In following the church year, we move through a proscribed text for each Sunday, and the different church seasons. Starting in Advent, we move through Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and Pentecost and Trinity Sundays. Starting this Sunday, we enter the season (interestingly called “Ordinary Time”), running now until November, where different books of the Bible are set as the texts of the week, so the whole counsel of God is preached.
Starting this Sunday, for Seven Summer Sundays (June 7, 21, 28; July 5, 12, 19, 26), the lectionary takes us to the Book of Genesis (which means “beginning”). To prepare for worship and better engage these passages, I will herein list each passage, with a summary statement and an italics question or comment:
- June 7: Genesis 12:1-9. God calls Abram to leave his home country and travel to a new, promise land. Why did Abram go?
- June 21: Genesis 21:8-21. God does not call Abraham’s Son Ishmael to inherit the promise land but does rescue Hagar and Ishmael - How does not being chosen and yet being rescued strike you?
- June 28: Genesis 22:1-14. Abraham is prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac - Why would Abraham be asked to sacrifice his son? What is problematic with the text? How do you understand it?
- July 5: Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67. The marriage of Issac and Rebekah - Long before the birth of Christ, the lineage of Christ was preserved thru simple tasks.
- July 12: Genesis 25:19-34. Esau sells his birthright to Jacob - A glance at the sovereignty of God and our free will.
- July 19: Genesis 28:10-19a. Jacob’s dream of a ladder - What is the significance of this ladder dream?
- July 26: Genesis 29:15-28. Jacob’s wives - Why did it take so long for true love to come to fruition?
I hope preparing ahead of time each week by meditating on these texts will be helpful. May our journey these Sundays connect with practical application for our lives.
