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"Faith to Forgive" August 14 Readings: Luke 16:1-17:10

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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 :   Luke 16:1-17:10 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     Today's passage begins with a series of parables and teachings about money, one of which is among the hardest to interpret of Jesus' parables. The story of the shrewd manager, who seems to be praised for cheating his master's customers, is an enigma. Fortunately, in verse 9, Jesus gives us a hint about the parable's point. He praised the shrewdness of the dishonest man and then warns his followers to use earthly wealth shrewdly, to gain heavenly reward. That is followed by two t...
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"Sought By Heaven" August 13 Readings: Luke 15

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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 15 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     The interpretation of parables can be so confusing, especially when we try to allegorize them. Was the prodigal son a saved man who backslid, and then returned? Or was he saved when he returned to the Father in repentance? And who is the older brother - the already saved in the church? That is not how parables are meant to be read. First of all, they are about life in the kingdom of God and are seldom about salvation issues. When you read about the prodigal son, don't try to figure out...
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"For Me and Mine?" August 12 Readings: Luke 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 :   Luke 14 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     There he goes again! Jesus begins Luke 14 with a miracle. Nothing strange about that, of course, but he also begins it with a miracle that happens on the Sabbath. That is not unusual either. Seems like just about every miracle he ever did took place on the Sabbath, infuriating the petty religiosity of the Pharisees and their buddies. He followed that with two parables, one about a wedding feast and the other about a banquet, both intended to skewer the religionists again. They thought t...
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"Our Good Shepherd" August 11 Readings: John 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 :   John 10 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     If the life of Jesus were a movie (and, of course, it has been many times), John 10 would play with ominous and foreboding music behind it. Yes, the chapter begins with what seems like a beautiful teaching about Jesus being the good shepherd for the sheep, a thought we will explore in the devotional, but there is much more working there. Jesus is describing himself as the Good Shepherd, but it is not in a vacuum. He is contrasting himself with the thieves and robbers who come to "steal ...
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"True Blindness" August 10 Readings: John 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 :   John 9 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     What a contrast is seen in today's story, an escalation of the conflict between Jesus and the Pharisees. Jesus heals a man on the Sabbath, a man who had been born blind and had never seen a thing his entire life. The Pharisees did not rejoice at the goodness of God or the mercy shown to this man. In fact, they abused him and treated him shabbily. No, they were angry because Jesus healed on the Sabbath, breaking their rules. They were more concerned with their human rules and their power ...
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"The Narrow Door" August 9 Readings: Luke 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 :   Luke 13 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     The themes do not change much as Jesus continues his ministry. It's about drawing the lines (the narrow door) and confronting the Pharisees over their pettiness and failure to grasp the truth of God, the nature of the kingdom of God, and the ongoing miraculous work of Jesus.  Daily Devotional:  The Narrow Door I am not exactly a small guy - whether you measure me side to side or head to toe. I've had the privilege of exploring some ruins in places like Israel, as well as some ...
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"Wasteful Worry" August 8 Readings: Luke 11:37-12:59

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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 11:37-12:59 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     Today's reading in Luke 12 sees a continuance of many of the key themes in the later ministry of Jesus Christ, leading up to the days before he entered Jerusalem to die. All of chapter 11-12 either fits with the Sermon on the Mount or with the teachings of Jesus later in Matthew 23. He warns his disciples about the Pharisees and tells them not to fear the coming persecution. His teachings in John 14-16 will take these themes and expand on them greatly, but he is beginning to pr...
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