Dave Miller's 2025 Bible Reading Challenge

  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 :   Leviticus 16-19 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     As you read through the laws of Israel, some are common sense, and some are strange to our ears. They have two primary purposes. First, God's people are to come apart from the world and not to live as the world does. Paul said, in Romans 12:2, that we were not to be conformed to the world but transformed by Christ. Instead, we are to live holy lives, separated from the world to the service of God. Daily Devotional:   Because I Am “ Speak to the entire Israelite commun...

  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 :   Leviticus 12-15 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     Today's reading is truly a highlight! It deals with purification from childbirth, infectious skin diseases, mildew, and bodily discharges. Riveting, right? The key in today's readings is the message behind the laws themselves. Thank God for the work of Christ, because we are not obligated to sort these laws out and follow them explicitly. God made it clear to Peter (in a dream/vision) and revealed through Paul that the Jewish dietary and ceremonial laws no longer bind us. ...

  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 :   Leviticus 8-11 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     These chapters deal primarily with the role of the priest, setting a higher standard of morality and character for priests than for the average Israelite.  It is a mistake to see the word "priest" and think "preacher." Remember that the New Testament says that we are a kingdom of priests - all of us, clergy and laity alike. We have direct access to God and are responsible for bringing others to him. Every person who has been redeemed by Christ is a priest.  Each o...

  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 :   Leviticus 1-7 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     A word of encouragement? Leviticus is a tough book. Chapters chock full of details on sacrifices and others explaining things about infectious skin disease and mildew that none of us wants to think about. There are laws about sexual practices decent people don't discuss, and intricate instructions on things we don't understand for practices that we know nothing about. Stick with it. Don't give up! It is God's word, and there is truth to be learned. It is about holiness - God...

  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 :   Exodus 36-40 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     This is another potentially tedious passage, repeating the detailed instructions of chapters 25-30. There are two key truths in this passage. First, you can see the statement repeated constantly that Moses did exactly as God had instructed him. He was obedient - completely, carefully, obsessively. He did not vary at all from what God told him to do. It was when Moses completed his task obediently that the glory of God fell. Enthusiasm and passion cannot replace obedience if w...

  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 :   Exodus 31-35 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     The key story in today's reading is the Golden Calf saga. Moses is on the mountain receiving the law of God, and Aaron is cowed by the people to build an idolatrous image and worship it. Moses returned and broke the tablets to represent that the people broke God's law. God dealt with them, then sent Moses back up the mountain to start again. We see a powerful contrast of leadership styles. One man is on the mountain seeking God's will to bring to the people, while another is ...

  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 :   Exodus 25-30 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Let's be honest - readings such as today's are what make "through the Bible" readings tough. This is a specification list for the Tabernacle, and it carries powerful symbolism about Christ, but it can be tough to read. There is great content and power in these readings, but you have to dig a little harder for the treasure today! Background:     The Tabernacle, ordered here by God to Moses, was no simple sanctuary. It was the dwelling of God, fraught with symbolism. I will include some diagra...

  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 :   Exodus 19-24 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     The Ten Commandments are the basis of God's law. In reality, there are only two laws. Love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself. The first four commandments explain how to love and honor God, and the last 6 are about honoring our neighbors as ourselves. The rest of the laws of the Old Testament are designed to expand on the Ten Laws, which expand on the two. The laws we read in chapters 21-24 have several key purposes, besides expanding and illuminating ...

  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 :   Exodus 13-18 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     There are three parts to today's reading. First, we see the actual Exodus, God's saving act of grace to Israel when he took them out of Egypt by his grace through the Sea and eventually to the Promised Land. Then, we see Moses' song of praise in chapter 15 after the horse and rider were thrown into the sea. Our God is a warrior who defeats his enemies and ours to accomplish his work in us. The third section is a study of human nature. Israel saw the greatness of God's love an...

  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 :   Exodus 9-12 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     The plagues escalate throughout these readings until the climactic moment when the tenth and greatest one approaches, as the Death Angel passes through Egypt. The Passover is heavy in the symbolism of the death of Christ. If you ever watch TV shows about the Exodus, they try to give natural explanations for the plagues. A volcano dropped ash in the Nile that turned it red, driving the frogs out. They died, drawing flies and causing disease, etc. Those of us who believe in a so...

  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 :   Exodus 5-8 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     When you do the right thing and serve God, everything will work out fine, right? If you believe that you haven't read today's reading. Moses finally gave in and went to Egypt in obedience to God, confronting Pharaoh - that's when Murphy's Law took over. Anything that could go wrong did go wrong. Pharaoh did not accept Moses' terms and heaped a greater burden on Israel. Now they had to make their full quota of bricks, but gather their own straw. They turned on Moses pretty ...

  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 :     Exodus 1-4 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     We enter the book of Exodus, perhaps the most dramatic book of the Bible. As the Cross is the focus of our salvation experience, the Red Sea was Israel's. Over and over again, God would remind Israel of his love and faithfulness demonstrated to Moses and the people as he led them out of Egypt, through the Sea on dry ground, and eventually to the Promised Land. In these first four chapters, we meet Moses, born under oppression as a Jewish slave. He is hidden by his mother...

  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 :   Genesis 46-50 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     This reading wraps up Genesis as Jacob is moved to Egypt to be reunited with his son Joseph and there is great rejoicing. He blesses his sons, though some of those blessings are questionable as blessings - they read more like curses! Finally, Jacob dies and is taken back to his homeland for burial.  That's when the sneaky brothers show themselves again, telling Joseph a story about how their father had left instructions to forgive them. He once again expresses his faith...

  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 :   Genesis 42-45 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     We encounter one of the truly entertaining stories in the Bible today - Joseph's interaction with the brothers who betrayed him. They'd assumed he was long dead and gone and had no idea that the powerful ruler they were encountering was the little brother they'd hated and sold into slavery. Joseph knew, though, and he tricked them. Was he justified in the tricks he played on them? He could have just revealed himself at the start and been reunited, but he chose to hide his id...