Deciding what to preach each Sunday can be one of the greatest challenges for a pastor. We know there is a limited amount of time to share the Word of God with our congregations and take that responsibility seriously.

Every weekend ministers throughout our Fellowship present heartfelt, life-altering sermons, for which we are thankful. There are many possible and appropriate approaches to biblical preaching. However, one often overlooked method is preaching according to a lectionary.

Many churches in the U.S. and around the world follow the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) as a basis for their worship services and specifically for their preaching. Lectionary preaching has a long history in the Church, dating back to at least the Middle Ages.

The RCL was published in 1992 as a specifically Protestant resource. The lectionary follows a three-year cycle based on the Gospel readings of Matthew (Year A), Mark (Year B), and Luke (Year C). Passages from the Gospel of John are interspersed throughout each year. The lectionary also provides a corresponding Psalm and Old Testament reading.

Several years ago, I decided to use the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) for my daily Bible reading. It provided a unique way to read the Bible, and I found it enriched my understanding of Scripture.

When I began pastoring two small rural churches a few years later, I committed myself to preaching from the RCL since the two churches already followed it. I pastored those churches for exactly three years to the day — the same length of time it takes to complete the full lectionary cycle.

Following the lectionary proved to be both a rewarding and challenging experience. Pentecostals tend to shy away from lectionary preaching, as we might fear it hinders the direction of the Holy Spirit, but I did not find this to be the case. There are many reasons why lectionary preaching can be a helpful approach for both ministers and congregants.

First, there is a historical precedent for following a schedule of Scripture reading. We know that on the Sabbath the Jewish community read a selection from the Torah and from the prophets. In Acts 15:21 Peter stated that the words of Moses had been read in the synagogue every Sabbath.

When Jesus visited the synagogue at Nazareth in Luke 4, He was handed the scroll from the prophet Isaiah and read what was likely the assigned passage for the day. Perhaps this is why Jesus entered the synagogue to read on the date he did.

Second, if we believe all Scripture is inspired, and we take Paul’s injunction seriously that, “All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, and training in righteousness,” (2 Timothy 3:16), then we need not worry about quenching the Spirit. To be God-breathed is to be filled with the Spirit of God.

The Holy Spirit speaks through all of Scripture; therefore, every portion of Scripture is beneficial for the Church and has something to say to us. Lectionary preaching pushes pastors to address difficult texts they might not normally address or from which they might shy away.

The Holy Spirit speaks through all of Scripture; therefore, every portion of Scripture is beneficial for the Church and has something to say to us.

Many weeks I encountered texts I would never have chosen for a sermon, yet as I studied and prayed, the Holy Spirit revealed wonderful truths and insights my congregants and I might have otherwise missed.

Third, lectionary preaching supports expository preaching. While there is a place for topical preaching within a congregation, expository preaching encourages us to follow the Word’s lead. Rather than approaching Scripture to find support for a sermon I wish to preach, lectionary preaching requires me to ask, “What is the Word saying?”

We see expository preaching in Nehemiah 8 when Ezra reads the Book of Moses to the people and then explains it so that the people understand the reading. While expository preaching can happen without using the lectionary, lectionary preaching pushes pastors towards it. Similarly, lectionary preaching helps pastors avoid sermons that focus on our own issues or favorite topics.

Although we value transparency in the pulpit, it can be easy for us to focus on issues with which we are struggling or topics we think the congregation needs to hear. While it is important to address the needs of our congregations, lectionary preaching allows for multiple issues and needs to be addressed, rather than simply those on our minds.

Fourth, lectionary preaching carries the congregation through the liturgical year. Non-liturgical churches have historically tended to not follow the church calendar. To distance themselves from more liturgically based churches, they left behind anything suggestive of ritualism.

However, there are many benefits to following the church calendar. Such rituals are important because they shape who we are. They remind us that there is another reality outside of the materialistic world in which we live. The observance of Advent, Epiphany, Lent, Eastertide, Pentecost, and so forth require us to form our lives around the life of Christ in a way that allows us to participate in His life and the Early Church.

Following the church calendar also encourages us to step outside of the rhythm of our daily lives and enter a spiritual reality. It allows us to create times and spaces where God can speak and we’re prepared to listen.

The Israelites were commanded by God to participate in yearly rituals reminding them of the way He had worked in the lives of His people. In the same way, the church calendar reminds us of Christ’s work in the lives of His people, as many today are drawn to the stability that such traditions afford.

Fifth, lectionary preaching provides parishioners with a healthy biblical theology that demonstrates the integrity of the entire corpus of Sacred Scripture. In a year, the readings cover the overarching narrative of God’s story of redemption and offer a wonderful opportunity to draw together passages of Scripture comprising that story.

Each lectionary entry has a Psalm, as well as an Old Testament and New Testament reading. Sunday lectionaries include a Gospel reading as well. Sometimes it is immediately obvious why these passages have been paired together; other times serious meditation is needed.

Take for example a set of Sunday readings that focus on the theme of a shepherd. The Psalm is Chapter 23, which sings of the Lord as our shepherd. The Old Testament reading is Genesis 48, where Israel (Jacob) reflects on the Lord having shepherded him all his life. Finally, in Mark 6:30-34, Jesus ministers to people who need a shepherd.

Pastors might consider encouraging their congregants to follow along on the daily readings of the lectionary which will give them additional biblical understanding, prepare them well for Sunday’s sermon, and create a wonderful sense of unity within the church.

Finally, lectionary preaching creates continuity with Christians throughout the world. What a powerful thing to have multitudes of believers meditating on, wrestling with, and seeking to apply the same scriptures on any given Sunday. This practice brings many parts of Christ’s body together to focus on a similar theme in God’s redemptive story and, in doing so, exponentially propels the mission of Christ forward into the world.

Lectionary preaching is certainly not the only form of biblical preaching, yet I am thankful for the three years I committed to following the lectionary. It challenged me in ways I had not previously been. It gave me an even greater appreciation for the biblical text, it encouraged me to listen to the Holy Spirit in a new way, and it gave my congregations a clearer understanding of God’s redemptive story.

So, as you plan for the months ahead, consider giving the lectionary a try.