Introduction to the Bible

1. Two Weeks on the Life and Teachings of Jesus

Day 1. Luke 1: Preparing for Jesus’ arrival.

Day 2. Luke 2: The story of Jesus’ birth.

Day 3. Mark 1: The beginning of Jesus’ ministry.

Day 4. Mark 9: A day in the life of Jesus.

Day 5. Matthew 5: The Sermon on the Mount.

Day 6. Matthew 6: The Sermon on the Mount.

Day 7. Luke 15: Parables of Jesus.

Day 8. John 3: A conversation with Jesus.

Day 9. John 14: Jesus’ final instructions.

Day 10. John 17: Jesus’ prayer for his disciples.

Day 11. Matthew 26: Betrayal and arrest.

Day 12. Matthew 27: Jesus’ execution on a cross.

Day 13. John 20: Resurrection.

Day 14. Luke 24: Jesus’ appearance after resurrection.

2. Two Weeks on the Life and Teachings of Paul

Day 1. Acts 9: The conversion of Saul.

Day 2. Acts 16: Paul’s Macedonian call and a jailbreak.

Day 3. Acts 17: Scenes from Paul’s missionary journey.

Day 4. Acts 26: Paul tells his life story to a king.

Day 5. Acts 27: Shipwreck on the way to Rome.

Day 6. Acts 28: Paul’s arrival in Rome.

Day 7. Romans 3: Paul’s theology in a nutshell.

Day 8. Romans 7: Struggle with sin.

Day 9. Romans 8: Life in the Spirit.

Day 10. 1 Corinthians 13: Paul’s description of love.

Day 11. 1 Corinthians 15: Thoughts on the afterlife.

Day 12. Galatians 5: Freedom in Christ.

Day 13. Ephesians 3: Paul’s summary of his mission.

Day 14. Philippians 2: Imitating Christ.

3. Two Weeks on the Old Testament

Day 1. Genesis 1: The story of creation.

Day 2. Genesis 3: The origin of sin.

Day 3. Genesis 22: Abraham and Isaac.

Day 4. Exodus 3: Moses’ encounter with God.

Day 5. Exodus 20: The gift of the Ten Commandments.

Day 6. 1 Samuel 17: David and Goliath.

Day 7. 2 Samuel 11: David and Bathsheba.

Day 8. 2 Samuel 12: Nathan’s rebuke of the king.

Day 9. 1 Kings 18: Elijah and the prophets of Baal.

Day 10. Job 38: God’s answer to Job.

Day 11. Psalm 51: A classic confession.

Day 12. Isaiah 40: Words of comfort from God.

Day 13. Daniel 6: Daniel and the lions.

Day 14. Amos 4: A prophet’s stern warning.

More Reading Courses

1. Two Weeks on Becoming a Christian

Day 1. Genesis 3: The first sin creates a need.

Day 2. Isaiah 52: Salvation prophesied.

Day 3. Isaiah 53: The role of the suffering servant.

Day 4. Luke 15: Three stories about God’s love.

Day 5. John 3: Jesus explains “born again.”

Day 6. John 10: The good shepherd.

Day 7. Acts 8: Conversions spread outside the Jewish community.

Day 8. Acts 26: Paul testifies of his conversion before a king.

Day 9. Romans 3: God’s provision for sin.

Day 10. Romans 5: Peace with God.

Day 11. Galatians 3: Salvation unavailable by obeying the law.

Day 12. Ephesians 2: New life in Christ.

Day 13. 1 Peter 1: Future rewards of salvation.

Day 14. 2 Peter 1: Making your salvation sure.

2. Two Weeks on Prayers of the Bible

Day 1. Genesis 18: Abraham’s plea for Sodom.

Day 2. Exodus 15: Moses’ song to the Lord.

Day 3. Exodus 33: Moses meets with God.

Day 4. 2 Samuel 7: David’s response to God’s promises.

Day 5. 1 Kings 8: Solomon’s dedication of the temple.

Day 6. 2 Chronicles 20: Jehoshaphat prays for victory.

Day 7. Ezra 9: Ezra’s prayer for the people’s sins.

Day 8. Psalm 22: A cry to God for help.

Day 9. Psalm 104: A prayer of praise.

Day 10. Daniel 9: Daniel’s prayer for the salvation of Jerusalem.

Day 11. Habakkuk 3: A prophet’s prayer of acceptance.

Day 12. Matthew 6: The Lord’s prayer.

Day 13. John 17: Jesus’ prayer for his disciples.

Day 14. Colossians 1: Paul’s prayer of thanksgiving.

3. Two Weeks on the Holy Spirit

Day 1. Judges 14: The Spirit gives Samson strength.

Day 2. 1 Samuel 10: King Saul’s experience.

Day 3. Matthew 3:1—4:10: Role in Jesus’ baptism and temptation.

Day 4. John 14: Jesus promises the Spirit.

Day 5. John 16: The work of the Spirit.

Day 6. Acts 2: The Spirit comes at Pentecost.

Day 7. Acts 10: The Spirit guides Peter to accept Gentiles.

Day 8. Romans 8: Christians’ victory in the Spirit.

Day 9. 1 Corinthians 2: Wisdom from the Spirit.

Day 10. 1 Corinthians 12: Gifts of the Spirit.

Day 11. 1 Corinthians 14: Gifts of tongues and prophecy.

Day 12. Galatians 5: Life in the Spirit.

Day 13. Ephesians 4: Unity and gifts.

Day 14. 1 John 4: Signs of the Spirit.

4. Two Weeks on Women of the Bible

Day 1. Genesis 2: Eve, the first woman.

Day 2. Genesis 18: Sarah laughs at God’s promise.

Day 3. Genesis 24: Rebekah’s marriage to Isaac.

Day 4. Genesis 27: Rebekah, the manipulative mother

Day 5. Judges 4: Deborah’s leadership frees her people.

Day 6. Ruth 1: Ruth and Naomi’s deep friendship.

Day 7. 1 Samuel 1: Hannah prays for a son.

Day 8. 1 Kings 17: A poor widow and the prophet Elijah.

Day 9. 1 Kings 21: Jezebel, an emblem of wickedness.

Day 10. Esther 2: Esther is chosen as queen.

Day 11. Esther 4: Esther's courage at the risk of death.

Day 12. Luke 1: Mary and Elizabeth receive great news.

Day 13. Luke 2: Mary gives birth to Jesus.

Day 14. John 11: Mary and Martha and their brother's death








Day 3. Matthew 3:1—4:10: Role in Jesus’ baptism and temptation.

[en] Matthew 3:1-4:10

3:1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
4 And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,
6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.