Dave Miller's 2024 Bible Reading Challenge

The Story of the Bible from Creation to the Cross to Eternal Glory In 72 daily readings, we will examine the overall story of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, seeking to get the big picture of God's work through Jesus Christ in this sinful world. Today's Reading:   Joshua 6-8 Through the Bible Readings:  Because it is Leap Year, there are no Through the Bible in One Year readings today.  Context  The conquest of the land begins here as Israel puts into place the plan of attack given to them by the Angel of the Lord. In obedience to God they marched around the walls for six days, then seven times on the seventh day, and the walls came down. It was all about obedience. Then, overconfident for reasons that make no sense, Israel took out on their own to attack the little village of Ai. They went without consulting God, fighting in their own power, and took a severe beating at the hands of this little town. Then, they got right with God, dealt with their sin, began walking in o

The Story of the Bible from Creation to the Cross to Eternal Glory In 72 daily readings, we will examine the overall story of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, seeking to get the big picture of God's work through Jesus Christ in this sinful world. Today's Reading:   Joshua 3 Through the Bible Readings:  Numbers 11-12, Mark 6:1-29, Psalm 30, Proverbs 7:10-12 If you wish to read through the Bible in a year, follow these readings.  Context  Ever spent time wandering in the wilderness? You were saved by God's grace, as Israel was delivered through the Red Sea and then you went out to live the life of faith and dependence, but somehow, like the Chosen People, you got sidetracked and ended up walking in circles instead of taking possession of the land God promised you. As Joshua 3 opens, the time has come for Israel to end its wanderings and begin the Conquest of the Land, the intent of God from the time they were saved from Egypt. When a believer has been wandering in the wi

The Story of the Bible from Creation to the Cross to Eternal Glory In 72 daily readings, we will examine the overall story of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, seeking to get the big picture of God's work through Jesus Christ in this sinful world. Today's Reading:   Deuteronomy 27-28 Through the Bible Readings:   Numbers 8-10, Mark 5:21-43, Psalm 29:8-11, Proverbs 7:6-9 If you wish to read through the Bible in a year, follow these readings.  Context    It is a distinction that is hard to understand, hard to keep clear, but essential to the Christian life. 1. Your relationship with God is based on the work of Christ, not your works. You are right with God because of Christ's righteousness, not your own. It is all of grace and none of works. 2. Your relationship with God necessitates that you make wise choices and walk in obedience. The life you live daily is a product of the choices you make. There are blessings for obedience and there is discipline for disobedience. Am

The Story of the Bible from Creation to the Cross to Eternal Glory In 72 daily readings, we will examine the overall story of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, seeking to get the big picture of God's work through Jesus Christ in this sinful world. Today's Reading:  Deuteronomy 6 Through the Bible Readings:  Numbers 5-7, Mark 5:1–20, Psalm 29:1–7, Proverbs 7:1-5 If you wish to read through the Bible in a year, follow these readings.  Context  I've often said my least favorite word in the Bible is "all." If Deuteronomy 6:4 said, "Love God with your heart and your soul and your might," I'd be golden. But that word "all" comes in and messes everything up. This isn't the only place, of course, but it is one of the biggest. All my heart? I love God but I'm not sure I've gotten to that place where all my heart is his. Deuteronomy 6 is foundational to an understanding of the Old Testament. People think of the God of the OT as mean,

The Story of the Bible from Creation to the Cross to Eternal Glory In 72 daily readings, we will examine the overall story of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, seeking to get the big picture of God's work through Jesus Christ in this sinful world. Today's Reading:    Leviticus 25 Through the Bible Readings:  Numbers 1-4, Mark 4:21–41, Psalm 28:4–9, Proverbs 6:34-35 If you wish to read through the Bible in a year, follow these readings.  Context  Reading the OT law can be hard for us - it's a long list of specific laws we don't understand about things that have nothing to do with our lives. Leviticus has chapters on infectious skin diseases and mildew, on handling slaves and all sorts of moral, ceremonial, and personal rules that seem to have little applicability in this world. We must look beyond the specifics at times to the character of God that is revealed in those laws. What we see in many of the laws is a desire from God that he be honored above all and that no

The Story of the Bible from Creation to the Cross to Eternal Glory In 72 daily readings, we will examine the overall story of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, seeking to get the big picture of God's work through Jesus Christ in this sinful world. Today's Reading:    Leviticus 22:17-23:44 Through the Bible Readings:  Leviticus 26-27, Mark 4:1–20, Psalm 28:1–3, Proverbs 6:32-33 If you wish to read through the Bible in a year, follow these readings.  Context  This may not be your most exciting reading of the year - instructions about offerings we do not offer and feasts we do not observe - but there are lessons to be learned here. God set up an extensive system of sacrifices, festivals, and feasts for Israel. Why? It was not to put them through some kind of religious rigamarole but to aid them in a right relationship with God. The sacrifices were to deal with the sin that built a wall of separation between man and God. The feasts and the festivals interrupted Israel's dai

The Story of the Bible from Creation to the Cross to Eternal Glory In 72 daily readings, we will examine the overall story of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, seeking to get the big picture of God's work through Jesus Christ in this sinful world. Today's Reading:   Leviticus 21:1-22:16 Through the Bible Readings : Leviticus 24-25, Mark 3:13–35, Psalm 27:5–14, Proverbs6:30-31  If you wish to read through the Bible in a year, follow these readings.  Context  Living in an area with a high Catholic population, it is not unusual for me to be called, "Father Miller" or "Father Dave." I tell them that I am a pastor, not a priest. But in reality, I am a priest. The New Testament calls me one; but not just me, you too. All believers are priests, we are a kingdom of priests. In the Old Testament, there were three kinds of leaders for the people of God. There were kings (or judges before the monarchy) who ruled over Israel. There were prophets who delivered the wo

The Story of the Bible from Creation to the Cross to Eternal Glory In 72 daily readings, we will examine the overall story of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, seeking to get the big picture of God's work through Jesus Christ in this sinful world. Today's Reading:   Exodus 35:30-40:38  (Read 35:30-36:7, 40:16-38 carefully) Focus Passages:   Exodus 35:30-36:7 35:30 Moses then said to the Israelites: “Look, the Lord has appointed by name Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. 31 He has filled him with God’s Spirit, with wisdom, understanding, and ability in every kind of craft 32 to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze, 33 to cut gemstones for mounting, and to carve wood for work in every kind of artistic craft. 34 He has also given[a] both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. 35 He has filled them with skill[b] to do all the work of a gem cutter; a designer; an embroiderer[c] in blue, purple, and sca

The Story of the Bible from Creation to the Cross to Eternal Glory In 72 daily readings, we will examine the overall story of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, seeking to get the big picture of God's work through Jesus Christ in this sinful world. Today's Reading:  Exodus 32-34 Through the Bible Readings:  Leviticus 20-21, Mark 2, Psalm 26:4–12, Proverbs 6:23-24 If you wish to read through the Bible in a year, follow these readings.  Context  There are two overriding lessons we can learn from the history of Israel in the Old Testament. We see, first, the sad infidelity and idolatry of Israel. No matter how good God was, no matter how much love he showed, how much grace they received, how much of his power and presence they experienced, they were always quick to depart from loyalty, to break the law, to embrace other gods, and to be shaped by the peoples around them instead of by God. The bulk of the OT story covers a period around 1600 years (Abraham lives somewhere around

The Story of the Bible from Creation to the Cross to Eternal Glory In 72 daily readings, we will examine the overall story of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, seeking to get the big picture of God's work through Jesus Christ in this sinful world. Today's Reading:   Exodus 20 Through the Bible Readings:  Leviticus 18-19, Mark 1:21–45, Psalm 26:1–3, Proverbs 6:20-22 If you wish to read through the Bible in a year, follow these readings.  Context  The Law of God. The Ten Commandments. The one part of the Bible actually written by the very hand of God. The rest of God's word came through a human agency - God's Spirit worked within a human being to produce the perfect word. Here, all Moses did was carry the tablets with the Commandments down the hill. God wrote them in his own hand.  The Law comes in three levels. Jesus told us that there were really only two laws. Love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself. The Ten Commandments expand on these two

The Story of the Bible from Creation to the Cross to Eternal Glory In 72 daily readings, we will examine the overall story of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, seeking to get the big picture of God's work through Jesus Christ in this sinful world. Today's Reading:   Exodus 15:22-17:16 Through the Bible Readings:  Leviticus 16-17, Mark 1:1–20, Psalm 25:13–22, Proverbs6:16-19 If you wish to read through the Bible in a year, follow these readings.  Context  The Sea parted and Israel walked through on dry ground and there they were. Free at last. And thirsty. And hungry. And scared. As soon as Israel crossed the Red Sea God showed his power and provision to them, his faithfulness. And Israel showed that they would consistently gripe, complain, and grumble about everything. They were thirsty, so they complained. God turned the bitter water sweet. They were hungry, so they complained. God sent manna. They were thirsty again, and they complained again. God brought water from a roc

The Story of the Bible from Creation to the Cross to Eternal Glory In 72 daily readings, we will examine the overall story of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, seeking to get the big picture of God's work through Jesus Christ in this sinful world. Today's Reading:   Exodus 14 Through the Bible Reading:  Leviticus 14-15, Matthew 28, Psalm 25:6–12, Proverbs 6:12-15 If you wish to read through the Bible in a year, follow these readings.  Context  It is the most significant event of the Old Testament, the saving event which brought Israel out of Egypt, upon which all of God's commands to Israel are later based. "I am the God who brought you up out of Egypt, be holy..." "I am the God who brought you out of Egypt, worship me alone...." Praise, Obedience. Sacrifice. Worship. Devotion. Everything God demanded of Israel was rooted in the fact that he parted the Sea and brought them through on dry ground. In the New Testament, it is God's saving act throug

The Story of the Bible from Creation to the Cross to Eternal Glory In 72 daily readings, we will examine the overall story of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, seeking to get the big picture of God's work through Jesus Christ in this sinful world. Today's Reading:   Exodus 11-12 Through the Bible Readings:  Leviticus 12-13, Matthew 27:45–66, Psalm 25:1–5, Proverbs 6:9-11 If you wish to read through the Bible in a year, follow these readings.  Context  We do not have any pictures of Jesus Christ, but perhaps one of the best is in Exodus 11-12, the story of the Passover. There are so many lessons we can learn from the 10th Plague and the Passover celebration in Israel which point to the work of Christ and show us much about him.  Devotional: A Picture of Christ's Death There are few places where foreshadowings of the work of Christ are clearly seen than in the Passover in Exodus 11 and 12. There is so much in the story of the death angel passing over that directly prophec