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"A Different Kind of Kingdom" August 3 Readings: Matthew 17:22-18:14, Mark 9:30-50, Luke 9:43-50

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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 17:22-18:14, Mark 9:30-50, Luke 9:43-50 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     Over the last several days we've seen a subtle shift in the ministry of Jesus. He has been traveling, healing, providing meals, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom. But suddenly he is looking forward to the end of his ministry. He has begun to tell his disciples about his death and that they must deny themselves and take up their crosses to follow him. People are turning away. He is transfigured, and the focus seems to shift. Jesus is less con...
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"You Can't Live on the Mountaintop" August 2 Readings: Matthew 17:1-21, Mark 9:2-29, Luke 9:28-42

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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 17:1-21, Mark 9:2-29, Luke 9:28-42 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     Today's reading, about the Transfiguration, is another key moment. We are not told here exactly what happened, but it is a time of deep communion between the Father and the Son, a miraculous and the others involved. It seems that from this point on the focus of Jesus turns more and more to his upcoming death and resurrection.  Daily Devotional:   You Can't Live on the Mountaintop Peter was having the time of his life. He had been part of a sm...
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"Daily Death" August 1 Readings: Matthew 16:1-28, Mark 8:10-9:1, Luke 9:18-27

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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 16:1-28, Mark 8:10-9:1, Luke 9:18-27 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     This is one of our most significant readings. Powerful truths abound. It syncs up with our reading from a few days ago in John 6, when Jesus began to lay down his harsher tea chings and saw many disciples turn away.  There is a clear bit of humor in Matthew 16:7. Jesus warns the disciples about the leaven of the Pharisees, and they hold a discussion in which they decide that Jesus is upset because they didn't bring any bread. Clueless. This brin...
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"Lip Service" July 31 Readings: Matthew 15:1-39, Mark 7:1-8:9

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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 :   Matthew 15:1-39, Mark 7:1-8:9 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     The battle escalates.  Jesus' ministry has moved into phase 2. The early Galilean ministry was one blessing after another - miracles, popularity, crowds, and adulation. But as we saw yesterday, Jesus' teachings began to drive people away, slowly but surely. He did not back off, not even a little.  In today's readings, we see the key battle in Jesus' life escalating. The religious leaders were jealous of his popularity and determined to maintain thei...
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"Is Jesus Enough?" July 30 Readings: John 6:22-79

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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 6:22-79 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     This is when it all turned around. There were crowds following Jesus, thousands upon thousands of excited people who were seeing healings, watching demons flee, and being fed by supernatural means. Jesus was the coolest thing that had happened in their lives. But then he began to teach them, and it got ugly. The Synoptics have told us about Jesus' call to "deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me." But here, in John 6, we see the actual turning point. Look at verse 66....
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"Only God" July 29 Readings: Matthew 13:53-14:36, Mark 6, Luke 9:1-17, John 6:1-21

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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 13:53-14:36, Mark 6, Luke 9:1-17, John 6:1-21 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     Today's readings focus on two stories that are among the most familiar in the life of Christ. First is the story of Jesus feeding the 5000 with the food of one young man. It is one of the few stories recorded in all four gospels. It is followed in three of the four gospels by the story of Jesus walking on water. Both stories remind us of the amazing and miraculous power of Jesus Christ. Matthew and Mark follow with stories of Jesus hea...
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"Free!" July 28 Readings: Mark 5, Luke 8:26-56

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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 :   Mark 5, Luke 8:26-56 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     These three stories (or two, the second having two parts) again demonstrate the amazing power of Christ. He casts out the legion of demons, showing his remarkable power; he heals the woman with the issue of blood, and he raises a young woman from the dead. Demons, disease, and death - Jesus dominates them all. Anyone wonder why there were 2000 pigs in Israel? The answer is simple. The Decapolis, or ten cities, were Roman cities around the Galilee region. Gentiles didn...
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