Lectionary Readings — Proper 27 — November 8, 2026
Joshua 24:1-3a,14-25; Psalm 78:1-7; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 25:1-13
Call to Worship (based on 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
Leader: We gather as people who know the sting of loss,
People: yet we do not grieve as those who have no hope.
Leader: Our hope does not rest on wishful thinking,
People: but on an empty tomb and a risen Savior.
Leader: The One who conquered death has promised to return,
People: and those who sleep in him will not be forgotten.
Leader: One day the trumpet will sound and the Lord will come,
People: and we will be gathered together, never to be parted again.
Leader: Until that day, we hold this hope together.
People: We will comfort one another, and we will worship the Lord who is coming.
All: Risen Lord Jesus, you have turned our graves into resting places and our goodbyes into “until we meet again.” Fill this hour with your hope, and send us out to share it. Amen.
Opening Prayer (based on Psalm 78:1-7)
Let us pray:
Father,
We incline our ears this morning to your teaching. Open our hearts to the words you have spoken, words that have come down to us from of old. We have heard them and known them because those who went before us did not hide them. Our parents and grandparents, our teachers and our preachers, told us of your glorious deeds, your might, and the wonders you have done. We thank you for every faithful voice that passed the story on.
We confess that we are often quick to receive what was handed to us and slow to hand it on. We keep quiet when we should speak. We assume the next generation will somehow learn what we have never taken the time to teach. Forgive us, Lord, and make us faithful storytellers of your grace.
Raise up in this congregation people who will tell the coming generation about you, so that children yet unborn may know your works and tell them to their own children. Let them set their hope in you, not forget your works, and keep your commandments. And let that hope begin again in us this morning. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, the faithful one whose story we tell. Amen.
[NOTE to Paid subscribers — scroll down for the full manuscript sermon]
Sermon Outline: "GRIEVING WITH HOPE"
Based on 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
I. The Grief That Is Real (v. 13)
II. The Ground of Our Hope (v. 14)
III. The Glorious Return (vv. 15–17)
IV. The Gift of Encouragement (v. 18)
Full Manuscript Sermon Below for Paid Subscribers
