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"Real Christianity" August 29 Readings: Luke 22:31-38, John 13:31-38

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  Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2026 This year, we will read the Bible chronologically, as it happened, instead of simply reading from Genesis to Revelation. The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New.  Bible Readings :   Luke 22:31-38, John 13:31-38 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     As the end drew near, as the supper wrapped up, Jesus engaged his disciples in several ways to prepare them for what lay ahead. John tells us that Jesus laid out a new commandment, one that would be the dominant mandate for the church that his disciples would establish. They were to "love one another." Unfortunately, after he set out this wonderful command, he then had to give Peter some bad news. Confident that he could follow Jesus to the ends of the earth and end...
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"A Moment of Shame" August 28 Readings: Matthew 26:20-29, Mark 14:17-25, Luke 22:14-30, John 13:21-30

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  Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2026 This year, we will read the Bible chronologically, as it happened, instead of simply reading from Genesis to Revelation. The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New.  Bible Readings :   Matthew 26:20-29, Mark 14:17-25, Luke 22:14-30, John 13:21-30   In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     For nearly 2000 years, people have gathered in homes, in tunnels, in caves, in cathedrals, in forests, in churches, and in many other places to take a piece of bread and drink the fruit of the vine to remember the body of Christ which bore our sins and the blood which washes us white as snow. In today's readings, Jesus initiates the Lord's Supper, the ordinance that has been such a blessing (and a source of much controversy) t...
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"Suicide of Evil" August 27 Readings: Matthew 26:1-19, Mark 14:1-16, Luke 22:1-13, John 13:1-20

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  Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2026 This year, we will read the Bible chronologically, as it happened, instead of simply reading from Genesis to Revelation. The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New.  Bible Readings :   Matthew 26:1-19, Mark 14:1-16, Luke 22:1-13, John 13:1-20 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     And now it gets serious.  To this point, the religious leaders have hated Jesus.  They've schemed and plotted against him. But now they actually are planning his death. They have put feet to their hate and set in motion the scheme that would result in the passion of the Christ.  They get a break when Judas got upset with Jesus over a financial matter. A woman anointed him with expensive perfume, and Judas wanted it given t...
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"Ready and Waiting" August 26 Readings: Matthew 25

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  Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2026 This year, we will read the Bible chronologically, as it happened, instead of simply reading from Genesis to Revelation. The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New.  Bible Readings :   Matthew 25 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     The end is near.  Well, to be honest, we don't really know precisely how close it is, because to the Lord, a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like a day. Time isn't the same for him as it is for us. But we know that the world we live in has an expiration date and that it will be consummated to the glory of God.  In this chapter, Jesus tells three stories that deal with aspects of the end. First, he tells about the Ten Virgins and reminds his disciples th...
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"Our God Wins" August 25 Readings: Matthew 23:37-24:22, Mark 12:41-13:20, Luke 21:1-24

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  Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2026 This year, we will read the Bible chronologically, as it happened, instead of simply reading from Genesis to Revelation. The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New.  Bible Readings :   Matthew 23:37-24:22, Mark 12:41-13:20, Luke 21:1-24 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     After the familiar story of the widow's offering, which appears in Mark and Luke, Jesus turns his attention to Jerusalem. He laments its sin and rebellion in Matthew 23:37-39, a significant passage that indicates his rejection by the people. When he rode in at his triumphal entry, he was hailed as the one who was blessed, as the one who had come in the name of the Lord. But now he knew that the leaders and even the people were rejecting him, a...
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"A Pharisee's Heart" August 24 Readings: Matthew 23:1-36, Mark 12:38-40, Luke 20:45-47

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  Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2026 This year, we will read the Bible chronologically, as it happened, instead of simply reading from Genesis to Revelation. The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New.  Bible Readings :   Matthew 23:1-36, Mark 12:38-40, Luke 20:45-47  In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     I wish I had a nickel for every time someone has used Matthew 23 to justify their angry words toward someone else. "Look what Jesus said to the Pharisees in Matthew 23." It's true, of course; he says some pretty harsh things about his religious antagonists here. But it is well to remember a few things. Jesus was perfect and so was his judgment. Our judgment is often colored by our own pride, anger, and selfish perspective - Jesus was seeking o...
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"What Belongs to God" August 23 Readings: Matthew 22:15-46, Mark 12:13-37, Luke 20:19-44

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  Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2026 This year, we will read the Bible chronologically, as it happened, instead of simply reading from Genesis to Revelation. The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New.  Bible Readings :   Matthew 22:15-46, Mark 12:13-37, Luke 20:19-44 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     Pop quiz! How I hated those words. I was able to study for tests, cramming knowledge into my brain, spitting it out on the test, and forgetting it the moment the test was over, but pop quizzes were sprung on us when we weren't prepared.  The religionists tried some pop quizzes on Jesus in today's readings, nearly identical in all three Synoptic Gospels. First, they asked him whether they were obligated to pay taxes to Caesar. "Now we've got hi...
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