Posts with the category “reading-plan”

Watch this overview video on the book of Colossians, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. In Colossians, Paul encourages the Colossian Christians to see Jesus as the center of all reality, so they don’t give in to pressure from other religions.  Read More

Imitating Christ’s Humility2 1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others a...  Read More

Watch this overview video on the book of Philippians, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. In Phillippians, Paul thanks the Philippian Christians for their generosity and shares how they are all called to imitate Jesus’ self-giving love....  Read More

Watch this overview video on the book of Ephesians, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. In Ephesians, Paul shows how the good news should create ethnically diverse communities that are unified by devotion to Jesus and to each other. The Armor of God6 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can ta...  Read More

Freedom in Christ5 1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.2 Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3 Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4 You who are trying t...  Read More

1 1 Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— 2 and all the brothers and sisters with me,To the churches in Galatia:3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be glory...  Read More

Watch this overview video on the book of Galatians, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. In Galatians, Paul challenges the Galatian Christians to stop allowing controversial Torah observances to divide their church's congregation.  Read More

Paul and the False Apostles11 1 I hope you will put up with me in a little foolishness. Yes, please put up with me! 2 I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. 3 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devot...  Read More

The Collection for the Lord’s People8 1 And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently plea...  Read More

Present Weakness and Resurrection Life4 1 Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is v...  Read More

Watch this overview video on 2 Corinthians, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. In 2 Corinthians, Paul resolves his conflict with the Corinthians by showing how the scandal of the crucifixion turns our value systems upside-down.  Read More

The Resurrection of Christ15 1 Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to th...  Read More

13 1 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, ...  Read More

Paul’s Rights as an Apostle9 1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? 2 Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.3 This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. 4 Don’t we have the right to food and drink? 5 Don’t we have the right to tak...  Read More

Dealing With a Case of Incest5 1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife. 2 And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this? 3 For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in sp...  Read More

1 Corinthians 1  Read More

Watch this overview video on the book of 1 Corinthians, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. In 1 Corinthians, Paul shows the new Christians in Corinth that all of life's most complex problems can be seen through the lens of the gospel.  Read More

Romans 11:25-12:21 & 16  Read More

Romans 7 & 8  Read More

Romans 5 - 6  Read More

Watch this overview video on Romans 5-16, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. In Romans, Paul shows how Jesus created the new covenant family of Abraham through his death and resurrection and the sending of the Spirit.  Read More

Romans 3 & 4  Read More

Romans 1 & 2  Read More

Watch this overview video on Romans 1-4, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. In Romans, Paul shows how Jesus created the new covenant family of Abraham through his death and resurrection and the sending of the Spirit.  Read More

Acts 27 & 28  Read More

26 1 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.”So Paul motioned with his hand and began his defense: 2 “King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews, 3 and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me p...  Read More

Paul’s Trial Before Felix24 1 Five days later the high priest Ananias went down to Caesarea with some of the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they brought their charges against Paul before the governor. 2 When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented his case before Felix: “We have enjoyed a long period of peace under you, and your foresight has brought about reforms in this nation. 3 Every...  Read More

23 1 Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.” 2 At this the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that ...  Read More

22 1 “Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense.”2 When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet.Then Paul said: 3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today. 4 I persecuted the followers of this Way to their de...  Read More

Acts 20:17-38; 21:1-40  Read More

Acts 17:16-34; 18:24-28  Read More

Acts 16  Read More

Acts 15  Read More

Overview: Acts 13-28 (Bible Project)  Read More

Monday, October 7 - Acts 10 & 12  Read More

Saul’s Conversion9 1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed aroun...  Read More

7 51 “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! 52 Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— 53 you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not ob...  Read More

Ananias and Sapphira5 1 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2 With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the mone...  Read More

The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost2 1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other t...  Read More

Watch this overview video on the book of Acts, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. In Acts, Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to empower his disciples as they carry the good news of his kingdom to the nations of the world. Jesus Taken Up Into Heaven1 1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken ...  Read More