Home » The Layman’s Guide to the Lectionary

The Layman’s Guide to the Lectionary

The Layman’s Guide to the Lectionary is a full-length Bible study, aiming for roughly 60 minutes, on the LCMS’s three-year lectionary, the Old Testament, Epistle, and Gospel texts for the upcoming Sunday. My current plan is to publish this on Wednesday mornings, although it’s often Thursday. Here you can access all the episodes of “The Layman’s Guide to the Lectionary” podcast quickly and easily that you may learn about the Bible readings for that weekend of the Church year.  A PDF of the current Church Year can be found on the LCMS’s website here.  If the readings for a particular Sunday repeat across different years, like Reformation Sunday, you’ll find a (A, B, C) notation beside the day. *Note that the texts in the season of Pentecost can be called either the ___th Sunday after Pentecost, which is specific to that calendar year, or they can be Proper ___, based more on the Church year.  In the podcast recordings, I called them by the Pentecost name, but since those move each year, here I labeled them by their Propers name.  So use the link for the calendar above to see which Proper is coming up and ignore my opening label in the show.  The Layman’s Guide to the Lectionary spreadsheet – a simple display of which readings appear when in the lectionary and how often.

Quick links – quickly jump to the year and season you want:

Year A (Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Pentecost)

Year B (Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Pentecost)

Year C (Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Pentecost)

Year A

Advent

Christmas

Epiphany

Lent

Easter

Pentecost

  • Pentecost Eve (A, B, C) – Exodus 19:1-9, Romans 8:12-17 (22-27), and John 14:8-21
  • The Day of Pentecost – Numbers 11:24-30, Acts 2:1-21, and John 7:37-39
  • Pentecost Evening/Monday (A, B, C) Isaiah 57:15-21, Acts 10:34a, 42-48, and John 3:16-21
  • Pentecost Tuesday (A, B, C) – Isaiah 32:14-20, Acts 8:14-17, and John 10:1-10
  • The Holy Trinity – Genesis 1:1-2a, Acts 2:14a, 22-36, and Matthew 28:16-20
  • Proper 3 – Isaiah 49:8-16a, Romans 1:8-17, Matthew 6:24-34
  • Proper 4 – Deuteronomy 11:18-21, 26-28, Romans 3:21-28, and Matthew 7:15-29
  • Proper 5 – Hosea 5:15-6:6, Romans 4:13-25, and Matthew 9:9-13
  • Proper 6 – Exodus 19:2-8, Romans 6:5-15, and Matthew 9:35-10:8
  • Proper 7 – Jeremiah 20:7-13, Romans 6:12-23, and Matthew 10:5a, 21-33
  • Proper 8 – Jeremiah 28:5-9, Romans 7:1-13, and Matthew 10:34-42
  • Proper 9 – Zechariah 9:9-12, Romans 7:14-25a, and Matthew 11:25-30
  • Proper 10 – Isaiah 55:10-13, Romans 8:12-17, and Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
  • Proper 11 – Isaiah 44:6-8, Romans 8:18-27, and Matthew 13:24-30 and 36-43
  • Proper 12 – Deuteronomy 7:6-9, Romans 8:28-39, and Matthew 13:44-52
  • Proper 13 – Isaiah 55:1-5, Romans 9:1-13, and Matthew 14:13-21
  • Proper 14 – Job 38:4-18, Romans 10:5-17, and Matthew 14:22-33
  • Proper 15 – Isaiah 56:1, 6-8, Romans 11:1-2a, 13-15, 28-32, and Matthew 15:21-28
  • Proper 16 – Isaiah 51:1-6, Romans 11:33-12:8, and Matthew 16:13-20
  • Proper 17 – Jeremiah 15:15-21, Romans 12:9-21, and Matthew 16:21-28
  • Proper 18 – Ezekiel 33:7-9, Romans 13:1-10, and Matthew 18:1-20
  • Proper 19 – Genesis 50:15-21, Romans 14:1-12, and Matthew 18:21-35
  • Proper 20 – Isaiah 55:6-9, Philippians 1:12-14, 19-30, and Matthew 20:1-16
  • Proper 21 – Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32, Philippians 2:1-4, (5-13), 14-28, and Matthew 21:23-27 (28-32)
  • Proper 22 – Isaiah 5:1-7, Philippians 3:4b-14, and Matthew 21:33-46
  • Proper 23 – Isaiah 25:6-9, Philippians 4:4-13, and Matthew 22:1-14
  • Proper 24 – Isaiah 45:1-7, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10, and Matthew 22:15-22
  • Proper 25 – Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18, 1 Thessalonians 2:1-13, and Matthew 22:34-46
  • Proper 26 – Micah 3:5-12, 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12, and Matthew 23:1-12
  • Reformation Day (A, B, C) – Revelation 14:6-7, Romans 3:19-28, and Matthew 11:12-19
  • All Saints’ Day (A, B, C) – Revelation 7:(2-8) 9-17, 1 John 3:1-3, and Matthew 5:1-12
  • Proper 27 – Amos 5:18-24, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, and Matthew 25:1-13
  • Proper 28 – Zephaniah 1:7-16, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, and Matthew 25:14-30
  • Proper 29 – Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24, 1 Corinthians 15:20-28, and Matthew 25:31-46
  • Day of Thanksgiving (A, B, C) – Deuteronomy 8:1-10, Philippians 4:6-20, 1 Timothy 2:1-4, and Luke 17:11-19

Year B

Advent

Christmas

Epiphany

Lent

Easter

Pentecost

  • Pentecost Eve (A, B, C) – Exodus 19:1-9, Romans 8:12-17 (22-27), and John 14:8-21
  • The Day of Pentecost – Ezekiel 37:1-14, Acts 2:1-21, and John 15:26-27, 16:4b-15
  • Pentecost Evening/Monday (A, B, C) Isaiah 57:15-21, Acts 10:34a, 42-48, and John 3:16-21
  • Pentecost Tuesday (A, B, C) – Isaiah 32:14-20, Acts 8:14-17, and John 10:1-10
  • The Holy Trinity – Isaiah 6:1-8, Acts 2:14a, 22-36, and John 3:1-17
  • Proper 3 – Hosea 2:14-20, Acts 2:14a, 36-47, and Mark 2:(13-17)18-22
  • Proper 4 – Deuteronomy 5:12-15, 2 Corinthians 4:5-12, and Mark 2:23-28 (3:1-6)
  • Proper 5 – Genesis 3:8-15, 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1, and Mark 3:20-35
  • Proper 6 – Ezekiel 17:22-24, 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 (11-17), and Mark 4:26-34
  • Proper 7 – Job 38:1-11, 2 Corinthians 6:1-13, and Mark 4:35-41
  • Proper 8 – Lamentations 3:22-33, 2 Corinthians 8:1-9, 13-15, and Mark 5:21-43
  • Proper 9 – Ezekiel 2:1-5, 2 Corinthians 12:1-10, and Mark 6:1-13
  • Proper 10 – Amos 7:7-15, Ephesians 1:3-14, and Mark 6:14-29
  • Proper 11 – Jeremiah 23:1-6, Ephesians 2:11-22, and Mark 6:30-44
  • Proper 12 – Genesis 9:8-17, Ephesians 3:14-21, and Mark 6:45-56
  • Proper 13 – Exodus 16:2-15, Ephesians 4:1-16, and John 6:22-35
  • Proper 14 – 1 Kings 19:1-8, Ephesians 4:17-5:2, and John 6:35-51
  • Proper 15 – Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18, Proverbs 9:1-10, Ephesians 5:6-21, and John 6:51-69
  • Proper 16 – Isaiah 29:1-11, Ephesians 5:22-33, and Mark 7:1-13
  • Proper 17 – Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9, Ephesians 6:10-20, and Mark 7:14-23
  • Proper 18 – Isaiah 35:4-7a, James 2:1-10, 14-18, and Mark 7:(24-30) 31-37
  • Proper 19 – Isaiah 50:4-10, James 3:1-12, and Mark 9:14-29
  • Proper 20 – Jeremiah 11:18-20, James 3:13-4:10, and Mark 9:30-37
  • Proper 21 – Numbers 11:4-6, 10-16, 24-29, James 5:(1-12)13-20, and Mark 9:38-50
  • Proper 22 – Genesis 2:18-25, Hebrews 2:1-13 (14-18), and Mark 10:2-16
  • Proper 23 – Amos 5:6-7, 10-15, Hebrews 3:12-19, and Mark 10:17-22
  • Proper 24 – Ecclesiastes 5:10-20, Hebrews 4:1-13 (14-16), and Mark 10:23-31
  • Proper 25 – Jeremiah 31:7-9, Hebrews 7:23-28, and Mark 10:46-52
  • Proper 26 – Deuteronomy 6:1-9, Hebrews 9:11-14 (15-22), and Mark 12:28-37
  • Reformation Day (A, B, C) – Revelation 14:6-7, Romans 3:19-28, and Matthew 11:12-19
  • All Saints’ Day (A, B, C) – Revelation 7:(2-8) 9-17, 1 John 3:1-3, and Matthew 5:1-12
  • Proper 27 – 1 Kings 17:8-16, Hebrews 9:24-28, and Mark 12:38-44
  • Proper 28 – Daniel 12:1-3, Hebrews 10:11-25, and Mark 13:1-13
  • Proper 29 Last Sunday of the Church Year – Isaiah 51:4-6, Jude 20-25, and Mark 13:24-37
    • or Proper 29 for Christ the King Sunday readings from Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14, Revelation 1:4b-8, and John 18:33-37
  • Day of Thanksgiving (A, B, C) – Deuteronomy 8:1-10, Philippians 4:6-20, 1 Timothy 2:1-4, and Luke 17:11-19

Year C

Advent

Christmas

Epiphany

Lent

Easter

Pentecost

  • Pentecost Eve (A, B, C) – Exodus 19:1-9, Romans 8:12-17 (22-27), and John 14:8-21
  • The Day of Pentecost – Genesis 11:1-9, Acts 2:1-21, and John 14:23-31
  • Pentecost Evening/Monday (A, B, C) Isaiah 57:15-21, Acts 10:34a, 42-48, and John 3:16-21
  • Pentecost Tuesday (A, B, C) – Isaiah 32:14-20, Acts 8:14-17, and John 10:1-10
  • The Holy Trinity – Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31, Acts 2:14a, 22-36, and John 8:48-59
  • Proper 3 – Genesis 50:15-21, Acts 2:14a, 36-47, and Luke 6:(20-26)27-42
  • Proper 4 – 1 Kings 8:22-24, 27-29, and 41-43, Galatians 1:1-12, and Luke 7:1-10
  • Proper 5 – 1 Kings 17:17-24, Galatians 1:11-24, and Luke 7:11-17
  • Proper 6 – 2 Samuel 11:26-12:10, 13-14, Galatians 2:15-21, 3:10-14, and Luke 7:36-8:3
  • Proper 7 – Isaiah 65:1-9, Galatians 3:23-4:7, and Luke 8:26-39
  • Proper 8 – 1 Kings 19:9b-21, Galatians 5:1, 13-25, and Luke 9:51-62
  • Proper 9 – Isaiah 66:10-14, Galatians 6:1-10, 14-18, and Luke 10:1-20
  • Proper 10 – Leviticus (18:1-5) 19:9-18, Colossians 1:1-14, and Luke 10:25-37
  • Proper 11 – Genesis 18:1-10a (10b-14), Colossians 1:21-29, and Luke 10:38-42
  • Proper 12 – Genesis 18:(17-19) 20-33, Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19), and Luke 11:1-13
  • Proper 13 – Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14, 2:18-26, Colossians 3:1-11, and Luke 12:13-21
  • Proper 14 – Genesis 15:1-6, Hebrews 11:1-16, and Luke 12:22-34 (35-40)
  • Proper 15 – Jeremiah 23:16-29, Hebrews 11:17-31 (32-40), 12:1-3, and Luke 12:49-53 (54-56)
  • Proper 16 – Isaiah 66:18-23, Hebrews 12:4-24 (25-29), and Luke 13:22-30
  • Proper 17 – Proverbs 25:2-10, Hebrews 13:1-17, and Luke 14:1-14
  • Proper 18 – Deuteronomy 30:15-20, Philemon 1-21, and Luke 14:25-35
  • Proper 19 – Ezekiel 34:11-24, 1 Timothy 1:(5-11)12-17, and Luke 15:1-10
  • Proper 20 – Amos 8:4-7, 1 Timothy 2:1-15, and Luke 16:1-15
  • Proper 21 – Amos 6:1-7, 1 Timothy 3:1-13 or 6:6-19, and Luke 16:19-31
  • Proper 22 – Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4, 2 Timothy 1:1-14, and Luke 17:1-10
  • Proper 23 – Ruth 1:1-19a, 2 Timothy 2:1-13, and Luke 17:11-19
  • Proper 24 – Genesis 32:22-30, 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5, and Luke 18:1-8
  • Proper 25 – Genesis 4:1-15, 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18, and Luke 18:9-17
  • Proper 26 – Isaiah 1:10-18, 2 Thessalonians 1:1-5 (6-10) 11-12, and Luke 19:1-10
  • Reformation Day (A, B, C) – Revelation 14:6-7, Romans 3:19-28, and Matthew 11:12-19
  • All Saints’ Day (A, B, C) – Revelation 7:(2-8) 9-17, 1 John 3:1-3, and Matthew 5:1-12
  • Proper 27 – Exodus 3:1-15, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8, 13-17, and Luke 20:27-40
  • Proper 28 – Malachi 4:1-6, 2 Thessalonians 3:(1-5) 6-13, and Luke 21:5-28 (29-36)
  • Proper 29 – Malachi 3:13-18, Colossians 1:13-20, and Luke 23:27-43
  • Day of Thanksgiving (A, B, C) – Deuteronomy 8:1-10, Philippians 4:6-20, 1 Timothy 2:1-4, and Luke 17:11-19