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 :   Acts 13-14 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     Acts 13-14 records Paul's first missionary journey. It is a true turning point in the life of the church. It begins in Antioch in a worship service when the Spirit called Barnabas and Saul to go out as missionaries. They did, traveling to the Galatian region. A funny thing happened there. The process which began with Cornelius came to full fruition. Chased out of the synagogues and rejected there, they found a hearing among the Gentiles, and many came to Christ. This brought to a hea...

  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 :   James 4-5 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     James did not get the memo that "you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar," nor did he understand that those who proclaimed God's word were to be unfailingly positive and encouraging. In James 4 he blistered his hearers for their spiritual adultery and their friendship with the world. As they got away from Jerusalem and from the center of worship, they tended to adjust to the ways of the world and adopt the practices of the peoples with whom they lived. Two other key teaching...

  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 :   James 3 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     James 3 deals with two topics. First, James transitions from a warning about the high responsibility of teachers to a discussion of the power of the tongue. He then reflects on the wisdom of God and contrasts the wisdom from above and the wisdom that is from below. Daily Devotional:   Satan's Greatest Servant When I look back on my 6 decades of Christianity (I was saved at age six - you do the math), I would surmise that the highest percentage of my sins have been sins of the tongu...

  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 :   James 1-2 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     An Introduction to the Book of James We interrupt our reading of the book of Acts to read what is often believed to be the first of the epistles of the New Testament, James. New Testament scholars are not uniform in their opinions of the timing and setting of the Book of James. Still, it seems likely that the book was written by James, the brother of Jesus, who became the leader of the church of Jerusalem and was a key figure in the Council of Jerusalem. He addresses his book to the "...

  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 :   Acts 12 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     Acts 12 is about two deaths and a life.  It begins with the martyrdom of James, the Son of Thunder, who asked to be at the right hand or left of the Savior in his kingdom but instead had the privilege of going to the presence of Christ, dying by the sword at Herod's command. The chapter ends with Herod himself dying at the hand of God's angel, struck down because of his pride.  In the middle is the story of Peter's deliverance from the clutches of Herod. Why did God rescue Pet...

  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 :   Acts 11 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     God did something amazing in Caesarea, but there was still some difficult work to do back in Jerusalem. Already there had formed what would become the greatest rift in the early church - how Jewish was the church going to be? Did people have to be Jews to become Christians? The "circumcision party" had already formed in Jerusalem, Christians who put Jewish law ahead of God's grace. They did not rejoice that Gentiles had been redeemed and saved from hell unless they also conformed to the...

  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 :   Acts 10 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     Another boundary is crossed! When Saul was saved in chapter 9, it was to be an apostle to the Gentiles, but he would not make the first approach. As the Spirit was sent to the Jews in Acts 2 and the Samaritans in chapter 8, now he would come to the Gentiles in Acts 10.  Daily Devotional:   From Every Nation When God speaks, it is often loud and clear! In Acts 10, God spoke clearly and without equivocation about the nature of the church. He had not sent his Son to die to redeem...

  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 :   Acts 9 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     Acts 9 is one of the significant turning points in Scripture, especially those that do not have to do with the life of Christ. Of course, Christmas, the events of Holy Week, Pentecost - these are the greatest moments in history, but it was a significant day when the man from Tarsus was headed toward Damascus, breathing out murderous threats, and suddenly was on the ground, having been overwhelmed by a visitation from heaven. This was a unique and heavenly evangelistic effort. Normally Go...

  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 :   Acts 8:4-40 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     In Acts 1:8, Jesus gave the disciples his final word, telling them that after the Spirit's power came on them, they would be witnesses in Jerusalem, in Judea and Samaria, and then to the ends of the earth. The problem was that the disciples stayed in Jerusalem and showed no signs of moving the gospel outside of that city, even to Judea and Samaria (the ancient nation of Israel), much less the ends of the earth. That only happened when persecution fell on them in Jerusalem and people...

  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 :   Acts 6:8-8:3 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     The brewing trouble between the disciples and the religious leaders spilled out into open war when one of the seven, Stephen, confronted Israel's leaders about their sin. In chapter 4, they were commanded not to preach; in chapter 5, the Apostles were beaten, but here the persecution went to the ultimate extreme, and Stephen lost his life. Ominously, the last few verses introduce us to a character who will become both the greatest enemy of the church and its greatest missionary - S...

  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 :   Acts 5:1-6:7 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     The resistance of the Pharisees, which began in chapters 3 and 4, is ratcheted up in the readings today. The disciples continued to testify to Christ despite the obstacles. That is one of the key themes of Acts - overcoming obstacles to proclaim Christ. There are three key obstacles encountered and hurdled here for the cause of Christ.  False Christianity - there will always be some who are inside the church but are not what they seem. Ananias and Sapphira sinned not by holdin...

  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 :   Acts 3-4  In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     In Acts 3 and 4, the Apostles take up where Jesus left off as they begin their ministry and their conflict with the very people who put Jesus to death. They committed a grievous sin! In the shadow of the Temple, they healed a man who had sat there year after year. The religious leader could toss him a coin now and again to assuage their guilt, but in the name of Jesus, these unlearned and ignorant men did what the honored leaders could not. They healed him. Having suffered in the...

  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 :   Acts 1-2 In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     And then it all changed! The story of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ continues as he works in and through his disciples who become the Apostles, taking the gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth. Acts is sometimes called the "Gospel of the Holy Spirit," and it tells how the Spirit continued the work of Christ.  Acts 1:8 is not only a theme verse but also an outline of the book. Acts 1-8:3 tell of the spread of the gospel in Jerusalem, then 8:4 through chapter 12 are abo...

  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 28:16-20, (Mark 16:15-20), Luke 24:44-53  In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer.  Background:     We come to the end of the Gospels in today's readings. Matthew's gospel closes with the great commission, our marching orders from the Savior. Mark's story of Jesus closes with a strange verse of that commission, including poisonous snakes and drinking poison. Luke jumps to the story of the Ascension of Jesus to heaven, which is where Luke picks up when he writes his sequel, the Acts of the Apostles. A note is in order about the textual dif...