Blog https://www.greshambible.org Tue, 19 Mar 2024 01:02:14 -0700 http://churchplantmedia.com/ GBC Bible Reading Plan Mar 17–23 https://www.greshambible.org/blog/post/gbc-bible-reading-plan-mar-17-23 https://www.greshambible.org/blog/post/gbc-bible-reading-plan-mar-17-23#comments Sat, 16 Mar 2024 12:00:00 -0700 https://www.greshambible.org/blog/post/gbc-bible-reading-plan-mar-17-23 Week 12, March 17–23: Luke 14–24, Deut 1–7; Ps 31–36
  • Sun 3/17: Luke 14–16   
  • Mon 3/18: Luke 17–19, Psalm 31
  • Tue 3/19: Luke 20–21, Psalm 32
  • Wed 3/20: Luke 22–24, Psalm 33
  • Thu 3/21: Deut 1–2, Psalm 34
  • Fri 3/22: Deut 3–5, Psalm 35
  • Sat 3/23: Deut 6–7, Psalm 36

We read Luke 9 a few days ago. There, in verse 51, it said, “Jesus set his face to go to Jerusalem.” The rest of Luke’s Gospel moves in that direction, towards Jerusalem. That is where Jesus would accomplish what he came to do. The reason Christ came, the purpose for which the second Person of the Trinity, the eternal Son of God, took on flesh and dwelt among us, was to die for the sins of the world. This week we will be reading Luke’s account of the culminating events of Jesus’ life on earth, his death on the cross for our sins and his miraculous and victorious resurrection. This is the good news announced to the shepherds by the angelic host (Luke 2:8–14), the message John the Baptist prepared the way for in the wilderness (3:4–6), the gospel Jesus commissions his disciples, and us, to take to the world (24:44–49; Acts 1:8).

Reading through each of the Gospels allows us to savor both the deeds of Jesus and the cross of Christ. As long as people have been reading Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John there has been a tendency either to emphasize Jesus’ compassionate works—healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, loving the lowly—or to focus only on his atoning death and victorious resurrection. But reading the Gospels well urges us to reject this binary choice. The Gospels call us to see Jesus as the one who came into the world to meet the physical needs of those around him. And the Gospels make it clear that Jesus’ miraculous deeds of compassion demonstrated to those he healed and to us today that he was the long-expected Messiah who came to conquer sin and death through his own death on the cross and through resurrection from the dead three days later. Rather than having to choose one emphasis or the other, we rejoice in both as we read the Gospels.

In the last chapter of Luke, we see something that comes up all through the Gospels, and really all through the NT; that is, how Jesus and the apostles all understood the OT Scriptures all to point to Christ. Jesus tells and shows this to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus (24:25–27) then to the eleven disciples when he appears to them after his resurrection (vv. 44–47). He claims that the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms, the whole Hebrew Bible, or what we call the Old Testament, finds its fulfillment in his life, death, and resurrection. This perspective is helpful to keep in mind as we finish Luke and go back and pick up where we left off in our reading in the OT.

 

We’re back in the Pentateuch, starting where we left off after Numbers and reading the first few chapters of Deuteronomy this week. Just remember, we are picking back up in the middle of the story. Deuteronomy is the fifth part of the Pentateuch, which is a continuous narrative that started with creation and ends here in Deuteronomy with the people of Israel getting ready to go into the Promised Land. We have recently finished a series preaching through Deuteronomy. If you have time, it might be helpful to go back and listen to some of the sermons in that series as you work through the reading.

 

Be encouraged, Gresham Bible Church. Your investment of a few minutes each day in God’s word is time very well spent. The Lord calls his people to love him with their whole being. To love him we must know him, and to know him his words must be on our hearts. And what is the way his word is written on our hearts? It can only happen if we read it. You are loving God by reading Scripture.

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” (Deut. 6:4–9)

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Week 12, March 17–23: Luke 14–24, Deut 1–7; Ps 31–36
  • Sun 3/17: Luke 14–16   
  • Mon 3/18: Luke 17–19, Psalm 31
  • Tue 3/19: Luke 20–21, Psalm 32
  • Wed 3/20: Luke 22–24, Psalm 33
  • Thu 3/21: Deut 1–2, Psalm 34
  • Fri 3/22: Deut 3–5, Psalm 35
  • Sat 3/23: Deut 6–7, Psalm 36

We read Luke 9 a few days ago. There, in verse 51, it said, “Jesus set his face to go to Jerusalem.” The rest of Luke’s Gospel moves in that direction, towards Jerusalem. That is where Jesus would accomplish what he came to do. The reason Christ came, the purpose for which the second Person of the Trinity, the eternal Son of God, took on flesh and dwelt among us, was to die for the sins of the world. This week we will be reading Luke’s account of the culminating events of Jesus’ life on earth, his death on the cross for our sins and his miraculous and victorious resurrection. This is the good news announced to the shepherds by the angelic host (Luke 2:8–14), the message John the Baptist prepared the way for in the wilderness (3:4–6), the gospel Jesus commissions his disciples, and us, to take to the world (24:44–49; Acts 1:8).

Reading through each of the Gospels allows us to savor both the deeds of Jesus and the cross of Christ. As long as people have been reading Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John there has been a tendency either to emphasize Jesus’ compassionate works—healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, loving the lowly—or to focus only on his atoning death and victorious resurrection. But reading the Gospels well urges us to reject this binary choice. The Gospels call us to see Jesus as the one who came into the world to meet the physical needs of those around him. And the Gospels make it clear that Jesus’ miraculous deeds of compassion demonstrated to those he healed and to us today that he was the long-expected Messiah who came to conquer sin and death through his own death on the cross and through resurrection from the dead three days later. Rather than having to choose one emphasis or the other, we rejoice in both as we read the Gospels.

In the last chapter of Luke, we see something that comes up all through the Gospels, and really all through the NT; that is, how Jesus and the apostles all understood the OT Scriptures all to point to Christ. Jesus tells and shows this to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus (24:25–27) then to the eleven disciples when he appears to them after his resurrection (vv. 44–47). He claims that the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms, the whole Hebrew Bible, or what we call the Old Testament, finds its fulfillment in his life, death, and resurrection. This perspective is helpful to keep in mind as we finish Luke and go back and pick up where we left off in our reading in the OT.

 

We’re back in the Pentateuch, starting where we left off after Numbers and reading the first few chapters of Deuteronomy this week. Just remember, we are picking back up in the middle of the story. Deuteronomy is the fifth part of the Pentateuch, which is a continuous narrative that started with creation and ends here in Deuteronomy with the people of Israel getting ready to go into the Promised Land. We have recently finished a series preaching through Deuteronomy. If you have time, it might be helpful to go back and listen to some of the sermons in that series as you work through the reading.

 

Be encouraged, Gresham Bible Church. Your investment of a few minutes each day in God’s word is time very well spent. The Lord calls his people to love him with their whole being. To love him we must know him, and to know him his words must be on our hearts. And what is the way his word is written on our hearts? It can only happen if we read it. You are loving God by reading Scripture.

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” (Deut. 6:4–9)

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GBC Bible Reading Plan Mar 10–16 https://www.greshambible.org/blog/post/gbc-bible-reading-plan-mar-3-9 https://www.greshambible.org/blog/post/gbc-bible-reading-plan-mar-3-9#comments Sat, 09 Mar 2024 08:00:00 -0800 https://www.greshambible.org/blog/post/gbc-bible-reading-plan-mar-3-9 Week 11, March 10–16: Num 30–36, Luke 1–13; Ps 25–30
  • Sun 3/10: Num 30–32    
  • Mon 3/11: Num 33–36, Psalm 25
  • Tue 3/12: Luke 1–2, Psalm 26
  • Wed 3/13: Luke 3–4, Psalm 27
  • Thu 3/14: Luke 5–7, Psalm 28
  • Fri 3/15: Luke 8–10, Psalm 29
  • Sat 3/16: Luke 11–13, Psalm 30

This next set of readings has us finishing Numbers and jumping again to the NT to start Luke’s Gospel. We also continue with a daily psalm. Numbers leaves us hanging a bit at the end. The last verse of Numbers leaves us hanging a bit. “These are the commandments and the rules that the LORD commanded through Moses to the people of Israel in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho.” (Num. 36:13) The Israelites are right on the edge of the Land they’ve been journeying towards for almost four decades now (not to mention the generations that have passed since God’s promises to Abraham). It seems like the next step in the story would be the account of Israel crossing the Jordan to enter the land. But then we’d be missing Deuteronomy and the important messages of Moses that would prepare the people to enter the land and live in it faithfully before the Lord.

 

Luke’s Gospel begins with the most extensive and familiar account of Jesus’ birth and early life. Luke says he is writing these things to give an orderly account so Theophilus (and we) can know with certainty about the things he has been taught, so he (and we) can be confident that these things are true and that they really matter. Luke’s Gospel has similarities with Matthew and Mark, and John too, but there are also some differences. Like we’ve said before, it’s important to notice the distinct emphases and messages of each of the four Gospels. We aren’t just trying to understand “what really happened,” but we’re trying to understand the inspired meaning of each of these four accounts of Jesus’ life and ministry. As a biblical author writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Luke is trying to say something that is distinct from what Matthew, Mark, and John are saying—similar and complementary to be sure, but unique, nonetheless. 

Some of the distinctive aspects of Luke’s Gospel include the universal scope of God’s saving work in Christ. Salvation is for all peoples. We see this in places like Simeon’s song in chapter 2, where he blesses God as he holds the child Jesus in his arms. He quotes from Isaiah and rejoices that he has now seen the Lord’s salvation, which he prepared “in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel” (Luke 2:29–32). Luke also pays special attention to the lowly. Notice as your read along how often Jesus highlights people like shepherds, women, the poor, and others who are often marginalized or thought of as lower-class citizens, particularly in the first-century Roman-ruled world. The values of God’s kingdom are often opposite from the systems and values of the world. The birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus the Messiah exemplifies true kingdom values in many ways, and Luke pays special attention to this theme.

 

We are now over two months into this read thru, and I wonder how it’s going for everyone. It’s likely, I would imagine, that some have kept up and read pretty consistently and some have not. And that’s ok! Maybe you have fallen behind the scheduled reading, or maybe you’re just joining in and starting now. Here are a few ideas if you are behind a bit or if you are just now starting.

First, don’t feel guilty! Reading through the Bible like this is not a competition or a way to prove your Christian maturity, to yourself, to your pastors or fellow Christians, and certainly not to God. As we have been saying, the aim is to grow in a regular habit of reading Scripture. We’re cultivating a practice of spending regular time meeting with God to hear from him through his word, which he’s graciously given us as the main means by which we know him. This is a patient, lifelong journey, not just an accomplishment to achieve or an obligation to fulfill. The Lord is gracious and kind, and we can rest in the finished work of Christ and read the Bible not to gain his favor but out of joyful response to his love and out of a desire to know him more.

That’s the first and most important thing to keep in mind if you’re not up to date with the reading schedule. And there are a couple ways you could get back on the schedule. You could simply jump ahead to this week’s reading. Or if you haven’t started and are thinking of joining the read thru, just jump in where we are now. This means you’ll miss some reading this time through, but it also means you can be reading where others at GBC are reading, which is one of the benefits of doing this together as a church. And again, the Bible is meant to be read repeatedly over the course of a lifetime. You can fill in next year what you may have missed this year.

The other option is to try to catch up. You could set aside a larger block of time one day, or maybe an hour or so on a couple days, and settle in and read for a while. This in itself can be a really rewarding practice, even if you’re not doing it to catch up on the read thru. It’s a way to slow down and resist the relentless pull we probably all feel to hurry up and get things done. We will come back to this idea more later, but for now, these are a couple ways to catch up with the reading schedule if you’re behind or just now starting. But again, the main thing is to rejoice in God’s grace in Christ and to read his word because you love him and want to know him.

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Week 11, March 10–16: Num 30–36, Luke 1–13; Ps 25–30
  • Sun 3/10: Num 30–32    
  • Mon 3/11: Num 33–36, Psalm 25
  • Tue 3/12: Luke 1–2, Psalm 26
  • Wed 3/13: Luke 3–4, Psalm 27
  • Thu 3/14: Luke 5–7, Psalm 28
  • Fri 3/15: Luke 8–10, Psalm 29
  • Sat 3/16: Luke 11–13, Psalm 30

This next set of readings has us finishing Numbers and jumping again to the NT to start Luke’s Gospel. We also continue with a daily psalm. Numbers leaves us hanging a bit at the end. The last verse of Numbers leaves us hanging a bit. “These are the commandments and the rules that the LORD commanded through Moses to the people of Israel in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho.” (Num. 36:13) The Israelites are right on the edge of the Land they’ve been journeying towards for almost four decades now (not to mention the generations that have passed since God’s promises to Abraham). It seems like the next step in the story would be the account of Israel crossing the Jordan to enter the land. But then we’d be missing Deuteronomy and the important messages of Moses that would prepare the people to enter the land and live in it faithfully before the Lord.

 

Luke’s Gospel begins with the most extensive and familiar account of Jesus’ birth and early life. Luke says he is writing these things to give an orderly account so Theophilus (and we) can know with certainty about the things he has been taught, so he (and we) can be confident that these things are true and that they really matter. Luke’s Gospel has similarities with Matthew and Mark, and John too, but there are also some differences. Like we’ve said before, it’s important to notice the distinct emphases and messages of each of the four Gospels. We aren’t just trying to understand “what really happened,” but we’re trying to understand the inspired meaning of each of these four accounts of Jesus’ life and ministry. As a biblical author writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Luke is trying to say something that is distinct from what Matthew, Mark, and John are saying—similar and complementary to be sure, but unique, nonetheless. 

Some of the distinctive aspects of Luke’s Gospel include the universal scope of God’s saving work in Christ. Salvation is for all peoples. We see this in places like Simeon’s song in chapter 2, where he blesses God as he holds the child Jesus in his arms. He quotes from Isaiah and rejoices that he has now seen the Lord’s salvation, which he prepared “in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel” (Luke 2:29–32). Luke also pays special attention to the lowly. Notice as your read along how often Jesus highlights people like shepherds, women, the poor, and others who are often marginalized or thought of as lower-class citizens, particularly in the first-century Roman-ruled world. The values of God’s kingdom are often opposite from the systems and values of the world. The birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus the Messiah exemplifies true kingdom values in many ways, and Luke pays special attention to this theme.

 

We are now over two months into this read thru, and I wonder how it’s going for everyone. It’s likely, I would imagine, that some have kept up and read pretty consistently and some have not. And that’s ok! Maybe you have fallen behind the scheduled reading, or maybe you’re just joining in and starting now. Here are a few ideas if you are behind a bit or if you are just now starting.

First, don’t feel guilty! Reading through the Bible like this is not a competition or a way to prove your Christian maturity, to yourself, to your pastors or fellow Christians, and certainly not to God. As we have been saying, the aim is to grow in a regular habit of reading Scripture. We’re cultivating a practice of spending regular time meeting with God to hear from him through his word, which he’s graciously given us as the main means by which we know him. This is a patient, lifelong journey, not just an accomplishment to achieve or an obligation to fulfill. The Lord is gracious and kind, and we can rest in the finished work of Christ and read the Bible not to gain his favor but out of joyful response to his love and out of a desire to know him more.

That’s the first and most important thing to keep in mind if you’re not up to date with the reading schedule. And there are a couple ways you could get back on the schedule. You could simply jump ahead to this week’s reading. Or if you haven’t started and are thinking of joining the read thru, just jump in where we are now. This means you’ll miss some reading this time through, but it also means you can be reading where others at GBC are reading, which is one of the benefits of doing this together as a church. And again, the Bible is meant to be read repeatedly over the course of a lifetime. You can fill in next year what you may have missed this year.

The other option is to try to catch up. You could set aside a larger block of time one day, or maybe an hour or so on a couple days, and settle in and read for a while. This in itself can be a really rewarding practice, even if you’re not doing it to catch up on the read thru. It’s a way to slow down and resist the relentless pull we probably all feel to hurry up and get things done. We will come back to this idea more later, but for now, these are a couple ways to catch up with the reading schedule if you’re behind or just now starting. But again, the main thing is to rejoice in God’s grace in Christ and to read his word because you love him and want to know him.

]]>
GBC Bible Reading Plan Mar 3–9 https://www.greshambible.org/blog/post/gbc-bible-reading-plan-mar-3 https://www.greshambible.org/blog/post/gbc-bible-reading-plan-mar-3#comments Fri, 08 Mar 2024 13:48:43 -0800 https://www.greshambible.org/blog/post/gbc-bible-reading-plan-mar-3 Week 10, March 3–9: 1 Tim 4–6, Num 13–29, Ps 19–24
  • Sun  3/3: 1 Tim 4–6
  • Mon  3/4: Num 13–15, Psalm 19
  • Tue  3/5: Num 16–18, Psalm 20
  • Wed  3/6: Num 19–21, Psalm 21
  • Thu  3/7: Num 22–24, Psalm 22
  • Fri  3/8: Num 25–26, Psalm 23
  • Sat  3/9: Num 27–29, Psalm 24

We begin the week by reading the second half of 1 Timothy. This way we can have the broad themes of Paul’s letter to Timothy fresh in our minds as we hear sermons on individual passages from the book over the next several Sunday mornings.

 

Back in Numbers, the story of the Israelites in the wilderness takes a tragic turn. They’ve just departed Mt. Sinai after receiving the law there, and immediately they begin grumbling again, just as they did on their travels from Egypt to Sinai back in Exodus. Then they arrive at the edge of Canaan, the land of God’s promises going all the way back to their father Abraham. But the grumbling faithlessness they’ve exhibited along the way comes to a critical juncture when they fear the people in the Land, they don’t believe God’s promises, and they long to go back to Egypt instead of trusting the Lord and entering Canaan.

Along with the golden calf disaster of Exodus 32, this is one of the lowest moments in the OT, a turning point in the Israelites’ story that would serve as a prime example of life under the old covenant. Later biblical writers look back on this as a monumental failure of faith and a reminder not to follow in the footsteps of that unbelieving generation of Israelites (Ps. 95:7–11; 106:24–27; Heb. 3:7–19).

In chapter 20, Moses has his own heartbreaking episode of faithlessness. The story of the miraculous waters at Meribah is a bit mysterious in some ways. What exactly does Moses do wrong there at the rock? The text leaves some questions unanswered. However, just as it always does, God’s word tells us tells us exactly what we need to know. Moses does not believe in God, to uphold him as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel (Num. 20:12). So he too, like the generation of Israelites he led out of Egypt, is prohibited from entering the Promised Land.

Numbers goes on to tell of the new census for the new generation (Numbers 26). This time it’s a count of the children of those who came out of Egypt. Almost the full 40 years have passed by this point. Just as God had said, those from that first generation have all died in the wilderness, all except the two faithful spies, Caleb and Joshua. The Lord is preparing this generation of Israelites to go into the land their parents failed to enter. We also read of Phineas, the new priest who will carry on the priesthood after Aaron is gone (25:10–14). And because Moses will not go into Canaan, Joshua is appointed to succeed him and lead this new generation into the Land (27:13–23).

 

We will also continue to work through book one of the Psalter, starting the week off with Psalm 19. Read this one slowly and praise our kind God for making himself known. The heavens declare his glory, and by his word he shows us who he is. Let this be a reminder of the wonderful gift the Bible is to us. It revives our soul. It is true and altogether right in all it says. It makes the simple wise and makes the heart rejoice. It enlightens our eyes and is sweeter than honey, more desirable than much fine gold. It will endure forever. That is why we give time to read it and listen to the Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer.

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Week 10, March 3–9: 1 Tim 4–6, Num 13–29, Ps 19–24
  • Sun  3/3: 1 Tim 4–6
  • Mon  3/4: Num 13–15, Psalm 19
  • Tue  3/5: Num 16–18, Psalm 20
  • Wed  3/6: Num 19–21, Psalm 21
  • Thu  3/7: Num 22–24, Psalm 22
  • Fri  3/8: Num 25–26, Psalm 23
  • Sat  3/9: Num 27–29, Psalm 24

We begin the week by reading the second half of 1 Timothy. This way we can have the broad themes of Paul’s letter to Timothy fresh in our minds as we hear sermons on individual passages from the book over the next several Sunday mornings.

 

Back in Numbers, the story of the Israelites in the wilderness takes a tragic turn. They’ve just departed Mt. Sinai after receiving the law there, and immediately they begin grumbling again, just as they did on their travels from Egypt to Sinai back in Exodus. Then they arrive at the edge of Canaan, the land of God’s promises going all the way back to their father Abraham. But the grumbling faithlessness they’ve exhibited along the way comes to a critical juncture when they fear the people in the Land, they don’t believe God’s promises, and they long to go back to Egypt instead of trusting the Lord and entering Canaan.

Along with the golden calf disaster of Exodus 32, this is one of the lowest moments in the OT, a turning point in the Israelites’ story that would serve as a prime example of life under the old covenant. Later biblical writers look back on this as a monumental failure of faith and a reminder not to follow in the footsteps of that unbelieving generation of Israelites (Ps. 95:7–11; 106:24–27; Heb. 3:7–19).

In chapter 20, Moses has his own heartbreaking episode of faithlessness. The story of the miraculous waters at Meribah is a bit mysterious in some ways. What exactly does Moses do wrong there at the rock? The text leaves some questions unanswered. However, just as it always does, God’s word tells us tells us exactly what we need to know. Moses does not believe in God, to uphold him as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel (Num. 20:12). So he too, like the generation of Israelites he led out of Egypt, is prohibited from entering the Promised Land.

Numbers goes on to tell of the new census for the new generation (Numbers 26). This time it’s a count of the children of those who came out of Egypt. Almost the full 40 years have passed by this point. Just as God had said, those from that first generation have all died in the wilderness, all except the two faithful spies, Caleb and Joshua. The Lord is preparing this generation of Israelites to go into the land their parents failed to enter. We also read of Phineas, the new priest who will carry on the priesthood after Aaron is gone (25:10–14). And because Moses will not go into Canaan, Joshua is appointed to succeed him and lead this new generation into the Land (27:13–23).

 

We will also continue to work through book one of the Psalter, starting the week off with Psalm 19. Read this one slowly and praise our kind God for making himself known. The heavens declare his glory, and by his word he shows us who he is. Let this be a reminder of the wonderful gift the Bible is to us. It revives our soul. It is true and altogether right in all it says. It makes the simple wise and makes the heart rejoice. It enlightens our eyes and is sweeter than honey, more desirable than much fine gold. It will endure forever. That is why we give time to read it and listen to the Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer.

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GBC Bible Reading Plan Feb 25-Mar 2 https://www.greshambible.org/blog/post/gbc-bible-reading-plan-2024 https://www.greshambible.org/blog/post/gbc-bible-reading-plan-2024#comments Thu, 22 Feb 2024 14:38:51 -0800 https://www.greshambible.org/blog/post/gbc-bible-reading-plan-2024 Week 9, February 25-March 2: Mark 10-16, Num 1-2, 1 Tim 1-3, Ps 13-18
  • Sun Feb 25: Mark 10-12
  • Mon Feb 26: Mark 13-16, Psalm 13
  • Tue Feb 27: Num 1-4, Psalm 14
  • Wed Feb 28: Num 5-7, Psalm 15
  • Thu Feb 29: Num 8-10, Psalm 16
  • Fri Mar 1: Num 11-12, Psalm 17
  • Sat Mar 2: 1 Tim 1-3, Psalm 18

Mark’s Gospel ends in basically the same place all four Gospels end, with Jesus risen from the dead, out of the tomb, and appearing to his disciples. It may seem a bit strange and unnecessary for us to have four separate versions of this same story. But remember, each of the Gospels tells the story a bit differently with different emphases. Notice the details as you read, meditate on the wonder of this familiar but amazing story, and let it stir your heart to worship our risen Savior.

 

After finishing Mark we move back to the Pentateuch and pick up where we left off there. Numbers continues the narrative from Genesis, Exodus, and Leviticus, and the Israelites are still at Mt. Sinai. They will remain there until chapter 10 of Numbers, then they depart the mountain and begin their long journey to the Promised Land. Starting in Numbers 11, right after they leave Sinai, notice the similarities between these stories in Numbers and those in Exodus just before they arrived at Sinai. It seems pretty clear that the time at Sinai receiving the law didn’t cure them of their grumbling attitudes.

At the beginning of Numbers we are told the Israelites have been out of Egypt for a little over a year (Num. 1:1), and at the end of Numbers they will still be in the wilderness. However, tragically, it will be forty years later at that point. We will read of the reason for their extended time of wandering in the wilderness when we continue reading in Numbers next week.

The first few chapters of Numbers include lists of names and the numbers of people in the tribes of Israel, as well as a lot of details about where and how the tribes are to be positioned in the Israelite camp. There is also quite a lot of detailed instruction for the Levites and priests who were responsibly for all that went on in and around the tabernacle. Admittedly, it can be a bit tedious to read through some of this material, like it may have been in the later parts of Exodus and throughout Leviticus. But a genealogy in Numbers, or detailed instruction for how to handle disease in the skin or in the home, is inspired Scripture just as much as anything else in the Old or New Testament. We can be confident that, somehow, it is profitable for us, it shapes us, and it helps us to grow towards maturity and to be “equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim. 3:16–17)

 

One of the ways this kind of challenging passage shapes us is by cultivating an attitude of humble submission before God. By choosing to spend time reading these chapters we are saying, “Lord, I’m not exactly sure what this list of difficult-to-pronounce names has to do with me or my life, but I trust that you are good, and you have given your word, all of it, to communicate with your people and make yourself known. So, because I want to know you, and because you are perfectly wise in all your ways, I am choosing to come to you and hear from you in the way you have chosen to communicate with me, even though I don’t always understand it.” He will honor that kind of humble posture. Simply obeying him and abiding in him through his word will form us into Christlikeness over time.

To use an example that may seem silly (and is probably nostalgic for some of us), it’s kind of like Mr. Miyagi. When he tells Daniel-san to paint the fence and wax the cars, Daniel doesn’t understand why. What’s the point; what does this have to do with learning Karate? But the repeated motion of painting and waxing forms Daniel, it trains him in ways he doesn’t realize while he’s doing it. When we repeatedly read through the Bible, all of it, we are taking the opportunity to be shaped in ways we may not know we need to be. We submit to our wise and kind Lord, standing under his word in order to understand the glorious mysteries he reveals to us there.

 

We will also read 1 Timothy over the weekend, on Saturday and Sunday. This corresponds to the sermon series in 1 Timothy that will begin on Sunday March 3rd. We will also be preaching through 2 Timothy later this year, and we’ll cover that book in the read thru at that time. 1 and 2 Timothy, along with Titus, are referred to as the Pastoral Epistles. Paul wrote these three books to two young men he mentored and worked alongside in his gospel ministry in the early Church. Timothy pastored the church in Ephesus (1 Tim. 1:3) and the two letters of 1 and 2 Timothy are Paul’s instructions and encouragement to Timothy and the others in the church there. While the letters are addressed to an individual, the benedictions at the end of each letter are addressed to a plural “you all” (1 Tim. 6:21; 2 Tim. 4:22; Titus 3:15). This suggests they were meant to be read corporately in the church, and they remain instructive to us and our church today.

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Week 9, February 25-March 2: Mark 10-16, Num 1-2, 1 Tim 1-3, Ps 13-18
  • Sun Feb 25: Mark 10-12
  • Mon Feb 26: Mark 13-16, Psalm 13
  • Tue Feb 27: Num 1-4, Psalm 14
  • Wed Feb 28: Num 5-7, Psalm 15
  • Thu Feb 29: Num 8-10, Psalm 16
  • Fri Mar 1: Num 11-12, Psalm 17
  • Sat Mar 2: 1 Tim 1-3, Psalm 18

Mark’s Gospel ends in basically the same place all four Gospels end, with Jesus risen from the dead, out of the tomb, and appearing to his disciples. It may seem a bit strange and unnecessary for us to have four separate versions of this same story. But remember, each of the Gospels tells the story a bit differently with different emphases. Notice the details as you read, meditate on the wonder of this familiar but amazing story, and let it stir your heart to worship our risen Savior.

 

After finishing Mark we move back to the Pentateuch and pick up where we left off there. Numbers continues the narrative from Genesis, Exodus, and Leviticus, and the Israelites are still at Mt. Sinai. They will remain there until chapter 10 of Numbers, then they depart the mountain and begin their long journey to the Promised Land. Starting in Numbers 11, right after they leave Sinai, notice the similarities between these stories in Numbers and those in Exodus just before they arrived at Sinai. It seems pretty clear that the time at Sinai receiving the law didn’t cure them of their grumbling attitudes.

At the beginning of Numbers we are told the Israelites have been out of Egypt for a little over a year (Num. 1:1), and at the end of Numbers they will still be in the wilderness. However, tragically, it will be forty years later at that point. We will read of the reason for their extended time of wandering in the wilderness when we continue reading in Numbers next week.

The first few chapters of Numbers include lists of names and the numbers of people in the tribes of Israel, as well as a lot of details about where and how the tribes are to be positioned in the Israelite camp. There is also quite a lot of detailed instruction for the Levites and priests who were responsibly for all that went on in and around the tabernacle. Admittedly, it can be a bit tedious to read through some of this material, like it may have been in the later parts of Exodus and throughout Leviticus. But a genealogy in Numbers, or detailed instruction for how to handle disease in the skin or in the home, is inspired Scripture just as much as anything else in the Old or New Testament. We can be confident that, somehow, it is profitable for us, it shapes us, and it helps us to grow towards maturity and to be “equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim. 3:16–17)

 

One of the ways this kind of challenging passage shapes us is by cultivating an attitude of humble submission before God. By choosing to spend time reading these chapters we are saying, “Lord, I’m not exactly sure what this list of difficult-to-pronounce names has to do with me or my life, but I trust that you are good, and you have given your word, all of it, to communicate with your people and make yourself known. So, because I want to know you, and because you are perfectly wise in all your ways, I am choosing to come to you and hear from you in the way you have chosen to communicate with me, even though I don’t always understand it.” He will honor that kind of humble posture. Simply obeying him and abiding in him through his word will form us into Christlikeness over time.

To use an example that may seem silly (and is probably nostalgic for some of us), it’s kind of like Mr. Miyagi. When he tells Daniel-san to paint the fence and wax the cars, Daniel doesn’t understand why. What’s the point; what does this have to do with learning Karate? But the repeated motion of painting and waxing forms Daniel, it trains him in ways he doesn’t realize while he’s doing it. When we repeatedly read through the Bible, all of it, we are taking the opportunity to be shaped in ways we may not know we need to be. We submit to our wise and kind Lord, standing under his word in order to understand the glorious mysteries he reveals to us there.

 

We will also read 1 Timothy over the weekend, on Saturday and Sunday. This corresponds to the sermon series in 1 Timothy that will begin on Sunday March 3rd. We will also be preaching through 2 Timothy later this year, and we’ll cover that book in the read thru at that time. 1 and 2 Timothy, along with Titus, are referred to as the Pastoral Epistles. Paul wrote these three books to two young men he mentored and worked alongside in his gospel ministry in the early Church. Timothy pastored the church in Ephesus (1 Tim. 1:3) and the two letters of 1 and 2 Timothy are Paul’s instructions and encouragement to Timothy and the others in the church there. While the letters are addressed to an individual, the benedictions at the end of each letter are addressed to a plural “you all” (1 Tim. 6:21; 2 Tim. 4:22; Titus 3:15). This suggests they were meant to be read corporately in the church, and they remain instructive to us and our church today.

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GBC Bible Reading Plan Feb 18-24 https://www.greshambible.org/blog/post/gbc-bible-reading-plan- https://www.greshambible.org/blog/post/gbc-bible-reading-plan-#comments Fri, 16 Feb 2024 09:00:00 -0800 https://www.greshambible.org/blog/post/gbc-bible-reading-plan- Week 7, February 18-24: Lev 18-27; Mark 1-9; Ps 7-12
  • Sun Feb 18: Lev 18–20
  • Mon Feb 19: Lev 21–22; Ps 7
  • Tue Feb 20: Lev 23–25; Ps 8
  • Wed Feb 21: Lev 26–27; Ps 9
  • Thu Feb 22: Mark 1–3; Ps 10
  • Fri Feb 23: Mark 4–6; Ps 11
  • Sat Feb 24: Mark 7–9; Ps 12

This weekly reading set includes parts of three different biblical books. We will finish Leviticus then move back to the NT and start reading the Gospel of Mark. Last week we also started including psalms with the other reading for the day, and that continues this week as well.

As you finish reading Leviticus, notice how the theme of holiness continues right up to the end of the book. Also notice how, in chapter 26, the Lord looks ahead into Israel’s future and tells them what will happen if they are faithful to him and if they keep his commandments, and what will happen if do not listen to him and obey his commandments. Like Deuteronomy 28, which addresses the next generation of Israelites with similar prophetic predictions, this chapter gives a preview of the rest of the OT. All the consequences for sin outlined here end up coming true, including the exile, the scattering of Israel and Judah among the nations (Lev 26:33). But there is also a glimmer of hope in this chapter. If they confess their sin and turn humbly back to the Lord, he will remember their forefathers. He will remain faithful to his covenant promises (26:40–44).

 

Mark is the shortest of the four Gospels. It is also the most action packed and fast moving. In all four of the Gospels, the crux of the narrative is Jesus’ death on the cross. In Mark, the plot moves more quickly than in the other Gospels. You’ll probably notice the word “immediately” occurring often throughout Mark, giving the sense that Jesus is moving with a sense of urgency from one miraculous act to another on his way to the cross. While Mark shares a lot of similarities with Matthew (and Luke too), there are some differences too. (John’s Gospel tells the same basic story, but in the most distinctive way.) It is important to remember that these differences matter. Each of the Gospel presentations stands on its own, with different emphases. Inspired Scripture could have included just one account of these events, but in God’s wisdom he chose to include four different versions of the story of Jesus’ life, ministry, death, and resurrection.

Mark highlights Jesus’ deeds more than his words. Several of Jesus’ long speeches or sermons that are included in Matthew are missing from Mark. Mark also highlights the mystery of Jesus’ identity. Those who should have understood who he was, don’t get it, at least at first. Instead it is often the ones we might least expect who understand that Jesus is the Messiah, God’s Son. Mark 8:27–30 is a key passage in the book. There, Peter, who represents the disciples, finally gets it, at least partially. In reply to Jesus’ question, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter says, “You are the Christ (the Messiah).” Unfortunately, right after this he will show he still misses the point when he rebukes Jesus for saying he will soon die. As you read through these accounts of Jesus’ life, try to just take in the story, let it captivate your mind, and let the wonder of who Christ is stir your heart to worship him.

 

The reading plan also has us reading in the Psalms. The book of Psalms, sometimes called the Psalter, is broken into five parts, or five books. We’ll read through the first book, which goes through Psalm 41, then break from Psalms for a few weeks before coming back to book two, and so on. This way the Psalms will be spread throughout the year. The reading in Psalms is incorporated within the regular OT and NT reading because the individual psalms function a bit more independently than other chapters in Scripture. They all appear to have been written in different settings and they address different circumstances. That being said, they should not be read in total separation from their context within the Psalter. In fact, many recent commentaries and studies in Psalms highlight the coherence of the Psalter and its parts, showing that the individual psalms have been put together strategically with an overall design. As you read Psalms, notice details linking the psalms to each other, or themes that flow from one to the next.

 

Earlier in these write-ups we were considering two purposes for doing a read thru. First, we read through the Bible in order to meet with God regularly and hear what he has to say. And second, we do it to cultivate a lifelong habit of growing in familiarity with God’s word. There’s more we could say about both points, but let’s just touch on one more aspect of the second point for now. 

When we read through the Bible in a year, we probably won’t have time to dig deeply into every question that might come up. The nature of this kind of reading doesn’t lend itself to lingering for a long time over every verse, meditating on what is being said and studying it in depth. We will probably end up with more questions than answers. And that’s ok! There is certainly a place for studying the Bible (our men’s and women’s Bible studies, for one), and it is important to slow down and meditate and memorize Scripture too. But the value of a read thru is in the long, patient work of reading to build a foundation of familiarity with the overall story of the Bible, to grow in biblical literacy.

Growing in biblical literacy is about becoming more familiar with the Bible over time, not about having answers to all the theological questions that arise as we read. It can be unsettling to have unanswered questions, but we can trust that God gave us his word so that he can be known. We can be confident in his kindness to show himself to us. Over the years, as we read and re-read the Bible, we grow in our familiarity with what God has said. As we do, this begins to shape us, and we grow to be more like him. The story of the Bible—and its God-centered perspective that is focused on Christ—slowly but surely will become the dominating story for our lives.

The Holy Spirit works through the Scriptures he inspired to conform our minds and our hearts to his ways. It is through a lifelong journey of simply reading his word that we grow to know God more, gaining the kind of knowledge that is intimate, personal, the kind of knowledge that can only come about over time, slowly, through long years of being with him and listening to his voice. The more we grow in knowing him like this, the more we will come to worship him and love him and live for him.

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Week 7, February 18-24: Lev 18-27; Mark 1-9; Ps 7-12
  • Sun Feb 18: Lev 18–20
  • Mon Feb 19: Lev 21–22; Ps 7
  • Tue Feb 20: Lev 23–25; Ps 8
  • Wed Feb 21: Lev 26–27; Ps 9
  • Thu Feb 22: Mark 1–3; Ps 10
  • Fri Feb 23: Mark 4–6; Ps 11
  • Sat Feb 24: Mark 7–9; Ps 12

This weekly reading set includes parts of three different biblical books. We will finish Leviticus then move back to the NT and start reading the Gospel of Mark. Last week we also started including psalms with the other reading for the day, and that continues this week as well.

As you finish reading Leviticus, notice how the theme of holiness continues right up to the end of the book. Also notice how, in chapter 26, the Lord looks ahead into Israel’s future and tells them what will happen if they are faithful to him and if they keep his commandments, and what will happen if do not listen to him and obey his commandments. Like Deuteronomy 28, which addresses the next generation of Israelites with similar prophetic predictions, this chapter gives a preview of the rest of the OT. All the consequences for sin outlined here end up coming true, including the exile, the scattering of Israel and Judah among the nations (Lev 26:33). But there is also a glimmer of hope in this chapter. If they confess their sin and turn humbly back to the Lord, he will remember their forefathers. He will remain faithful to his covenant promises (26:40–44).

 

Mark is the shortest of the four Gospels. It is also the most action packed and fast moving. In all four of the Gospels, the crux of the narrative is Jesus’ death on the cross. In Mark, the plot moves more quickly than in the other Gospels. You’ll probably notice the word “immediately” occurring often throughout Mark, giving the sense that Jesus is moving with a sense of urgency from one miraculous act to another on his way to the cross. While Mark shares a lot of similarities with Matthew (and Luke too), there are some differences too. (John’s Gospel tells the same basic story, but in the most distinctive way.) It is important to remember that these differences matter. Each of the Gospel presentations stands on its own, with different emphases. Inspired Scripture could have included just one account of these events, but in God’s wisdom he chose to include four different versions of the story of Jesus’ life, ministry, death, and resurrection.

Mark highlights Jesus’ deeds more than his words. Several of Jesus’ long speeches or sermons that are included in Matthew are missing from Mark. Mark also highlights the mystery of Jesus’ identity. Those who should have understood who he was, don’t get it, at least at first. Instead it is often the ones we might least expect who understand that Jesus is the Messiah, God’s Son. Mark 8:27–30 is a key passage in the book. There, Peter, who represents the disciples, finally gets it, at least partially. In reply to Jesus’ question, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter says, “You are the Christ (the Messiah).” Unfortunately, right after this he will show he still misses the point when he rebukes Jesus for saying he will soon die. As you read through these accounts of Jesus’ life, try to just take in the story, let it captivate your mind, and let the wonder of who Christ is stir your heart to worship him.

 

The reading plan also has us reading in the Psalms. The book of Psalms, sometimes called the Psalter, is broken into five parts, or five books. We’ll read through the first book, which goes through Psalm 41, then break from Psalms for a few weeks before coming back to book two, and so on. This way the Psalms will be spread throughout the year. The reading in Psalms is incorporated within the regular OT and NT reading because the individual psalms function a bit more independently than other chapters in Scripture. They all appear to have been written in different settings and they address different circumstances. That being said, they should not be read in total separation from their context within the Psalter. In fact, many recent commentaries and studies in Psalms highlight the coherence of the Psalter and its parts, showing that the individual psalms have been put together strategically with an overall design. As you read Psalms, notice details linking the psalms to each other, or themes that flow from one to the next.

 

Earlier in these write-ups we were considering two purposes for doing a read thru. First, we read through the Bible in order to meet with God regularly and hear what he has to say. And second, we do it to cultivate a lifelong habit of growing in familiarity with God’s word. There’s more we could say about both points, but let’s just touch on one more aspect of the second point for now. 

When we read through the Bible in a year, we probably won’t have time to dig deeply into every question that might come up. The nature of this kind of reading doesn’t lend itself to lingering for a long time over every verse, meditating on what is being said and studying it in depth. We will probably end up with more questions than answers. And that’s ok! There is certainly a place for studying the Bible (our men’s and women’s Bible studies, for one), and it is important to slow down and meditate and memorize Scripture too. But the value of a read thru is in the long, patient work of reading to build a foundation of familiarity with the overall story of the Bible, to grow in biblical literacy.

Growing in biblical literacy is about becoming more familiar with the Bible over time, not about having answers to all the theological questions that arise as we read. It can be unsettling to have unanswered questions, but we can trust that God gave us his word so that he can be known. We can be confident in his kindness to show himself to us. Over the years, as we read and re-read the Bible, we grow in our familiarity with what God has said. As we do, this begins to shape us, and we grow to be more like him. The story of the Bible—and its God-centered perspective that is focused on Christ—slowly but surely will become the dominating story for our lives.

The Holy Spirit works through the Scriptures he inspired to conform our minds and our hearts to his ways. It is through a lifelong journey of simply reading his word that we grow to know God more, gaining the kind of knowledge that is intimate, personal, the kind of knowledge that can only come about over time, slowly, through long years of being with him and listening to his voice. The more we grow in knowing him like this, the more we will come to worship him and love him and live for him.

]]>
GBC Bible Reading Plan February 11-17 https://www.greshambible.org/blog/post/gbc-bible-read-thru-week-7 https://www.greshambible.org/blog/post/gbc-bible-read-thru-week-7#comments Thu, 08 Feb 2024 11:00:00 -0800 https://www.greshambible.org/blog/post/gbc-bible-read-thru-week-7 Week 6, February 4-10: Matthew 7-26
  • Sun Feb 11: Matt 27-28
  • Mon Feb 12: Lev 1-3; Ps 1
  • Tue Feb 13: Lev 4-5; Ps 2
  • Wed Feb 14: Lev 6-8; Ps 3
  • Thu Feb 15: Lev 9-11; Ps 4
  • Fri Feb 16: Lev 12-14; Ps 5
  • Sat Feb 17: Lev 15-17; Ps 6

Matthew ends with Jesus’ parting words to his disciples, the Great Commission:

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matt. 28:18–20)

The disciples have been with Jesus for a while. They’ve walked with him, watched him in action, and heard him teach. Then they saw him crucified, and now he is alive. He has risen and will soon ascend to be with the Father. But before he does, he leaves them with these instructions. He sends them out on a mission to tell the world what they’ve seen and heard and to call others to follow him too.

Gresham Bible Church’s mission is to carry on this same task, to be disciples who make disciples. We have the same mission Jesus gave to those first disciples of his, and it’s the same mission the universal Church has always had and always will have until he comes again. Our hope and prayer is that reading the Bible together as a church would help us in this mission. May we, like the disciples, take what we’re seeing and hearing and spread the news. As we come to know our glorious, triune God better, we will want others to know him too.

After finishing Matthew’s Gospel, we move back to the OT and pick up where we left off. Remember, as we start Leviticus, we’re continuing the story from Genesis and Exodus. Leviticus is part three of the five-part book of Moses, the Pentateuch, the Torah. The whole book of Leviticus takes place over about one month (Exod. 40:17; Num. 1:1) while Israel is still at Mt. Sinai. Keeping in mind the broader, narrative context helps put Leviticus in perspective, and it helps us understand what it meant for the people of Israel and what it means for us today.

Exodus finished with the completion of the tabernacle’s construction. However, even Moses was not able to enter the tent because God’s glorious presence dwelt there (Exod. 40:34–35). Leviticus addresses this problem, beginning with the Lord addressing Moses from the tent of meeting. The book is full of the Lord’s instructions for how the Israelites are to live with a holy God in their midst.

Leviticus is not everyone’s favorite book to read. It’s not always easy to see how it’s relevant to us and to our lives as Christians. I knew of an old Scottish Bible teacher who would say, “Beware Leviticus!” Many well-intentioned Bible read thru plans have stalled out at this point. But Leviticus is God’s inspired word just as much as Psalms or Philippians. We can trust that it is true, and it is profitable for us to read. We can trust that God has something to say to us in Leviticus.

Here are a few principles that can help guide us as we read through Leviticus and the other parts of the Pentateuch that contain a lot of laws. These are three ways OT laws are important for us today:

First, they show us who God is. Leviticus is about holiness. It shows what it means that the Lord is holy. God’s commandments are grounded in God’s character. When the people are told to be holy, the reason is because the Lord is holy (Lev. 11:44–45). So when we read the laws in Leviticus and the rest of the Pentateuch, we come to know our holy, righteous God more fully.

Second, the laws of the Torah also show us what God desires from his people. He has not changed. He is the same God who gave Moses and the Israelites the laws of Leviticus. He gave them those laws so they would flourish in relationship with him. He gave them laws because he loved them. We are in a New Covenant relationship with him, and we are not accountable to all those laws in the same way the Israelites were. But the principles underlying the laws are still instructive for us today. They help us see what it looks like to live a life of wisdom and blessing before God and in community with his people. Jesus sums up the whole law by quoting from Leviticus and Deuteronomy. The law, says Jesus, is all about loving God and loving our neighbor. (Matt. 22:34–40; quoting Deut. 6:5; Lev. 19:18) So while we don’t have to keep all the laws, we are still called to live and love in line with the principles they reflect.

Third, and probably most importantly, the laws in the Pentateuch show us our need for something, or someone, outside ourselves to achieve the righteousness and holiness the laws required. Reading Leviticus should leave us with a sense of helplessness. These laws are impossible to keep. They certainly were for the Israelites. We see this clearly in the ways they broke them right from the start, even as they were receiving them at Mt. Sinai. This is why there are such elaborate procedures and a whole priestly system to make offerings and sacrifices for sins. The blood of animals brought temporary, provisional atonement, and it anticipated the once-for-all atonement that would be achieved through Christ at the cross.

Leviticus is the word of God. It is Christian Scripture for us. It helps us see who the Lord is, and it helps us understand his loving heart for his people and how he wants us to live in relationship with him and others. And it helps us recognize our need for his grace and for the atoning work he accomplished in Christ. Without Leviticus, we would be missing a key part of the picture that helps us grasp how beautiful the good news of Jesus really is. Leviticus points powerfully to the perfect Lamb of God and our Great High Priest.

For on this day shall atonement be made for you to cleanse you. You shall be clean before the LORD from all your sins. (Lev. 16:30) 

But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. (Heb. 9:11–12)

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Week 6, February 4-10: Matthew 7-26
  • Sun Feb 11: Matt 27-28
  • Mon Feb 12: Lev 1-3; Ps 1
  • Tue Feb 13: Lev 4-5; Ps 2
  • Wed Feb 14: Lev 6-8; Ps 3
  • Thu Feb 15: Lev 9-11; Ps 4
  • Fri Feb 16: Lev 12-14; Ps 5
  • Sat Feb 17: Lev 15-17; Ps 6

Matthew ends with Jesus’ parting words to his disciples, the Great Commission:

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matt. 28:18–20)

The disciples have been with Jesus for a while. They’ve walked with him, watched him in action, and heard him teach. Then they saw him crucified, and now he is alive. He has risen and will soon ascend to be with the Father. But before he does, he leaves them with these instructions. He sends them out on a mission to tell the world what they’ve seen and heard and to call others to follow him too.

Gresham Bible Church’s mission is to carry on this same task, to be disciples who make disciples. We have the same mission Jesus gave to those first disciples of his, and it’s the same mission the universal Church has always had and always will have until he comes again. Our hope and prayer is that reading the Bible together as a church would help us in this mission. May we, like the disciples, take what we’re seeing and hearing and spread the news. As we come to know our glorious, triune God better, we will want others to know him too.

After finishing Matthew’s Gospel, we move back to the OT and pick up where we left off. Remember, as we start Leviticus, we’re continuing the story from Genesis and Exodus. Leviticus is part three of the five-part book of Moses, the Pentateuch, the Torah. The whole book of Leviticus takes place over about one month (Exod. 40:17; Num. 1:1) while Israel is still at Mt. Sinai. Keeping in mind the broader, narrative context helps put Leviticus in perspective, and it helps us understand what it meant for the people of Israel and what it means for us today.

Exodus finished with the completion of the tabernacle’s construction. However, even Moses was not able to enter the tent because God’s glorious presence dwelt there (Exod. 40:34–35). Leviticus addresses this problem, beginning with the Lord addressing Moses from the tent of meeting. The book is full of the Lord’s instructions for how the Israelites are to live with a holy God in their midst.

Leviticus is not everyone’s favorite book to read. It’s not always easy to see how it’s relevant to us and to our lives as Christians. I knew of an old Scottish Bible teacher who would say, “Beware Leviticus!” Many well-intentioned Bible read thru plans have stalled out at this point. But Leviticus is God’s inspired word just as much as Psalms or Philippians. We can trust that it is true, and it is profitable for us to read. We can trust that God has something to say to us in Leviticus.

Here are a few principles that can help guide us as we read through Leviticus and the other parts of the Pentateuch that contain a lot of laws. These are three ways OT laws are important for us today:

First, they show us who God is. Leviticus is about holiness. It shows what it means that the Lord is holy. God’s commandments are grounded in God’s character. When the people are told to be holy, the reason is because the Lord is holy (Lev. 11:44–45). So when we read the laws in Leviticus and the rest of the Pentateuch, we come to know our holy, righteous God more fully.

Second, the laws of the Torah also show us what God desires from his people. He has not changed. He is the same God who gave Moses and the Israelites the laws of Leviticus. He gave them those laws so they would flourish in relationship with him. He gave them laws because he loved them. We are in a New Covenant relationship with him, and we are not accountable to all those laws in the same way the Israelites were. But the principles underlying the laws are still instructive for us today. They help us see what it looks like to live a life of wisdom and blessing before God and in community with his people. Jesus sums up the whole law by quoting from Leviticus and Deuteronomy. The law, says Jesus, is all about loving God and loving our neighbor. (Matt. 22:34–40; quoting Deut. 6:5; Lev. 19:18) So while we don’t have to keep all the laws, we are still called to live and love in line with the principles they reflect.

Third, and probably most importantly, the laws in the Pentateuch show us our need for something, or someone, outside ourselves to achieve the righteousness and holiness the laws required. Reading Leviticus should leave us with a sense of helplessness. These laws are impossible to keep. They certainly were for the Israelites. We see this clearly in the ways they broke them right from the start, even as they were receiving them at Mt. Sinai. This is why there are such elaborate procedures and a whole priestly system to make offerings and sacrifices for sins. The blood of animals brought temporary, provisional atonement, and it anticipated the once-for-all atonement that would be achieved through Christ at the cross.

Leviticus is the word of God. It is Christian Scripture for us. It helps us see who the Lord is, and it helps us understand his loving heart for his people and how he wants us to live in relationship with him and others. And it helps us recognize our need for his grace and for the atoning work he accomplished in Christ. Without Leviticus, we would be missing a key part of the picture that helps us grasp how beautiful the good news of Jesus really is. Leviticus points powerfully to the perfect Lamb of God and our Great High Priest.

For on this day shall atonement be made for you to cleanse you. You shall be clean before the LORD from all your sins. (Lev. 16:30) 

But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. (Heb. 9:11–12)

]]>
GBC Bible Reading Plan February 4-10 https://www.greshambible.org/blog/post/gbc-bible-reading-plan-february-4- https://www.greshambible.org/blog/post/gbc-bible-reading-plan-february-4-#comments Wed, 31 Jan 2024 17:00:00 -0800 https://www.greshambible.org/blog/post/gbc-bible-reading-plan-february-4- Week 6, February 4-10: Matthew 7-26
  • Sun Feb 4: Matt 7-9
  • Mon Feb 5: Matt 10-12
  • Tue Feb 6: Matt 13-14
  • Wed Feb 7: Matt 15-17
  • Thu Feb 8: Matt 18-20
  • Fri Feb 9: Matt 21-23
  • Sat Feb 10: Matt 24-26

Matthew’s Gospel gives one of four biblical versions of Jesus’ life and ministry. The Gospels all recount the most wonderful story there is, of the God of the universe coming in the flesh to be with the people he created. They tell the Good News of the long-expected Messiah, of his life and ministry, and his death, resurrection, and ascension. The rest of the New Testament unpacks the significance of this story and builds on what we read in the four Gospel accounts. Each of the four Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—paints a distinct picture, with its own emphasis and message. They are equally true accounts of Jesus’ life, but when we read them we are not only trying to figure out “what really happened.” We are trying to understand and listen to the message each of these four biblical books is trying to convey. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John all had something to say. When we read the Gospels, we do well to notice the particular things they want us to see about Jesus.

Matthew, more than the other Gospels, presents Jesus as the fulfillment of OT promises. He is the promised descendant of Abraham, the King in the line of David, and the new and better Moses who came to usher in a new and better covenant. In Matthew 4, Jesus succeeds where Adam failed and sinned, resisting the devil’s tempting promises. And in Matthew 5–7, like Moses on Mt. Sinai, Jesus goes up on a mountain and delivers a new set of laws to live by. As you read through Matthew, notice all the ways Matthew points back to the OT to show how Jesus fulfills what was the Scriptures anticipated.

Over the past weeks we have been thinking about the purposes for doing a read thru like this. The first purpose is to meet with God regularly and hear what he has to say. We could say more about that, but for now let’s shift to the second purpose, which is to cultivate a lifelong habit of growing in familiarity with God’s word. One of the most amazing things about the Bible is the way it can speak in different registers at the same time. It is both simple and complex. Its basic story and message can be grasped by children, and you can spend your whole life studying it and still just begin to scratch the surface of all it means.

I think this is a feature of Scripture that flows out of the loving character of the God who inspired it. He wants to be known, and he’s given us a way to know him. He calls us to have childlike faith (Matt 18:1–4; 19:14), and his word helps us know him from the very beginning of our lives as Christians. And on the other hand, the Bible is not the kind of book that we read just once and that’s it. It is meant to be read over and over. As we do, we can trust that God will show us new and wonderful things in it as we read it repeatedly over the course of a lifetime.

Reading through the Bible in one year does not have any kind of magic power; it doesn’t bring about the automatic effect of producing a more mature Christian life. But each time we pick it up and read it, we are building a foundation of familiarity with the story of our God and of ourselves in his world. This is a process that takes patience. We are conditioned in our present day to want immediate results, to get the quick, nutshell summary that will tell us what we need to know. There are some really good resources that synthesize the key themes of the Bible, but these are no substitute for the long, patient, soul-shaping journey of daily Bible reading. At whatever point in life you are, and whether you are just starting to read the Bible or have been reading it for a long time, investing a few minutes each day in God’s word will produce the kind of fruitful growth over the course of a lifetime that we cannot get anywhere else.

The goal of cultivating this lifelong habit is not to become an expert in the Bible, to master its content. The goal is to grow in familiarity with its message, and by becoming more familiar with it, we grow in our knowledge of the God who wrote it and in our love for him. We’ll think a bit more about this idea next week.

]]>
Week 6, February 4-10: Matthew 7-26
  • Sun Feb 4: Matt 7-9
  • Mon Feb 5: Matt 10-12
  • Tue Feb 6: Matt 13-14
  • Wed Feb 7: Matt 15-17
  • Thu Feb 8: Matt 18-20
  • Fri Feb 9: Matt 21-23
  • Sat Feb 10: Matt 24-26

Matthew’s Gospel gives one of four biblical versions of Jesus’ life and ministry. The Gospels all recount the most wonderful story there is, of the God of the universe coming in the flesh to be with the people he created. They tell the Good News of the long-expected Messiah, of his life and ministry, and his death, resurrection, and ascension. The rest of the New Testament unpacks the significance of this story and builds on what we read in the four Gospel accounts. Each of the four Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—paints a distinct picture, with its own emphasis and message. They are equally true accounts of Jesus’ life, but when we read them we are not only trying to figure out “what really happened.” We are trying to understand and listen to the message each of these four biblical books is trying to convey. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John all had something to say. When we read the Gospels, we do well to notice the particular things they want us to see about Jesus.

Matthew, more than the other Gospels, presents Jesus as the fulfillment of OT promises. He is the promised descendant of Abraham, the King in the line of David, and the new and better Moses who came to usher in a new and better covenant. In Matthew 4, Jesus succeeds where Adam failed and sinned, resisting the devil’s tempting promises. And in Matthew 5–7, like Moses on Mt. Sinai, Jesus goes up on a mountain and delivers a new set of laws to live by. As you read through Matthew, notice all the ways Matthew points back to the OT to show how Jesus fulfills what was the Scriptures anticipated.

Over the past weeks we have been thinking about the purposes for doing a read thru like this. The first purpose is to meet with God regularly and hear what he has to say. We could say more about that, but for now let’s shift to the second purpose, which is to cultivate a lifelong habit of growing in familiarity with God’s word. One of the most amazing things about the Bible is the way it can speak in different registers at the same time. It is both simple and complex. Its basic story and message can be grasped by children, and you can spend your whole life studying it and still just begin to scratch the surface of all it means.

I think this is a feature of Scripture that flows out of the loving character of the God who inspired it. He wants to be known, and he’s given us a way to know him. He calls us to have childlike faith (Matt 18:1–4; 19:14), and his word helps us know him from the very beginning of our lives as Christians. And on the other hand, the Bible is not the kind of book that we read just once and that’s it. It is meant to be read over and over. As we do, we can trust that God will show us new and wonderful things in it as we read it repeatedly over the course of a lifetime.

Reading through the Bible in one year does not have any kind of magic power; it doesn’t bring about the automatic effect of producing a more mature Christian life. But each time we pick it up and read it, we are building a foundation of familiarity with the story of our God and of ourselves in his world. This is a process that takes patience. We are conditioned in our present day to want immediate results, to get the quick, nutshell summary that will tell us what we need to know. There are some really good resources that synthesize the key themes of the Bible, but these are no substitute for the long, patient, soul-shaping journey of daily Bible reading. At whatever point in life you are, and whether you are just starting to read the Bible or have been reading it for a long time, investing a few minutes each day in God’s word will produce the kind of fruitful growth over the course of a lifetime that we cannot get anywhere else.

The goal of cultivating this lifelong habit is not to become an expert in the Bible, to master its content. The goal is to grow in familiarity with its message, and by becoming more familiar with it, we grow in our knowledge of the God who wrote it and in our love for him. We’ll think a bit more about this idea next week.

]]>
GBC Bible Reading Plan Jan 28-Feb 3 https://www.greshambible.org/blog/post/gbc-bible-reading-plan-jan-28-feb-3 https://www.greshambible.org/blog/post/gbc-bible-reading-plan-jan-28-feb-3#comments Thu, 25 Jan 2024 14:00:00 -0800 https://www.greshambible.org/blog/post/gbc-bible-reading-plan-jan-28-feb-3 Week 5, January 28-February 3: Exodus 27-40; Matthew 1-6
  • Sun Jan 28: Exod 27-28
  • Mon Jan 29: Exod 29-31
  • Tue Jan 30: Exod 32-34
  • Wed Jan 31: Exod 35-37
  • Thu Feb 1: Exod 38-40
  • Fri Feb 2: Matt 1-3
  • Sat Feb 3: Matt 4-6

This reading plan generally follows the sequence of the biblical books as we find them in our Bibles. However, we do mix things up a bit and move back and forth between the Old and New Testaments. This is why we will read Matthew after finishing Genesis and Exodus, then go back and pick up in Leviticus in the Pentateuch. Some reading plans go back and forth more quickly, or they include OT and NT readings each day. There are some good reasons to do that, but we did it the way we did so we could keep it simpler and so we can read each book in its entirety before moving to another book. This way we can more easily trace the plot of the story or thought progression of each book from day to day, and we can see the ways the books relate to each other and how they’ve been meaningfully arranged in order.

When we do switch from the OT to the NT, or back to the OT, it means we might miss the continuity between OT books (for example, reading Matthew between Exodus and Leviticus). But by interspersing NT books between some of the OT books, it gives a bit more variety and allows us to get into the NT earlier in the year than if we read through the whole OT first.

The latter portion of Exodus is dedicated in large part to the tabernacle, its instructions and construction. While Moses was with the Lord on Mt. Sinai, God gave him instructions for the tent that would serve as a mobile sanctuary. It would be the dwelling place for the Lord’s presence while the Israelites were in the wilderness, before a more permanent temple was built in the Promised Land. This section in Exodus contains one of the saddest displays of sin in all the Bible, and it is God’s own people, who he just delivered from slavery in Egypt, who fall into idolatrous rebellion. They build and bow to a golden calf while Moses is meeting with God on Mt. Sinai. Also in this section, in the context of the golden calf story, we read perhaps the most definitive and profound statement of God’s character, spoken from the Lord himself.

The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.” (Exod. 34:6–7)

The Gospel of Matthew begins the NT with a genealogy, listing the generations from Abraham through David to Jesus the Christ, the Messiah. The genealogy is just one of several ways Matthew’s Gospel links back to Genesis and to the Pentateuch. We see clearly from the very first verses of Matthew that the whole Bible—what we call the canon of Scripture—fits together as a unified whole. And the focal point of the canon is Jesus, the incarnate Son of God. The climax of the story of the whole Bible is Christ coming in the flesh to dwell with his people as Immanuel, God with us (Matt 1:23). As we read in Matthew, and the other Gospels, we will see how Jesus’ birth, life, death, and resurrection fulfills all the hopes and expectations we are reading about in the OT portion of the read thru.

We have been considering the purposes for doing a read thru like this, reflecting first on the point that we are doing this to meet with God regularly and hear what he has to say. We follow Jesus’ commands to abide in him by reading his word regularly. Now, I said earlier that someone calculated that you could read through the whole Bible in approximately 75 hours. I suppose you could skip work or school for a week, find a secluded place, and just read for several hours a day and get through it in a few days. There would certainly be a lot of benefit to that, but it’s not the same as reading a manageable portion regularly, daily, or at least most days.

I think we can see a helpful analogy in the principle of manna. We just read, in Exodus 16, about God miraculously providing manna for the Israelites in the wilderness. He sent it every day for six days a week, and he instructed them to collect a certain portion each day, enough for each member of the household. But they were not to collect more than the allotted portion for one day, and they were not to leave it over to the next day (except on the sixth day, when they were to gather twice as much in preparation for the Sabbath). Day after day, for 40 years, the Lord gave just what they needed, not more and not less. They were simply to obey his instructions to gather the manna daily, and they were to trust that he would provide what was needed for their nourishment again the next day.

In a similar way, by spending time regularly, daily reading the Bible to hear from him, we are nourished with the spiritual bread of Scripture. In this week’s reading in Matthew, Jesus quotes from Deuteronomy and says, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matt. 4:4, citing Deut. 8:3) We can trust that he will feed and sustain us by his word, and we don’t need to worry that we’re not getting totally stuffed as full as we could get all at once. He will keep providing, each day giving just what we need for that day through the nourishment of the Bible. We pray as Jesus instructed his disciples to pray, asking that he would give us this day our daily bread (Matt. 6:11). And we can trust that he will provide the spiritual sustenance we need through the bread of his word.

When we order our day around reading his word, it means we are making it a priority to receive what he has graciously given to us. It is an investment of time, and it’s okay to admit that it can seem like another task in our already busy lives. But I think we will find that as we make it a priority and a regular part of our day, he will honor that, and it will become a joyful habit instead of a monotonous chore. It may even become the part of our day we look forward to most. Next week we will reflect more on the idea of cultivating the habit of Bible reading and how it helps us grow in a lifelong journey of knowing God through Scripture.

]]>
Week 5, January 28-February 3: Exodus 27-40; Matthew 1-6
  • Sun Jan 28: Exod 27-28
  • Mon Jan 29: Exod 29-31
  • Tue Jan 30: Exod 32-34
  • Wed Jan 31: Exod 35-37
  • Thu Feb 1: Exod 38-40
  • Fri Feb 2: Matt 1-3
  • Sat Feb 3: Matt 4-6

This reading plan generally follows the sequence of the biblical books as we find them in our Bibles. However, we do mix things up a bit and move back and forth between the Old and New Testaments. This is why we will read Matthew after finishing Genesis and Exodus, then go back and pick up in Leviticus in the Pentateuch. Some reading plans go back and forth more quickly, or they include OT and NT readings each day. There are some good reasons to do that, but we did it the way we did so we could keep it simpler and so we can read each book in its entirety before moving to another book. This way we can more easily trace the plot of the story or thought progression of each book from day to day, and we can see the ways the books relate to each other and how they’ve been meaningfully arranged in order.

When we do switch from the OT to the NT, or back to the OT, it means we might miss the continuity between OT books (for example, reading Matthew between Exodus and Leviticus). But by interspersing NT books between some of the OT books, it gives a bit more variety and allows us to get into the NT earlier in the year than if we read through the whole OT first.

The latter portion of Exodus is dedicated in large part to the tabernacle, its instructions and construction. While Moses was with the Lord on Mt. Sinai, God gave him instructions for the tent that would serve as a mobile sanctuary. It would be the dwelling place for the Lord’s presence while the Israelites were in the wilderness, before a more permanent temple was built in the Promised Land. This section in Exodus contains one of the saddest displays of sin in all the Bible, and it is God’s own people, who he just delivered from slavery in Egypt, who fall into idolatrous rebellion. They build and bow to a golden calf while Moses is meeting with God on Mt. Sinai. Also in this section, in the context of the golden calf story, we read perhaps the most definitive and profound statement of God’s character, spoken from the Lord himself.

The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.” (Exod. 34:6–7)

The Gospel of Matthew begins the NT with a genealogy, listing the generations from Abraham through David to Jesus the Christ, the Messiah. The genealogy is just one of several ways Matthew’s Gospel links back to Genesis and to the Pentateuch. We see clearly from the very first verses of Matthew that the whole Bible—what we call the canon of Scripture—fits together as a unified whole. And the focal point of the canon is Jesus, the incarnate Son of God. The climax of the story of the whole Bible is Christ coming in the flesh to dwell with his people as Immanuel, God with us (Matt 1:23). As we read in Matthew, and the other Gospels, we will see how Jesus’ birth, life, death, and resurrection fulfills all the hopes and expectations we are reading about in the OT portion of the read thru.

We have been considering the purposes for doing a read thru like this, reflecting first on the point that we are doing this to meet with God regularly and hear what he has to say. We follow Jesus’ commands to abide in him by reading his word regularly. Now, I said earlier that someone calculated that you could read through the whole Bible in approximately 75 hours. I suppose you could skip work or school for a week, find a secluded place, and just read for several hours a day and get through it in a few days. There would certainly be a lot of benefit to that, but it’s not the same as reading a manageable portion regularly, daily, or at least most days.

I think we can see a helpful analogy in the principle of manna. We just read, in Exodus 16, about God miraculously providing manna for the Israelites in the wilderness. He sent it every day for six days a week, and he instructed them to collect a certain portion each day, enough for each member of the household. But they were not to collect more than the allotted portion for one day, and they were not to leave it over to the next day (except on the sixth day, when they were to gather twice as much in preparation for the Sabbath). Day after day, for 40 years, the Lord gave just what they needed, not more and not less. They were simply to obey his instructions to gather the manna daily, and they were to trust that he would provide what was needed for their nourishment again the next day.

In a similar way, by spending time regularly, daily reading the Bible to hear from him, we are nourished with the spiritual bread of Scripture. In this week’s reading in Matthew, Jesus quotes from Deuteronomy and says, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matt. 4:4, citing Deut. 8:3) We can trust that he will feed and sustain us by his word, and we don’t need to worry that we’re not getting totally stuffed as full as we could get all at once. He will keep providing, each day giving just what we need for that day through the nourishment of the Bible. We pray as Jesus instructed his disciples to pray, asking that he would give us this day our daily bread (Matt. 6:11). And we can trust that he will provide the spiritual sustenance we need through the bread of his word.

When we order our day around reading his word, it means we are making it a priority to receive what he has graciously given to us. It is an investment of time, and it’s okay to admit that it can seem like another task in our already busy lives. But I think we will find that as we make it a priority and a regular part of our day, he will honor that, and it will become a joyful habit instead of a monotonous chore. It may even become the part of our day we look forward to most. Next week we will reflect more on the idea of cultivating the habit of Bible reading and how it helps us grow in a lifelong journey of knowing God through Scripture.

]]>
GBC Bible Reading Plan Jan 21-27 https://www.greshambible.org/blog/post/gbc-bible-reading-plan-jan-21-27 https://www.greshambible.org/blog/post/gbc-bible-reading-plan-jan-21-27#comments Thu, 18 Jan 2024 10:00:42 -0800 https://www.greshambible.org/blog/post/gbc-bible-reading-plan-jan-21-27 Week 4, January 21–27: Exodus 7-26
  • Sun Jan 21: Exod 7-9
  • Mon Jan 22: Exod 10-12
  • Tue Jan 23: Exod 13-14
  • Wed Jan 24: Exod 15-17
  • Thu Jan 25: Exod 18-20
  • Fri Jan 26: Exod 21-23
  • Sat Jan 27: Exod 24-26

Exodus contains some of the most familiar and famous stories in all the Bible—Moses and the burning bush, the plagues in Egypt, Israel’s exodus out from Egypt, the Red Sea, the Ten Commandments at Mt. Sinai. Epic movies have been made about these epic events. (I’ll probably always imagine Moses looking like Charlton Heston from Cecil B. DeMille’s classic film.) 

Some parts of the Bible are more familiar than others. Whether you’re reading a passage that is quite unfamiliar, or it’s a story you’ve heard or read many times, either way it’s good to try to read with fresh eyes. Try to notice the details in the text. Everything that is said is in there for a reason. You may be surprised at the new things you will see that you may not have really noticed before.

And the other side of this principle is that you may realize the Bible does not say what you always thought it said. Just as everything that is in there is there for a reason, so also everything that is missing is missing for a reason. Sometimes the authors—with God being the divine author—leave our questions unanswered, and that’s okay! Resist the temptation to import or assume something that is left out. There are gaps in the text, and those gaps are important. It can be good to let the unanswered questions remain unanswered.

 

In Exodus, God delivers the Israelites out of Egypt with mighty acts against Pharoah and the Egyptians. And his miraculous care for his people does not end after they leave Egypt or even after they go through the Red Sea. One of the most consistent threads running through the story of the OT is the theme of God demonstrating his infinite power, and his infinite love, through miraculous acts for his people; and this is a theme that culminates in Jesus at the cross.

There’s another interesting detail in one of these stories of God’s mighty acts in this week’s reading. When the Amalekites are defeated in battle, which is clearly a victory from the Lord, he instructs Moses to “write this as a memorial in a book and recite it in the ears of Joshua.” (Exod. 17:14) I think this is the first time in the Bible where it talks about writing something down that would later be known of as Scripture. God wanted his people to remember and for future generations to know what he had done. The Bible was and still is God’s way to make himself known to his people.

 

As we said last week, the two general purposes for doing a read thru like this are 1) to meet with God regularly and hear what he has to say, and 2) to cultivate a lifelong habit of growing in familiarity with God’s word. We’ll come back to the second point later, but let’s think for now about meeting with God and hearing from him regularly. In John 15, Jesus instructs his followers to abide in him as he abides in us. His word abides in us, and we bear fruit, act as his true followers, and glorify God by abiding in him. Having a plan and setting aside a little time each day to sit and read a few chapters is perhaps the most tangible and practical way to practice the concept of abiding in Christ.

We have the Holy Spirit in us. God is with us, the very presence of Christ, by his Spirit dwelling in us. That is an astounding benefit of the gospel and the experience of every follower of Jesus. And the same Spirit that dwells in us is the Spirit who carried along the prophets and apostles in the writing of Scripture (2 Pet 1:21). We are to take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Eph 6:17) in our daily battles that are not against flesh and blood. Reading God’s word is a way, probably the best way, to encounter the God who created all things, who loved us and saved us through his Son, and who is near us and with us.

]]>
Week 4, January 21–27: Exodus 7-26
  • Sun Jan 21: Exod 7-9
  • Mon Jan 22: Exod 10-12
  • Tue Jan 23: Exod 13-14
  • Wed Jan 24: Exod 15-17
  • Thu Jan 25: Exod 18-20
  • Fri Jan 26: Exod 21-23
  • Sat Jan 27: Exod 24-26

Exodus contains some of the most familiar and famous stories in all the Bible—Moses and the burning bush, the plagues in Egypt, Israel’s exodus out from Egypt, the Red Sea, the Ten Commandments at Mt. Sinai. Epic movies have been made about these epic events. (I’ll probably always imagine Moses looking like Charlton Heston from Cecil B. DeMille’s classic film.) 

Some parts of the Bible are more familiar than others. Whether you’re reading a passage that is quite unfamiliar, or it’s a story you’ve heard or read many times, either way it’s good to try to read with fresh eyes. Try to notice the details in the text. Everything that is said is in there for a reason. You may be surprised at the new things you will see that you may not have really noticed before.

And the other side of this principle is that you may realize the Bible does not say what you always thought it said. Just as everything that is in there is there for a reason, so also everything that is missing is missing for a reason. Sometimes the authors—with God being the divine author—leave our questions unanswered, and that’s okay! Resist the temptation to import or assume something that is left out. There are gaps in the text, and those gaps are important. It can be good to let the unanswered questions remain unanswered.

 

In Exodus, God delivers the Israelites out of Egypt with mighty acts against Pharoah and the Egyptians. And his miraculous care for his people does not end after they leave Egypt or even after they go through the Red Sea. One of the most consistent threads running through the story of the OT is the theme of God demonstrating his infinite power, and his infinite love, through miraculous acts for his people; and this is a theme that culminates in Jesus at the cross.

There’s another interesting detail in one of these stories of God’s mighty acts in this week’s reading. When the Amalekites are defeated in battle, which is clearly a victory from the Lord, he instructs Moses to “write this as a memorial in a book and recite it in the ears of Joshua.” (Exod. 17:14) I think this is the first time in the Bible where it talks about writing something down that would later be known of as Scripture. God wanted his people to remember and for future generations to know what he had done. The Bible was and still is God’s way to make himself known to his people.

 

As we said last week, the two general purposes for doing a read thru like this are 1) to meet with God regularly and hear what he has to say, and 2) to cultivate a lifelong habit of growing in familiarity with God’s word. We’ll come back to the second point later, but let’s think for now about meeting with God and hearing from him regularly. In John 15, Jesus instructs his followers to abide in him as he abides in us. His word abides in us, and we bear fruit, act as his true followers, and glorify God by abiding in him. Having a plan and setting aside a little time each day to sit and read a few chapters is perhaps the most tangible and practical way to practice the concept of abiding in Christ.

We have the Holy Spirit in us. God is with us, the very presence of Christ, by his Spirit dwelling in us. That is an astounding benefit of the gospel and the experience of every follower of Jesus. And the same Spirit that dwells in us is the Spirit who carried along the prophets and apostles in the writing of Scripture (2 Pet 1:21). We are to take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Eph 6:17) in our daily battles that are not against flesh and blood. Reading God’s word is a way, probably the best way, to encounter the God who created all things, who loved us and saved us through his Son, and who is near us and with us.

]]>
GBC Bible Reading Plan Jan 14-20 https://www.greshambible.org/blog/post/gbc-bible-reading-plan_2 https://www.greshambible.org/blog/post/gbc-bible-reading-plan_2#comments Thu, 11 Jan 2024 13:00:00 -0800 https://www.greshambible.org/blog/post/gbc-bible-reading-plan_2 Week 3, January 14–20: Genesis 37-50, Exodus 1-6
  • Sun Jan 14:Gen 37-39
  • Mon Jan 15:Gen 40-42
  • Tue Jan 16:Gen 43-45
  • Wed Jan 17:Gen 46-47
  • Thu Jan 18:Gen 48-50
  • Fri Jan 19: Exod 1-3
  • Sat Jan 20: Exod 4-6

We will begin reading Exodus next week in the read thru. Exodus follows Genesis as the second part of the five-part book of Moses, the Pentateuch. As the narrative moves from Genesis to Exodus the focus shifts from the story of a family to the story of a nation. God has been faithful and fulfilled his promises to bless the family of Abraham. He has used difficult circumstances and even sinful acts to accomplish his purposes (Gen. 50:20). And now, while they are out of the Promised Land and in Egypt, Abraham’s descendants, the family of Jacob, have been fruitful and multiplied and grown into a great nation (Exod. 1:7, 12). God appears to Moses and calls him to lead his people out of slavery. They will leave Egypt to go to the land of Canaan, the land the Lord promised to give to Abraham’s descendants. There will be some delays and years of wandering in the wilderness on the way to the Promised Land, but God’s mighty act of deliverance from Pharaoh and Egypt is the first step. The early chapters of Exodus set the stage for the exodus from Egypt.

Broadly speaking, Exodus has two parts. The first part, chapters 1–18, covers Israel’s time in Egypt, their exodus from slavery there, and their travels towards Mt. Sinai. They arrive at Mt. Sinai in chapter 19 and there they receive the laws from the Lord. The rest of Exodus, chapters 19–40, is taken up primarily with the giving of the law, including instructions for the tabernacle and its construction. The setting for the second half of Exodus is at Mt. Sinai, and in fact, the whole book of Leviticus and the first part of Numbers also takes place while the Israelites are at Sinai.

As we read the early chapters of Exodus, they are setting the stage not only for what follows in the rest of Exodus, but also for the rest of the Pentateuch and the rest of the story of all the Bible. God’s miraculous deliverance of his people from slavery in Egypt is a picture of his deliverance of his people from slavery in sin. And the exodus is one of the greatest displays of God’s goodness and love; it is the event that is recalled most often throughout the rest of the Bible.

As we go along, it will be good to keep in mind the purpose for doing a read thru like this. We could think of many benefits, like the value of doing this together as a church. That’s one thing I’m particularly excited about. We’ve already heard connections from the Sunday sermon to what we’ve been reading in the read thru, and it will be fun to be able to talk with each other about what God is teaching us, knowing others are reading the same things we are. And there are a lot of other ways doing this will be valuable for us as individuals and for us as a church.

But, more broadly, there are two main purposes for a read thru like this. It may be helpful to summarize these two points generally, then we’ll unpack them a bit more over the next few weeks. First, we are doing this to meet with God regularly and hear what he has to say. And second, we are doing it to cultivate a lifelong habit of growing in familiarity with God’s word.

We’ll dig more into both of these points and explore together some of the many ways reading through the Bible like this can be a valuable and lifegiving part of our lives as followers of Jesus. As we do, it’s important to keep reminding ourselves that we’re not reading just to read. We are doing this to invest a little time each day to receive from God the communication he has graciously given us. And we’re reading God’s word so that we can know him and walk with him.

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Week 3, January 14–20: Genesis 37-50, Exodus 1-6
  • Sun Jan 14:Gen 37-39
  • Mon Jan 15:Gen 40-42
  • Tue Jan 16:Gen 43-45
  • Wed Jan 17:Gen 46-47
  • Thu Jan 18:Gen 48-50
  • Fri Jan 19: Exod 1-3
  • Sat Jan 20: Exod 4-6

We will begin reading Exodus next week in the read thru. Exodus follows Genesis as the second part of the five-part book of Moses, the Pentateuch. As the narrative moves from Genesis to Exodus the focus shifts from the story of a family to the story of a nation. God has been faithful and fulfilled his promises to bless the family of Abraham. He has used difficult circumstances and even sinful acts to accomplish his purposes (Gen. 50:20). And now, while they are out of the Promised Land and in Egypt, Abraham’s descendants, the family of Jacob, have been fruitful and multiplied and grown into a great nation (Exod. 1:7, 12). God appears to Moses and calls him to lead his people out of slavery. They will leave Egypt to go to the land of Canaan, the land the Lord promised to give to Abraham’s descendants. There will be some delays and years of wandering in the wilderness on the way to the Promised Land, but God’s mighty act of deliverance from Pharaoh and Egypt is the first step. The early chapters of Exodus set the stage for the exodus from Egypt.

Broadly speaking, Exodus has two parts. The first part, chapters 1–18, covers Israel’s time in Egypt, their exodus from slavery there, and their travels towards Mt. Sinai. They arrive at Mt. Sinai in chapter 19 and there they receive the laws from the Lord. The rest of Exodus, chapters 19–40, is taken up primarily with the giving of the law, including instructions for the tabernacle and its construction. The setting for the second half of Exodus is at Mt. Sinai, and in fact, the whole book of Leviticus and the first part of Numbers also takes place while the Israelites are at Sinai.

As we read the early chapters of Exodus, they are setting the stage not only for what follows in the rest of Exodus, but also for the rest of the Pentateuch and the rest of the story of all the Bible. God’s miraculous deliverance of his people from slavery in Egypt is a picture of his deliverance of his people from slavery in sin. And the exodus is one of the greatest displays of God’s goodness and love; it is the event that is recalled most often throughout the rest of the Bible.

As we go along, it will be good to keep in mind the purpose for doing a read thru like this. We could think of many benefits, like the value of doing this together as a church. That’s one thing I’m particularly excited about. We’ve already heard connections from the Sunday sermon to what we’ve been reading in the read thru, and it will be fun to be able to talk with each other about what God is teaching us, knowing others are reading the same things we are. And there are a lot of other ways doing this will be valuable for us as individuals and for us as a church.

But, more broadly, there are two main purposes for a read thru like this. It may be helpful to summarize these two points generally, then we’ll unpack them a bit more over the next few weeks. First, we are doing this to meet with God regularly and hear what he has to say. And second, we are doing it to cultivate a lifelong habit of growing in familiarity with God’s word.

We’ll dig more into both of these points and explore together some of the many ways reading through the Bible like this can be a valuable and lifegiving part of our lives as followers of Jesus. As we do, it’s important to keep reminding ourselves that we’re not reading just to read. We are doing this to invest a little time each day to receive from God the communication he has graciously given us. And we’re reading God’s word so that we can know him and walk with him.

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