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"Seeds, Soils, and God's Word" July 26 Readings: Matthew 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-25, Luke 8:4-18

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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 :   Matthew 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-25, Luke 8:4-18 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     "Jesus told stories so that people would understand him better." So many preachers have used Jesus' love for parables as a reason to be a storyteller in their messages. They reference Jesus' parables as their reason for such a tactic. He told stories to make his sermons understandable to the masses. The only problem with that is that Jesus said just the opposite. It is one of the more difficult-to-understand themes of the gospel story, but Jesus o...
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"Yokes on You"July 25 Readings: Matthew 11:20-12:50

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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 11:20-12:50 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     Matthew's treatment of the early Galilean ministry of Jesus wraps up in today's readings. He has called, challenged, and empowered his disciples. He has done miracles that would amaze even the jaded people of the 21st Century. And, as we see in chapter 12, his battle with the religionists continues to escalate. Chapter 12 begins with two stories that provoked the Pharisees. First, Jesus' disciples picked grain on the Sabbath - a handful or two for food. Jesus did the u...
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"Giving Up the Glory" July 24 Readings: Matthew 11:1-19, Luke 7:18-35

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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 11:1-19, Luke 7:18-35 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     Today's reading is brief - the Matthew and Luke readings are virtually identical. They speak of the ebb and flow of the ministries of John and Jesus. John steps back in humility to prepare the way of the Lord, fading into the background so Jesus can take his place as the focus of the nation. His humility and kingdom focus are great examples.  Daily Devotional:   Giving Up the Glory John the Baptist was unique - Jesus called him the greatest of men. ...
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"No Fear" July 23 Readings: Matthew 10

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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 10 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     Jesus reveals much of his leadership philosophy in Matthew 10. In the opening verses, he names his inner circle, the "Twelve" who would form the leadership core of his work (well, 11 of them would!). Volumes could be written about Jesus as a leader, but a few highlights must suffice here. Jesus did not pick the best and the brightest - a serious error according to most leadership gurus. But Jesus chose those who would obey him, and he worked his power through them. His kingdom ...
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"Jesus Wins" July 22 Readings: Matthew 8:18-9:38

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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 8:18-9:38 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     Each of the Gospel writers had a purpose. They were not simply chronicling the life of Christ, but they were making a point with the stories they told. Matthew was showing the authority of Jesus as King, the rightful king in the line of David, Israel's true ruler. He chose certain stories in a certain order based on his purpose and the points he was trying to make. For the next several days, we will be reading Matthew 8:18-12:50, which helps to set this theme, which he b...
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"A Christian Irony" July 21 Readings: Luke 7:36-8:3, 19-21

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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 :   Luke 7:36-8:3, 19-2 1 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     In Luke 7:36-8:3, we see two stories that show Jesus' concern and compassion for a group of people that the religious world often forgot, discounted, or disrespected - women. Jesus treated them as people, as co-bearers of the image of God, and as people of worth and value. At the end of Luke 7, we have a shocking story of Jesus showing compassion for a woman of low character, someone the religious leaders would uniformly shun. He gave grace and forgiveness to the wom...
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"A Hint of Glory" July 20 Readings: Matthew 8:1-17, Luke 7:1-17

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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 8:1-17, Luke 7:1-17 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     After a side-trip into the early chapters of John and an excursion in Matthew and Luke in the wonderful teachings of the Sermon on the Mount (and its cousin, the Sermon on the Plain), we return to the early Galilean ministry of Jesus in today's readings. After years of obscurity, Jesus appeared before John and was baptized, went into the wilderness to be tempted, and then, under the fullness of the Spirit, headed into Galilee to begin his ministry. He proclaime...
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