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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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"Jars of Clay; Treasures of Christ" October 20 Readings: 2 Corinthians 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 :   2 Corinthians 4 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     2 Corinthians 4 is a powerful passage that details the character of Paul's ministry and explains his integrity, character, and spiritual focus. Paul had been under attack from false brethren, and he devoted this chapter to defending his character, his apostleship, and his behavior.  Daily Devotional:   Jars of Clay; Treasures of Christ Do you have a favorite passage of Scripture? I've always maintained that the Mt. Everest of the Bible is Romans 8. There are other grea...
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"Defeated by Jesus" October 19 Readings: 2 Corinthians 2:14-3:18

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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 2:14-3:18 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     2 Corinthians is a powerful book - take your time with your readings while we are in this book! In 2 Corinthians 3:1-3, Paul describes his letter of recommendation. Even the early church had its problems with false teachers. Evidently, some men went from church to church to teach their particular false doctrines, often carrying with them letters of recommendation to lend credence to his ministry when he would arrive. Paul had a different idea about what comprises a true ...
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"Comforted Comforters" October 18 Readings: 2 Corinthians 1:1-2:13

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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 :   2 Corinthians 1:1-2:13 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     Paul's correspondence with the Corinthians is complicated. We have two letters from Paul to the Corinthians (1 and 2 Corinthians), but there is evidence of two others. One Paul calls his "painful letter." Some believe that the painful letter is included in 2 Corinthians, but we will never know this for certain. It is my belief that these are two other letters from Paul to the church which, while containing good advice, were not inspired Scripture and therefore were not pr...
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"Finishing Well" October 17 Readings: Acts 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 :   Acts 20 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     Before we delve into 2 Corinthians and Romans, also written on this third missionary journey of Paul, we will return briefly to Acts 20, in which Paul wraps up that journey. After spending time in Macedonia and Greece, he went to Troas, where the tragic and hilarious story of Eutychus falling asleep during his sermon and falling out of a window to his death takes place. The amazing part of the story is that Paul raises the man to life and then goes back to preaching! He then went to Eph...
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