Week Eight
The gospel of Luke gets pretty intense this week! We see what happens when Jesus sends out the 72, we get some parables and healing stories only found in Luke, and overall a LOT of red words spoken by Jesus! This is a great gospel to really concentrate on the two lists I brought up in week 3. See how I did that! I won’t forget.
I want to challenge you to spend an extra amount of concentration on the list ‘Who I am in Christ.’ Many of us get stalled in our faith journey because we don’t really understand who we are in Jesus. We may say, “I am loved” and that may very well be understood. But, what if you had to describe how exactly you know you are loved without using the word love?
In my small group this week, we looked at the story in Luke 7:36-50 and asked ourselves how did Jesus see the sinful woman? How did he feel about her? How did he demonstrate that? What does that mean for me?
Don’t allow yourself the easy answer, go deeper. Look at your deepest fear or consider how you think others see, or don’t see you. Then ask, where is Jesus in my fear? What does Jesus see? What would happen if I cried endless tears and layed all that I am at his feet. How would He respond? What exactly would He do? Yes, He would love you — but so much more! Get specific, go deep, and write it down. You will discover truths that will be with you for the rest of your life.
Tell me how you know God is loving you this week. Write a comment below or reach me, Melissa, at mrightmire@crnaz.com . Thank you for traveling with me on this journey through the New Testament.
Below are the readings for week 8:
February 20, 2025 Luke 9:37–62 NIV, Ps 46 NIV
February 23, 2025 Luke 12:1–48 NIV, Ps 49 NIV
February 24, 2025 Luke 12:49–13:35 NIV, Ps 50:1–9 NIV
February 25, 2025 Luke 14:1–15:10 NIV, Ps 50:10–23 NIV
February 26, 2025 Luke 15:11–16:31 NIV, Ps 51 NIV
Week Seven
Dr. Luke, by James Tissot
Did you ever think about the fact that both the gospels of Mark and Luke are written by people who were not among the 12 disciples? In the case of Mark, who was also called John Mark (Acts 12:12), we know he was a close follower of Jesus. Luke on the other hand is never identified as a follower of Jesus during his three years of ministry on earth. However, we know Luke to be a physician and a close friend and partner in ministry of Paul’s (Colossians 4:14). And, as stated in the first verses of his gospel, he felt it necessary to put together “an orderly account” of the things he and his friends had been told and come to believe.
Perhaps because of Luke’s profession as a doctor, his gospel is considered to demonstrate a greater appreciation of humanity than the other gospels. As you read his gospel, consider how Luke illuminates the human elements of Jesus and those He touches with His life. How can you add to the lists you are creating conisdering the humanity of Jesus and how that intersects with our humanity? Go back to week 3 if you are new to this blog to learn about the two lists.
Sometime this week, take an additional 10-15 minutes to think, ruminate, and consider the deep truths of Jesus, humanity in general, and more specifically yourself. I am praying that God will give you new revelation about who He is and who you are in Him.
What might God be saying to you this week? Write a comment below or reach me, Melissa, at mrightmire@crnaz.com . Below are the readings for week 7!
February 13, 2025 Luke 3 NIV, Ps 40:1–6 NIV
February 14, 2025 Luke 4:1–5:11 NIV, Ps 40:7–17 NIV
February 15, 2025 Luke 5:12–39 NIV, Ps 41 NIV
February 17, 2025 Luke 7 NIV, Ps 44:1–12 NIV
February 18, 2025 Luke 8 NIV, Ps 44:13–26 NIV
February 19, 2025 Luke 9:1–36 NIV, Ps 45 NIV
Week Six
For the second time, we are walking the final journey with Jesus and the disciples towards Jerusalem. The disciples are amazed at Jesus’ determination to go to the very place where he is predicting his death sentence. The others who follow are not as close to Jesus and may not have been fully aware of what He had been saying, feel a sense of dread and fear (Mark 10:32). But Jesus isn’t done teaching, healing, casting out demons, rebuking the legalistic, or raising the dead! He presses on with tremendous purpose and destiny. I hope those words are in your list about what the gospels are revealing about who God is.
No, I didn’t forget that I asked you to make two lists. Did you forget? One list is characteristics of God and the other is who you are in Jesus. By now, you may find a great deal of repetition and that might have caused you to stop. Let me encourage you to take another look.
Sometime this week, create a table on a sheet of paper with a column for every letter in the alphabet. Under each letter, write words that describe God’s character that begin with that letter. For example, “A” could have the words, able, attentive, affectionate, abundant. See if you can think of one or more words for every letter in the alphabet.
THEN do another list the same way for who you are in Jesus. Have a separate column for each letter of the alphabet.
What are the similarities? What are the differences?
Consider how you could you use these lists as prayer prompts each day. One letter a day for 26 days to praise God! It could look like this: “Lord God, you are so able to help me with ________. I thank you for your affection and attention. You have been so generous and your love is so abundant in my life. Like David, my cup truly overflows with your goodness and lovingkindness.” See? It’s not very hard.
These lists are not simply academic. They are meant to help us grow in our journey with Jesus. How else might you be able to use these lists? How could the second list help you remember who you are in Jesus? Can you also pray through that list?
I love hearing from you! Write a comment below sometime this week or reach me, Melissa, directly at mrightmire@crnaz.com . Below are the readings for week 6!
February 6, 2025 Mark 13 NIV, Ps 35:14–28 NIV
February 7, 2025 Mark 14:1–42 NIV, Ps 36 NIV
February 8, 2025 Mark 14:43–15:20 NIV, Ps 37:title–12 NIV
February 9, 2025 Mark 15:21–16:20 NIV, Ps 37:13–40 NIV
February 10, 2025 Luke 1:1–38 NIV, Ps 38:title–8 NIV
February 11, 2025 Luke 1:39–80 NIV, Ps 38:9–22 NIV
February 12, 2025 Luke 2 NIV, Ps 39 NIV
February 10. I keep wondering about the strange verses in Mark 14:51-52. Mark is the only place this little account exists. Why is it relevant? 1st consider that the author of this gospel, Mark, also known as John Mark, is not one of the original 12 disciples. While, he most certainly followed Jesus, he simply was not in the list of 12. We do know that he was the son of a follower named Mary (Acts 12:12) and many scholars believe it is likely that it was her home where the last supper took place. If John Mark was young enough, he may have gone to bed when Jesus and the disciples left for the garden. He may have been home in bed when Judas came to the house where they had been meeting expecting to find him there. However, John Mark now aware that Jesus was in danger may have left his bed and home in haste to warn him or see what was going on. He would have known where the garden was because Jesus and the disciples often met there (John 18:2). Quite possibly, John Mark got caught up in the commotion and was grabbed by one of the soldiers and as he fought to get loose, he lost his sleeping garment and ran home naked. These two verses may be how Mark made it known that he indeed was an eye witness to the arrest of Jesus.
Week Five
By now you have read enough of the Gospel of Mark to know the writing style is completely different than that of Matthew’s. Because much of it is written in short action packed vignette type scenes, some scholars think this gospel may have been used to act out in plays. Imagine what it would be like to watch these scenes being acted out on an ancient stage in a whole other culture and time. It might be easier to see our lives in the text if we can visualize a scene.
Another important factor about this gospel is the number of times the Greek word euthys is used, 42 to be exact — more than any other gospel or anywhere else in the New Testament. In the NIV, the word is translated as “immediately” 41 of those times. Although the first time it is used in Mark 1:3 it translated “straight.” Do you remember the verse? “a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight (immediate) paths for him’.”
There is so much sense of immediacy in Mark’s gospel. As you read this week, consider that sense of urgency and ask the Holy Spirit to give you insight into what was behind that when it was written. Then ask, ‘where should I have a sense of urgency and immediacy?’. Are there things I haven’t seen that the Lord is doing RIGHT NOW? Immediately? Straight away? How can I join Him? Where am I in today’s great story of the best news ever?
You can reach me at mrightmire@crnaz.com
January 30, 2025 Mark 6 NIV, Ps 30:title–31:9 NIV
January 31, 2025 Mark 7 NIV, Ps 31:10–24 NIV
February 1, 2025 Mark 8:1–9:1 NIV, Ps 32 NIV
February 2, 2025 Mark 9:2–50 NIV, Ps 33 NIV
February 3, 2025 Mark 10 NIV, Ps 34 NIV
February 4, 2025 Mark 11 NIV, Ps 35:title–4 NIV
February 5, 2025 Mark 12 NIV, Ps 35:5–13 NIV
Week Four
How’s it going with the two lists? Have you thought about it? Last week I asked you to start two lists. The first list is what you’re learning about the character of God. The second list is about your identity in Christ. What do you learn about God and yourself through reading the Bible? Is one list easier than the other? Most of us can easily pick out character traits of God, but it is far more difficult for us to listen to what he has to say about who we are because of him.
I’m going to keep talking about these two lists because they’re so important in learning to abide in Christ. We must know who God is, but equally important is knowing who we are in him. This week I challenge you to find 15 to 20 minutes to sit with God in quiet. Take a sheet of paper or your electronic device and write out this question: “What does the Spirit of God say about me?” And then pray. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal what he has to say about you. Maybe spend a few minutes reading the word before you pray. But be sure to stop and listen. And then write what you hear. Don’t question what your heart tells you. Don’t be afraid about what you hear. It’s only Jesus, the Spirit of the living God. He is compassionate and caring. He will never dishonor you. He will not shame you, and he will not condemn you and he is not holding anything against you. If you begin to hear things that sound like shame, guilt, or condemnation, you know that is not of God. Stop writing and rebuke those evil thoughts and center your heart on Jesus again. If you need help understanding the way Jesus will talk to you, read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. Everything he says will fit into that criteria.
Let me know how this goes. I’d love to hear from you. I am praying that God will give you great revelation about who you personally are in him and it will strengthen your faith and your ability to abide. You can reach me at mrightmire@crnaz.com
January 23, 2025 Matt 26:57–27:26 NIV, Ps 23 NIV
January 24, 2025 Matt 27:27–28:20 NIV, Ps 24 NIV