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"Applause that Matters" July 13 Readings: John 2

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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 2 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     "We need to take a fresh look at this, get a different set of eyes on the problem." Ever heard something like that? John is a fresh set of eyes on the life of Christ. The Synoptic Gospels, in spite of their many similarities, share much in common, but John comes at things from a very different perspective, a more theological perspective. For the next four days, we will leave behind the Synoptics (Matthew, Mark, Luke) and read the early chapters of John. Each day we will take one story. T...
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"Of Mountains and Molehills" July 12 Readings: Mark 3:1-35, Luke 6:1-16

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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 3:1-35, Luke 6:1-1 6 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     In today's readings, we see some of the counterintuitive behavior of Jesus Christ. When he was at the height of his popularity, when thousands were following him, when his name was on the tongues of every person in Israel, he did something strange. He did not capitalize on his fame. He withdrew with his disciples and appointed twelve men to be his inner circle. He realized that building into those men was more important to his lasting success than building his fame. We...
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"Battle Lines" July 11 Readings: Mark 2:13-28, Luke 5:27-39

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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 2:13-28, Luke 5:27-39   In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Because we are devoting half the year to the New Testament, which is only about 1/4 of the Bible by content, we will have some days when our readings are not as long. This gives you time to be thoughtful and prayerful about these wonderful truths. Background:     As I was driving on a Christmas vacation a while back, I noticed a marker on the side of the road. It read, "38th Parallel." It was a memorial to Korean War veterans (my father included) who served and died because of...
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"Touching the Untouchable"; July 10 Readings: Mark 1:40-2:12, Luke 5:1-26

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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 1:40-2:12, Luke 5:1-26 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     This is a continuation of the early ministry of Jesus - more of the calling of the disciples, more of the early miracles and preaching of Jesus. There are two significant stories in these shorter readings; one speaks to the heart of Jesus' ministry and focus, and the other is the first hint of the conflict with the religious leaders that would grow in the years ahead into open war, resulting (at least in human terms) in the crucifixion of Christ. First, we see Jesus ...
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"Bring Them to Jesus" July 9 Readings: Matthew 4:12-25, Mark 1:14-39, Luke 4:14-44, John 1:35-51

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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 4:12-25, Mark 1:14-39, Luke 4:14-44, John 1:35-51 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     Today's readings record the beginning of the public ministry of Jesus Christ. After the arrest of John, Jesus went to his hometown of Nazareth, and then to Capernaum, where he began  to preach, "Repent, the Kingdom of Heaven is near." His message, like John's, called Israel to turn from their sin and seek God. He then began to do miracles that drew a great crowd. His fame spread rapidly.  Perhaps the most significant thing he d...
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"Tempted and Tried" July 8 Readings: Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, Luke 4:1-13

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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 :   Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, Luke 4:1-13 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     It was time for the rematch. In the Garden, the serpent appeared and tempted Adam and Eve to see if they would follow God or if they would go their own way. They failed, chose sin, and plunged the race into darkness. Now, having been baptized, Jesus was ready to face the enemy in round 2 of this cosmic conflict. In 1 John 2, John speaks of the "lust of the flesh, lust of the eye, and the pride of life." Three temptations for us - lust, greed, and pride....
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"It's Not about Me!"July 7 Readings: Matthew 3:1-17, Mark 1:1-11, Luke 3:1-22, John 1:15-28

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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 3:1-17, Mark 1:1-11, Luke 3:1-22, John 1:15-28 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     You've heard it a million times - it's not about me, it's about Jesus! In today's readings, we meet a man who lived it. John the Baptist, the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth, became a phenomenon when he began to preach in the wilderness near the Jordan. He lowered the boom on the proud Jewish leaders (those who later hated and hunted Jesus), and he called everyone to repentance, baptizing them to demonstrate that repentance and their desire ...
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