David Bales’ latest Lectionary Preaching Workbook: Series X, Cycle A invites teachers of the word to peer deep beneath the pages of scripture to consider broader perspectives and messages. Bales presents themes, summaries, exegesis, and a prayer, in each lectionary day, as resources to guide sermon development, always attempting to expose preachers to different perspectives and deeper knowledge.

As Bales carefully unpacks his thoughts upon each selected scripture passage, he combines his personal ideas with the time-tested analysis of other great Christian thinkers, resulting in a thoughtful and critical exposition on God’s word. This unique style empowers pastors to engage with God’s word, and the end result is a resource that will equip congregations to be challenged through a deliberate, well-informed message.

Written specifically as a preaching resource for Cycle A, the Lectionary Preaching Workbook will benefit any student of the word, and can be used for sermon starters, adult study groups, and individual Bible study.

Each chapter includes:

Revised Common Lectionary texts for the day

Scripture references and intensive exposition

Theme analysis and narrative illustration

Citation attributions to various apologists, teachers, and authors

A pastoral prayer

David O. Bales was a Presbyterian pastor for 33 years. After retiring he taught Introduction to Biblical Greek at the College of Idaho for two years. Formerly he taught Greek at Miles Community College, Miles City, Montana, as well as World Religions, Biblical Hebrew, and Ethics. He has researched, written, and edited for Stephen Ministries. His stories, sermons, and articles have appeared in Preaching, Pulpit Digest, Lectionary Homiletics, Preaching Great Texts, Emphasis, Feasting on the Gospels, and StoryShare. He is the author of Gospel Subplots: Story Sermons of God’s Grace; To the Cross and Beyond; Scenes of Glory: Subplots of God’s Long Story; Sermons on the Second Readings, Series II, Cycle A (co-author); and Lectionary Preaching Workbook, Cycles B and C. Bales is a graduate of the University of Portland and San Francisco Theological Seminary.