In this section, you will find excerpts of my thesis for the Doctor of Ministry in Biblical Preaching program, explaining the rationale for an Open Source Lectionary. This thesis has been published in ebook and book form.
Table of Contents
ABSTRACT……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. ii
Acknowledgments………………………………………………………………………………………….. iii
1. Why is an Open Source Lectionary Needed?………………………………………………… 1
Benefits of the Revised Common Lectionary……………………………………………….. 2
A Framework for Worship Planning……………………………………………………… 3
Avoiding the Pitfall of Preaching Pet Passages………………………………………. 5
Ecumenical Unity and Collaboration……………………………………………………. 7
Limits of the Revised Common Lectionary………………………………………………… 10
Disconnected Texts………………………………………………………………………….. 12
Missing Texts…………………………………………………………………………………… 19
Toward an Open Source Lectionary………………………………………………………….. 27
2. Preaching in Context………………………………………………………………………………….. 40
Modes of Biblical Interpretation………………………………………………………………. 41
Postmodernity……………………………………………………………………………………….. 50
God with Us…………………………………………………………………………………………… 55
God Against Preaching……………………………………………………………………………. 60
Preaching as Confession…………………………………………………………………………. 66
The Biblical Story…………………………………………………………………………………… 75
3. Exploring the Lectionary…………………………………………………………………………… 82
History of the Lectionary…………………………………………………………………………. 82
Navigating the Lectionary……………………………………………………………………….. 92
Semicontinuous Limitations in the Lectionary………………………………………….. 104
4. The Open Source Lectionary…………………………………………………………………….. 110
Www.OpenSourceLectionary.com………………………………………………………….. 110
Examples of Lectionary Mods………………………………………………………………… 112
The Book of Acts…………………………………………………………………………….. 113
Revelation…………………………………………………………………………………….. 119
Advent………………………………………………………………………………………….. 122
“Neglected Characters of the Bible” for Lent……………………………………. 129
Genesis: The Beginning…………………………………………………………………… 132
A Year of John……………………………………………………………………………….. 133
Narrative Lectionaries……………………………………………………………………. 146
The African American Lectionary…………………………………………………….. 149
5. The Future of the Open Source Lectionary…………………………………………….. 151
“The New Revised Common Lectionary”: a Modest Proposal……………………. 151
Local and Online Open Source Lectionary Communities…………………………… 158
Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………………………… 160
Appendix A: Chapter Totals and Page Numbers in the Bible……………………….. 163
Appendix B: Acts in the Revised Common Lectionary………………………………….. 167
Appendix C: John in the Revised Common Lectionary…………………………………. 169
Bibliography………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 171