This post offers visual resources for the Revised Common Lectionary and the Narrative Lectionary for July 23, 2023. We have a rare convergence of the Gospel texts this week as both lectionaries take us to Matthew 13. The RCL is continuing a mini-series in the Parables of Jesus and the NL is introducing the Proverbs this week and Jesus’ parables make a nice Gospel reading complement.

Jump to Narrative Lectionary resources.

Revised Common Lectionary

Here are quick links to all the texts for this week:

Genesis 28

See the full family tree HERE.

These images comes from page 9 in A Cartoonist’s Guide to Matthew.

Preview PowerPoint

Feel free to use any or all of these slides and images in your own preaching and teaching.

Narrative Lectionary

The NL ends the summer with a series on the Wisdom Literature of the Hebrew Scripture. This week we look at the Proverbs.

It seems that our culture is caught up in trying to find the edge or the secret to success and advancement in life. Some of the best selling books on the market are claiming to give you the keys to success and happiness. Wouldn’t that be nice? Wouldn’t it be great if we did have some easy-to-follow guidelines to a successful life? The book of Proverbs is just that kind of book. The majority of this book was written by King Solomon in the early days of his life. The purpose of the book was to instruct the young men in his court on how to live the “good life” and find success and happiness in everything they did. What was his secret formula for success? It can be found in the first chapter. Proverbs 1:7 says,”

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning

of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom

and discipline.”

In other words, “if you want to succeed in life; put God first, seek wisdom, and live a disciplined life.” Proverbs is a book full of practical, how-to wisdom-nuggets that will serve as guideposts along our path of life. If we want to “succeed” in life, then we need to become students of this book. read more…