An unprecedented, monumental work, the three-volume Lectionary Commentary offers superb exegetical essays on 513 biblical texts from the Revised Common Lectionary spanning the three-year liturgical cycle. Written by seventy-eight pastors, priests, and teachers from a variety of Christian traditions, these essays are meant primarily to serve as exegetical 'jump starts' for busy preachers. Including every Sunday of the church year as well as special holidays, The Lectionary Commentary arranges the biblical texts in canonical order, making it useful to all preachers, not just those who follow the lectionary. These three volumes aim throughout to answer the question, 'What does the preacher need to know about this text in ourder to preach a faithful sermon from it?' Each essay closely considers its specific biblical text and provides insightful theological reflection while remaining alert to our contemporary context. The present volume, The First Readings: The Old Testament and Acts, covers the lectionary readings from Genesis to Malachi and from the first seventeen chapters of Acts. Unique to this volume is an excellent essay by Hughes Oliphant Old on preaching as worship. |
