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"The Joy of Suffering?" September 20 Readings: James 1-2

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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 :   James 1-2 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     An Introduction to the Book of James We interrupt our reading of the book of Acts to read what is often believed to be the first of the epistles of the New Testament, James. New Testament scholars are not uniform in their opinions of the timing and setting of the Book of James. Still, it seems likely that the book was written by James, the brother of Jesus, who became the leader of the church of Jerusalem and was a key figure in the Council of Jerusalem. He addresses his book to the "...
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"Be Like Pete" September 19 Readings: Acts 12

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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 :   Acts 12 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     Acts 12 is about two deaths and a life.  It begins with the martyrdom of James, the Son of Thunder, who asked to be at the right hand or left of the Savior in his kingdom but instead had the privilege of going to the presence of Christ, dying by the sword at Herod's command. The chapter ends with Herod himself dying at the hand of God's angel, struck down because of his pride.  In the middle is the story of Peter's deliverance from the clutches of Herod. Why did God rescue Pet...
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"Cold Water Committee" September 18 Readings: Acts 11

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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 :   Acts 11 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     God did something amazing in Caesarea, but there was still some difficult work to do back in Jerusalem. Already there had formed what would become the greatest rift in the early church - how Jewish was the church going to be? Did people have to be Jews to become Christians? The "circumcision party" had already formed in Jerusalem, Christians who put Jewish law ahead of God's grace. They did not rejoice that Gentiles had been redeemed and saved from hell unless they also conformed to the...
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"From Every Nation" September 17 Readings: Acts 10

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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 :   Acts 10 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     Another boundary is crossed! When Saul was saved in chapter 9, it was to be an apostle to the Gentiles, but he would not make the first approach. As the Spirit was sent to the Jews in Acts 2 and the Samaritans in chapter 8, now he would come to the Gentiles in Acts 10.  Daily Devotional:   From Every Nation When God speaks, it is often loud and clear! In Acts 10, God spoke clearly and without equivocation about the nature of the church. He had not sent his Son to die to redeem...
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"Blasting the Darkness" September 16 Readings: Acts 9

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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 :   Acts 9 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     Acts 9 is one of the significant turning points in Scripture, especially those that do not have to do with the life of Christ. Of course, Christmas, the events of Holy Week, Pentecost - these are the greatest moments in history, but it was a significant day when the man from Tarsus was headed toward Damascus, breathing out murderous threats, and suddenly was on the ground, having been overwhelmed by a visitation from heaven. This was a unique and heavenly evangelistic effort. Normally Go...
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"Divine Appointments" September 15 Readings: Acts 8:4-40

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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 :   Acts 8:4-40 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     In Acts 1:8, Jesus gave the disciples his final word, telling them that after the Spirit's power came on them, they would be witnesses in Jerusalem, in Judea and Samaria, and then to the ends of the earth. The problem was that the disciples stayed in Jerusalem and showed no signs of moving the gospel outside of that city, even to Judea and Samaria (the ancient nation of Israel), much less the ends of the earth. That only happened when persecution fell on them in Jerusalem and people...
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"Faithful to Death" September 14 Readings: Acts 6:8-8:3

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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 :   Acts 6:8-8:3 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     The brewing trouble between the disciples and the religious leaders spilled out into open war when one of the seven, Stephen, confronted Israel's leaders about their sin. In chapter 4, they were commanded not to preach; in chapter 5, the Apostles were beaten, but here the persecution went to the ultimate extreme, and Stephen lost his life. Ominously, the last few verses introduce us to a character who will become both the greatest enemy of the church and its greatest missionary - S...
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