Follow the Church Calendar Through Scripture
Weekly readings from the Revised Common Lectionary. Each Sunday and holy day includes an Old Testament reading, a Psalm, an Epistle, and a Gospel passage, organized by the liturgical seasons of Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and Ordinary Time.
What is the Lectionary?
The Revised Common Lectionary is a three-year cycle of scripture readings used by churches across dozens of denominations worldwide, including Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, and many others. Each week assigns four readings -- one from the Old Testament (or Acts during Eastertide), one Psalm, one Epistle, and one Gospel -- chosen to complement each other and follow the rhythm of the church calendar. Over the course of three years (designated Year A, Year B, and Year C), the lectionary covers the vast majority of the Bible.
The lectionary is organized around the liturgical year, which begins with the season of Advent in late November or early December and moves through Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and the long season of Ordinary Time. Each season has a distinct theological focus: Advent centers on expectation and preparation, Lent on repentance and the journey to the cross, Easter on resurrection and new life. The assigned readings reflect these themes, providing a structured way to encounter scripture that follows the story of salvation through the seasons.
For individuals and families, the lectionary offers a ready-made framework for daily or weekly Bible reading that removes the guesswork of what to read next. Rather than choosing passages at random, you read what millions of other Christians around the world are reading the same week. This creates a shared scriptural conversation across congregations and traditions, grounding personal study in the communal life of the church.
Gospel Daily presents the Revised Common Lectionary in a clean, accessible format. Each week shows the full set of readings with verse text, the liturgical season and Sunday designation, and navigation to move between weeks. You can see where you are in the three-year cycle, look ahead to upcoming readings, or review past weeks. The tool is designed for anyone who wants to follow the historic Christian pattern of reading scripture according to the church calendar.
How It Works
Find this week's readings
Open the Lectionary to see the four assigned readings for the current Sunday: Old Testament, Psalm, Epistle, and Gospel, with full verse text for each.
Read by liturgical season
Navigate through the liturgical year -- Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Ordinary Time -- to see how the readings track the story of salvation across the seasons.
Follow the three-year cycle
The lectionary rotates through Year A (Matthew), Year B (Mark), and Year C (Luke). The tool shows which year is current and lets you browse readings from any year in the cycle.
Key Features
Weekly Four-Part Readings
Each Sunday includes an Old Testament reading, a Psalm, an Epistle, and a Gospel passage, chosen to complement each other thematically and doctrinally.
Liturgical Calendar Navigation
Browse readings by liturgical season -- Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and Ordinary Time -- with clear markers for special Sundays and holy days.
Three-Year Cycle Coverage
Full coverage of the Revised Common Lectionary's three-year rotation (Years A, B, and C), ensuring comprehensive exposure to the breadth of scripture over time.
Season and Week Tracking
Automatically highlights the current week's readings and shows your position in the liturgical year, so you always know where you are in the cycle.
A sample week from the Revised Common Lectionary (Christmas Day, Year C):
Old Testament
Isaiah 9:2-7
Psalm
Psalm 96
Epistle
Titus 2:11-14
Gospel
Luke 2:1-20 (The birth of Jesus)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Revised Common Lectionary?
The Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) is a three-year cycle of Bible readings used by many Christian denominations for Sunday worship and personal devotion. It was published in 1994 as a revision of earlier lectionary traditions and is used by Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, Reformed, and many other churches worldwide. Each week assigns four readings that correspond to the liturgical season.
What are the three years in the lectionary cycle?
Year A focuses primarily on the Gospel of Matthew, Year B on the Gospel of Mark, and Year C on the Gospel of Luke. The Gospel of John is read during special seasons across all three years, particularly during Lent and Easter. The three-year rotation ensures broad coverage of the Gospels and the rest of scripture over time.
What are the seasons of the liturgical year?
The liturgical year begins with Advent (four Sundays before Christmas) and moves through Christmas, Epiphany (celebrating the revelation of Christ to the nations), Lent (40 days of preparation before Easter), Easter (50 days celebrating the resurrection), and Ordinary Time (the longest season, focused on the life and teachings of Jesus). Each season shapes the readings and the focus of worship.
Do I need to belong to a specific denomination to use the lectionary?
No. The Revised Common Lectionary is used across dozens of denominations and is available to anyone. Many individuals and families use it as a personal Bible reading guide regardless of their church affiliation. It provides a structured, time-tested approach to reading scripture that connects you to the broader Christian tradition.
How does the lectionary differ from a Bible reading plan?
A Bible reading plan typically moves sequentially through books of the Bible with the goal of reading the entire text over a set period. The lectionary is organized around the church calendar and selects passages thematically to match liturgical seasons and Sundays. It prioritizes theological coherence within each week rather than sequential coverage, though over three years it covers most of the Bible.
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