The Revised Common Lectionary is a method of reading through the Bible in a three-year cycle (Year A, B, C). Rather than reading the Bible from cover to cover, the Lectionary follows the seasons of the Christian Year (Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Pentecost and Ordinary Time).
The advantage to reading the Bible with daily assigned texts from the Old Testament, Psalms, and the New Testament is that the reader has an opportunity to follow the life of Jesus through the course of a year. For a Christian who wants to grow in discipleship, the Lectionary is a helpful way of getting to know Christ better.
Revised Common Lectionary, published by Fortress Press
Another benefit of following the Lectionary readings is that they can be read slowly in about 10-15 minutes. This affords the opportunity to spend time reflecting and thinking about how the Bible applies to your life today. Since the daily readings relate to one another from various places in the Bible, it is a helpful way of keeping in mind the whole of Scripture.
The daily readings of the Lectionary revolve around the Sunday readings. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday readings reflect on the Sunday texts. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday prepare for Sunday. This has the obvious advantage for making Christian worship a special experience.
The purpose of the Lectionary is to encourage Bible reading, a well-rounded understanding of the Bible’s contents, as well as provide a good foundation for prayer. Not every verse of the Bible is included. Yet, the reading selections represent the stories, psalms, prophets, gospels, and epistles almost completely. The Lectionary is meant to be a devotional reading of the Bible which draws people closer to God.
Bob and I follow the Lectionary readings every day. We encourage you to try it. Here is a link to the Lectionary readings: Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings If you’re interested in my (Tim) insights and reflections, you can find them in the Daily Reading Blog at TimEhrhardt.com
Also, check out our pages on Bible Study Methods and Daily Bible Readings for tips on reading plans, guides, and methods.
Happy reading! See you on the trail.
