 2019 – Acts 9:1-20 (RCL 1-6, 7-20) – “Blind Devotion”
May 12, 2019 – Acts 9:36-43 – “Shocking Faith”
May 19, 2019 – Acts 11:1-18 – “Stunned Silence”
May 26, 2019 – Acts 16:9-15 – “Eager Acceptance”
June 2, 2019 – Acts 16:16-34 – “Doubled Deliverance”
Pentecost Sunday (June 9)
June 9, 2019 – Genesis 11:1-9 – “What Did You Say?”
Season After Pentecost (June 16-November 24)
Trinity Sunday
June 16, 2019 – Romans 5:1-5 – “Imaginary Numbers”
On the Road with Jesus
June 23, 2019 – Luke 8:26-39 – “A Bad Day for Pigs”
June 30, 2019 – Luke 9:51-62 – “A Hard Row to Hoe”
July 7, 2019 – Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 – “A Mission Trip to Remember”
July 14, 2019 – Luke 10:25-37 – “A Wonder on the Road”
July 21, 2019 – Luke 10:38-42 – “A Better Way to Go”
July 28, 2019 – Luke 11:1-13 – “A Good Way to Pray”
August 4, 2019 – Luke 12:13-21 – “An Investment Gone Bad”
August 11, 2019 – Luke 12:32-40 – “A Word to the Wise”
August 18, 2019 – Luke 12:49-56 – “A Really Sharp Word”
August 25, 2019 – Luke 13:10-17 – “A Straight-Up Answer”
September 1, 2019 – Luke 14:1-14 (RCL 1, 7-14) – “A Way to the Top”
Choices That Matter
September 8, 2019 – Deuteronomy 30:15-20 – “Make the Right Choice!”
September 15, 2019 – Jeremiah 4:11-28 (RCL 11-12, 22-28) – “Delay and You’ll Pay”
September 22, 2019 – Jeremiah 8:18-9:3 (RCL 8:18-9:1) – “Go on and Grieve”
September 29, 2019 – Jeremiah 32:1-15 (RCL 32:1-3a, 6-15) – “Never Give Up”
October 6, 2019 – Habakkuk 1:1-2:4 (RCL 1:1-4, 2:1-4) – “Faith for Hard Days”
October 13, 2019 – Jeremiah 29:1-9 (RCL 1, 4-7) – “An Unlikely Garden”
October 20, 2019 – Jeremiah 31:27-34 – “A Surprising New Start”
October 27, 2019 – Joel 2:23-32 – “A Harvest to Remember”
All Saints Day
November 3, 2019 – Ephesians 1:11-23 – “At Home with the Saints”
Random Readings
November 10, 2019 – Luke 20:27-38 – “Trick Questions”
November 17, 2019 – 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 – “Right Things”
November 24, 2019 – Colossians 1:11-20 – “Blown Minds”
Advent Season (December 1-22)
December 1, 2019 – Isaiah 2:1-5 – “When Soldiers Plow”
December 8, 2019 – Isaiah 11:1-10 – “When Stumps Sprout”
December 15, 2019 – Isaiah 35:1-10 – “When Sorrow Flees”
December 22, 2019 – Isaiah 7:10-16 – “When a Son Astounds”
Christmas Season
December 29, 2019 – Isaiah 63:7-19 (RCL 7-9) – “When Prayer Makes Bold”
2018 Topics
Epiphany: Big Questions
January 7 – Ephesians 3:1-12 – “The Mystery of the Ages”
January 14 – 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 – “What Is Best for Me?”
January 21 – 1 Corinthians 7:25-40 (RCL 7:29-31) – “A Question of Matrimony”
January 28 – 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 – “Are You Going to Eat That?”
February 4 – 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 – “Any Volunteers?”
February 11 – 2 Corinthians 4:1-6 (RCL 4:3-6) – “Have You Seen the Light?”
Lent: Keeping Faith
February 18 – Genesis 9:8-17 – “A Global Promise”
February 25 – Genesis 17:1-16 (RCL 17:1-7, 15-16) – “A Covenant Family”
March 4 – Exodus 20:1-17 – “A Covenant Nation”
March 11 – Numbers 21:4-9 – “Covenant Breaking”
March 18 – Psalm 51 (RCL 51:1-12) – “Covenant Renewal”
March 25 – Psalm 40:1-10 (RCL 40:5-10) – “Covenant Celebration”
Easter: Keeping Close
April 1 – (Easter) Mark 16:1-8 – “Too Good to Be True?”
April 8 – Psalm 133, Acts 4:32-35 – “Happy Together”
April 15 – Luke 24:13-49 (RCL 24:36b-48) – “The Road to Hope”
April 22 – John 10:11-21 (RCL 10:11-18) – “The Good Shepherd”
April 29 – John 15:1-8 – “The True Vine”
May 6 – John 15:9-17 – “Real Love”
May 13 – John 17:6-19 – “Questions of Belonging”
May 20 – (Pentecost) John 15:26-16:15 (RCL 15:26-27, 16:4b-15) – “Goodbye, and Hello”
Season After Pentecost: The Perils of Pauline … Thinking
May 27 – (Trinity Sunday) Romans 8:12-17 – “In the Flesh, of the Spirit”
June 3 – 2 Corinthians 4:5-12 (RCL 4:5-12) – “Treasure Sharing”
June 10 – 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:5 (RCL 4:13-5:1) – “We Don’t Lose Heart”
June 17 – 2 Corinthians 5:6-17 (RCL 5:6-10 [11-13], 14-17) – “By Faith, Not Sight”
June 24 – 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 – “Living Oxymorons”
July 1 – 2 Corinthians 8:1-15 (RCL 8:7-15) – “Motivating Generosity”
July 8 – 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 – “Heavenly Secrets and Earthly Thorns”
A Prophetic Interlude
July 15 – Amos 7:7-15 – “Walking the Line”
July 22 – Jeremiah 23:1-6 – “Bad Shepherds and Good”
Not Your Ordinary Rabbi
July 29 – John 6:1-21 – “He Did What?”
August 5 – John 6:22-35 (RCL 6:24-35) – “Straight Talk”
August 12 – John 6:35-51 (RCL 6:35, 41-51) – “Living Bread”
August 19 – John 6:51-58 – “Offensive Language”
August 26 – John 6:56-69 – “When It’s Hard to Believe”
Doing, and Being
September 2 – Deuteronomy 4:1-15 (RCL 4:1-2, 6-9) – “Following Through”
September 9 – Psalm 146 – “Trusting God”
September 16 – Isaiah 50:4-9 (RCL 50:4-9a) – “Standing Firm”
September 23 – Psalm 1 – “Living Wisely”
September 30 – Psalm 124 – “Offering Praise”
October 7 – Genesis 2:18-24 – “Being Equal”
October 14 – Psalm 90 (RCL 90:12-17) – “Gaining Perspective”
October 21 – Isaiah 53:4-12 – “Redeeming Love”
October 28 – Jeremiah 31:7-9 – “Saving Grace”
November 4 – Deuteronomy 6:1-9 – “Remembering Always”
November 11 – 1 Kings 17:8-16 – “Doing Faith”
November 18 – 1 Samuel 2:1-10 – “Singing Joy”
November 25 – Daniel 7:1-14 (RCL 7:9-10, 13-14) – “Dreaming Hope”
Advent: Someone’s Coming
December 2 – Luke 21:25-36 – “Coming to Reign”
December 9 – Malachi 3:1-4 – “Coming to Judge”
December 16 – Isaiah 12:1-6 (RCL 12:2-6) – “Coming to Save”
December 23 – Hebrews 10:1-10 (RCL 10:5-10) – “Coming to Sanctify”
Christmas
December 30 – Colossians 3:12-17 – “All in the Name of Jesus”
2017 Topics
Looking Forward (Season of Christmas, Season of Epiphany)
Jan. 1 – Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 – “It’s Always Time”
Jan. 8 – Isaiah 42:1-9 – “A Time for Justice”
Jan. 15 – Isaiah 49:1-7 – “A Time for Light”
Jan. 22 – Isaiah 9:1-4 – “A Time for Hope”
Feb. 5 – Matthew 5:13-20 – “Salt, Light, and Law”
Feb. 12 – Matthew 5:21-37 – “Then, and Now”
Feb. 19 – Matthew 5:38-48 – “Seriously?”
Feb. 26 – Matthew 17:1-19 – “Keeping Secrets”
Faith Forward (Season of Lent)
Mar. 5 – Romans 5:12-19 – “Righteous Failure”
Mar. 12 – Romans 4:1-17 – “Trustful Faith”
Mar. 19 – Romans 5:1-11 – “Hopeful Peace”
Mar. 26 – Ephesians 5:8-14 – “Illuminated Fruit”
Apr. 2 – Romans 8:6-11 – “Mindful Spirituality”
Apr. 9 – Matthew 21:1-11 – “Royal Humility”
Forward Living (Season of Easter)
Apr. 16 – Jeremiah 31:1-6 – “Everlasting Love”
Apr. 23 – Psalm 16 – “The Path of Life”
Apr. 30 – Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19 – “Paying Vows”
May 7 – Acts 2:42-47 – “Signs and Wonders”
May 14 – Acts 7:55-60 – “Faithful Unto Death”
May 21 – Acts 17:22-31 – “A God Unknown”
May 28 – John 17:1-11 – “The Lord at Prayer”
June 4 – John 7:37-39 – “A Pentecostal River”
Forward Progress (Season After Pentecost)
June 11 – Psalm 8 – “Not Quite Angels”
June 18 – Genesis 18:1-15 – “Not Dead Yet”
June 25 – Genesis 21:8-21 – “Not Long Alone”
July 2 – Genesis 22:1-14 – “The Closest Call”
July 9 – Song of Songs 2:8-13 – “A Time for Love”
July 16 – Psalm 119:105-112 – “A Lamp and a Light”
July 23 – Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24 – “A Life Exposed”
July 30 – Psalm 128 – “A Blessed Man”
August 6 – Psalm 17:1-7, 15 – “A Prayer for Justice”
August 13 – Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28 – “Selling Joseph”
August 20 – Genesis 45:1-15 – “Making Peace”
August 27 – Exodus 1:8-2:10 – “Saving Lives”
Sept. 3 – Exodus 3:1-15 – “Meeting Mr. Is”
Sept. 10 – Exodus 12:1-14 – “Blood in the Doorway”
Sept. 17 – Exodus 14:19-31 – “The Day That Never Died”
Sept. 24 – Exodus 16:2-15 – “What Is It?”
Oct. 1 – Exodus 17:1-7 – “Unbottled Water”
Oct. 8 – Matthew 21:33-46 – “Stony Hearts”
Oct. 15 – Matthew 22:1-14 – “Wait. What?”
Oct. 22 – Matthew 22:15-22 – “A Taxing Question”
Oct. 29 – Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18 – “Being Holy”
Nov. 5 – Micah 3:1-5 – “Being True”
Nov. 12 – Amos 5:18-24 – “Being Just”
Nov. 19 – Zephaniah 1:7, 12-18 – “Being Ready”
Nov. 26 – Matthew 25:31-46 – “Being Surprised?”
Forward Promises (Season of Advent)
Dec. 3 – Mark 13:24-37 – “Wakeful Faithful”
Dec. 10 – Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13 – “Kissing Cousins”
Dec. 17 – Psalm 126 – “Tearful Farmers”
Dec. 24 – Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26 – “Keeping Promises”