A New Church Year
On Sunday, November 29th, the Church begins its new year.
Unlike the secular calendar of January 1st, the Sundays of Advent are not marked by renewed personal efforts or resolutions focused on a “new year … new you”. Rather, the season warns against any spiritual confidence in human potential and righteous works.
Like a harbinger, the appointed Scripture readings for Advent sound the call of repentance, a spiritual awakening and a sacred preparation for the three “comings” (“advents”) of Jesus the Christ.
- His “fulfilled coming in the flesh” at the appointed time in Bethlehem
- His “future coming in judgment” at the end of time
- His “present and continual coming” to His Church through His Word and Sacraments
Just as Jesus is the same “yesterday, today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8), so also, Advent combines and compresses the “three comings” of Christ into one plea, for all people, in all places, for all time …
“Come, Lord Jesus!”
Introductory Video
Weekly Vlog Cast, Daily Readings and the Psalm 119 Prayer Cycle
Each week I’ll post the following:
- vlog cast, notes and thoughts centered on the Scripture readings appointed for each Sunday
- a daily reading schedule for sections of the Old Testament and New Testament
- daily guidance, resources and step by step directions to help you implement the 12 “stations” of the Psalm 119 Prayer Cycle over the course of the week
Vlog Cast – Sunday, Advent 1
Presentation Notes for Advent 1 (click here)
Sunday Readings – Advent 1
The Scripture readings for Advent 1 are … (click on highlighted links)
Daily Readings for the Week of 11/30
(with references to “The Psalm 119 Prayer Cycle”)
The lectionary readings for the Church Year begin with the prophet Isaiah and the two epistles of Peter.
Brief Overview of Isaiah:
Isaiah, the prophet, is the voice of God to a rebellious and unfaithful generation. When confronted with the holiness of God in the temple, he cries out …
“I am a man of unclean lips and I live among a people of unclean lips.” (Isaiah 6:1-6)
His people (Northern Israel and Southern Judah) have blatantly broken the covenant that God made with them at Sinai. The tribes of Israel and the people of Judah have not loved the Triune God with all of their heart. They have run after other gods.
God’s people have also failed to love the neighbor as themselves. Injustice, extravagance, greed, pride, power, hypocrisy, outward shows of spirituality and indifference to the Word of God are the norm of the day. However, God will not be mocked. Isaiah declares that the invading Assyrians are God’s agents of wrath upon the faithlessness of the Northern Kingdom. The Babylonians will soon follow and carry Judah, the Southern Kingdom, away in exile.
Isaiah, after God cleanses his lips with the burning coal from the altar of sacrifice (Isaiah 6:1-8), preaches the forgiveness of sins and proclaims the coming of Messiah to his people. Even though God’s people are faithful, God Himself will remain true to all of His promises. Though their sins are like scarlet, God Himself will make His people white as snow. (Isaiah 1:18)
Video: The Book of Isaiah … Content and Context
Brief Overview of 1 and 2 Peter:
Both of Peter’s epistles speak of suffering. The first outlines the cross that comes upon the Christian from outside the Church … persecution, hardship, alienation and oppression because one bears the name of Christ. Peter encourages the scattered Church to think of the sufferings of Christ and to hold fast to Jesus until the end.
The second epistle speaks of the suffering that comes to the Church from within … false teachers and ungodly living among the community of faith. Again, God is not mocked. The “day of the Lord” is fast approaching and the judgment will come. Yet, the Triune God is patient, slow in coming so that all might repent and believe the Gospel.
Video: 1 and 2 Peter … Content and Context
November 27th (click on highlighted links)
November 28th
November 29th
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
The Psalm 119 Prayer Cycle
The links below will direct you to a full version of “The Psalm 119 Prayer Cycle” step by step guide as well as a visual map of the territory.
List of Additional Resources
Here are some additional resources to supplement the readings from the daily lectionary:
- Treasury of Daily Prayer
- A Year in the Old Testament: Meditations for Each Day of the Church Year, by Jeffrey Pulse
- A Year in the New Testament: Meditations for Each Day of the Church Year
- A Year with the Church Fathers: Meditations for Each Day of the Church Year
- PrayNow (iPhone App)
- The Daily Lectionary follows the pattern outlined in the Lutheran Service Book
Here are some of the resources I frequently study or reference for each Sunday of the Church Year:
- Postilla: An Explanation of the Sunday and most Important Festival Gospels of the Whole Year, Volumes 1 and 2, by Johann Gerhard
- A Year in the Gospels With Martin Luther, Volumes 1 and 2, by Martin Luther (Author), Paul T. McCain (Editor)
- Christian Year of Graceby Johann Spangenberg (Author), Matthew Carver (Author)
