Weekly Bible Reading Forecast: Week 42
Posted in Bible Reading Forecasts | By Bradley Patton | Posted on Sun Oct 17, 2021
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This week we’re covering a lot of ground in Matthew’s gospel. It will help us to keep three things in mind as we read this week. First, Jesus continues preaching about the kingdom of heaven and how it will grow even in the face of resistance. Second, Jesus is focused on teaching and training his disciples – especially during their interactions with the crowds and the Jewish leaders. Third, the conflicts and questions surrounding Jesus are designed to lead readers toward the cross and resurrection in Jerusalem. On the way, Jesus is quoting and interpreting Old Testament passages that shed light on his true identity. When you see a quotation, pause and consider the point Jesus is trying to make with that text.
Weekly Bible Reading Forecast: Week 41
Posted in Bible Reading Forecasts | By Bradley Patton | Posted on Sun Oct 10, 2021
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We’ll conclude Mark this week and move into Matthew. Each Gospel has a different flavor, which we’ll see as we transition from Mark to Matthew. Mark’s Gospel was fast-paced and focused on properly understanding who Jesus is as Christ, Son of God, and Son of Man. Matthew takes a different route to the same perspective. He focuses on Jesus’ fulfillment of OT Scripture, Jesus’ relationship to righteousness and the law, and the authority of Jesus’ teaching.
Weekly Bible Reading Forecast: Week 40
Posted in Bible Reading Forecasts | By Bradley Patton | Posted on Sun Oct 3, 2021
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We’re into the New Testament this week. For the next six and a half weeks, we’ll be in the Gospels. This means we’ll read accounts of Jesus’ life and ministry from four unique perspectives. Before we start, let me remind you that the Gospels are more than “history.” They’re “theological biography.” So, while you may sense that you’re reading the same stories, pay attention to the “accents” of each Gospel writer. Each author has a particular (1) focus through which they’re looking at the person and work of Christ and (2) audience they’re helping to see the person and work of Christ.
Weekly Bible Reading Forecast: Week 39
Posted in Bible Reading Forecasts | By Bradley Patton | Posted on Sun Sep 26, 2021
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We finish the Old Testament this week! Let’s press on! The people of God are returning to the Land. They’re repenting. They’re living faithfully in exile. They’re looking for confirmation of the Lord’s love and for Elijah the prophet who will make straight the way of the Lord.
Weekly Bible Reading Forecast: Week 38
Posted in Bible Reading Forecasts | By Bradley Patton | Posted on Sun Sep 19, 2021
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The time of exile in Babylon is over and about 50,000 people return to Jerusalem. We’ll read first about their efforts to restore the city and the Temple, second about the prophets who encouraged them toward faithfulness, and third about faithful Jews still living in Persia.
Weekly Bible Reading Forecast: Week 37
Posted in Bible Reading Forecasts | By Bradley Patton | Posted on Sun Sep 12, 2021
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This week, we’re covering three books! That’s quite a change from our patterns over the last few weeks. I think a little diversity will keep things interesting for us. We’ll finish Ezekiek with a reversal of what happened at the beginning of the book. Joel will help us see the big picture of the Old Testament. Finally, Daniel will show us what it looks like to be faithful in the midst of an ungodly nation – which should be very relevant for us these days.
Weekly Bible Reading Forecast: Week 36
Posted in Bible Reading Forecasts | By Bradley Patton | Posted on Sun Sep 5, 2021
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We’re staying with Ezekiel this week to cover most of the second half of his prophetic ministry. As I promised last week, here’s part two of the Bible Project video on Ezekiel. We make a turn from judgment to hope in Ezekiel 34 on Thursday. The message of hope is important – especially for people who live in exile, away from their homeland. The apostle Peter speaks the same message in 1 Peter to the “elect exiles in the Dispersion” about the “living hope kept in heaven for them.” As we read Ezekiel, let’s allow the words of hope to point us to Jesus – our living hope who is seated at the right hand of the Father and interceding for us.
Weekly Bible Reading Forecast: Week 35
Posted in Bible Reading Forecasts | By Bradley Patton | Posted on Sun Aug 29, 2021
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Let’s read another prolixitous prophet. Ezekiel saw some crazy things as he sat by the Chebar canal in Babylon with the first phase of Judean exiles. He’s in Babylon while Jeremiah is still in Judah. Here’s part 1 of an overview of the whole book that will get us through this week. Remember, the prophets are primarily concerned with calling Israel back to covenant faithfulness in accord with Moses’ prediction in Deuteronomy 30 that exile will be the punishment for disobedience. Ezekiel is no different. He wants Israel to put away her heart of stone and receive a heart of flesh.
Weekly Bible Reading Forecast: Week 34
Posted in Bible Reading Forecasts | By Bradley Patton | Posted on Sun Aug 22, 2021
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We’ve spent a few weeks now with our friend Jeremiah and we’ll finishing our time with him this week. He’s taken us on a long downward spiral with the people of Judah as they’ve walked the slow march toward exile. Yet amid the suffering and lament he’s shown us glimpses of coming grace from Yahweh for his people. His discipline is sure, but even more certain is his steadfast love which endures forever. As believers on this side of the cross, we can read Jeremiah with hope knowing that the true Shepherd and Righteous Branch is indeed shepherding with justice and reigning in righteousness. He is our God and we are his people. We can stake our whole lives on the steadfast love of the Lord in Jesus Christ.
Weekly Bible Reading Forecast: Week 33
Posted in Bible Reading Forecasts | By Bradley Patton | Posted on Sun Aug 15, 2021
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Jeremiah’s prophetic roller coaster of emotions makes several more loops and turns. Israel’s long, slow slide into exile finally comes to pass. The Chronicler sets the biblical and theological framework for Israel’s return under Ezra/Nehemiah and ultimately the New Testament writers.