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"Our Good Shepherd" August 11 Readings: John 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 :   John 10 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     If the life of Jesus were a movie (and, of course, it has been many times), John 10 would play with ominous and foreboding music behind it. Yes, the chapter begins with what seems like a beautiful teaching about Jesus being the good shepherd for the sheep, a thought we will explore in the devotional, but there is much more working there. Jesus is describing himself as the Good Shepherd, but it is not in a vacuum. He is contrasting himself with the thieves and robbers who come to "steal ...
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"True Blindness" August 10 Readings: John 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 :   John 9 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     What a contrast is seen in today's story, an escalation of the conflict between Jesus and the Pharisees. Jesus heals a man on the Sabbath, a man who had been born blind and had never seen a thing his entire life. The Pharisees did not rejoice at the goodness of God or the mercy shown to this man. In fact, they abused him and treated him shabbily. No, they were angry because Jesus healed on the Sabbath, breaking their rules. They were more concerned with their human rules and their power ...
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"The Narrow Door" August 9 Readings: Luke 13

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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 13 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     The themes do not change much as Jesus continues his ministry. It's about drawing the lines (the narrow door) and confronting the Pharisees over their pettiness and failure to grasp the truth of God, the nature of the kingdom of God, and the ongoing miraculous work of Jesus.  Daily Devotional:  The Narrow Door I am not exactly a small guy - whether you measure me side to side or head to toe. I've had the privilege of exploring some ruins in places like Israel, as well as some ...
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"Wasteful Worry" August 8 Readings: Luke 11:37-12:59

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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 11:37-12:59 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     Today's reading in Luke 12 sees a continuance of many of the key themes in the later ministry of Jesus Christ, leading up to the days before he entered Jerusalem to die. All of chapter 11-12 either fits with the Sermon on the Mount or with the teachings of Jesus later in Matthew 23. He warns his disciples about the Pharisees and tells them not to fear the coming persecution. His teachings in John 14-16 will take these themes and expand on them greatly, but he is beginning to pr...
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"Counting Blessings" August 7 Readings: Luke 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 :   Luke 10 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     Israel's failing, since the very beginning of their existence, had been their failure to understand that when God chose them to be his people, it imposed on them a burden to be a blessing to the world. They thought God called them to himself because they were special and he loved them more. He called them to use them as a blessing to others. God chooses his people to channel his blessings through them to the world.  Jesus was determined that his disciples would know better. He sent...
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"Light of the World" August 6 Readings: John 8

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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 :   John 8 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     This chapter is significant and powerful, with a deeper theological meaning than many understand. In John, there are seven great "I am" statements of Jesus. John 6: 35, 48 "I am the bread of life." John 8: 12, 9:5 "I am the light of the world." John 10:9 "I am the door." John 10:11 "I am the good shepherd." John 11:25 "I am the resurrection and the life." John 14:6 "I am the way, the truth, and the life." John 15:1 "I am the true vine." ...
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"Jesus the Divider" August 5 Readings: John 7

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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 :   John 7   In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     One of the strangest aspects of Jesus' ministry is his secrecy. Though we are called to proclaim him openly and publicly, during his earthly ministry he often hid and even told people to keep his deeds secret. Many theories for this have been offered, but none are definitive. Of course, now we have no such excuse. We must proclaim Christ boldly. Here Jesus first refused to go publicly to the Feast of Booths with his brothers (the sons of Mary), then went privately. He ended up tea...
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