I love how Paul begins this letter to Corinth addressing the disunity they have among them. Instead, he talks about how they should focus on their unity in the Spirit through faith in Jesus Christ. This concept was really hard for me to grasp onto for a while, but I started doing a study on … Continue reading Spiritual Unity (1 Corinthians 1-2)

The ending of the story, and we see the final opinions of the people whom Jesus interacted with. A centurion decides that he is the son of God, the crowds jeer at and mock him, the Pharisees continue to hate him, and even his disciples don’t all believe that he was who he said he … Continue reading Concluding Thoughts (Mark 15-16)

The super long/super heavy day! The things I dislike about reading plans that are just chapters …… anyhow.. At the end of the talk of the end times, which gets really depressing and scary at times, Jesus reminds us that we should be “awake” and working for when the master comes. A lot of people … Continue reading Work to the End (Mark 13-14)

Whenever I read the story of the widow who gave everything she had, I have to look at myself and ask if I would really be willing to give everything I have. As a kid, I was all gung-ho about how if I was in that position, I would totally give it all away. Clearly … Continue reading Give Aways (Mark 11-12)

As the time of his death approaches, Jesus keeps teaching his disciples (and telling them he’s going to die). I think it’s sort of interesting that he speaks in parables and things so much, but just outright tells them he’s going to die in Jerusalem. Besides the fact that it’s hard to believe someone is … Continue reading Prose and Verse (Mark 9-10)

OK did anyone else think Tangled when they saw that title. Alright it’s just me. One of the super exciting things in this reading is that amongst the people continuing to desire Jesus’ miracles and the disciple being clueless and the Pharisees just getting angrier … Peter sees the light! He doesn’t understand everything, but … Continue reading He sees the light! (Mark 7-8)

Reading through Mark reminds me of when I saw Mark told dramatically at an IVCF event, MarkProject. It was really cool to see it that way, and reminds me to read these accounts as though real people were in them; because they WERE real people, not just fictional ones. Continuing on my thoughts from the beginning … Continue reading The People Observe (Mark 5-6)

Chapter 3 has Jesus continuing on in his miracles and ministry, most of which were in Matthew as well. Again, different people are reacting to Jesus in various ways – some want to kill him in cold blood, and others nearly crush him for their desire of his power. Chapter 4, however, takes a little … Continue reading Unseen Growth (Mark 3-4)

Well, unlike in Matthew, Mark just jumps right into the thick of things. Chapter 1 is like a synopsis of “the early years” and then starts right in on the miracles and ministry. Today I taught in Sunday School about how the judges (In Judges) could only save the Israelites from the “consequence of their … Continue reading Saved from the Cause (Mark 1-2)

“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” – Colossians 3:17 I think this verse speaks for itself really … and it applies to everything Paul talks about in this passage. However, it is a constant reminder I … Continue reading Whatever You Do… (Colossians 3-4)

I love how Paul, again, is talking about the freedom we have in the gospel… And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set … Continue reading Gospel Freedom (Colossians 1-2)

Starting out chapter 3, Paul talks about how he counts everything he has achieved in his life as nothing, instead counting it as rubbish (original Greek is actually referring to dung … as if it wasn’t a graphic enough illustration in the first place!) and instead focusing on the identity he has in Christ. It is a … Continue reading Humble Living (Philippians 3-4)

I love how at the end of a long day, Philippians is able to comfort, encourage, and challenge at the same time. I should read it more often. Comfort: “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” – 1:7 I need … Continue reading Comfort, Encourage, Challenge (Philippians 1-2)

I find it rather ironic that a year later I’m walking through this passage again. I love how Paul starts off chapter 5 talking about how we are to be “imitators of God” and to “walk in love” and then goes into things we should and shouldn’t do. This last year I’ve done a lot of digging into the … Continue reading Imitators in Love (Ephesians 5-6)

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. – Ephesians 4:15-16 … Continue reading Complex Sentences (Ephesians 3-4)

Call me crazy, but I never realized Ephesians 2:8 and 2:10 were together. Clearly the numbers say they are, but it hasn’t clicked before now…so the passage standing out in the passage today (meta-passage? passage-ception?): For it is by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is … Continue reading Saved Workmanship (Ephesians 1-2)

Finishing up his letter, Paul reiterates how we are set free in Christ and goes on to explain a few aspects of living by the spirit. The first is the fruit of the spirit (I honestly still think of a fruit basket with names on the fruits…). This is always a sharp reminder to me … Continue reading Faith Fruit (Galatians 5-6)

So while I was reading today, the “Father Abraham” song was playing on repeat in my head…which was kind of distracting. This passage speaks a lot about how we are A. heirs in Christ, and that this is B. through faith, not the law. It is fitting to be reading this after finishing Matthew, as now … Continue reading Heirs in Faith (Galatians 3-4)

Take Two For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? if I were still trying to please man, I would bot be a servant of Christ. – Galatians 1:10 Honestly, this is my take away today. Paul, a man who persecuted Christians, lived out … Continue reading Pleasing Purpose (Galatians 1-2)

Well this is officially the fastest I’ve ever read through the gospel of Matthew. I think. Anyway… As Matthew finishes, we see the conclusion of everything Matthew has been conveying in the book. At the beginning I noted how Matthew was set up by showing God’s hand in the birth of Jesus for generations, and … Continue reading Joining the Story (Matthew 27-28)