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"Basically Bad" October 27 Readings: Romans 2:1-3:20

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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 :   Romans 2:1-3:20 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     After setting the key theme in the introduction, "the just will live by faith," Paul systematically goes through the truth of Christ's saving work. After having established the world's depravity in chapter 1, he expands on that in chapter 2, explaining that even the religious are not righteous by their works. Then, summing it up in verses 11-20, he concludes that all are under sin - what is often called the doctrine of depravity. It is not a hopeful view of the human condition, ...
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"Servants, Saints, Sons" October 26 Readings: Romans 1

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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 :   Romans 1 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     Donald Grey Barnhouse was the pastor of Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia for decades. He spent many of those years preaching verse by verse through Romans and compiled a wonderful set of commentaries on the book. This raises a crucial problem as we begin reading Romans. Chapter 1 has so much depth; I could do devotionals from this chapter for a month and not run out of topics, and we are reading it in ONE DAY. After the introductory greetings, Paul sets his theme. "I am not as...
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"Paul's Weird Resume" October 25 Readings: 2 Corinthians 11:16-13:14

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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 :   2 Corinthians 11:16-13:14 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     This section continues a powerful description of true ministry, and frankly, an odd and counter-cultural defense of a man's ministry. Paul defends the reality of his faith and his apostleship not by his successes but by his sufferings. He then goes on, in chapter 12, to "boast in his weaknesses, because it is in those weaknesses that Christ is glorified. Paul discusses the concept of the "thorn in the flesh" in chapter 12 as well. This was possibly a temptation or, mor...
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"Dark Angel of Light" October 24 Readings: 2 Corinthians 10:1-11:15

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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 :   2 Corinthians 10:1-11:15 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     This begins the intense part of Paul's letter, continuing through the end of chapter 13. In fact, some believe this is actually the "painful letter" Paul refers to in chapter 2, added on to the end of this book. I do not believe that, but the intensity of this section certainly gives rise to those theories. Corinth was rife with false teachers who were attempting to lead the people astray and Paul here ratchets up the defense of his ministry and his attacks on the false...
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"Giving God's Way" October 23 Readings: 2 Corinthians 8-9

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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 :   2 Corinthians 8-9 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     Are Christians required to tithe? Is the Old Testament standard still in effect today? Today's passage is the quintessential teaching on New Testament giving practices and shows exactly what the standard is. Two things should be said. First, the OT tithe was far more complex than we've made it. Second, if we come to understand this principle, we might find ourselves wishing all we had to do was move the decimal one place and write a check (tithing means giving 10% of income). ...
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"Measuring Our Lives"; October 22 Readings: 2 Corinthians 6-7

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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 :   2 Corinthians 6-7 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     These two chapters are an appeal to the church at Corinth to leave behind their wayward strayings and walk in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. He warns them against yoking themselves in partnership with wicked people and instead appeals to them to open their hearts to Paul.  Daily Devotional:  Measuring Our Lives Has my ministry been successful? Is our church doing well? Our world has certain standards that it judges by, and the Christian world has baptized t...
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"Biblical Self-Image" October 21 Readings: 2 Corinthians 5

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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 :   2 Corinthians 5 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     How do you view yourself? The world tells us that it is all about our self-image, our self-esteem. 2 Corinthians 5 defines a healthy self-image, one based on the realities of Christ's work in us, not on who we are in ourselves. We are people who are of eternity, not of the present. We walk by faith, not by sight.  We recognize that we will appear before his judgment seat to give account of our lives. We are new creatures in Christ.  We live to bring others into reconci...
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