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"Venting Folly" April 12 Readings: Proverbs 10-14

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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 :   Proverbs 10-14 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     In our readings today, we move into the more random section of Proverbs, though things are still not as random as they seem. Proverbs 10:1-15:33 contains 184 couplets - two-line proverbs - that are contrasts between wisdom and folly. "The wise man does this, but the fool does that." From Proverbs 16:1-22:16, we have 191 proverbs on applying wisdom to life. A few are also contrasts, but most are applications of wisdom to life. The rest of the book is six different collection...
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"How to Be Dumb and Mess Up Your Life" April 11 Readings: Proverbs 5-9

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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 :   Proverbs 5-9 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     Proverbs 5-7 gives us a series of four sermons on where the consequences of folly will lead us. Three of these sermons have to do with the devastating consequences of sexual immorality, of adultery. Since Solomon was writing to his sons who would rule Israel, he presented adultery in a female form. That is in no way intended to put the burden of the sin on the woman. His whole point was that his sons were responsible for their choices. The other sermon deals with financial is...
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"Life is Choices" April 10 Readings: Proverbs 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 :   Proverbs 1-4 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     It is often mistakenly assumed that Proverbs is a book without structure. That is largely true from chapter 10 on, but Proverbs 1-9 is organized and detailed, highly structured. After Proverbs 1:1-7, the introduction to the book, there is a series of 10 exhortations, or sermons, on wisdom and folly. The first sermon, in chapter 1, introduces us to the path of wisdom and the path of folly. Then, sermons 2-4, chapters 2-4, are the call of wisdom, telling us why wisdom is better...
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"Love, Bible Style" April 9 Readings: Song of Songs 1-8

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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 :   Song of Songs 1-8   In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     The Song of Solomon, also known as the Song of Songs, or the Canticles, is one of the harder books of the Bible to interpret and understand. Frankly, I'm not sure how to do a devotional from the book, other than to say that it teaches us something pretty important about the marital relationship - that it is holy to God who created it.  The fact is that the wording of the Song is so vivid, so sensual, that many through the years have taken to interpreting the ...
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"The Greatest Treasure" April 8 Readings: 1 Kings 3-4, 2 Chronicles 1, Psalm 72

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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 :   1 Kings 3-4, 2 Chronicles 1, Psalm 72 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     Today's reading is the famous story of God's gift of wisdom to Solomon to establish his throne and to guide him in ruling God's people. Daily Devotional:   The Greatest Treasure It wasn't a fictional genie in a bottle, but it was the real, living God from heaven. It wasn't three wishes to be spent frivolously, but one wish to be granted by God. Solomon received one of the greatest blessings a man has ever received from God. Ask what I shall give ...
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"Walking Pure" April 7 Readings: Psalm 119

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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 :   Psalm 119 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     Psalm 119 is a Bible trivia treasure trove. It is the longest chapter of the Bible, which you know if you attended VBS or Sunday School, and it is very close to the center of the Bible. It is an acrostic poem. Have you ever noticed that it is divided up into 22 sections of 8 verses each and that each of those sections has a strange word at the beginning? Our reading today starts with the word "Aleph." That is the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Each of the 8 verses in this ...
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"Never Forsaken" April 6 Readings: 1 Kings 1-2, Psalm 37, 71, 94

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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 :   1 Kings 1-2, Psalm 37, 71, 94 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     There is a powerful story in today's readings. 1 Kings 1-2 are all about scheming. Adonijah, in his bid for power, plots to undermine Solomon and claim the throne - with the help of powerful palace personnel. But God thwarts the schemes and accomplishes what he promised, putting Solomon on the throne. I once heard faith defined as "living without scheming." When we trust God we don't have to scheme, plot, and manipulate. We just do right and let God handle th...
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