Three-Year Lectionary
Study the appointed readings, prayers and resources for Series A, Series B and Series C through the Church Year.
January 25, 2027
See TodayEpiphany 3
· Three-Year Lectionary · Series B
- First Reading
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Jonah 3:1–5, 10 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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1 And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying, 2 Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee. 3 So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days’ journey. 4 And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.
5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.
10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.
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- Psalm
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Psalm 62 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David.
1 Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.
2 He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.
3 How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? ye shall be slain all of you: as a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence.
4 They only consult to cast him down from his excellency: they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah.
5 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.
7 In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.
9 Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity.
10 Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.
11 God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.
12 Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.
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- Epistle
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1 Cor. 7:29–31 (32–35) (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; 30 And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; 31 And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away. 32 But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: 33 But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife. 34 There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. 35 And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.
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- Gospel
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Mark 1:14–20 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. 16 Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 17 And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. 18 And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him. 19 And when he had gone a little farther thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets. 20 And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.
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Epiphany 3
Three-Year Lectionary · Series B
About this service
The Lord Calls Us to Himself by the Preaching of Repentance in His Name
When “the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time,” sending him to preach judgment against the great city of Nineveh, “Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord” (Jonah 3:1, 3). By this preaching, the people were brought to repentance. Because they “believed God,” as He spoke to them through His prophet, “they turned from their evil way” and were spared “the disaster that he had said he would do to them” (Jonah 3:5, 10). St. Paul also warns that “the appointed time has grown very short” (1 Cor. 7:29). Therefore, while we live in this world and deal with it, we are not to cling to it, nor put our trust in it, for “the present form of this world is passing away” (1 Cor. 7:31). Rather, give “your undivided devotion to the Lord” (1 Cor. 7:35). When our Lord Jesus Christ comes and is proclaimed in the Gospel, “the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand” (Mark 1:14–15). Therefore, He still calls men and sends them to become “fishers of men” with the net of that Gospel (Mark 1:17).
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 January 21, 2024 — Responsive Form
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Lord God, heavenly Father, You desire not the death of a sinner but that all would repent and believe the Gospel. In the epiphany of Your Son, Your time of salvation and Your kingdom have come near. As this world passes away, give faithfulness and urgency to Your Church to proclaim the Gospel of our God to all people. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord of the harvest, as You called Simon Peter and Andrew, James and John to follow You and made them fishers of men, so send faithful preachers of Your Gospel in our time. Increase the spirit of generosity to all who support the missionaries, seminaries, colleges and other institutions of our Church for the spread of the Gospel and the service of God’s people. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Eternal Lord, in view of every current distress as the present form of this world passes away, give constancy and contentment to Your people in their God-given stations. Give comfort and faithfulness to the married, and strengthen them to pass on the faith to the next generation. Show kindness also to the unmarried and assure them of the holiness of their place in life, that they would be freed from anxiety and attend to holiness in body and spirit, undividedly devoted to You. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty God, preserve our nation with its rulers. Call to repentance those who have forgotten You. Spare Joseph, our president; _____________, our governor; and all who serve for the good of this people. Do not let disaster befall us, but preserve us in peace and quietness. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Merciful Father, turn us from every distracting anxiety and the dealings of this world that would draw our hearts away from Your blessed Gospel and its end, eternal life. Give us confidence in the resurrection and the peace of a clean conscience by the forgiveness of sins in Jesus’ name. Graciously behold and help those for whom we pray [especially _____________]. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Gracious Lord, in Your Holy Sacrament You deliver the Gospel proclaimed by Your Son and won by His death in His true body and blood. Work repentance and faith in all who commune, and unite them in a sincere confession of Your divine truth at this altar. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
All these things and whatever else You know that we need, grant us, Father, for the sake of Him who died and rose again and now lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God 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 January 21, 2024 — Ektene Form
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For faithfulness and urgency in the Church, that as this world passes away, we may be bold to proclaim the kingdom of God come near in Christ Jesus, who does not desire the death of a sinner but that all would repent and believe the Gospel, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the Church’s mission, that as Christ called Peter and Andrew, James and John to follow Him and made them fishers of men, He would send faithful preachers also in our time; and for those who generously support the missionaries, seminaries, colleges and other institutions of our Church for the spread of the Gospel and the service of God’s people, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For Christians in every home, that they may have constancy and contentment in their God-given stations despite every current distress as the present form of this world passes away; for the married, that God would give them comfort and faithfulness, strengthening them also to pass on the faith to the next generation; and for the unmarried, that assured of the holiness of their place in life, they would live freed from anxiety and attend to holiness in body and spirit with undivided devotion to Christ, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For our nation with its rulers, that God would spare Joseph, our president; _____________, our governor; and all who serve for the good of this people; that God would call to repentance those who have forgotten Him; and that He would not let disaster befall us, but preserve us in peace and quietness, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all of us, that our merciful Father would turn us from every distracting anxiety and the dealings of this world that would draw our hearts away from His blessed Gospel and its end, eternal life; for confidence in the resurrection and the peace of a clean conscience by the forgiveness of sins in Jesus’ name; and that God would graciously behold and help those for whom we pray, [especially _____________,] let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all who come to the Holy Sacrament, that the Holy Spirit would work repentance and faith in us, united in a sincere confession of His divine truth at this altar, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
Hear us, heavenly Father, for the sake of Christ Jesus, 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 839 O Christ, Our True and Only Light
The LCMS Hymn of the Day list appoints this hymn as the Hymn of the Day for Epiphany 3 (Series A, B and C) and Proper 9 (Series B).
Source: LCMS Worship, Hymn of the Day — Arranged by Church Year, pp. 167, 168 (opens in a new tab). Appointment identity only. Lutheran Service Book text and LCMS study content are not reproduced.
Suggested hymns
- Entrance LSB 656 A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
- Distribution LSB 960 Isaiah, Mighty Seer in Days of Old
- Distribution LSB 585 Lord Jesus Christ, with Us Abide
- Distribution LSB 730 What Is the World to Me
- Closing LSB 836 O God of Light
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.