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

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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 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...
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"When the Lights Come On" July 4 Readings: Luke 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 :   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...
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"Who Is This Jesus?" July 3 Readings: John 1:1-14, Matthew 1:1-17, Luke 3:23-38

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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 1:1-14, Matthew 1:1-17, Luke 3:23-38 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     I’ve done a fair amount of genealogical research on my family recently, tracing the four branches of my family back as far as I could. My father’s paternal line ends the quickest, in Pennsylvania about 4 or 5 generations back. His maternal line reaches into colonial Pennsylvania, then back to Germany. My mother’s paternal line came from England in the early 1800s and settled in the St. Louis area. Her maternal line is our richest vein, going back to the...
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"Contemptible Sacrifice" July 2 Readings: Malachi 1-4

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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 :   Malachi 1-4 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     Malachi, the last book of the Old Testament, is a Q&A between God and Israel. God makes statements and Israel challenges them. These are directed at insincere worship and improper practices by leaders. 1. God declares his love. 1:2 2. God declares that Israel's priests have denied his name. 1:6 3. God declares that their words (of worship) have wearied him. 2:17 4. God declares that Israel is robbing God. 3:8 5. God accuses Israel of harsh words against him. 3:13 After the proph...
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"The Uplifting Prophets" July 1 Readings: Nehemiah 10-13, Psalm 126

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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 :   Nehemiah 10-13, Psalm 126 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     Nehemiah's attitude and actions will sound strange to our ears, in our tolerant, standardless culture. But he acted - sometimes harshly - to bring Israel back into obedience to the Law of God. The last four chapters of the book record Nehemiah's efforts at conforming rebuilt Israel to God's law. Daily Devotional:   The Uplifting Prophets We are coming to the end of one of the harshest sections of Scripture - the prophets. People whose Bibles are years old will oft...
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"Real Revival" June 30 Readings: Nehemiah 6-9

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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 :   Nehemiah 6-9 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     Nehemiah finishes the wall in spite of opposition, and Ezra leads the people to return to God. Daily Devotional:   Real Revival Many books have been written, and sermons have been preached on how to bring revival to our land. Most fail because they reduce this work of God to simple formulas and easy steps. We cannot do that. But in Ezra 8 and 9 we observe a real revival in which Ezra led the people of God to return and be spiritually renewed. In these chapters, we see some key...
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"Pray and Fight" June 29 Readings: Nehemiah 1-5

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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 :   Nehemiah 1-5 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     Until the 16th Century, Hebrew Bibles included Nehemiah with Ezra. Nehemiah was the cupbearer to the King and led a return to Israel to rebuild the walls to protect Jerusalem. Ezra led in the spiritual rebuilding of Israel, but Nehemiah worked to protect them from physical enemies. He also finds out that Israelites have been backsliding and marrying non-Jewish wives, and he confronts that sin. Daily Devotional:   Pray and Fight Nehemiah was operating under the call and blessin...
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