Preparing for Sunday: Recent Episodes

Dennis Sanders

Preparing for Sunday is a resource for clergy and the laity to get ready for the upcoming Sunday using a text from the Revised Common Lectionary. A ministry of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of St. Paul, MN. fccsaintpaul.org

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Lectionary Q is a resource for clergy and the laity to get ready for the upcoming Sunday using a text from the Revised Common Lectionary. This week's text is from Luke 23:33-43

What are your answers? What are your questions? Send them to lectionaryq@substack.com.

Here are the questions for this week’s passage:

  • The New Revised Standard Version says in verse 33 that “they” crucified Jesus. Who is the “they?” Is it the soldiers? The leaders? The people?

  • What is the significance of the Inscription on the cross (This is the King of the Jews)?

  • When Jesus says “Today you will be with me in paradise,” what does he mean?

  • Several times Jesus is mocked by saying he should save himself. Could this statement of mockery also be a temptation? How?

The History of Christ the King Sunday

Learn more about First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of St. Paul: fccsaintpaul.org.

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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lectionaryq.substack.com

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Lectionary Q is a resource for clergy and the laity to get ready for the upcoming Sunday using a text from the Revised Common Lectionary. This week's text is from Luke 6:21-30.

What are your answers? What are your questions? Send them to lectionaryq@substack.com.

Here are the questions for this week’s passage:

  • The word “blessed” can also mean “happy.” What does it mean that those who are poor or hungry are “happy?”

  • These blessings are also found in Matthew 5:1-12. In Matthew, the phrase “in spirit” is added to verse 3 where Jesus talks about blessing the poor. Why is that added in Matthew? Does it make a difference?

  • The passage in Luke adds woes in addition to blessings. Why do you think the writer does this? How does it change the passage?

  • In verse 29, Jesus talks about turning the other cheek and giving up not just cloaks but shirts as well. How does this relate to Christ dying on the cross?

  • Verse 31 is sometimes called the Golden Rule. How easy or difficult is it to live this out? How hard was it to live out in Jesus’ day?

  • This passage is used during All Saints Sunday. How does it relate to All Saints?

Thanks for reading Lectionary Q! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Learn more about First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of St. Paul: fccsaintpaul.org.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lectionaryq.substack.com

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Lectionary Q is a resource for clergy and the laity to get ready for the upcoming Sunday using a text from the Revised Common Lectionary.  This week's text is from Luke 19:1-10.

What are your answers? What are your questions? Send them to lectionaryq@substack.com.

Here are the questions for this week’s passage:

  • We are told that Zaccheus was a tax collector and was rich.  What does that mean to the crowd? What does it mean to Jesus?

  • Why do you think Zaccheus wanted to see Jesus?

  • Jesus says he must stay at Zaccheus house.  Why does he insist on staying?

  • Did the act of Jesus coming to stay with Zaccheus make him give so much of his wealth?

  • Was Zaccheus gift the result of gratitude? Why or why not?

  • Jesus says the Son of Man comes to seek and save the lost.  What does “lost” mean in this instance?  What does the word “save” mean?

Thanks for reading Lectionary Q! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Learn more about First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of St. Paul: fccsaintpaul.org.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lectionaryq.substack.com

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Lectionary Q is a resource for clergy and the laity to get ready for the upcoming Sunday using a text from the Revised Common Lectionary. This week's text is from Luke 18:9-14.

What are your answers? What are your questions? Send them to lectionaryq@substack.com.

  • Both men stand alone in the temple, apart from anyone else. Why?

  • Imagine that you’re hearing this story for the first time. Would it be a shock to you? Hearing this story for the first time who was the justified one and who was not?

  • Does either get character get what they deserve?

  • How are we like the Pharisee? How are we like the tax collector?

  • Martin Luther once wrote, “Scripture describes man as so curved in upon himself that he uses not only physical but even spiritual goods for his own purposes and in all things seeks only himself.” The phrase Incurvatis in se (curved in on oneself) means that even when we try to do good, it’s hard for us to not look out for our own self-interest. Which character is curved in on themself? What example can you draw from your life?

Thanks for reading Lectionary Q! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Learn more about First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of St. Paul: fccsaintpaul.org.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lectionaryq.substack.com

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Lectionary Q is a resource for clergy and the laity to get ready for the upcoming Sunday using a text from the Revised Common Lectionary. This week's text is from Jeremiah 31:27-34 and Luke 18:1-8.

What are your answers? What are your questions? Send them to lectionaryq@substack.com.

Here are the questions for this week’s passage:

  • What does it mean that God “watched over” both destruction and building?

  • Why couldn’t God use the original covenant made with Israel?

  • What does it mean that God would write the law on their hearts? What would that look like?

  • What did it mean that God didn’t have to teach them anymore?

  • When Jesus talks about praying and not losing heart, does that mean praying to get what we want or something else entirely?

  • What or who does the unjust judge represent in the story?

  • God says God will quickly grant justice in verse 8. What does quickly mean to God and what does it mean to us?

  • What is the answer to verse 8 when it Jesus asks if God will find justice on earth?

Learn more about First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of St. Paul: fccsaintpaul.org

Thanks for reading Lectionary Q! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lectionaryq.substack.com

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This is a trial episode of Lectionary Q for the Narrative Lectionary. Let us know what you think! This week's text is from Exodus 19:3-7; 20:1-17

Here are the questions for this week’s passage:

  • Why is the memory of God’s actions for the Israelites so important to God?

  • Is the first commandment found in verse 2 (I am the Lord your God) or verse 3 (you shall have no other gods)? Does it matter?

  • Why was keeping the sabbath so important to God? What did their enslavement have to do with sabbath?

  • Why would God punish the children of the parents who sinned against God?

  • How would you describe the word covenant? What did it mean to the Israelites? What does it mean to us as Christians now?

  • What did it mean that the Israelites would be a treasured possession?

What are your answers? What are your questions? Send them to lectionaryq@substack.com.

Learn more about First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of St. Paul: fccsaintpaul.org

Thanks for reading Lectionary Q! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lectionaryq.substack.com

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Lectionary Q is a resource for clergy and the laity to get ready for the upcoming Sunday using a text from the Revised Common Lectionary. This week's text is from Luke 17:11-19.

What are your answers? What are your questions? Send them to lectionaryq@substack.com.

Here are the questions for this week’s passage:

  • Why didn’t Jesus heal the lepers on the spot, but instead told them to show themselves to the priest?

  • What do you think happened to the other nine lepers? Why didn’t they return to Jesus?

  • What is the main hook of this story? Was it that one man came back to say thanks? Or was it that this man was a Samaritan?

  • When Jesus responds by calling the Samaritan a “foreigner” what do you think is being implied?

  • Do you think the other nine were not grateful?

  • When Jesus says the man’s faith has healed him, what healed the other men’s bodies? Also, there is some indication the phrase “has made you well” is in the perfect tense meaning it is a one-time action that makes an impact into the future. If the Samaritan understood that, how would that make him feel?

Learn more about First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of St. Paul: fccsaintpaul.org

Thanks for reading Lectionary Q! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lectionaryq.substack.com

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This is a trial episode of Lectionary Q for the Narrative Lectionary. Let us know what you think! This week's text is from Exodus 14:5-7, 10-14, 21-29.

What are your answers? What are your questions? Send them to lectionaryq@substack.com.

Learn more about First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of St. Paul: fccsaintpaul.org

Story of God Worksheet on Text

Thanks for reading Lectionary Q! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lectionaryq.substack.com

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Lectionary Q is a resource for clergy and the laity to get ready for the upcoming Sunday using a text from the Revised Common Lectionary.  This week's text is from Luke 17:1-10.

What are your answers? What are your questions? Send them to lectionaryq@substack.com.

Learn more about First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of St. Paul: fccsaintpaul.org

Thanks for reading Lectionary Q! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lectionaryq.substack.com

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Lectionary Q is a resource for clergy and the laity to get ready for the upcoming Sunday using a text from the Revised Common Lectionary.  This week's text is from Luke 16:19-31.

What are your answers? What are your questions? Send them to lectionaryq@substack.com.

Learn more about First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of St. Paul: fccsaintpaul.org

Watch the video version:

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lectionaryq.substack.com

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Lectionary Q is a resource for clergy and the laity to get ready for the upcoming Sunday using a text from the Revised Common Lectionary. This week's text is from Luke 15:1-10.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lectionaryq.substack.com

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Lectionary Q is a resource for clergy and the laity to get ready for the upcoming Sunday using a text from the Revised Common Lectionary.  This week's text is from Luke 16:1-13.

Link to the Questions

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lectionaryq.substack.com

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Preparing for Sunday is a resource for clergy and the laity to get ready for the upcoming Sunday using a text from the Revised Common Lectionary.  This week's text is from Luke 15:1-10.

Do you have questions or answers to the questions?  Respond in the comments or send an email to info@fccsaintpaul.org.

Learn more about First Christian: fccsaintpaul.org

The closing prayer is by Christoph Blumhardt: https://www.plough.com/en/subscriptions/daily-prayer

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Preparing for Sunday is a resource for clergy and the laity to get ready for the upcoming Sunday using a text from the Revised Common Lectionary.  This week's text is from Acts 2:1-21.  Do you have questions or answers to the questions?  Respond in the comments or send an email to info@fccsaintpaul.org.

Preparing for Sunday is taking a summer break.  We will return with new episodes in September.  Godspeed and have a good summer!

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Preparing for Sunday is a resource for clergy and the laity to get ready for the upcoming Sunday using a text from the Revised Common Lectionary.  This week's text is from John Acts 16:16-34.  Do you have questions or answers to the questions?  Respond in the comments or send an email to info@fccsaintpaul.org.