This summer the texts take us through Genesis (OT), Romans (NT), and Matthew (Gospel). While not liturgical observances, the preacher should be aware that there are two big national observances coming up: the semiquincentennial (250th) anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on Saturday, July 4, 2026 and the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks on Friday, September 11, 2026. It is wise to be aware that this will be floooding our peoples’ news feeds and consciousness.
2026 Summer-Gospels-at-a-Glance: Matthew 10-18
13 Sundays, June 7 to September 6, 2026
June 7 – Matthew 9:9-13; 18-26. Calling. The call of Matthew. Healing of the synagogue leader’s daughter.
June 14 – Matthew 9:35-10:8. Mission. Jesus sends the 12. Harvest plentiful. Laborers few.
June 21 – Matthew 10:24-39. Commitment. Not peace. Sword. Find life by losing it.
June 28 – Mt. 10:40-42 Hospitality. Whoever gives a cup of water in my name…
July 5 – Mt. 11:16-19, 25-30 Repentance and Comfort. Come to me all weary…
July 12 – Mt. 13:1-9, 18-23 Parable of the Sower. Birds, rocks, thorns, good soil.
July 19 – Mt. 13:24-30, 36-43 Parable of Wheat and Tares. Let them grow together.
July 26 – Mt. 13:31-33, 44-52 Parables: Mustard Seed, Yeast, Treasure, Pearls, Net.
August 2 – Mt. 14:13-21 Jesus Feeds the 5,000. Send the crowds away…
August 9 – Mt. 14:22-33 Jesus Walks on the Sea. Command me to come to you…
August 16 – Mt. 15:[10-20] 21-28 (Blind Guides.) Jesus heals the Canaanite Woman.
August 23 – Mt. 16:13-20 Peter Confesses Jesus. On this rock I will build my church.
August 30 – Mt. 16:21-28 Jesus rebukes Peter. If you follow me, take up your cross.
September 6 – Mt. 18:15-20 Jesus teaches on Conflict. If a member sins against you…
Summer-Epistles-at-a-Glance, Romans 6-14
14 Sundays, June 7 to September 13, 2026
June 7 – Romans 4:13-25 Rekoned. – Abraham’s faith “was reckoned to him as righteousness.”
June 14 – Rom. 5:1-8 Justified. Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God.
June 21 – Rom. 6:1b-11 Baptized. Baptized into Christ’s death, we rise with him.
June 28 – Rom. 6:12-23 Freedom. Shall we sin now that we are not under the law?
July 5 – Rom. 7:15-25a Sin. Paul’s dilemma: The good I want to do, I don’t do.
July 12 – Rom. 8:1-11 Spirit. To set the mind on the Spirit is life.
July 19 – Rom. 8:12-25 Glory. cannot be compared to suffering now.
July 26 – Rom. 8:26-39 Confidence: Nothing can separate us from God’s love.
August 2 – Rom. 9:1-5 The Jews: Paul grieves his people have rejected Christ. But theirs are adoption, glory, covenants, law, worship, promises, patriarchs and Messiah.
August 9 – Rom. 10:5-15 The Jews: Justified by Faith just like the Greeks. But who can believe without hearing? So blessed is the proclaimer.
August 16 – Rom. 11:1-2a, 29-32 The Jews: God has not rejected his people. God has imprisoned all in disobedience, in order that all might have mercy.
August 23 – Rom. 12:1-8 Gifts: One body; many members. Conform not. Be transformed.
August 31 – Rom.12:9-21 Life in the Body. Love one another. Live in harmony. Never seek vengeance.
The Semi-Continuous Hebrew Lessons-at-a-Glance
A sprint through the second half of Genesis, until August 20, 2023
June 7 – Genesis 12:1-9– The call of Abram. Blessed to be a blessing.
June 14 – Genesis 18:1-15 The Lord appears to Abraham as three persons at the oaks of Mamre and promises Sarah will bear a son.
June 21 – Genesis 21:8-21 Abraham and Hagar
June 28 – Genesis 22:1-14 Abrahamtested by God.
July 5 – Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67 Isaac and Rebekah. “So he put a ring in her nose, and bracelets on her arm… Then Isaac took her into his mother’s tent… and she became his wife… And he loved her.”
July 12– Genesis 25:19-34 Jacobswindles Esau’s birthright, with red stew.
July 19–Genesis 28:10-19a Jacob’s dream of a ladder to heaven, at Bethel
July 26–Genesis 29:15-28 Jacob, Laban, Leah and Rachel.August 2 – Genesis 32:22-31 Jacob wrestles with God/the angel
Sept 6 – Rom. 13:8-14 Love in the Body. The whole law is summed up in a single word: Love one another.
Sept 13 – Rom. 14:1-12 Conflict in the Body. Don’t quarrel. Welcome one another. Don’t pass judgment on one another. Tolerate differences in piety.
August 9 – Genesis 37 Joseph’s dreams and his brothers’ plot. “Here comes this dreamer. Let us kill him and throw him into a pit… and see what will become of his dreams.”
August 16 – Genesis 45:1-15 Joseph reveals himself to his brothers.
