Understanding the Sunday Scriptures A Companion to The Revised Common Lectionary Year A

By H. King Oehmig

Book Overview

This accessible commentary, based on The Revised Common Lectionary and authored by the Rev. Dr. H. King Oehmig, is specially designed for use by anyone who wants to get more out of liturgical Sunday... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0979558107
• ISBN13: 9780979558108
• Release Date: July 2007
• Publisher: Read Mark Press
• Length: 196 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 7.4" x 9.7"

Customer Reviews

Very nice guide for Studying Weekly Liturgical Texts

H. King Oehmig, D. Min, Understanding the Sunday Scriptures (Chattanooga, TN, Read Mark Press, 2009) A Companion to The Revised Common Lectionary, Year A, Year B,Year C There are dozens of way to study the Bible. These guides add good value to studying the weekly lectionary readings. These guides are an embodiment of the wonderful pericope in Acts 8, where Philip assists the Ethiopian Jewish official on the road to Jerusalem in understanding the passage from Isaiah 53:7 - 8. If the Lutherans had saints, Philip would certainly be my favorite. In his introduction, the author summarizes this lesson succinctly with `...it takes a community to interpret Scripture'. To that, he adds a unique codicil by applying the Hippocratic oath to Bible study in requiring that teachers `...first, do no harm.' So to what teachers and to what students are these volumes most suitable? My preference in Bible study is to study and digest whole books, from front to back. But my experience is that many people do not have the patience for a commitment of, for example, eight weeks to study the Book of Job, which, aside from being depressing, is pretty difficult stuff. So if you have the choice between studying the lectionary readings for the week and nothing at all, then studying the weekly lectionary readings is definitely preferable. My pastor conducts a class on these weekly lectionary readings, so I was especially keen to review these volumes when the publisher offered these to me to review. The first thing I noticed is that Pastor Oehmig speaks from an Episcopal point of view, which is just fine with me, as the Episcopalians are first cousins to us Lutherans. Both of us have a `high liturgical' tradition, inherited from the Anglican Book of Common Prayer. Next, I checked the readings selections with the `official' Revised Common Lectionary' schedule proposed by the Consultation of Common Texts. They match. So, if you are one of the many churches which use the standard lectionary, this book will match your church's readings. This volume does not reproduce the scripture readings. When it does quote the Bible, it uses the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV). But if you prefer an alternative, such as the NIV the NAB, or the KJV, feel free to use that translation. This means you are not paying for something you already have. One thing which may be new is that for each week, this book, following the Revised Common Lectionary, offers four different readings, not three. The second is the Psalm, but not always. On some weeks, the place of the Psalm is taken by an alternate poetic reading, often from Isaiah. Of course, the first is always from the Old Testament, the third is from the NT Epistles, and the fourth is from one of the four Gospels. One mystery I discovered is the author's reference to numbered canticles in the place of Psalms in some weeks. This is a characteristic of the Episcopal / Anglican service, where canticles appear in services for the daily offic

More Understanding

Understanding the Sunday Scriptures is an extremely helpful tool to deepen and broaden the reader's understanding of the lectionary readings. Oehmig, Anders, et al have provided us with an explanation of the past while pulling that understanding to the present. From "ah ha" moments, to appreciation for a real and obvious explanation, it is at once concise and yet complete. I have used this source to deepen my understanding of the lectionary and to be a little ahead of the Sunday sermon. This source could be used by Bible study groups to enhance growth and facilitate conversation.

Understanding the Sunday Scriptures-Year B

This is a timely biblical resource for those churches using the Revised Common Lectionary. Not only is Understanding the Sunday Scriptures, Year B quite useful for clergy and lay Sunday worship leaders but it is an excellent resource for anyone involved in Bible study. Whether one is participating in a group study or individual study at home, the USS provides the bridge to enable one to better hear and apply God's Holy Word to every day life. The Reverend Doctor H. King Oehmig states in the Introduction, " By following this common pattern of Bible study...It is perhaps the most basic way that we fulfill Jesus' high priestly prayer: that the community of believers may be one as he and the Father are one." It is the Bible that shapes and forms our worship of God. By providing a synthesis of biblical text from Sunday to Sunday the worship service is greatly enhanced. Not only does it tell what the text said, but it says how it relates to the reader. The material provided is theological and practical. Also Dr. Oehmig's "On Reflection" provides the reader with relative illustrations and examples pertaining to that Sunday's readings. In short if one is yearning and thirsting for a better understanding of how the Scripture can be applied to every day life USS is the resource readily available..

Guide to understanding

A must-have aid for personal and group Bible study through the year. With reflections and questions. Comprehensive, RCL compatible and user-friendly. This study guide is especially useful for the home-bound.