GBC Bible Reading Plan September 29–October 5

Week 40, September 29–October 5: Ephesians 4–6, Philippians, Jeremiah 1–14
- Sun 9/29 Eph 4–6
- Mon 9/30 Phil 1–4
- Tue 10/1 Jer 1–2
- Wed 10/2 Jer 3–5
- Thu 10/3 Jer 6–8
- Fri 10/4 Jer 9–11
- Sat 10/5 Jer 12–14
Ephesians is perhaps the most profound and concise treatment of gospel’s implications for the church in all the Bible. It is packed with rich theology and practical instruction and exhortation. Paul’s letters often have a characteristic structure in which the first part focuses on theological teaching, truth for the recipients to understand; and the second part unpacks practical implications of that teaching, exhortation for living in light of gospel truth. Now, it’s important not to overstate this two-part structure. In some of Paul’s letters, the theological and practical are interwoven throughout rather than demarcated in a first-half, second-half division. In every letter, practical and ethical exhortation is integrated with the theological teaching, and the exhortations to live godly lives are always thoroughly grounded in the theological truth of the gospel.
The good news of what God has done for us in Christ crucially impacts our lives as Christians and the healthy function of local churches and the universal Church. And the only way for Christians and churches to behave in ways that honor Christ and display a God-glorifying unity is for them to be grounded in the knowledge of Christ and the gospel.
In Ephesians, the first three chapters, which we read at the end of last week, cover rich, worshipful theology about God’s gracious acts for us through Christ. Paul blesses and thanks the God who called us to himself and sovereignly carries out the purposes he set out to accomplish before time began. Paul reminds the Ephesian church, and us, that apart from Christ’s saving work, we were dead in our sins. It was only by his grace we were saved, with nothing of ourselves contributing to our salvation. Those who were previously far off from God are reconciled to him by Christ’s blood, and all, both Jew and Gentile, are included in this gospel plan for his church. This plan is meant to display God’s manifold wisdom to the world and beyond the world to the heavenly realm. Paul prays for his readers to grasp the immeasurable love of God, then concludes the first half of the book with a beautiful doxology.
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Eph. 3:20–21)
The second half of Ephesians, chapters 4–6, picks up where the first half left off. Paul moves into instruction and exhortation for the church by urging them to walk in a manner worthy of the gracious calling they have received from God in Christ. They are to conduct themselves, we are to conduct ourselves, “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bod of peace.” (Eph. 4:2–3) This exhortation is based on the unity of God himself (verses 4–6). Since we have been brought from death to life by God who loves us, we are to walk in love. We are to put off our old self and put on the new life we have been graciously given, a life marked by sacrificial love. This should impact all our relationships—in our family, our workplace, our public life, and our church life. And we cannot live the life we are called to live without the strength of the Lord, the armor of God himself, the power of Christ in us, working through his Spirit and his word. The message of Ephesians is a message worth reading, re-reading, meditating upon, and praying through.
Philippians comes next. Like Ephesians, Philippians was written by Paul while he was in prison. He wrote to the Christians who gathered as a church in Philippi, encouraging them with a reminder of the gospel and an encouragement to carry on joyfully with humble unity with one another. Three themes that are repeated throughout Philippians are Joy and Rejoicing, Partnership in the gospel, and God’s glory in Christ. Watch for those themes as you read through, and if you’ve already read Philippians, you may find it helpful to go back and review this list of verses that include these themes in the book.
Joy and Rejoicing
- 1:4 Paul prays with joy
- 1:18 Paul rejoices that Christ is proclaimed, and he will rejoice
- 1:25 Paul will continue for the Philippians’ joy in the faith
- 2:2 Paul asks the Philippians to complete his joy
- 2:17–18 Paul is glad and rejoices with the Philippians and asks the same of them
- 2:28 Paul sends Epaphroditus that the Philippians might rejoice
- 2:29 Paul tells the Philippians to receive Epaphroditus with joy
- 3:1 Paul tells the Philippians to rejoice in the Lord
- 4:1 Paul tells the Philippians they are his joy
- 4:4 Paul tells the Philippians, and tells them again, to rejoice in the Lord
- 4:10 Paul rejoiced in the Lord at the Philippians’ concern for him
Partnership/fellowship in the gospel
- 1:5 “your partnership [fellowship] in the gospel”
- 1:7 “partakers with me of grace . . . in the defense and confirmation of the gospel”
- 1:27 “worthy of the gospel of Christ . . . striving side by side for the faith of the gospel”
- 2:1 “participation [fellowship] in the Spirit”
- 2:22 “served with me in the gospel”
- 2:25 “my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier”
- 3:10 “share his sufferings”
- 3:17 “join in imitating me”
- 4:3 “true companion . . . labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers”
- 4:14 “share [partner in] my trouble”
- 4:15 “partnership with me in giving and receiving”
The glory of God in Christ
- 1:11 “to the glory and praise of God”
- 1:20 “Christ will be honored in my body”
- 1:21 “to live is Christ, and to die is gain”
- 1:26 “to glory in Christ Jesus”
- 2:9–11 “God highly exalted him . . . the name that is above every name . . . every knee should bow . . . every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
- 3:3 “who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus”
- 3:21 “to be like his glorious body…”
- 4:19 “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
- 4:20 “To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.”
After reading Philippians we then move back to the OT and start into Jeremiah, the longest book of the Bible by word count. Like Isaiah, Jeremiah can be difficult to read. In fact, it has an even darker, more foreboding tone than Isaiah. It can be heavy to read of Israel and Judah’s sinful rebellion against God and the judgement that Jeremiah warns is coming. However, it is important to understand the depth of sin and the righteousness of the Lord’s judgement in order to fully grasp the beauty of God’s grace in the gospel.
As you persevere through Jeremiah, lament with him over the sin in the world, even among his own people. It is right for us to grieve like Jeremiah, and reading these parts of the OT prophets can and should sharpen our distaste for sin, our reverence and fear for the God against whom all sin is a great offense, and our desperation for his grace to destroy sin and overcome its consequences in our lives and in our world. And remember, Jeremiah is the book in the OT that most clearly anticipates the New Covenant (Jer. 31:31–34). Even in the midst of the darkness of Jeremiah’s message, there is the light of the gospel shining through—the good news that the Lord promises: “I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” (31:34)
More in Blog
February 17, 2025
GBC Bible Reading Plan 2025: Week 8February 10, 2025
GBC Bible Reading Plan 2025: Week 6February 10, 2025
GBC Bible Reading Plan 2025: Week 7