Posts

"Touching the Untouchable"; July 10 Readings: Mark 1:40-2:12, Luke 5:1-26

By
Image
  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 :   Mark 1:40-2:12, Luke 5:1-26 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     This is a continuation of the early ministry of Jesus - more of the calling of the disciples, more of the early miracles and preaching of Jesus. There are two significant stories in these shorter readings; one speaks to the heart of Jesus' ministry and focus, and the other is the first hint of the conflict with the religious leaders that would grow in the years ahead into open war, resulting (at least in human terms) in the crucifixion of Christ. First, we see Jesus ...
Post a Comment
Read more

"Bring Them to Jesus" July 9 Readings: Matthew 4:12-25, Mark 1:14-39, Luke 4:14-44, John 1:35-51

By
Image
  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 4:12-25, Mark 1:14-39, Luke 4:14-44, John 1:35-51 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     Today's readings record the beginning of the public ministry of Jesus Christ. After the arrest of John, Jesus went to his hometown of Nazareth, and then to Capernaum, where he began  to preach, "Repent, the Kingdom of Heaven is near." His message, like John's, called Israel to turn from their sin and seek God. He then began to do miracles that drew a great crowd. His fame spread rapidly.  Perhaps the most significant thing he d...
Post a Comment
Read more

"Tempted and Tried" July 8 Readings: Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, Luke 4:1-13

By
Image
  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 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, Luke 4:1-13 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     It was time for the rematch. In the Garden, the serpent appeared and tempted Adam and Eve to see if they would follow God or if they would go their own way. They failed, chose sin, and plunged the race into darkness. Now, having been baptized, Jesus was ready to face the enemy in round 2 of this cosmic conflict. In 1 John 2, John speaks of the "lust of the flesh, lust of the eye, and the pride of life." Three temptations for us - lust, greed, and pride....
Post a Comment
Read more

"It's Not about Me!"July 7 Readings: Matthew 3:1-17, Mark 1:1-11, Luke 3:1-22, John 1:15-28

By
Image
  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 3:1-17, Mark 1:1-11, Luke 3:1-22, John 1:15-28 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     You've heard it a million times - it's not about me, it's about Jesus! In today's readings, we meet a man who lived it. John the Baptist, the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth, became a phenomenon when he began to preach in the wilderness near the Jordan. He lowered the boom on the proud Jewish leaders (those who later hated and hunted Jesus), and he called everyone to repentance, baptizing them to demonstrate that repentance and their desire ...
Post a Comment
Read more

"Jesus' Greatest Enemy" July 6 Readings: Matthew 2, Luke 2:39-52

By
Image
  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 2, Luke 2:39-52 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     We had a tradition in our biblically correct home when I was a kid. We would always take the Magi out of the manger scene and place them somewhere across the room. They are a mysterious group - we know little about these men who came to worship the child. But what we do know is that almost everything we THINK about them is wrong! There were likely not three - that is just how many gifts they brought. They did not come to the manger, but to a house. The star appeared whe...
Post a Comment
Read more

"Ordinary People" July 5 Readings: Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 2:1-38

By
Image
  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 1:18-25, Luke 2:1-38 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     Every saga, whether book or movie, tends to have two key points. The first is the engagement, the moment the battle is joined, and then comes the crisis moment when everything hangs in the balance, when the battle is decided once and for all. In our story, we call those moments Christmas and Easter. Though all of this was purposed in eternity past, the battle was joined on Christmas Day when Jesus was born, and the light declared war on darkness which had overwhelme...
Post a Comment
Read more

"When the Lights Come On" July 4 Readings: Luke 1

By
Image
  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 1 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     We call it the Intertestamental Period, but it was a time of spiritual darkness. From Malachi on, for 400 years, the voice of God had been silent. There had been plenty of false prophets who had led the people of God astray but there had been no true word from heaven. Someone with spiritual discernment might wonder if God had forgotten his people, and had turned his back forever. There were those who knew better. Later we will read about Simeon and Anna who seemed to know that the time h...
Post a Comment
Read more