Read the Bible: Matthew 4:12-17

 
 

When [Jesus] heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
along the road by the sea, beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles.
The people who live in darkness
have seen a great light,
and for those living in the land of the shadow of death,
a light has dawned.

From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

Matthew 4:12-17 (CSB)

 

 Subscribe in a reader

Read the Bible: Matthew 4:1-11

 
 

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. Then the tempter approached him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”`

Then the devil took him to the holy city, had him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written:

He will give his angels orders concerning you,
and they will support you with their hands
so that you will not strike
your foot against a stone.”

Jesus told him, “It is also written: Do not test the Lord your God.”

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. And he said to him, “I will give you all these things if you will fall down and worship me.”

Then Jesus told him,“Go away, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.”

Then the devil left him, and angels came and began to serve him.

Matthew 4:1-11 (CSB)

 

 Subscribe in a reader

Read the Bible: Matthew 3:13-17

 
 

Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. But John tried to stop him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you come to me? ”

Jesus answered him, “Allow it for now, because this is the way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John allowed him to be baptized.

When Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water. The heavens suddenly opened for him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased.”

Matthew 3:13-17 (CSB)

 

 Subscribe in a reader

Read the Bible: Matthew 3:1-12

 
 

In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near!” For he is the one spoken of through the prophet Isaiah, who said:

A voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
Prepare the way for the Lord;
make his paths straight!

Now John had a camel-hair garment with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then people from Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the vicinity of the Jordan were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.

When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance. And don’t presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones. The ax is already at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

“I baptize you with water for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is more powerful than I. I am not worthy to remove his sandals. He himself will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing shovel is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn. But the chaff he will burn with fire that never goes out.”

Matthew 3:1-12 (CSB)

 

 Subscribe in a reader

Read the Bible

 
 
 

what has your ear?

“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17, ESV).

Reading well impacts how we perceive and understand the world around us, and nothing merits our time and study more than the inspired Word of God. If you have resolved to grow in faith in this new year, daily Bible reading must surely be part of the plan.

Any serious study of Scripture is profitable and many are put off by highly structured Bible reading plans. Noted pastor Robert Murray M’Cheyne even published a list of dangers when sharing with his own congregation the Bible reading plan he authored for their use. Likewise, there are great benefits to a prescribed plan for the daily study of Scripture.

Here are our recommendations for your consideration as you begin a new year with a commitment grow as a student of the Word of God:

PFWB Resources

The PFWB website contains a variety of resources for individual and corporate growth, including a Bible Reading Program, a daily Bible Reading Plan, and Bible Engagement resources with an updated topic each month.

Blue Letter Bible Blended Plan

Straightforward, printable PDF with daily readings, averaging 3-4 chapters per day.

Bible in One Year

A resource of 1517.org containing links directly to daily readings of the Blended Plan, along with links to short teaching videos by Chad Bird, Old Testament scholar and Scholar in Residence at 1517. Dr. Bird shares insightful links between Old and New Testament passages that will help push through the more complicated texts, encouraging you to stick with daily Bible reading.

Read the Bible Initiative

This partnership between The Gospel Coalition and Crossway provides free access to the M’Cheyne Bible Reading plan, along with options to receive a daily newsletter, daily podcast commentary, and access to online articles to support your understanding of the assigned texts.

audio bibles & apps

The science of learning suggests that reading in print is superior to electronic options for deep reading of complex material (here and here). But for some, reading portable electronic formats on the go is better than not reading at all (for sure!). For others, reading in any format just doesn’t come easy. Fortunately, there are great options for listening to the Word of God that can be used with the Bible reading plan of your choice. If you’re looking for a good audio Bible app, consider the following (listed in no particular order). Most have options that work on any computer or mobile device.

Above all, grow as a student of Scripture in 2024. Whether on paper or in print, following a daily reading plan or working through on your own, commit to dig deeply into the revealed Word of God.

God has spoken. Does He have your ear?

 Subscribe in a reader

Happy New Year

 
 

And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: “Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.”

And he replied:

“Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”

So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gently into the night. And He led me toward the hills and the breaking of day in the lone East.

Excerpt from “God Knows,” as published in The Gate of the Year by Minnie Louise Haskins (1875-1957)

 

 Subscribe in a reader

Advent Readings (Mt. 2:9-12)

 
 

9 After hearing the king, they went on their way. And there it was ​— ​the star they had seen at its rising. It led them until it came and stopped above the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their own country by another route. -- Matthew 2:9-12 (CSB)

 Subscribe in a reader

Advent Readings (Mt. 2:1-8)

 
 

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star at its rising and have come to worship him.”

3 When King Herod heard this, he was deeply disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 So he assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people and asked them where the Messiah would be born.

5 “In Bethlehem of Judea,” they told him, “because this is what was written by the prophet:

6 And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah:
Because out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.”

7 Then Herod secretly summoned the wise men and asked them the exact time the star appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. When you find him, report back to me so that I too can go and worship him.” -- Matthew 2:1-8 (CSB)

 Subscribe in a reader