Welcome to Week 5 of our New Testament reading plan!

This week marks a major transition in our journey. We wrap up the Gospel of Luke and move directly into its companion volume, the book of Acts.

Book Intro: Acts of the Apostles

Written by Luke—a physician who carefully researched and documented early Christian history—Acts is part two of his two-part work. While Luke’s Gospel records what Jesus began to do and teach during His earthly ministry, Acts tracks how the resurrected Christ continued His work through the power of the Holy Spirit. Acts serves as the foundational narrative framework for our reading plan, documenting how the early church exploded out of Jerusalem and began spreading across the Roman Empire.

Here is what we are covering this week:

• Luke 21: Jesus teaches about the future, warning of the Temple’s destruction and upcoming trials, while calling His followers to remain watchful and faithful.
• Luke 22: The tension peaks as Judas betrays Jesus. Jesus shares the Last Supper with His disciples, prays in deep agony in Gethsemane, and is arrested as Peter denies Him.
• Luke 23: Jesus stands before Pilate and Herod, receives an unfair death sentence, and is crucified at Calvary. He is laid to rest in a borrowed tomb.
• Luke 24: The ultimate triumph! Jesus rises from the dead, walks with disciples on the road to Emmaus, opens their minds to understand the Scriptures, and ascends into heaven.
• Acts 1: The resurrected Jesus promises the coming power of the Holy Spirit, commissions His disciples to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth, and ascends to heaven.

As you read, pay attention to how the climax of Jesus’s earthly life in Luke directly sets the stage for the launch of the early church in Acts.

Welcome to Week 6 of our New Testament reading plan!

Now that we have witnessed the life, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus, this week we jump into the explosive early days of the Christian church in Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit moves in remarkable ways, empowering ordinary believers to live with bold faith, radical generosity, and unshakable conviction—even in the face of intense opposition.

Here is a look at what we will cover this week:

• Acts 2: The Holy Spirit descends at Pentecost, empowering the believers to speak in other tongues. Peter delivers a bold sermon, leading 3,000 people to be baptized, and the early church establishes a vibrant fellowship of prayer, generosity, and community.
• Acts 3: Peter and John heal a man unable to walk at the temple gate, sparking wonder in the crowd and giving Peter another opportunity to preach the gospel of Jesus.
• Acts 4: The religious authorities arrest Peter and John, but they refuse to be silenced, famously declaring that they cannot stop speaking about what they have seen and heard. The believers pray for even greater boldness.
• Acts 5: God deals with hypocrisy in the church through the story of Ananias and Sapphira. The apostles perform miraculous signs, are arrested and miraculously freed by an angel, and continue preaching Christ despite being flogged.
• Acts 6: To address administrative needs and support neglected widows, the church appoints seven spirit-filled leaders. One of them, Stephen, performs great wonders and faces false accusations from religious leaders.

As you read through these chapters, reflect on the power of the Holy Spirit in the early church. How can that same Spirit give you boldness and courage in your faith this week?

Welcome to Week 8 of our New Testament reading plan!

This week marks a major turning point in our journey through the early church. Up until now, the Book of Acts has provided the central historical narrative for our plan. But as the gospel expands and churches are planted, we will begin stepping out of the timeline of Acts to read the epistles—the letters written to these brand-new Christian communities—right around the time they were actually penned.

Book Intro: James

At the end of this week, we step briefly out of Acts to read the Letter of James. Written by James, the half-brother of Jesus and a key leader in the Jerusalem church, this letter is widely considered one of the earliest New Testament books written. James writes with a direct, practical style—often likened to the Old Testament Book of Proverbs—focused on showing that genuine faith in Jesus must produce real, visible action and practical wisdom in our daily lives.

Here is what we are covering in Week 8:

• Acts 12: King Herod persecutes the church and executes James (the apostle), but Peter is miraculously freed from prison by an angel while the church fervently prays.
• Acts 13: The church in Antioch sends Barnabas and Paul on their first missionary journey, where they share the gospel in Cyprus and Pisidian Antioch, facing both eager belief and fierce opposition.
• Acts 14: Paul and Barnabas press on through Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe. Despite surviving a stoning in Lystra, Paul continues preaching, strengthening the new believers, and appointing leaders in each local church.
• Acts 15: The Jerusalem Council convenes to settle a critical question: Do Gentile believers need to follow Jewish laws and circumcision to be saved? The leaders affirm that salvation comes through the grace of the Lord Jesus alone. James
• James 1: We pause the narrative of Acts to dive into the practical wisdom of James, the half-brother of Jesus, whom we met in Acts 15. James challenges us to count trials as joy, ask God for wisdom in faith, and be “doers of the word, and not hearers only”.

As you read this week, notice how God opens doors for the gospel among the Gentiles and how James challenges us to live out our faith boldly. What area of your life is God calling you to be a “doer of the word” today?

Welcome to Week 9 of our New Testament reading plan!

This week, we wrap up our study of the practical letter of James before diving into Paul’s very first letter.

Why We Jump from Acts to the Epistles

Remember, the Book of Acts serves as the foundational chronological timeline for our reading plan. However, as the gospel spreads and new churches are established throughout the Roman world, we occasionally step out of Acts to read the epistles—the letters written to these early faith communities—at the approximate points in history when they were originally penned.

Book Intro: Galatians

At the end of this week we begin Galatians, which is widely considered to be Paul’s earliest surviving letter. Written to a network of young churches in the region of Galatia (a region Paul visited on his first missionary journey in Acts 13–14), this letter addresses a massive crisis: false teachers were convincing Gentile believers that faith in Christ wasn’t enough, and that they also needed to follow the Old Testament laws to be truly saved. Paul writes with urgent passion to defend the core truth of the gospel—that salvation is by grace through faith alone.

Here is what we are covering in Week 9:

• James 2: James addresses partiality and favoritism in the church, warning that genuine faith cannot remain purely theoretical—it must naturally express itself through active obedience and love.
• James 3: A vivid warning about the incredible power and potential damage of our words, paired with a contrast between earthly wisdom and the pure, peaceable wisdom that comes from above.
• James 4: James exposes the root of internal conflict and worldly compromise, calling believers to humble submission before God and reminding us of the fleeting nature of life.
• James 5: A strong warning to the unjust wealthy, followed by encouragement to cultivate patience in suffering and to pray in faith for healing and restoration.
• Galatians 1: Paul launches straight into his fiery letter to the Galatians, expressing shock at how quickly they are abandoning the true gospel for a distorted one and defending his divine calling as an apostle of Christ.

As you work through this week’s readings, consider how faith, grace, and everyday obedience interact in your life. How does the radical freedom of the gospel shape the way you live and speak today?

Welcome to Week 10 of our New Testament reading plan!

This week, we complete Paul’s letter to the Galatians. Galatians was penned directly to the believers in the churches Paul founded during his first missionary journey in Acts 13–14.

In Galatians 2–6, Paul defends the heart of the Christian faith: we are justified by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not by keeping the Old Testament law. He reminds us that the gospel frees us from legalism and empowers us to walk by the Holy Spirit, bearing practical fruit in everyday life.

Here is what we are covering this week:

• Galatians 2: Paul recounts his confrontation with Peter over hypocrisy, firmly declaring that no one is justified by the works of the law, but through faith in Jesus Christ.
• Galatians 3: Paul uses the example of Abraham to prove that promise and righteousness have always come by faith, explaining that the law served as a guardian until Christ came.
• Galatians 4: Paul contrasts our former slavery under the law with our adoption as sons and daughters of God, appealing to the Galatians not to turn back to legalism.
• Galatians 5: Paul urges believers to stand firm in freedom, warning against using liberty for self-indulgence, and contrasts the desires of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit.
• Galatians 6: Paul concludes with practical instructions on bearing one another’s burdens, doing good to all, and boasting only in the cross of Jesus Christ.

As you finish Galatians this week, take time to evaluate your own walk. Are you attempting to rely on your own moral efforts, or are you walking in the true freedom and power of the Holy Spirit?

Welcome to Week 11 of our New Testament reading plan!

This week, we jump right back into the main narrative timeline of Acts as Paul embarks on his second missionary journey, leading to the planting of new churches across Macedonia and Greece—including the church in Thessalonica.

Why We Jump from Acts to the Epistles

The Book of Acts serves as our primary historical narrative framework. However, as Paul travels and plants new communities of faith, we periodically pause the story in Acts to read the actual letters he wrote to those churches at the approximate point in history when he penned them. This week, after following Paul’s ministry through Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, and Corinth in Acts 16–18, we step over to read 1 Thessalonians—a letter Paul wrote directly from Corinth (Acts 18) to encourage the young church he had just planted in Thessalonica.

Book Intro: 1 Thessalonians

Written around AD 50–51 during Paul’s stay in Corinth, 1 Thessalonians is one of Paul’s earliest letters. Having been forced to leave Thessalonica prematurely due to severe persecution, Paul writes with intense pastoral care and affection. He encourages these young believers to stand firm in the face of suffering, live holy lives, and hold tightly to the hope of Jesus’s return.

Here is what we are covering in Week 11:

• Acts 16: Paul picks up Timothy, receives the “Macedonian Call” in a vision, and travels to Philippi, where Lydia and a Roman jailer both come to faith after a miraculous earthquake.
• Acts 17: Paul preaches in Thessalonica and Berea—where believers eagerly examine the Scriptures—before moving on to Athens to deliver his famous sermon on the Areopagus about the “Unknown God”.
• Acts 18: Paul arrives in Corinth, partners with Priscilla and Aquila, and spends 18 months establishing the church before brief stops in Ephesus, Jerusalem, and Antioch.
• 1 Thessalonians 1: We pause the narrative in Corinth to read Paul’s letter back to the Thessalonians, thanking God for their active faith, labor of love, steadfast hope, and clear witness to surrounding regions.
• 1 Thessalonians 2: Paul reminds the believers of his sincere, gentle, and fatherly ministry among them, expressing his deep longing to see them again despite Satanic hindrance and ongoing persecution.

As you read this week, notice how real-world history and pastoral encouragement interlock. How does knowing the background of Paul’s struggles in Acts change the way you read his heart in 1 Thessalonians?

Welcome to Week 12 of our New Testament reading plan!

This week, we complete Paul’s first letter to the believers in Thessalonica and immediately launch into his follow-up letter, 2 Thessalonians. Paul penned both 1 and 2 Thessalonians while staying in Corinth during his second missionary journey (recorded in Acts 18). Shortly after sending his first letter, Paul received news that the believers in Thessalonica were still facing heavy persecution and were confused about the end times and the return of Jesus.

Book Intro: 2 Thessalonians

Written from Corinth around AD 51–52, 2 Thessalonians is Paul’s direct follow-up letter to the Thessalonian church. In this brief three-chapter letter, Paul addresses lingering confusion regarding the “Day of the Lord”. He corrects false reports that Christ’s return had already happened, warns against spiritual laziness, and encourages believers to stand firm in their faith despite intense opposition.

Here is a look at what we are covering in Week 12:

• 1 Thessalonians 3: Paul expresses his deep relief and joy after Timothy returns with a good report about the Thessalonians’ enduring faith and love, and he prays for their continued spiritual growth.
• 1 Thessalonians 4: Paul challenges believers to live holy lives pleasing to God—specifically in sexual purity and brotherly love—and offers profound comfort regarding believers who have died, explaining the hope of the resurrection at Christ’s return.
• 1 Thessalonians 5: Paul urges the church to stay alert and self-controlled as “children of the light” and closes with rapid-fire practical instructions for daily Christian community life.
• 2 Thessalonians 1: We begin Paul’s second letter with words of encouragement, thanking God for the Thessalonians’ growing faith and reminding them that God will bring ultimate justice when Jesus returns.
• 2 Thessalonians 2: Paul clarifies end-times theology, instructing the believers not to be easily shaken or alarmed by false claims about the Day of the Lord, and urges them to hold fast to the truth.

As you read through these chapters this week, reflect on how the promise of Jesus’s return shapes your current perspective. How does holding fast to eternal hope give you strength to navigate everyday challenges today?

Welcome to Week 13 of our New Testament reading plan!

This week, we close out Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians, return to Paul’s journey in the Book of Acts, and launch into a brand-new letter to a major church in the ancient world.

As Paul embarks on his third missionary journey, he spends nearly three years ministering in the influential city of Ephesus (Acts 19). It was during this extended stay in Ephesus that Paul received troubling news about division and disorder in the church at Corinth—prompting him to write his first surviving letter to them. By pausing Acts after chapter 19 to read 1 Corinthians, we get to experience Paul’s letters in the real-time context of his missionary journeys.

Book Intro: 1 Corinthians

Written by Paul around AD 53–55 during his three-year ministry in Ephesus, 1 Corinthians was sent to a culturally diverse, booming port city notorious for its immorality and idol worship. The young church in Corinth had allowed the culture around them to seep into the church, resulting in factions, spiritual pride, and moral compromise. Paul writes to address these divisions, call the believers back to the wisdom of the cross, and challenge them to live lives worthy of the gospel.

Here is what we are covering in Week 13:

• 2 Thessalonians 3: Paul concludes his second letter to the Thessalonians by asking for prayer, warning against idleness and spiritual laziness, and encouraging the church to never tire of doing what is right.
• Acts 19: We return to the narrative timeline as Paul travels to Ephesus. The Holy Spirit moves in extraordinary power, leading many to turn from magic and idols—sparking a massive riot led by the local silversmiths whose idol business was threatened.
• 1 Corinthians 1: We step over to read Paul’s letter back to Corinth, where he opens with deep gratitude before immediately confronting news of cliquish divisions within the church, reminding them that true wisdom is found in Christ crucified.
• 1 Corinthians 2: Paul contrasts human rhetoric and worldliness with the revelation of the Holy Spirit, explaining that the deep truths of God can only be understood through spiritual discernment.
• 1 Corinthians 3: Paul addresses spiritual immaturity, warning the church against dividing over human leaders and reminding them that believers are co-laborers building on the single foundation of Jesus Christ.

As you read through these chapters this week, reflect on how easily culture can shape the church if we aren’t careful. How can focusing on the simplicity and power of the cross keep your heart grounded in true unity and spiritual maturity?

Welcome to Week 14 of our New Testament reading plan!

This week, we continue working our way through Paul’s first letter to the church in Corinth. In chapters 4 through 8, Paul moves from addressing church divisions to tackling tough issues regarding Christian lifestyle, ethics, personal relationships, and personal freedom.

Here is what we are covering in Week 14:

• 1 Corinthians 4: Paul redefines leadership, reminding the believers that apostles are simply servants and stewards of God’s mysteries, and cautions them against spiritual pride.
• 1 Corinthians 5: Paul addresses a shocking case of sexual immorality within the church, urging the community to exercise church discipline and maintain moral integrity.
• 1 Corinthians 6: Paul warns against taking legal disputes with fellow believers before secular courts and reminds us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, meant to honor God.
• 1 Corinthians 7: Paul answers practical questions regarding marriage, singleness, divorce, and devotion to God in various life circumstances.
• 1 Corinthians 8: Paul addresses the issue of eating food sacrificed to idols, establishing a crucial principle: Christian freedom must always be limited by love so as not to cause a weaker believer to stumble.

As you read these chapters, consider how Paul balances truth and grace in confronting difficult culture and behaviors. How can you honor God with your body and exercise your freedoms in love this week?

Welcome to Week 15 of our New Testament reading plan!

This week, we are diving right into the heart of 1 Corinthians. Paul addresses deep spiritual truths, practical community standards, and the core foundation of our faith: the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Here is what we are covering in Week 15:

• 1 Corinthians 9: Paul defends his apostolic authority and rights, demonstrating how he willingly waives those rights and adapts to different cultural contexts for the sake of winning people to the gospel.
• 1 Corinthians 10: Drawing from Israel’s wilderness history, Paul warns against idolatry and self-confidence, reminding us that no temptation is inescapable and that everything we do should be for the glory of God.
• 1 Corinthians 11: Paul tackles order in public worship, addressing cultural expressions of head coverings and correcting self-centered abuses during the observance of the Lord’s Supper.
• 1 Corinthians 12: Paul introduces the diversity and unity of spiritual gifts, illustrating how every believer functions as an essential, interdependent member of the single body of Christ.
• 1 Corinthians 13: The famous “love chapter”—Paul shows that even the most impressive spiritual gifts are completely meaningless without selfless, patient, and enduring agape love.

As you work through these chapters, consider how Paul challenges us to lay down our personal rights for others and let genuine love guide every spiritual gift and daily action. What is one way you can put selfless love into practice in your church or community this week?

Welcome to Week 16 of our New Testament reading plan!

This week, we wrap up Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, step right back into the historical narrative of Acts, and begin another deeply personal letter to the church in Corinth.

Book Intro: 2 Corinthians

Written by Paul around AD 55–56—shortly after his departure from Ephesus—2 Corinthians is perhaps the most personal and emotionally transparent of all Paul’s letters. False teachers had infiltrated the church in Corinth, questioning Paul’s authority, motives, and credentials. Paul writes to defend his apostolic ministry, not out of pride, but to protect the integrity of the gospel. Throughout the letter, he reveals the heart of a true servant leader, showing how God’s power is made perfect in human weakness.

Here is what we are covering in Week 16:

• 1 Corinthians 14: Paul addresses order in public worship, emphasizing that spiritual gifts—specifically tongues and prophecy—must be exercised in a way that builds up the church and promotes clarity.
• 1 Corinthians 15: A cornerstone chapter on the resurrection of Jesus Christ, where Paul establishes its historical reality, defense, and crucial role as the foundation of Christian hope over sin and death.
• 1 Corinthians 16: Paul concludes his first letter to Corinth with practical instructions regarding the collection for needy believers in Jerusalem, details his future travel plans, and offers warm personal greetings.
• Acts 20: We jump back into our primary historical narrative as Paul journeys through Macedonia and Greece, eventually calling the Ephesian elders to Miletus for a poignant farewell address.
• 2 Corinthians 1: We open Paul’s second letter to Corinth, where he praises God as the Father of compassion and God of all comfort, sharing how his own severe afflictions helped him comfort others.

As you work through these chapters, consider where you might be relying on your own strength rather than leaning into God’s grace. How can the reality of the resurrection encourage your heart today?

Welcome to Week 17 of our New Testament reading plan!

This week we are continuing our deep dive into 2 Corinthians. Paul is opening his heart to this church, demonstrating what it truly looks like to experience God’s power made perfect in human weakness. Throughout these chapters, he moves from explaining the glorious nature of the new covenant to offering practical instructions on generosity and reconciliation.

Here is what we are covering in Week 17:

• 2 Corinthians 2: Paul explains his decision to delay his visit to spare the church unnecessary sorrow, urging them to forgive and restore a repentant offender and describing believers as the aroma of Christ.
• 2 Corinthians 3: Paul contrasts the glory of the Old Covenant written on tablets of stone with the even greater, transforming glory of the New Covenant written on human hearts by the Holy Spirit.
• 2 Corinthians 4: Reminding us that we hold the treasure of the gospel in fragile “jars of clay,” Paul encourages believers not to lose heart, focusing on eternal glory over momentary affliction.
• 2 Corinthians 5: Paul reflects on our heavenly home, our new identity as new creations in Christ, and our high calling as ambassadors of reconciliation to a broken world.
• 2 Corinthians 6: Paul recounts the hardships, integrity, and paradoxical joy of his ministry, appealing to the Corinthians for open hearts and calling them to live distinct, holy lives.

As you read these chapters, reflect on your identity as Christ’s ambassador. How can allowing God to work through your weaknesses display His strength and love to those around you this week?

Welcome to Week 18 of our New Testament reading plan!

This week we continue Paul’s second letter to the church in Corinth. In these chapters Paul opens his heart regarding godly sorrow, gospel generosity, spiritual warfare, and his apostolic authority.

Here is what we are covering this week:

• 2 Corinthians 7: Paul expresses his joy over the Corinthians’ genuine repentance, contrasting worldly sorrow—which leads to death—with godly sorrow, which brings true life and freedom.
• 2 Corinthians 8: Paul highlights the Macedonian churches as examples of cheerful, sacrificial giving, encouraging the Corinthians to excel in grace by giving out of love, not compulsion.
• 2 Corinthians 9: Paul continues his teaching on generosity, reminding us that “God loves a cheerful giver” and promising that He will supply every need so we can abound in every good work.
• 2 Corinthians 10: Paul defends his ministry authority, explaining that the weapons of our warfare are not worldly, but have divine power to demolish spiritual strongholds and bring every thought captive to Christ.
• 2 Corinthians 11: Paul warns against false apostles who preach a “different gospel,” reluctantly sharing his own “foolish” credentials—a long list of beatings, shipwrecks, and hardship endured for the sake of Christ.

As you read through these chapters, reflect on your own motivation for giving, serving, and living for Jesus. How does knowing that God’s strength is displayed through human weakness change the way you face challenges this week?

Welcome to Week 19 of our New Testament reading plan!

This week we wrap up Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians and step into what is widely regarded as his theological masterpiece: the letter to the Romans.

While staying in Corinth during his third missionary journey (Acts 20), Paul penned this landmark letter to the Christians in Rome to establish a deep, clear foundation of the gospel before his eventual visit to the city.

Book Intro: Romans

Written around AD 57 from Corinth, Romans is Paul’s most comprehensive explanation of Christian doctrine. Unlike many of his other epistles, which were written to correct specific practical crises in churches he had personally planted, Paul wrote to a Roman church he had not yet visited. In Romans, Paul presents a systematic layout of the gospel—explaining how all humanity is in need of salvation, how righteousness comes by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, and how the gospel transforms every aspect of daily life.

Here is what we are covering in Week 19:

• 2 Corinthians 12: Paul reluctantly shares a vision of heaven and his “thorn in the flesh,” highlighting God’s reassuring response: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness”.
• 2 Corinthians 13: Paul closes his second letter to Corinth with a final call to self-examination, restoration, and unity, concluding with a classic trinitarian blessing.
• Romans 1: We open Paul’s masterpiece letter as he expresses his eagerness to preach in Rome, famously declaring that the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, before confronting the reality of human rebellion.
• Romans 2: Paul confronts hypocrisy and self-righteousness, warning that God’s impartial judgment applies to both religious religious moralists and Gentiles alike, noting that God’s kindness is meant to lead us to repentance.
• Romans 3: Paul delivers the sober diagnosis that all people have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory, but unveils the good news that we are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

As you work through these chapters, consider how the reality of God’s grace reshapes your understanding of your own righteousness. How does knowing that you are saved by faith alone give you confidence to live for Him today?

Welcome to Week 20 of our New Testament reading plan!

This week we are diving deep into the core theological arguments of Paul’s masterpiece, the letter to the Romans. Paul wrote this letter while staying in Corinth near the end of his third missionary journey. Knowing that the Book of Acts will soon trace his journey toward Rome, this season in the epistles gives us a profound look at the gospel message Paul was preparing to bring to the heart of the Roman Empire.

In Romans 4 through 8, Paul moves from the problem of human sin to the glorious reality of life in the Holy Spirit.

Here is what we are covering this week:

• Romans 4: Paul uses Abraham to demonstrate that faith has always been the key to righteousness, proving that God’s promise was given to those who believe, not those who earn it through legalistic works.
• Romans 5: Paul explores the benefits of justification—peace with God, joy in suffering, and hope—contrasting the tragic condemnation brought through Adam with the life-giving grace brought through Jesus.
• Romans 6: Paul tackles the question of grace and moral living, explaining that baptism symbolizes our death to sin and resurrection to new life, making us dead to sin’s control and alive to God.
• Romans 7: Paul illustrates our release from the legal binding of the law and candidly addresses the internal conflict between the desire to do good and the struggle of the flesh.
• Romans 8: One of the most beloved chapters in all of Scripture, Paul declares that there is no condemnation for those in Christ, highlighting the life-transforming power of the Holy Spirit, our adoption as God’s children, and the unbreakable love of God.

As you work through these pivotal chapters, reflect on the security you have in Christ. How does knowing that nothing can separate you from God’s love change the way you face your daily struggles?

Welcome to Week 21 of our New Testament reading plan!

This week, we are continuing our deep dive through Paul’s letter to the Romans. Paul wrote this letter from Corinth during his third missionary journey to establish a firm foundation of gospel truth before his eventual visit to the believers in Rome.

In chapters 9 through 13, Paul transitions from explaining salvation by grace through faith to addressing God’s sovereign plan for both Jews and Gentiles, followed by practical instructions on how transformed believers should live out their faith every day.

Here is what we are covering in Week 21:

• Romans 9: Paul expresses deep sorrow for his fellow Israelites, exploring God’s sovereign election, mercy, and purpose in choosing a remnant according to His divine promise.
• Romans 10: Paul emphasizes that salvation is available to everyone—Jew or Gentile—who confesses Jesus as Lord, highlighting the crucial need for messengers to preach the good news so others can hear and believe.
• Romans 11: Paul explains that Israel’s temporary rejection of the gospel has allowed salvation to come to the Gentiles, illustrating believers as branches grafted into God’s olive tree and praising God’s unsearchable wisdom.
• Romans 12: Paul calls believers to offer their bodies as living sacrifices and to be transformed by the renewing of their minds, outlining how true love, humility, and service look in everyday Christian living.
• Romans 13: Paul instructs Christians on their relationship with civil authorities, emphasizing subjection to governing bodies, neighborly love as the fulfillment of the law, and living alertly in light of Christ’s return.

As you work through these chapters, consider how the mercies of God shape your daily choices. What is one area of your life where you can offer yourself as a “living sacrifice” to Him this week?

Welcome to Week 22 of our New Testament reading plan!

This week, we complete Paul’s masterpiece letter to the Romans and step directly back into our primary historical framework in the Book of Acts.

Why We Jump from the Epistles Back to Acts

As a reminder, the Book of Acts provides the central timeline for the founding and expansion of the early church. We temporarily paused the narrative in Acts 20 while Paul was in Corinth to read Romans, the profound theological letter he penned during that stay. Once we’ve finished Romans, we return to Acts to pick up Paul’s journey as he leaves Greece, travels toward Jerusalem, and faces the fierce opposition that eventually leads to his arrest.

Here is what we are covering in Week 22:

• Romans 14: Paul addresses unity within a diverse church, instructing believers not to judge or look down on one another over disputable matters, but to live by conviction while prioritizing peace and mutual encouragement.
• Romans 15: Paul urges stronger believers to bear with the failings of the weak, highlights Christ as a servant to both Jews and Gentiles, and shares his personal travel plans to visit Rome after delivering an offering to Jerusalem.
• Romans 16: Paul concludes his letter to the Romans with a long list of personal greetings to co-laborers in the gospel, a final warning against divisive teachers, and a doxology praising God.
• Acts 21: We return to the historical narrative as Paul journeys to Jerusalem despite warnings of coming danger. Upon arrival, he visits the church leaders, attends the temple, and is mobbed by an angry crowd before being taken into Roman custody.
• Acts 22: Standing on the barracks steps in Jerusalem, Paul addresses the hostile Jewish crowd, sharing his dramatic conversion experience on the road to Damascus and his divine commission to preach to the Gentiles.

As you work through this week’s readings, notice how Paul’s theoretical commitment to the gospel in Romans immediately translates into bold, sacrificial action in Acts. How does seeing Paul risk everything for the gospel inspire your own trust in God today?

Welcome to Week 23 of our New Testament reading plan!

This week, we are fully immersed in the historical narrative of the Book of Acts as we follow Paul through trials, false accusations, legal defense speeches, and harrowing perilous journeys.

Last week we finished reading Paul’s letter to the Romans, which he wrote from Corinth near the end of his third missionary journey before heading to Jerusalem. Now, we return to Luke’s narrative in Acts to see what happened to Paul after he arrived in Jerusalem—and how his eventual imprisonment prepared the way for the “prison letters” he would write from Rome.

Here is what we are covering in Week 23:

• Acts 23: After a chaotic scene before the Sanhedrin, Paul learns of a plot by religious zealots to assassinate him, prompting the Roman commander to transfer him safely under heavy military guard to Governor Felix in Caesarea.
• Acts 24: Paul stands trial in Caesarea against charges brought by the high priest and an orator named Tertullus, defending his faith in the resurrection while Felix keeps him detained for two years.
• Acts 25: Festus replaces Felix as governor, and when Jewish leaders pressure Festus to send Paul back to Jerusalem for trial, Paul uses his rights as a Roman citizen and appeals directly to Caesar.
• Acts 26: Paul presents his defense and personal testimony before King Agrippa II and Bernice, delivering a powerful defense of his conversion and commission to preach the gospel.
• Acts 27: Paul sets sail for Rome under Roman guard, facing a violent storm and a harrowing shipwreck on the island of Malta, during which God preserves everyone on board.

As you read these dramatic chapters, notice Paul’s unwavering focus on the resurrection and his mission to share the gospel no matter his circumstances. How can you stay faithful to God’s calling when unexpected trials or delays interrupt your plans?

Welcome to Week 24 of our New Testament reading plan!

This week we wrap up the historical narrative of the Book of Acts and step right into the first of Paul’s four “Prison Letters”. In Acts 28, Paul finally arrives in Rome as a prisoner, living under house arrest while waiting to appeal his case before Caesar. It was during this period of Roman imprisonment that Paul wrote four letters—Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. By stepping out of Acts after chapter 28 and moving into Ephesians, we follow the real-time timeline of Paul’s ministry as he sends theological instruction and encouragement to the churches from his prison cell.

Book Intro: Ephesians

Written by Paul around AD 60–62 while under house arrest in Rome, Ephesians is a rich letter focused on God’s grand plan for the church. Unlike many of Paul’s other epistles, Ephesians was not written to address a specific crisis or false teaching. Instead, Paul writes to remind believers of their profound identity in Christ, the unity between Jewish and Gentile believers made possible through the cross, and how to walk out that new identity in everyday life.

Here is what we are covering in Week 24:

• Acts 28: Paul arrives on the island of Malta after the shipwreck, heals many, and eventually reaches Rome, where he spends two years under house arrest boldly preaching the kingdom of God to all who visit.
• Ephesians 1: We open Paul’s prison letter with a grand hymn of praise, celebrating how God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing, chosen us before the foundation of the world, and sealed us with the Holy Spirit.
• Ephesians 2: Paul contrasts our spiritual death in sin with the marvelous reality that we are saved by grace through faith, highlighting how Christ broke down the wall of hostility to unite Jew and Gentile into one body.
• Ephesians 3: Paul reveals the “mystery of Christ”—that Gentiles are fellow heirs in the gospel—and offers a profound prayer asking God to strengthen believers with power so they can grasp the infinite depth of Christ’s love.
• Ephesians 4: Paul transitions from doctrine to practical application, urging believers to walk in unity, use their spiritual gifts to build up the church, and put on the “new self” created to be like God in true righteousness.

As you read these chapters, reflect on your spiritual identity. How does knowing that you are chosen, adopted, and redeemed by grace change how you walk out your faith each day?

Welcome to Week 25 of our New Testament reading plan!

This week we complete Paul’s letter to the Ephesians and step into his joyful letter to the church at Philippi.

Book Intro: Philippians

Written by Paul around AD 60–62 from his Roman house arrest, Philippians is a warm, affectionate letter sent to the church he planted in Philippi (recorded in Acts 16). Despite writing from chains, Paul fills this letter with themes of supernatural joy, thanksgiving, unity, and living a Christ-centered life. He writes to thank the Philippians for their financial support, encourage them to stand firm in the midst of suffering, and challenge them to model their lives after the humility of Jesus Christ.

Here is what we are covering in Week 25:

• Ephesians 5: Paul outlines what it looks like to walk as children of light, offering practical wisdom on wise living, Spirit-filled worship, and God’s design for Christian marriage.
• Ephesians 6: Paul provides instruction for family and workplace relationships before calling believers to stand firm against spiritual forces by putting on the full armor of God.
• Philippians 1: We open Paul’s letter to the Philippians as he expresses deep affection for the church, famously declaring that “to live is Christ and to die is gain” despite his imprisonment.
• Philippians 2: Paul issues a powerful call to unity and humility, pointing to Jesus as the ultimate example of self-emptying love before encouraging believers to shine like stars in a dark world.
• Philippians 3: Paul warns against relying on human credentials or works of the law, counting all his past achievements as loss compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ.

As you read these chapters, notice how Paul’s joy is completely independent of his physical circumstances. How can fixing your mind on Christ help you experience real joy in the middle of life’s daily challenges?

Welcome to Week 26 of our New Testament reading plan!

This week we wrap up Paul’s joyful letter to the Philippians and launch into a brand-new epistle: Colossians.

Book Intro: Colossians

Written by Paul around AD 60–62 during his Roman house arrest, Colossians was sent to a young church in Colossae—a congregation Paul had not personally planted, but which had grown through the ministry of his co-worker Epaphras. False teachers were threatening the church with a dangerous mix of religious legalism, human philosophy, and mysticism. Paul writes this letter to declare the supreme authority, preeminence, and sufficiency of Jesus Christ over all creation and the church, reminding believers that nothing needs to be added to Christ for salvation.

Here is what we are covering in Week 26:

• Philippians 4: Paul closes his letter to Philippi with practical wisdom on finding peace through prayer, guarding our thoughts, and experiencing content gratitude in every circumstance through Christ who gives us strength.
• Colossians 1: We open Paul’s letter to Colossae with a glorious hymn declaring Jesus as the image of the invisible God, the creator and sustainer of all things, and the supreme head of the body.
• Colossians 2: Paul warns against hollow philosophies and legalistic rituals, emphasizing that believers are made fully complete in Christ, who disarmed rulers and canceled our sin debt on the cross.
• Colossians 3: Paul challenges us to set our minds on heavenly things, putting off old sinful habits and putting on compassion, kindness, humility, and forgiveness as representatives of Jesus.
• Colossians 4: Paul concludes with calls to persistent prayer, wise speech toward non-believers, and warm personal greetings to his fellow workers in the faith.

As you work through these chapters this week, reflect on the complete sufficiency of Jesus. Is there any area of your life where you are tempted to trust in human effort or philosophy rather than resting fully in Christ’s finished work?

Welcome to Week 27 of our New Testament reading plan!

This week we read Paul’s final prison letter (Philemon) and begin a new group of letters known as the “Pastoral Epistles,” starting with 1 Timothy.

The Book of Acts provided our historical framework, tracking the spread of the early church up through Paul’s house arrest in Rome (Acts 28). Following his release from that initial Roman imprisonment, Paul traveled once more to mentor younger church leaders and establish healthy leadership structures before his final arrest. Because Luke’s narrative in Acts concludes at Paul’s first imprisonment, we step out of Acts to read these final letters right from this historical season in Paul’s life as he passes the torch of ministry.

Book Intro: Philemon

Philemon is Paul’s shortest letter, written concurrently with Colossians while Paul was under house arrest in Rome. It is a deeply personal, single-chapter letter addressed to Philemon, a Christian leader in Colossae. Onesimus, an enslaved man belonging to Philemon, had run away, met Paul in Rome, and become a believer. Paul writes to appeal to Philemon to receive Onesimus back not as a slave, but as a beloved brother in Christ, beautifully illustrating the gospel’s power to reconcile broken human relationships.

Book Intro: 1 Timothy

Around AD 62–64 Paul wrote his first letter to his young protégé Timothy, who was left in charge of leading the church in Ephesus. 1 Timothy is a personal, instructional letter focusing on church leadership, sound doctrine, and orderly worship. Paul writes to encourage Timothy in his leadership, warning him against false teachers and providing clear guidelines for appointing elders and deacons, caring for widows, and guarding the pure message of the gospel.

Here is what we are covering in Week 27:

• Philemon 1: Paul appeals to Philemon to receive his runaway slave Onesimus back not as a servant, but as a beloved brother in Christ, beautifully illustrating gospel reconciliation.
• 1 Timothy 1: We open Paul’s letter to Timothy as he urges him to defend sound doctrine against false teachers, sharing his own story of being transformed from a persecutor into a recipient of God’s grace.
• 1 Timothy 2: Paul outlines instructions on prayer for all people—including civil authorities—and provides guidance on orderly conduct and roles in public worship.
• 1 Timothy 3: Paul sets forth the essential moral and spiritual qualifications for overseers (elders) and deacons, emphasizing that leaders must be above reproach.
• 1 Timothy 4: Paul warns against end-times apostasy and ascetic false teachings, encouraging Timothy to set an example for believers in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity.

As you work through these chapters this week, reflect on how God calls every believer—not just formal pastors—to live a life above reproach. How can you set a godly example in your everyday speech and actions this week?

Welcome to Week 28 of our journey through the New Testament!

This week we are finishing Paul’s first letter to Timothy before moving into his short but powerful letter to Titus.

Book Intro: Titus

Written by Paul around AD 63–65 (around the same time as 1 Timothy), this pastoral letter is addressed to Titus, a Gentile convert and close partner in Paul’s missionary work. Paul had left Titus on Crete—a Mediterranean island known in the ancient world for its unruly, dishonest, and contentious culture—to help organize and guide the young churches there.

The central theme of Titus is that truth leads to godliness. Paul writes to give Titus practical instructions on establishing qualified church leadership, refuting false teachers, and helping believers live out their faith in everyday life. In a surrounding culture that prized self-indulgence and division, Paul emphasizes that saving grace isn’t just about future hope—it actively trains us to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives today. Good works don’t save us, but they are the natural result of a life transformed by God’s mercy.

This Week’s Overview

• 1 Timothy 5: Paul gives instructions on how the church should care for widows, honor faithful elders, and maintain healthy boundaries and accountability within the community.
• 1 Timothy 6: Paul tackles the dangers of greed, calling believers to contentment, and urges Timothy to pursue true godliness while guarding the gospel entrusted to him.
• Titus 1: Paul introduces the letter, outlining the qualifications for elders and emphasizing the need for godly leaders who can stand firm against false teaching in Crete.
• Titus 2: Paul explains how the gospel applies to everyday life across every demographic—older men, older women, young women, and young men—showing how grace transforms our character and witness.
• Titus 3: Paul reminds believers to submit to authority, avoid useless arguments, and focus on doing good, rooted in the mercy and regeneration brought by Jesus Christ.

As you read this week, ask yourself: How is God’s grace actively shaping my daily conduct and making my faith visible to those around me?

Welcome to Week 29!

This week marks a poignant transition in our reading plan as we finish Paul’s final written letter and shift our focus to the fast-paced narrative of the Gospel of Mark. Mixing in a gospel here will help us to keep the life and teachings of Jesus at the center of the story.

Book Intro: 2 Timothy

Written around AD 66–67, 2 Timothy is Paul’s final letter, composed from a dark Roman prison cell while awaiting execution under Emperor Nero. Unlike his earlier house arrest in Acts, Paul is now in chains, abandoned by many, and aware that his life is drawing to a close. He writes to Timothy, his spiritual son and trusted partner in ministry, urging him to remain bold, guard the gospel, endure hardship, and faithfully carry on the work of ministry. It stands as a powerful testament to unyielding faith in the face of suffering.

Book Intro: Mark

The Gospel of Mark is widely understood to be the earliest gospel written, likely authored by John Mark (a companion of both Peter and Paul) around AD 68. Mark’s target audience was primarily Roman believers facing intense trial and persecution under Nero. To encourage them, Mark presents Jesus as the Servant-King—a man of power and action who came not to be served, but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many. It is the shortest of the four gospels, focusing more on what Jesus did than what He said, moving quickly from one event to the next.

What We’re Reading This Week

• 2 Timothy 1: Paul encourages Timothy to fan into flame the gift of God within him, reminding him that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
• 2 Timothy 2: Paul uses vivid pictures—a soldier, an athlete, and a farmer—to illustrate the endurance, discipline, and hard work required to faithfully pass on the gospel message.
• 2 Timothy 3: Paul warns of the difficult times in the last days and anchors Timothy in the inspiration and authority of Scripture, which equips believers for every good work.
• 2 Timothy 4: Paul delivers his solemn final charge to preach the Word, reflecting on his own life with confidence: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith”.
• Mark 1: We kick off the Gospel of Mark with a burst of action—starting with John the Baptist, Jesus’s baptism and temptation, the calling of the first disciples, and Jesus immediately displaying authority over sickness and demons.

As you read this week, notice the contrast between Paul’s final words at the end of his earthly journey and Jesus’s bold first steps at the start of His public ministry. Both point us toward a radical devotion to the kingdom of God.

Where in your life is God calling you to stand firm, fan your faith into flame, and follow Him with urgency this week?

Welcome to Week 30!

This week we dive fully into the action-packed narrative of the Gospel of Mark. As Jesus’s public ministry gains momentum, we see Him breaking social barriers, healing the broken, silencing evil spirits, and revealing the true nature of God’s kingdom through powerful parables.

What We’re Reading This Week

• Mark 2: Jesus demonstrates His authority to forgive sins by healing a paralyzed man. He calls Levi the tax collector, dines with sinners, and challenges religious traditionalists on fasting and the Sabbath.
• Mark 3: Tensions rise as religious leaders plot against Jesus after He heals a man’s withered hand on the Sabbath. Jesus appoints the twelve apostles and responds to accusations by pointing out that a house divided against itself cannot stand.
• Mark 4: Jesus teaches the crowds using powerful parables—including the Parable of the Sower and the Mustard Seed—explaining how the kingdom of God grows quietly yet irresistibly. Later, He shows authority over creation by calming a furious storm.
• Mark 5: Jesus displays authority over spiritual forces, physical disease, and death itself as He casts out a legion of demons, heals a woman with a chronic illness, and raises Jairus’s daughter.
• Mark 6: Jesus is rejected in His hometown of Nazareth, sends out the twelve disciples on mission, feeds five thousand people with five loaves and two fish, and walks on water.

As you read through these five chapters, pay attention to how Jesus uses His authority—not to dominate or oppress, but to serve, heal, and set people free.

What storm, limitation, or burden in your life do you need to place under the authority of Jesus this week?

Welcome to Week 31!

We are continuing our fast-paced journey through the Gospel of Mark. As Jesus’s public ministry grows, so does both the passion of His followers and the hostility of His opponents. This week we see Jesus expanding His ministry beyond traditional boundaries, challenging religious formalism, and revealing the cost and clarity of true discipleship.

What We’re Reading This Week

• Mark 7: Jesus confronts the Pharisees over human traditions that bypass God’s heart, teaching that true defilement comes from within the human heart, not from unwashed hands. He then travels outside Israel to heal a Syrophoenician woman’s daughter and a deaf-mute man.
• Mark 8: Jesus feeds four thousand people, refuses to give a sign to demanding religious leaders, and opens a blind man’s eyes in stages. Peter declares Jesus to be the Messiah, but when Jesus predicts His coming death and resurrection, Peter protests—leading Jesus to lay out the radical cost of discipleship.
• Mark 9: Jesus is transfigured on a mountain before Peter, James, and John, displaying His divine glory alongside Moses and Elijah. Upon descending, He drives out a stubborn demon, teaches His disciples about true greatness through humility, and warns against causing others to stumble.
• Mark 10: Jesus addresses marriage, divorce, and the value of children. He meets the rich young ruler, highlighting how wealth can hinder faith, and redefines leadership: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many”. The chapter concludes with the healing of blind Bartimaeus.
• Mark 11: Jesus makes His triumphant entry into Jerusalem on a colt, curses a fruitless fig tree, and drives the money changers out of the temple courts, asserting His divine authority.

As you read these chapters, notice how Jesus consistently flips worldly standards upside down—prioritizing heart posture over empty religious tradition, sacrifice over self-preservation, and humble service over status.

Where in your life might Jesus be calling you to surrender status, wealth, or self-interest in order to follow Him more fully this week?

Welcome to Week 32!

This week we bring our journey through the Gospel of Mark to its climax as we walk through Jesus’s final days in Jerusalem, His trial, crucifixion, and resurrection.

What We’re Reading This Week

• Mark 12: Jesus clashes with various religious leaders over taxes, the resurrection, and the greatest commandment. He commends a poor widow’s radical generosity, showing that God looks at the posture of the heart rather than outward displays.
• Mark 13: Standing near the temple, Jesus warns His disciples about coming persecution, deceptive false leaders, and the destruction of Jerusalem, calling them to remain alert, faithful, and watchful.
• Mark 14: The story turns toward the cross as a woman anointed Jesus with expensive perfume, Judas agrees to betray Him, and Jesus shares the Passover meal with His disciples, instituting the Lord’s Supper. Later that night, Jesus prays in anguish in Gethsemane before being arrested, put on trial before the Sanhedrin, and denied by Peter.
• Mark 15: Handed over to Pontius Pilate, Jesus is mocked, beaten, and sentenced to death. He is crucified at Golgotha, carries the weight of human sin, and dies as darkness covers the land before being laid in a tomb by Joseph of Arimathea.
• Mark 16: Women arrive at the tomb early on Sunday morning only to find the stone rolled away and an angel proclaiming that Jesus has risen! The gospel ends with the resurrected Christ commissioning His followers to preach the good news to all creation.

As you read these chapters, notice how Mark highlights both the intense cost Jesus paid and the ultimate victory of the resurrection.

How does knowing that Jesus willingly endured the cross for you change how you face challenges or sacrifices in your own life this week?

Welcome to Week 33!

This week we begin 1 Peter, pivoting from the gospels, Acts, and Paul’s letters to the general epistles. Written to early believers scattered across Asia Minor, this letter provides a powerful blueprint for standing firm in faith during times of trial, exile, and hostility.

Book Intro: 1 Peter

1 Peter was written around AD 62–64 by the Apostle Peter, likely from Rome (which he symbolically refers to as “Babylon”). The original readers were predominantly Gentile converts living as marginalized minorities across northern Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). Facing verbal abuse, social ostracization, and localized persecution for abandoning their old pagan lifestyles, these Christians were struggling to find their footing. Peter writes to remind them of their true identity in Christ—as “elect exiles”—and to encourage them to stand fast in the true grace of God, showing that suffering for doing good is a mark of sharing in Christ’s ultimate glory.

What We’re Reading This Week

• 1 Peter 1: Peter opens with a song of praise for the “living hope” anchored in Jesus’s resurrection. He explains that trials serve to refine our faith like gold and calls believers to live holy lives set apart for God.
• 1 Peter 2: Describing believers as “living stones” being built into a spiritual house, Peter highlights our collective identity as a royal priesthood. He urges Christians to live honorably before an unbelieving world, submitting to governing authorities and enduring unjust suffering by following Christ’s example.
• 1 Peter 3: Peter addresses dynamics within Christian marriages and offers practical wisdom for handling opposition. He calls for unity, sympathy, and humility, encouraging believers to always be prepared to give a gentle reason for the hope within them.
• 1 Peter 4: Reminding us that Christ suffered in the flesh, Peter urges believers to abandon worldly passions and steward their spiritual gifts for God’s glory. He reframes fiery trials not as something strange, but as an opportunity to share in the sufferings of Christ.
• 1 Peter 5: Peter offers shepherd-like counsel to church elders, urging them to lead willingly and humbly. He calls the entire church to clothe themselves in humility, cast their anxieties on God, and remain sober-minded and alert against the adversary.

As you read through these five chapters, pay attention to how Peter grounds practical daily endurance in the certainty of our eternal hope.

Where in your life are you feeling like an “alien” or facing friction because of your faith, and how can Peter’s encouragement to cast your cares on God strengthen you this week?

Welcome to Week 34!

This week we complete Peter’s second letter and transition into the profound, deeply theological letter to the Hebrews. Together, these passages urge us to hold fast to divine truth, guard against false teaching, and recognize the supreme glory of Jesus Christ.

Book Intro: 2 Peter

Written by the Apostle Peter around AD 65–68 shortly before his martyrdom in Rome, 2 Peter serves as his urgent farewell address. Unlike 1 Peter, which focused heavily on enduring external hostility, 2 Peter targets internal threats—specifically false teachers who were distorting Christian freedom, denying the return of Christ, and promoting immoral living. Peter writes to remind believers of the reliability of the gospel and to urge them to grow in Christian virtue.

Book Intro: Hebrews

The author of Hebrews remains anonymous, though the letter was likely written before AD 70 to Jewish Christians who were experiencing persecution and social pressure. Tempted to abandon their faith in Christ and return to the familiar rituals of Judaism, these believers needed a powerful reminder of who Jesus is. The author writes a masterpiece of theology showing that Jesus is superior to angels, prophets, the Old Covenant, and the ancient priesthood—and that turning away from Him means walking away from the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promises.

What We’re Reading This Week

• 2 Peter 1: Peter outlines how God’s divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness. He urges believers to make every effort to add virtue, knowledge, and self-control to their faith, anchoring his teaching on eyewitness testimony and inspired Scripture.
• 2 Peter 2: Peter delivers a stern warning against false teachers, describing their deceitful methods, moral bankruptcy, and ultimate judgment, while reassuring believers that God knows how to rescue the godly from trials.
• 2 Peter 3: Addressing scoffers who doubt the Lord’s return, Peter explains that God is not slow in keeping His promise, but patient, wanting all to come to repentance. He calls us to live holy lives in anticipation of the new heavens and new earth.
• Hebrews 1: The author opens with a declaration that Jesus is God’s supreme and final revelation. As the exact representation of God’s being, Jesus holds all things together and is vastly superior to the angels.
• Hebrews 2: The author issues a warning not to drift away from the gospel, explaining why Jesus became fully human: to conquer death, break the power of the devil, and become a merciful and faithful high priest for His people.

As you read through these chapters, pay attention to the call to stay spiritually vigilant and grounded in the truth.

Where in your spiritual life might you be tempted to drift, and how can keeping your eyes fixed on Jesus help you stand firm this week?

Welcome to Week 35!

This week we press deeper into the book of Hebrews, moving from the opening argument of Christ’s superiority over angels into a rich exploration of Jesus as our ultimate High Priest and the true source of eternal rest.

What We’re Reading This Week

• Hebrews 3: The author compares Jesus with Moses, showing that while Moses was a faithful servant in God’s house, Jesus is the Son over the house. We are warned against developing a hardened, unbelieving heart like the wilderness generation.
• Hebrews 4: We are invited to enter God’s Sabbath rest through faith rather than self-reliant striving. The author highlights the active, discerning power of God’s Word and encourages us to draw near with confidence to our sympathetic High Priest.
• Hebrews 5: The author introduces Jesus’s priesthood according to the order of Melchizedek, noting how Christ learned obedience through suffering. The chapter ends with a call to grow past spiritual milk into solid spiritual food.
• Hebrews 6: A sober call to press on toward spiritual maturity, accompanied by strong warnings against falling away. The author grounds our assurance in the unchangeable character of God’s promises, which serve as an anchor for the soul.
• Hebrews 7: The mysterious figure of Melchizedek is fully unpacked to demonstrate how Jesus’s eternal, indestructible priesthood supersedes the temporary Levitical priesthood of the Old Covenant.

As you read these chapters, notice how the author continually points to Jesus as the secure anchor for our lives—one who understands our weaknesses and holds an unchangeable priesthood on our behalf.

In what area of your life are you relying on your own strength rather than resting in the finished, priestly work of Jesus this week?

Welcome to Week 36!

This week we reach the heart of the book of Hebrews as we explore how the New Covenant in Jesus fulfills and supersedes the Old Covenant, culminating in one of the most famous passages in all of Scripture on the power of enduring faith.

What We’re Reading This Week

• Hebrews 8: The author contrasts the earthly sanctuary with the heavenly sanctuary where Jesus ministers. Quoting Jeremiah, the author shows that Jesus is the mediator of a better covenant with better promises, making the Old Covenant obsolete.
• Hebrews 9: We take a detailed look at the Old Testament Tabernacle, its sacred rituals, and the animal sacrifices offered under the Old Covenant. The author demonstrates how Christ entered the holy place once for all, obtaining eternal redemption through His own blood rather than the blood of goats and calves.
• Hebrews 10: The author explains that animal sacrifices were only a shadow of the good things to come and could never permanently take away sins. Jesus’s ultimate, one-time sacrifice cleanses our consciences, opening a new and living way for us to draw near to God with full assurance of faith.
• Hebrews 11: Known as the “Hall of Faith,” this chapter defines true faith and showcases a powerful gallery of Old Testament heroes—including Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, and Moses—who trusted God’s promises even when they couldn’t see the immediate fulfillment.
• Hebrews 12: Surrounded by this “great cloud of witnesses,” we are called to throw off every hindrance and sin, fixing our eyes on Jesus as the author and perfecter of our faith. The author reminds us that God disciplines those He loves and invites us to endure trials as citizens of an unshakable kingdom.

As you read these chapters, notice how the ultimate, finished work of Christ gives us the confidence to persevere through hardship without shrinking back.

In light of the heroes who walked by faith before us, what weight or sin do you need to throw off this week so you can run your race with endurance?

Welcome to Week 37!

This week we wrap up the book of Hebrews, take a powerful one-chapter pit stop in the letter of Jude, and begin a brand-new journey into the Gospel of Matthew!

Book Intro: Jude

Written by Jude, a half-brother of Jesus and brother of James, this short, punchy letter was likely written between AD 65 and 80. Jude originally intended to write a joyful letter about shared salvation, but felt compelled to shift gears and issue an urgent warning. Deceptive false teachers had slipped into the church, distorting God’s grace as a license for immoral living and denying Jesus’s authority. Jude writes to urge believers to actively “contend for the faith” while remaining anchored in God’s love and mercy.

Book Intro: Matthew

Written by Matthew (also known as Levi), a former tax collector turned disciple, this gospel acts as the primary bridge between the Old Testament and the story of Jesus. Written mainly for a Jewish audience in the mid-to-late 1st century, Matthew’s central goal is to demonstrate that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah, the Son of David, and the true King who fulfills the Old Testament law and prophets.

What We’re Reading This Week

• Hebrews 13: The author concludes Hebrews with practical exhortations on brotherly love, hospitality, honoring marriage, avoiding love for money, and respecting leaders, ending with a call to follow Jesus outside the camp.
• Jude 1: Jude issues a passionate call to defend the faith against false teachers, recounting Old Testament warnings of judgment and urging believers to build themselves up in holy faith while showing mercy to others.
• Matthew 1: Matthew opens with the genealogy of Jesus, highlighting His royal lineage through Abraham and David, followed by the miraculous account of His virgin birth.
• Matthew 2: We read of the visit from the Wise Men, King Herod’s jealous plot, the holy family’s escape to Egypt, and their eventual return to settle in Nazareth.
• Matthew 3: John the Baptist preaches in the wilderness, calling the people to repentance, before baptizing Jesus as the Holy Spirit descends and the Father declares His delight in the Son.

As you move from the final exhortations of the Epistles into the opening pages of Matthew, pay attention to how God’s long-unfolding promises throughout history culminate in the arrival of Jesus.

How does seeing God’s faithfulness in sending the Messiah build your confidence to contend for your faith and trust Him in your daily life this week?

Welcome to Week 38!

As we continue in the Gospel of Matthew, we transition from Jesus’s baptism and initial calling into the heart of His early ministry. This week features the famous Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus sets forth the foundational principles and radical ethics of the kingdom of heaven.

What We’re Reading This Week

• Matthew 4: Jesus faces and overcomes temptation in the wilderness, begins preaching His message of repentance, calls His first disciples by the Sea of Galilee, and heals crowds throughout the region.
• Matthew 5: Jesus begins the Sermon on the Mount with the Beatitudes, calling His followers to be salt and light while redefining righteousness to address the motives of the heart.
• Matthew 6: Continuing His sermon, Jesus teaches on sincere giving, prayer (including the Lord’s Prayer), and fasting, urging His disciples to seek first God’s kingdom rather than worrying about daily needs.
• Matthew 7: Jesus concludes the Sermon on the Mount with warnings against hypocritical judgment, encouragement to ask and seek God, and the illustration of building one’s life on the solid rock of His words.
• Matthew 8: Descending from the mountain, Jesus backs up His authority with actions—healing a leper, a Roman centurion’s servant, and Peter’s mother-in-law, before calming a storm and casting out demons.

As you read through these chapters, pay attention to how Jesus doesn’t just lower or raise expectations—He redefines what true obedience and life in God’s kingdom look like from the inside out.

Which teaching from the Sermon on the Mount speaks most directly to an area where God is asking you to align your heart with His this week?

Welcome to Week 39!

This week we press further into the Gospel of Matthew as Jesus expands His ministry, commissions His disciples, and faces escalating opposition from those who refuse to recognize His authority.

What We’re Reading This Week

• Matthew 9: Jesus displays His authority over sin, sickness, and death—healing a paralyzed man, calling Matthew the tax collector, restoring a ruler’s daughter, and giving sight to the blind. Moved with compassion for the helpless crowds, He urges His disciples to pray for workers in the harvest.
• Matthew 10: Jesus equips His twelve apostles and sends them out on mission. He provides clear instructions and sober warnings, preparing them for the cost of discipleship, opposition, and persecution they will encounter for His sake.
• Matthew 11: John the Baptist sends word from prison to confirm Jesus’s identity. Jesus validates John’s ministry, rebukes the unrepentant cities that witnessed His miracles, and issues a beautiful invitation: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”.
• Matthew 12: Tensions rise as the Pharisees confront Jesus over Sabbath keeping. After He heals a man with a withered hand and casts out a demon, His critics accuse Him of using satanic power. Jesus refutes their claim, warns against blaspheming the Holy Spirit, and points to the sign of Jonah.
• Matthew 13: Jesus teaches the crowds using a series of kingdom parables—including the sower, the weeds, the mustard seed, the leaven, the hidden treasure, and the pearl of great price—revealing how the kingdom grows and who truly possesses ears to hear.

As you read these chapters, notice the growing divide between those who receive Jesus with faith and those who harden their hearts against Him.

In the midst of your daily busyness and burdens, how can you respond to Jesus’s invitation this week to come to Him and find true rest for your soul?

Welcome to Week 40!

As we reach the middle section of the Gospel of Matthew, the tension between Jesus and the religious establishment intensifies, while the revelation of who He truly is becomes crystal clear to His closest followers.

What We’re Reading This Week

• Matthew 14: Following the tragic execution of John the Baptist, Jesus feeds five thousand men plus women and children with five loaves and two fish, walks on the water toward His terrified disciples, and heals all who touch the fringe of His garment.
• Matthew 15: Jesus confronts the Pharisees over traditions that nullify God’s commandments, teaches that true defilement comes from the human heart, heals a Canaanite woman’s demon-possessed daughter, and feeds another miraculous crowd of four thousand.
• Matthew 16: Jesus warns against the corrupting influence of religious leaders, asks His disciples the crucial question—”Who do you say I am?”—and commends Peter’s divine declaration that He is the Messiah before outlining the self-denying cost of cross-bearing discipleship.
• Matthew 17: Jesus is transfigured in radiant glory before Peter, James, and John alongside Moses and Elijah. After descending the mountain, He heals an epileptic boy His disciples couldn’t deliver, predicts His death and resurrection once again, and provides tax money through a fish’s mouth.
• Matthew 18: Jesus addresses kingdom dynamics, teaching that true greatness requires child-like humility. He warns severely against causing little ones to stumble, outlines a restorative process for church discipline, and delivers the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant to emphasize radical forgiveness.

As you move through these chapters, pay close attention to the contrast between external performance and internal heart transformation. Jesus continually points us past surface-level religious duty to genuine trust, humility, and grace.

Who does your daily life show Jesus to be, and how is He inviting you to step out in deeper faith or offer forgiveness to someone this week?

Welcome to Week 41!

This week we continue our walk through the Gospel of Matthew as Jesus makes His final journey toward Jerusalem. The tension rises sharply as Jesus addresses tough real-world issues, enters the holy city as King, and directly confronts the hypocritical religious establishment.

What We’re Reading This Week

• Matthew 19: Jesus teaches on marriage, divorce, and celibacy, welcomes little children, and challenges a rich young ruler to surrender his wealth, reminding His disciples how difficult it is for the self-reliant to enter the kingdom of heaven.
• Matthew 20: Jesus tells the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard to illustrate God’s countercultural grace. He predicts His death and resurrection for the third time, redefines greatness through humble service, and restores sight to two blind men.
• Matthew 21: Jesus makes His Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem on a donkey, clears the temple of corrupt money changers, curses a fruitless fig tree, and exposes the religious leaders through the parables of the two sons and the wicked tenants.
• Matthew 22: Jesus presents the Parable of the Wedding Feast and masterfully dismantles trapped questions from the Pharisees, Herodians, and Sadducees regarding taxes, the resurrection, and the greatest commandment.
• Matthew 23: In a striking public address, Jesus pronounces seven severe “woes” on the scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy and spiritual blind spots, ending with a heart-wrenching lament over Jerusalem.

As you read through these chapters, notice how Jesus refuses to compromise the truth to gain popularity—whether dealing with personal relationships, wealth, or religious authority.

Where in your life might Jesus be asking you to drop pretense or religious formality and surrender to His authority this week?

Welcome to Week 42!

This week we bring our journey through the Gospel of Matthew to its powerful climax as Jesus speaks of the end of the age, enters His final hours, completes the work of redemption on the cross, and claims ultimate victory in His resurrection.

What We’re Reading This Week

• Matthew 24: Jesus delivers the Olivet Discourse, warning His disciples about coming tribulations, false messiahs, and the signs of the end of the age. He urges His followers to stay alert, faithful, and ready, as no one knows the day or hour of His return.
• Matthew 25: Through three compelling parables—the ten virgins, the talents, and the sheep and goats—Jesus emphasizes the necessity of spiritual readiness, active stewardship, and practical compassion while awaiting His final judgment.
• Matthew 26: The plot against Jesus solidifies as Judas agrees to betray Him. Jesus shares the Passover meal with His disciples, prays in deep agony in Gethsemane, and is arrested, leading to His trial before the High Priest and Peter’s tragic denial.
• Matthew 27: Handed over to Pilate, Jesus is condemned, brutally mocked by Roman soldiers, and led away to Golgotha to be crucified. He lays down His life for humanity, and following His death and burial, a guard is placed at His tomb.
• Matthew 28: Early on the first day of the week, the angel rolls back the stone to declare that Jesus has risen! The resurrected King meets His disciples and issues the Great Commission to go, make disciples of all nations, and baptize them, promising His presence always.

As you read these pivotal chapters, notice how Jesus moves from warning us to stay ready for His return to giving us the exact mission we are to carry out while we wait.

How can the reality of Christ’s resurrection and His promise to be with you always empower you to live on mission for Him this week?

Welcome to Week 43!

Having completed the Gospel of Matthew, we now shift our focus to the intimate, deeply practical letters of the Apostle John. Known as the “beloved disciple,” John writes to ground believers in the assurance of their salvation, truth, and genuine Christian love.

Book Intro: 1 John

Written by the Apostle John toward the end of the 1st century (around AD 85–95), likely from Ephesus, 1 John was addressed to a network of house churches in Asia Minor. These early Christian communities were suffering from internal disruption caused by early false teachings (proto-Gnosticism). These false teachers denied the true incarnation of Jesus—claiming He only seemed human—and argued that elite spiritual knowledge excused them from ethical living and loving fellow believers. John writes as a spiritual father to expose these errors, offer tests of authentic faith, and reassure genuine believers that they have eternal life.

What We’re Reading This Week

• 1 John 1: John opens with a powerful eyewitness testimony of the incarnate Christ. He emphasizes that walking in the light requires confessing our sins rather than denying them, relying on the cleansing blood of Jesus.
• 1 John 2: John presents Jesus as our advocate before the Father and outlines core tests of true faith: obeying God’s commands, loving one another, rejecting the corrupt values of the world, and guarding against antichrists who deny Jesus as the Messiah.
• 1 John 3: Reflecting on the incredible love God has poured out to call us His children, John highlights the contrast between living in sin and practicing righteousness. He calls believers to love not merely in words, but in active truth and deed.
• 1 John 4: John urges the church to test every spirit to discern whether it originates from God. He grounds Christian love in God’s nature—”God is love”—and points to the cross as the supreme demonstration of that love, which drives out fear.
• 1 John 5: John wraps up by pointing to faith in Jesus as the victory that overcomes the world. He emphasizes the testimony God has given about His Son and concludes with a confident assurance of answered prayer and eternal life.

As you read these chapters, notice how John repeatedly circles back to three core themes: right belief about Jesus, radical love for others, and righteous living.

Which of those three areas—truth, love, or obedience—is God calling you to lean into more deeply this week?

Welcome to Week 44!

This week we wrap up the short personal letters of the Apostle John and step directly into the breathtaking vision of the book of Revelation.

Book Intros: 2 John & 3 John

Written by the Apostle John near the end of the 1st century, these two brief letters offer a rare personal glimpse into the life of the late 1st-century church. In 2 John, John writes to “the elect lady and her children” (a local church community) to warn against showing hospitality to itinerant false teachers who deny the incarnation of Christ. In 3 John, he writes to a trusted leader named Gaius, commending his generous hospitality toward true gospel workers while warning against Diotrephes, an arrogant church leader who refused apostolic authority and pushed believers away. Together, both letters highlight the crucial balance of truth, love, and hospitality.

Book Intro: Revelation

The book of Revelation was written around AD 95 by the Apostle John, who was the last living disciple of Jesus, while exiled for his faith on the rocky island of Patmos. Written during a time of intense Roman oppression and cultural compromise under Emperor Domitian, Revelation was addressed to seven historical churches in Asia Minor. Using vivid apocalyptic language, Old Testament imagery, and symbolic visions, John lifts the veil on reality to reassure struggling Christians that Jesus Christ is the ultimate King, evil is defeated, and God’s sovereign plan for history will prevail.

What We’re Reading This Week

• 2 John 1: John emphasizes the inseparable link between truth and love, urging the church to obey God’s commands and refuse hospitality to deceptive teachers who deny Jesus coming in the flesh.
• 3 John 1: John commends Gaius for supporting traveling missionaries, contrasts his faithful heart with the self-exalting leader Diotrephes, and encourages us to imitate what is good.
• Revelation 1: John sets the scene from Patmos, delivering a vision of the resurrected, glorified Jesus standing in majesty among seven golden lampstands, holding the keys of death and Hades.
• Revelation 2: Jesus addresses four specific churches—Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, and Thyatira—offering commendation, conviction, and promises to those who overcome trials and false teaching.
• Revelation 3: Jesus speaks to the remaining three churches—Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea—rebuking spiritual deadness and lukewarmness while inviting believers to repent and open the door to Him.

As you read these passages, notice how Jesus speaks directly to the real struggles, strengths, and spiritual health of local churches.

How might Jesus be challenging you to stay spiritually awake, hold fast to truth, and keep your love for Him vibrant this week?

Welcome to Week 45!

We are stepping into the heart of the throne room of heaven as our journey through Revelation continues. After hearing Jesus’s direct messages to the seven churches in chapters 1–3, the scene shifts dramatically as John is pulled into the heavenly realm to witness God’s supreme authority over human history.

What We’re Reading This Week

• Revelation 4: John is taken in the Spirit up to heaven, where he sees God enthroned in unimaginable glory, surrounded by twenty-four elders, four living creatures, and unceasing worship.
• Revelation 5: A scroll sealed with seven seals appears in the right hand of God, but no one is found worthy to open it until the “Lion of the tribe of Judah”—appearing as a slain Lamb—steps forward to receive divine praise and take the scroll.
• Revelation 6: The Lamb begins breaking the seals one by one, unleashing the famous four horsemen, the cries of the martyrs for justice, and cosmic disruptions that shake the earth.
• Revelation 7: God pauses judgment to place a protective seal on 144,000 servants, after which John sees an innumerable multitude from every nation, tribe, and tongue worshipping God before His throne.
• Revelation 8: The seventh seal is opened, leading to solemn silence in heaven before incense and prayers ascend, and the first four trumpets sound judgments on the earth, seas, waters, and sky.

As you read these chapters, notice how every judgment and event on earth unfolds directly under the sovereign reign of God on His throne. Even when judgment breaks out, God’s ultimate desire to protect and preserve His redeemed people remains central.

How does fixing your eyes on the reality of God’s heavenly throne bring you peace and perspective amidst the chaos or uncertainty in your own world this week?

Welcome to Week 46!

This week we continue navigating the apocalyptic imagery of Revelation as the heavenly drama unfolds. As trumpet judgments sound and cosmic conflicts rage, John’s vision reminds us that God remains in complete control, working out His ultimate plan to defeat evil and redeem His creation.

What We’re Reading This Week

• Revelation 9: The fifth and sixth trumpets sound, releasing demonic torment from the bottomless pit and a massive army of judgment. Despite these severe warnings, humanity obstinately refuses to repent of its idolatry and wickedness.
• Revelation 10: An angel holding a small, open scroll appears. John is instructed to take the scroll and eat it—finding it sweet as honey in his mouth, but sour in his stomach—symbolizing the bittersweet nature of God’s prophetic truth.
• Revelation 11: John measures the temple before two witnesses preach with miraculous power, die, and are resurrected. The seventh trumpet then blasts, declaring that the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ.
• Revelation 12: John witnesses a symbolic cosmic conflict featuring a woman clothed with the sun, a child destined to rule, and a great red dragon (Satan). War breaks out in heaven, and the dragon is thrown down to earth, intensifying his attack on God’s people.
• Revelation 13: Two allies of the dragon emerge: a beast from the sea representing oppressive political power, and a beast from the earth forcing allegiance and the mark of the beast. Believers are called to endurance and faithful resistance in the face of spiritual deception.

As you read these vivid chapters, notice how spiritual warfare isn’t just an abstract idea—it actively impacts real choices, allegiances, and loyalties. Even when evil seems overwhelming, Christ’s ultimate victory is guaranteed.

How does knowing that Satan is a defeated enemy encourage you to stand firm in your faith and resist compromise this week?

Welcome to Week 47!

As we move into the final chapters of the book of Revelation, the vision shifts from warnings and cosmic turmoil to the swift execution of divine justice and the fall of Babylon. This week, John shows us the ultimate contrast between the corrupt systems of the fallen world and the unyielding holiness of God.

What We’re Reading This Week

• Revelation 14: John sees the 144,000 standing victorious with the Lamb on Mount Zion. Three angels proclaim the everlasting gospel and announce the fall of Babylon, followed by a vision of the Son of Man harvesting the earth.
• Revelation 15: Seven angels holding the final seven plagues—which will complete God’s wrath—appear in heaven, while those who conquered the beast sing the song of Moses and the Lamb.
• Revelation 16: The seven bowls of God’s wrath are poured out in rapid succession upon the earth, striking the soil, seas, rivers, sun, beast’s throne, and the River Euphrates, culminating in the battle of Armageddon and a massive earthquake.
• Revelation 17: One of the angels shows John the judgment of the “great prostitute”—symbolizing corrupt, seductive global systems—sitting on a scarlet beast, revealing the mystery of the woman and her temporary power.
• Revelation 18: An angel with great authority announces the final, dramatic collapse of Babylon. The kings, merchants, and sea captains who profited from her corruption weep as her judgment arrives in a single hour.

As you read these chapters, notice how human history is not spinning out of control—every system built on pride, injustice, and opposition to God has an expiration date.

Where might you be tempted to place your trust or security in the fleeting systems of this world, and how can you align your heart more fully with God’s unshakable kingdom this week?

Welcome to Week 48!

This week we witness the culmination of the book of Revelation before turning our pages to begin our final book in the New Testament reading plan: the Gospel of John!

Book Intro: John

After writing Revelation, John returned to Ephesus in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), where he spent his final years leading and teaching in the local churches. It was during this final period in Ephesus that John is traditionally believed to have composed his Gospel (along with 1, 2, and 3 John) to address emerging theological challenges in the region.

While the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) focus heavily on the historical narrative and parables of Jesus’s ministry, John offers a deeply spiritual, theological perspective designed to unveil Jesus’s divine identity. Writing to both Jewish and Gentile audiences, John explicitly states his purpose in John 20:31: “These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

What We’re Reading This Week

• Revelation 19: Heaven erupts in praise over the final fall of Babylon, celebrating the marriage supper of the Lamb. Jesus returns as the King of Kings on a white horse, striking down the forces of darkness and casting the beast and false prophet into the lake of fire.
• Revelation 20: Satan is bound for a thousand years, released briefly for a final failed rebellion, and thrown into the lake of fire. The Great White Throne Judgment takes place, where all whose names are not found in the Book of Life are judged.
• Revelation 21: God reveals a new heaven and a new earth, where He makes His dwelling place directly among His people. The Holy City, New Jerusalem, comes down, free from all sorrow, death, pain, and crying.
• Revelation 22: The vision closes with the river of the water of life and the tree of life, offering full restoration. Jesus declares His swift return, inviting all who hear to come and drink freely from the water of life.
• John 1: John opens his gospel with a profound prologue, presenting Jesus as the eternal “Word” (Logos) made flesh who reveals God’s light and grace to the world. John the Baptist testifies to Jesus as the Lamb of God, and Jesus calls His first disciples.

As you bridge the final triumph of Revelation with the opening declaration of John, marvel at how the cosmic King who renews all creation is the very same Word who stepped into human history to walk among us.

How does knowing that the eternal God became flesh to bring you light and life change the way you walk through your daily routine this week?

Welcome to Week 49!

As we dive into our first full week in the Gospel of John, we witness Jesus launching His public ministry through radical signs, life-changing conversations, and bold declarations of His divine authority.

What We’re Reading This Week

• John 2: Jesus performs His first miraculous sign at a wedding in Cana by turning water into wine, demonstrating His power to bring new life, before traveling to Jerusalem to clear the temple of corrupt money changers.
• John 3: Nicodemus, a prominent Pharisee, visits Jesus under the cover of night. Jesus teaches him about the necessity of being “born again” by the Spirit and reveals God’s immense love in sending His Son to save the world.
• John 4: Jesus breaks cultural, racial, and gender barriers by speaking with a Samaritan woman at a well, offering her “living water” that satisfies eternally, before traveling to Galilee to heal an official’s dying son.
• John 5: Jesus heals a paralyzed man at the Pool of Bethesda on the Sabbath, sparking intense hostility from religious leaders. Jesus responds by clearly declaring His equality with God the Father and His authority over life and judgment.
• John 6: After feeding five thousand people with five loaves and two fish and walking on water to His disciples, Jesus identifies Himself as the “Bread of Life,” challenging the crowd to seek eternal sustenance rather than temporary, physical bread.

As you read these chapters, pay attention to the personal interactions Jesus has with individuals from every walk of life—from a religious scholar to an outcast Samaritan woman. Jesus consistently looks past surface appearances to offer true spiritual transformation and eternal life.

Which character in this week’s readings do you identify with most, and how is Jesus inviting you to experience His “living water” or “bread of life” today?

Welcome to Week 50!

We are right in the thick of the Gospel of John, as Jesus steps directly into the religious heart of Jerusalem during major Jewish festivals, making bold, undeniable claims about His divine identity.

What We’re Reading This Week

• John 7: Jesus travels to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles amid growing public debate about His identity. He teaches openly in the temple courts, promises the Holy Spirit as “rivers of living water” to all who believe, and leaves the religious authorities divided over whether to arrest Him.
• John 8: Confronting a group of Pharisees trying to trap Him, Jesus offers grace to a woman caught in adultery. He declares Himself the “Light of the World” and delivers a stinging rebuke on spiritual lineage, concluding with the powerful divine claim: “Before Abraham was born, I am”.
• John 9: Jesus heals a man born blind on the Sabbath, sparking an intense investigation by the religious leaders. While the formerly blind man gains increasingly clear spiritual insight, the Pharisees demonstrate profound spiritual blindness.
• John 10: Jesus presents Himself as the Good Shepherd who knows His sheep by name and willingly lays down His life for them. At the Feast of Dedication, He plainly states His unity with God (“I and the Father are one”), prompting the crowd to pick up stones once again.
• John 11: Jesus performs one of His most astonishing miracles—raising His friend Lazarus from the dead after four days. Declaring, “I am the resurrection and the life,” Jesus provides an undeniable sign of His authority over death, which ultimately sets the Jewish council on a firm course to plot His execution.

As you move through these chapters, notice how Jesus brings ultimate clarity to dark and confusing situations—offering light, sight, and resurrection life.

Where in your life do you need Jesus to shine His light or step in as your Good Shepherd this week?

Welcome to Week 51!

We are nearing the conclusion of our year-long journey through the New Testament as we enter the upper room with Jesus and His disciples in the Gospel of John. This week Jesus transitions from His public signs to intimate, personal instructions for His closest followers on the eve of His crucifixion.

What We’re Reading This Week

• John 12: Mary of Bethany anoints Jesus’s feet with expensive perfume, Jesus enters Jerusalem as King amid palm branches, and He predicts His impending death, declaring that when He is lifted up, He will draw all people to Himself.
• John 13: Jesus sets the ultimate example of servant leadership by washing His disciples’ feet during the Passover meal. He predicts Judas’s betrayal and Peter’s denial, and gives a new commandment: “Love one another as I have loved you”.
• John 14: Jesus comforts His anxious disciples, declaring Himself “the way, the truth, and the life,” and promises to send the Holy Spirit (the Helper) to abide with them, teach them, and bring them His peace.
• John 15: Using the allegory of the true vine, Jesus calls His followers to abide in Him so they can bear lasting fruit. He redefines them as His friends and warns them that the world will hate them just as it hated Him.
• John 16: Jesus prepares the disciples for coming persecution and elaborates on the ministry of the Holy Spirit, who will convict the world of sin and guide believers into all truth, encouraging them that He has overcome the world.

As you read these chapters, pay attention to the deep intimacy and tenderness Jesus expresses toward His disciples right before His suffering begins. Even with the cross in view, His focus remains on comforting, equipping, and loving His followers.

How does abiding in Jesus as the true vine bring you peace and fruitfulness when facing life’s pressures or uncertainties this week?