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"Jesus Demands All" August 17 Readings: Matthew 19:1-30, Mark 10:1-31, Luke 18:15-30

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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 19:1-30, Mark 10:1-31, Luke 18:15-30 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     While there are readings in Matthew, Mark, and Luke today, they repeat the same stories (mostly). First, Jesus goes over the issue of divorce, with slight variations in each Gospel in some of the small details, primarily over whether there is an exception on the grounds of adultery. Matthew, the most extensive telling of the story, includes it but Mark does not. The second story, which appears in all three Gospels, is the blessing of the children. Th...
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"Prayer-ables" August 16 Readings: Luke 17:11-18:14

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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 17:11-18:14 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     The die has been cast, and now Jesus is beginning to prepare his disciples for the future. After the healing of the lepers, Jesus begins to teach both about the fact that he was going to leave them and about his second coming, broaching a new topic. The end is drawing near, and the focus of Jesus' ministry is changing. Jesus shares two parables in chapter 18 about prayer and key qualities in successful, acceptable prayer. Daily Devotional:   Prayer-ables In Luke 18:1-14, J...
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"When Jesus Really Got Angry" August 15 Readings: John 11

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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 11 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     The story we read today shows a sharp turning point for Jesus. The tension building with the Pharisees became a plot, a plan for open war when he brought Lazarus out of the grave. Jesus did two things that day - he revealed who he was and who they were not. In verses 25-26, he gave another of his great "I Am" statements, which comforts all who grieve the loss of a loved one in Christ. “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and ever...
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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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