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Norman A. Beck

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PROPER 12 -- Psalm 105:1-11, Exodus 3:13-20, Romans 8:26-30, Matthew 13:44-52 -- Norman A. Beck -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 1986
"Wisdom from God" is the major unifying motif in all of these texts except the Common selections Psa
PROPER 13 -- Exodus 12:1-14, Romans 8:31-39, Matthew 14:13-21 -- Norman A. Beck -- Proper 13 | Ordinary Time 18 - A -- 1986
The proclamation of God's free, abundant, loving grace is the dominant theme of all of these texts.
ADVENT 1 -- Psalm 122 -- Norman A. Beck -- First Sunday of Advent - A -- 1986
Among the four texts chosen for this occasion in Series A of the lectionary we are using, perhaps Ps
PROPER 14 -- Exodus 14:19-31, Romans 9:1-5, Matthew 14:22-33 -- Norman A. Beck -- Proper 14 | Ordinary Time 19 - A -- 1986
Perhaps the unifying factor that all six of these texts have in common is that the human condition i
ADVENT 2 -- Psalm 72:1-8 -- Norman A. Beck -- Second Sunday of Advent - A -- 1986
This psalm is a prayer to God in behalf of an Israelite king and even more in behalf of the people o
PROPER 15 -- Romans 11:13-1 6, 29-32, Matthew 15:21-28, Exodus 16:2-15, Isaiah 56:1, 6-8 -- Norman A. Beck -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 1986
The emphasis in all of these texts except the Common selections Exodus 16:2-15 and Psalm 78:1-3, 10-
ADVENT 3 -- Psalm 146:5-10, Isaiah 35:1-10, James 5:7-10, Matthew 11:2-11 -- Norman A. Beck -- Third Sunday of Advent - A -- 1986
This psalm sharply contrasts the inadequacy of all human rulers with the total adequacy of the Lord
PROPER 16 -- Psalm 95, Exodus 17:1-7, Romans 11:33-36, Matthew 16:13-20 -- Norman A. Beck -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 1986
The first factor that is common to most of the texts selected for this occasion is interest in God's
ASCENSION DAY -- Psalm 47, Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:15-23, Luke 24:46-53 -- Norman A. Beck -- Ascension of the Lord - A -- 1986
The Ascension accounts in Luke-Acts (Luke 24:44-53 and Acts 1:1-11) and in Matthew 28:16-20 accompli
PROPER 17 -- Matthew 16:21-28, Psalm 114, Exodus 19:1-9 -- Norman A. Beck -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 1986
In most of these texts, persons who are trying to serve God are depicted as engaged in intense strug
Epiphany 1 -- Psalm 29, Isaiah 42:1-9, Acts 10:34-43, Matthew 3:13-17 -- Norman A. Beck -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A -- 1986
There are no texts within the Old Testament Scriptures that point specifically to the "Baptism of ou
PROPER 19 -- Exodus 20:1-20, Psalm 19:7-14, Matthew 18:21-35 -- Norman A. Beck -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 1986
God's forgiveness of us and our forgiveness of others clearly dominates the thought of most of the t
CHRISTMAS 1 -- Psalm 111, Isaiah 63:7-9, Hebrews 2:10-18, Isaiah 63:7-9 -- Norman A. Beck -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - A -- 1986
The emphasis in most of the texts selected for this occasion is on the responsibilities of God as Fa
PROPER 21 -- Exodus 33:12-23, Psalm 99, Matthew 21:28-32, Philippians 2:1-13 -- Norman A. Beck -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 1986
In order to trace the progression of thought through these texts, perhaps we should start outside of
CHRISTMAS 2 -- Jeremiah 31:7-14, Psalm 147:12-20, Ephesians 1:3-6, 15-18, John 1:1-18 -- Norman A. Beck -- Second Sunday after Christmas - A -- 1986
The most significant concept within these texts is probably the concept of the word of God objectifi
PROPER 22 -- Matthew 21:33-43, Numbers 27:12-23, Psalm 81:1-10, Philippians 3:12-21 -- Norman A. Beck -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 1986
"God Will Prevail!" is the basic message of the parable of the renters in the vineyard of Matthew 21
CHRISTMAS EVE/DAY -- Psalm 96, Isaiah 9:2-7, Titus 2:11-14, Luke 2:1-20 -- Norman A. Beck -- The Nativity of our Lord - A -- 1986
The birthday of Jesus is celebrated more than any other birthday in the world.
PROPER 23 -- Matthew 22:1-14, Deuteronomy 34:1-12, Philippians 4:1-9 -- Norman A. Beck -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 1986
The message conveyed in the Matthew 22:1-14 parable is basically that "When God invites, if you are
EASTER 2 -- Psalm 16:5-11, Acts 2:14a, 22-32, 1 Peter 1:3-9, John 20:19-31 -- Norman A. Beck -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 1986
The primary theme of these texts selected for Easter 2 is appropriately, implicitly or explicitly, t
PROPER 24 -- Ruth 1:1-19a, Psalm 146, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10, Matthew 22:15-22 -- Norman A. Beck -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 1986
Through the use of these texts we are guided to perceive God in universal terms, as the One who has
EASTER 3 -- Psalm 116:12-19, Acts 2:14a, 36-41, 1 Peter 1:17-23, Luke 24:13-35 -- Norman A. Beck -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 1986
In the three New Testament texts chosen for Easter 3, Series A, the message that God raised Jesus fr
PROPER 25 -- Ruth 2:1-13, Psalm 128, 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8, Matthew 22:34-46 -- Norman A. Beck -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 1986
When Hans Kung in On Being a Christian reflects on the ways in which the Jesus of history depicted l
EASTER 4 -- Psalm 23, 1 Peter 2:19-25, John 10:1-10, Acts 2:42-47 -- Norman A. Beck -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 1986
The beautiful Easter theme of "The Lord is Our Shepherd," alluded to in the John 10:1-10 analogies a
PROPER 20 -- Exodus 32:1-14, Matthew 20:1-16 -- Norman A. Beck -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 1986
The goodness of God is the dominant theme in the First Lesson texts, in the Psalms readings, and in
EASTER 5 -- Psalm 31:1-8, Acts 7:55-60, 1 Peter 2:2-10, John 14:1-14 -- Norman A. Beck -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 1986
The Gospel reading for Easter 5 begins the transition from Easter to Ascension and Pentecost activit
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Proper 16 | OT 21 | Pentecost 11
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
30 – Children's Sermons / Resources
29 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 17 | OT 22 | Pentecost 12
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Proper 18 | OT 23 | Pentecost 13
34 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

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Call to Worship:
Jesus knew the importance of humility and used a banquet to teach people about it. As we feast on him today, let us make sure we come to him with unassuming spirits.

Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, sometimes we are unaware of our own arrogance.
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Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.
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The writer of Psalm 81 employs a most interesting mixed metaphor. It is not mixed, however, because the psalmist was careless and neglected his subject matter. On the contrary, it is because of an important insight into human nature that the psalmist has us "eating with our ears."

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In this be confident: that the grace of God is active enough to forgive, and the love of God is powerful enough to transform.

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