I Thessalonians 1-5 Imagine that you are a Thessalonian. A man named Paul comes to town with a couple of traveling companions, one named Silas and another named Timothy. Paul and Silas bear the marks of a recent beating, and you wonder what they did to deserve it. These men start speaking about a Man …
Category Archives: RTB 2023 – Chronological Bible
December 2023 Readings
Date Reading(s) Verses 01-Dec I Thessalonians 1-5 89 02-Dec II Thessalonians 1-3;Acts 18:12-19:22 86 03-Dec I Corinthians 1-4 91 04-Dec I Corinthians 5-8 86 05-Dec I Corinthians 9-11 94 06-Dec I Corinthians 12-14 84 07-Dec I Corinthians 15-16;Acts 19:23-20:1 102 08-Dec II Corinthians 1-7 132 09-Dec II Corinthians 8-13;Acts 20:2-3a 126 10-Dec Romans 1-4 117 …
November 30 / Acts 15:36-18:11
Acts 15:36-18:11 Having taken in two Epistles, one from Paul and one from James, we’re now back to the historical narrative of the Acts of the Apostles (but just for today, then back to more Epistles). Today we go with Paul on his second missionary journey as he travels from place to place proclaiming the …
November 29 / James 1-5
James 1-5 I love this letter from James. It comforts and encourages those facing trials, and it delivers very real “rubber meets the road” challenges to us all. Are you suffering, facing various difficulties? Count it all joy, as such testing produces steadfastness. (James 1:2) Do you think you are religious? You are deceiving yourself …
November 28 / Galatians 3-6
Galatians 3-6 O foolish Galatians! Galatians 3:1a Discounting geography, might this epithet from Paul apply to you? Are you striving to make yourself righteous by following a set of rules? Having glimpsed the grace of God in Christ, are you now trying to earn His approval? Having started with the Spirit, are you now trying …
November 27 / Acts 15:1-35; Galatians 1-2
Acts 15:1-35; Galatians 1-2 Old habits die hard. And the oldest habit of all is self-justification. Paul, once the ultimate Pharisee, sees through legalism and self-justification like no one else. He understands what it means to be zealous for the Law of Moses and for the traditions of his fathers. (Galatians 1:14; Philippians 3:4-6) He …
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November 26 / Acts 13-14
Acts 13-14 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. Acts 13:3-4 And so, Saul — who soon becomes known …
November 25 / Acts 10-12
Acts 10-12 The story of Cornelius’ conversion is pivotal for the development of the Church. It is so significant that Luke gives us lots of details to fully establish the facts. For example: Then Luke emphasizes the significance of these events by telling the story all over again as Peter conveys the details to those …
November 24 / Acts 8:4-9:43
Acts 8:4-9:43 God has a way of turning things upside down. Following the murder of Stephen, strong persecution arises against the Church in Jerusalem. Although the persecutors’ intent is to squelch the Gospel message, the actual effect is just the opposite. As believers flee, scattering across Judea and Samaria, they preach as they go. (Acts …
November 23 / Acts 6:1-8:3
Acts 6:1-8:3 Stephen, the first named Deacon of the Church, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit (Acts 6:5), becomes the first Martyr for Christ. Our word “martyr” comes straight from the Greek, “μάρτυς” (“mártys”), which simply means “witness”. It is because so many Christians have subsequently borne witness to Christ in like …