52 Weeks in the Word

Week 41!   This week we finish the Old Testament and begin the New Testament reading.  While reflecting on the Old Testament over the past 40 weeks, I can honestly say I've learned to appreciate and admire the prophets who stepped out and spoke when it really wasn't the popular or safest option to do so!  I now recognize several more instances where the Messiah was prophesized or referenced as well.  Understanding the lifestyle during the Old Testament helps when studying these Scriptures.  Even in the first chapter of Matthew, the author takes us through the genealogy of Christ, starting with the beginning of time, proving Scripture points back to Christ. Looking ahead to Week 41: The reading for Week 40 includes: Zechariah 11 - Matthew 15. The book of Malachi has 4 chapters and was written around 430 B.C.  We will read that God's people must serve Him carefully.  The Messiah, in the Old Testament time, was a promise of God. The book of Matthew i...

    Welcome to Week 40!   This is our last full week of reading from the Old Testament!  That is a huge accomplishment! Looking ahead to Week 40: The reading for Week 40 includes: Nahum 1 - Zechariah 10. The book of Nahum only consists of 3 chapters.  Its author is Nahum himself, written around 650 B.C.  A little background information to help with understanding: Nahum had a heavy or important message to deliver to the capital of Assyria, which was Nineveh.  Assyria was known as basically the bully of the Middle East.  They concurred many nations, including Israel.  You may remember from last week's reading that Jonah went to Nineveh with another message from the Lord, talking about their destruction if they did not repent.  The nation as a whole did, in fact, repent and turn from their ways.  HOWEVER, it must not have lasted long because 100 years later, Nahum is delivering a similar message from the Lord to the same nation....

   Welcome to Week 39!   The next two weeks we will be reading the last of the Old Testament, which is made up of several smaller books.  Also, in week 41, we begin the New Testament! Looking ahead to Week 39: The reading for Week 39 includes: Amos 1 - Micah 7. The book of Amos is the only place we read about the prophet Amos in the Old Testament.  His name means burden or burden bearer .  This probably was in reference to the burden he had to carry to prophesy about the judgment to God's people.  It is important to also remember that Amos was a simple man.  He was a sheep breeder, his choice of words.  Most would probably have said shepherd, but Amos could have been trying to make a difference between the career choice of shepherding and the type we know as shepherding people.  He was not educated in prophesying, and they did have schools for that in his time.  He was also a farmer, a simple man.  We know God often used ...

  Welcome to Week 38!   Last week we finished reading the book of Ezekiel and began reading in the Book of Daniel.  The first 6 chapters of Daniel may have included some familiar events such as Shadrach, Meshach, and abed-Nego being thrown into the fiery furnace,  the hand writing on the wall and Daniel interpreting it to the king, and Daniel being thrown into the lion's den.  It's also important to take note that the leadership has changed several times during this first part of Daniel.  Looking at who is king while reading the passages of Scripture will help you determine the order of the events.     The remaining reading of the Book of Daniel for this week jumps arounds, so keep that in mind.  Do not let that confuse you. Chapters 1 - 6 of Daniel describes his life and times; chapters 7 - 12 describe Daniels visions.  Chapter 7's vision took place in time between chapters 4 and 5. Looking ahead to Week 38: The reading for We...

  Welcome to Week 37!  This week we will finish the book of Ezekiel and begin reading Daniel.  Chapter 37 has always been my favorite chapter in Ezekiel as we read about God taking the dry bones and bringing them to life.  If you notice, there has been a shift in our reading.  The Book of Ezekiel has gone from hopelessness to hope!  God is revealing what He will do for His people.  Chapter 37 and the dry bones coming back to life has always been a powerful imagery for me on what the Lord can do with His people scattered and all the hopelessness we had just read about in the first part of the book. Looking ahead to Week 37: The reading for Week 37 includes: Ezekiel 37 - Daniel 6. The author of the Book of Daniel is believed to be Daniel, written about 530 B.C.  To set the scene for the Book of Daniel, Jerusalem is in ashes.  The temple has been destroyed.  If you were a Jew in Babylon, things looked hopeless.  Jeremiah was right abou...

  Welcome to Week 36!  For those who might be counting, (I'm raising my hand here.) we only have about 5 more weeks until we begin reading the New Testament.  All of you are doing an absolute amazing job.  Several of you have discussed with us that this has been a new challenge of reading straight through the Word like this.  I am so thankful to have each of you joining with us as we are making new discoveries along the way.   Last week we continued reading in the Book of Ezekiel.  During this time we read chapter 16, which after a little research for further explanation, I discovered it to be the longest chapter in the book.  Interestingly enough, it is the one chapter that most preachers try to refrain from quoting in their sermons.  Depending on the translation you read, this chapter can be quite descriptive of their sins. As a side note, does anyone remember what the term "pass through the fire" means in terms of the children?  ...