Three-Year Lectionary
Study the appointed readings, prayers and resources for Series A, Series B and Series C through the Church Year.
December 21, 2026
See TodayAdvent 4
· Three-Year Lectionary · Series B
- First Reading
-
2 Sam. 7:1–11, 16 (read in NKJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
NKJV Scripture text
Select ESV to load this Scripture text.
Select NIV to load this Scripture text.
Select KJV to load this Scripture text.
Scripture text is in high demand right now. Cached readings remain available; other readings can be opened on Bible Gateway. Read 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16 in NKJV on Bible Gateway (new tab)
- Psalm
-
Psalm 89:1–5 (19–29) (read in NKJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
NKJV Scripture text
Select ESV to load this Scripture text.
Select NIV to load this Scripture text.
Select KJV to load this Scripture text.
NKJV text is shown for one reading at a time. Show the Psalm in NKJV
- Epistle
-
Rom. 16:25–27 (read in NKJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
NKJV Scripture text
Select ESV to load this Scripture text.
Select NIV to load this Scripture text.
Select KJV to load this Scripture text.
NKJV text is shown for one reading at a time. Show the Epistle in NKJV
- Gospel
-
Luke 1:26–38 (read in NKJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
NKJV Scripture text
Select ESV to load this Scripture text.
Select NIV to load this Scripture text.
Select KJV to load this Scripture text.
NKJV text is shown for one reading at a time. Show the Gospel in NKJV
Advent 4
Three-Year Lectionary · Series B
About this service
The Lord Builds a House for David: Jesus Christ Who Comes in the Flesh
When King David “lived in his house and the Lord had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies,” he piously supposed that he would build a house for God (2 Sam. 7:1–2). But the Lord would turn it around: He would establish a house for David and an everlasting throne. This He has done not only for David, but also for all His people, in the Son of David, Jesus Christ, “conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary” (Apostles’ Creed). That holy child, the incarnate “Son of the Most High,” receives “the throne of his father David” and begins to reign “over the house of Jacob forever” (Luke 1:32–33). Having given Himself as a sacrifice for the sins of the world, His body is the true and eternal temple of God in which His people have their own place of peace and rest. That is “the mystery that was kept secret for long ages” but is now “made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God” in order that we may have faith and life in Christ (Rom. 16:25–26).
Source: LCMS Worship, Lectionary Summaries — Three-Year Lectionary Series B (opens in a new tab). Used by permission. These pages may be reproduced for congregational use only. Commercial reproduction, or reproduction for sale of this work or any portion of this work, without the written permission of the copyright holder, is prohibited. © The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Scripture quoted in the summary is from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Introit, Gradual and Verse
Source: LCMS Three-Year Series (B) Propers Chart (opens in a new tab). Citations only; no liturgical or Scripture text is reproduced.
Prayers of the Church
Prayers of the Church for December 24, 2023 — Responsive Form
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
O Lord, our God, nothing is impossible with You. Grant us faith to believe Your Word and follow the example of Your servant Mary, to receive the miraculous gift of Your Son, our Immanuel. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Eternal God, Your Word has been sent forth into the world to the joy and edification of Your holy people. Encourage, comfort and strengthen all who hear it. Grant faith to those who do not know You, both here and abroad, that all peoples may sing to Your name and extol Your goodness. By the power of the Holy Spirit, fill all who hear Your Word with joy and peace in believing. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, our God, bless Matthew, our Synod president; _____________, our district president; _____________, our circuit visitor; and _____________, our pastor(s), that like the angel Gabriel, they may be faithful messengers of Your Good News. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, our God, let Your favor rest upon all pregnant women and mothers of young children, that they may rejoice in the blessing of new life You give. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord of lords, by the reign of Your Son You govern all things in heaven and earth. Raise up true Davids among us to govern our land in faithfulness and in humble strength to do Your will. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, our God, uphold [_____________ and] all who suffer in mind or body. Give them the knowledge of Christ, their Immanuel, who is with them in their trials. Grant them health and healing in accord with Your perfect will. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, our God, give us joy that as surely as Your Son was conceived in blessed Mary at Your Word, so He comes to abide in us also at Your Word in the blessed Sacrament. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O God, You make us glad with the yearly remembrance of the birth of Your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Grant that as we joyfully receive Him as our Redeemer, we may with sure confidence behold Him when He comes to be our Judge; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Source: LCMS Worship, Prayers of the Church — Series B 2023–2024 (opens in a new tab). Prepared by LCMS Worship for congregational use. Used by permission. © The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
Prayers of the Church for December 24, 2023 — Ektene Form
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For faith like that of the blessed Virgin Mary, God’s servant, who believed Gabriel’s Word and received the miraculous gift of God’s Son, our Immanuel, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the Word of God, sent forth into the world to the joy and edification of His holy people, that by it many who do not know Christ may come to faith, be comforted and strengthened with us, and sing to His name and extol His goodness, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For Matthew, our Synod president; _____________, our district president; _____________, our circuit visitor; and _____________, our pastor(s), that like the angel Gabriel, they may be faithful messengers of His Good News, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all pregnant women and mothers of young children, that the Lord’s favor would rest upon them and that they may rejoice in the blessing of new life He gives, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
That new Davids may arise among us to govern our land faithfully under Christ, the Lord of lords, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For [_____________ and] all who suffer in mind or body, that Christ, our Immanuel, would be with them in their trials and grant health and healing in accord with His perfect will, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all who commune, that we would believe Christ comes to abide in us at His Word in the blessed Sacrament as surely as He was conceived in blessed Mary at God’s Word, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
O God, You make us glad with the yearly remembrance of the birth of Your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Grant that as we joyfully receive Him as our Redeemer, we may with sure confidence behold Him when He comes to be our Judge; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Source: LCMS Worship, Prayers of the Church — Series B 2023–2024 (opens in a new tab). Prepared by LCMS Worship for congregational use. Used by permission. © The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
Hymn of the Day
LSB 357 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
The LCMS studies identify this as the Hymn of the Day for the Fourth Sunday in Advent in the One-Year Lectionary and Series A, B and C.
Source: LCMS Worship, Hymn of the Day Studies for Advent — One-Year and Three-Year lectionaries (revised 2021), pp. 7–8 (opens in a new tab). Appointment identity only. Lutheran Service Book text and LCMS study content are not reproduced.
Oh, Come, Oh, Come, Emmanuel — Historical TLH Edition
Historical text notice: This is the public-domain text of The Lutheran Hymnal 62, not the Lutheran Service Book 357 text. Wording and stanza form may differ.
1. Oh, come, Oh, come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
2. Oh, come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save
And give them victory o’er the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
3. Oh, come, Thou Dayspring from on high,
And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
4. Oh, come, Thou Key of David, come
And open wide our heavenly home:
Make safe the way that leads on high
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
by unknown author, c. 1100; Translated by John M. Neale, 1818-1866
Source: Project Wittenberg; The Lutheran Hymnal, Hymn 62; text as printed in The Handbook to The Lutheran Hymnal (1942) (opens in a new tab). Public domain. Project Wittenberg permits distribution, copying and printing.
Suggested hymns
- Entrance LSB 356 The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came
- Distribution LSB 332 Savior of the Nations, Come
- Distribution LSB 333 Once He Came in Blessing
- Distribution LSB 338 Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
- Closing LSB 355 O Savior, Rend the Heavens Wide
Source: LCMS Worship, Hymn Suggestions — Three-Year Lectionary Series B 2023–24 (opens in a new tab). Hymn numbers and titles only; hymn texts are not reproduced. Reproduction for individual, church or school use does not require permission. © The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.