Studies, reading plans and every single day within them, alongside devotionals and articles. Search by title, book of the Bible, passage or topic.
Bible Memory collection
The commands run both ways. Children are told to honour, parents are told not to provoke, and both are set inside instruction rather than left to instinct. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 God's words are to be on the parents' hearts first, then taught diligently to the children and spoken of at home, on the…
Bible Memory collection
Every list of gifts in the New Testament comes with the same purpose attached: the good of the church. Learn these and you have the rule for reading the rest. 1 Peter 4:10 As each has received a gift, serve one another with it as good managers of the grace of God in its various forms. The word for…
Bible Memory collection
Christians read the commandments through Christ, who kept them and fulfilled them. That does not make them less worth knowing; it makes them safe to learn. Exodus 20:2-3 God introduces himself as the Lord who brought Israel out of Egypt and out of slavery, and only then says they shall have no…
Bible Memory collection
The New Testament's picture of spiritual conflict is mostly a conflict about truth. Deception is the enemy's usual method, so these passages are the usual answer. John 8:44 Jesus says the devil was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because he is a liar and the father…
Chapter study
Do not rush into this chapter. Genesis 22 is one of the most important passages in the Bible, and without it much of the New Testament loses its depth. Some chapters can be read quickly without much loss. This is not…
Verse study
אֱלֹהִים יִרְאֶה־לּוֹ הַשֶּׂה Elohim yireh lo ha-seh Hebrew Literally God will see for Himself the lamb. Hebrew joins seeing and providing in one verb, so the sentence claims that God has already looked ahead on…
52 Week Journey
Scripture does not treat the family as a private arrangement outside the reach of faith. It is the first institution God makes, the first place obedience is taught, and the first place its absence is felt. Genesis…
Devotional
Luke 15:20 "He arose, and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him." WEB The younger son has demanded his…
Devotional
Proverbs 24:3-4 Through wisdom a house is built; by understanding it is established; by knowledge its rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. WEB The proverb pictures three things a household needs, in…
Devotional
Proverbs 14:26 In the fear of Yahweh is a secure fortress, and he will be a refuge for his children. WEB This proverb places two images side by side: a fortress for the one who fears the LORD, and a refuge extended to…
Devotional
Psalm 103:13-14 Like a father has compassion on his children, so Yahweh has compassion on those who fear him. For he knows how we are made. He remembers that we are dust. WEB David does not compare God's compassion to…
Devotional
Joshua 24:15 If it seems evil to you to serve Yahweh, choose today whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell; but…
Devotional
John 13:14-15 If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. WEB Jesus draws…
Devotional
2 Timothy 3:16 Every writing is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction which is in righteousness WEB Paul writes this to Timothy about the Hebrew Scriptures Timothy…
Devotional
1 Corinthians 15:54-55 But when this perishable body will have become imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then what is written will happen: "Death is swallowed up in victory." "Death, where is…
Devotional
1 Samuel 3:13 For I have told him that I will judge his house forever, for the iniquity which he knew, because his sons brought a curse on themselves, and he didn't restrain them. WEB Eli is not condemned for causing…
Devotional
Luke 23:34 Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing." Dividing his garments among them, they cast lots. WEB This prayer is spoken while the crucifixion is happening, not after it, and…
Devotional
John 20:6-7 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and entered into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying, and the cloth that had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself.…
Devotional
Luke 9:51 It came to pass, when the days were near that he should be taken up, he intently set his face to go to Jerusalem. WEB From this verse, Luke's gospel turns and begins moving deliberately toward Jerusalem.…
Devotional
John 13:4-5 He arose from supper, and laid aside his outer garments. He took a towel, and wrapped a towel around his waist. Then he poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them…
Devotional
Exodus 20:12 Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which Yahweh your God gives you. WEB This is the fifth command and the hinge of the two tables of the law: the first four concern…
Devotional
Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly, and gave himself up for it. WEB Paul does not tell husbands to love their wives as they love themselves, though that standard would…
Devotional
John 14:2-3 In my Father’s house are many homes. If it weren’t so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will receive you to myself;…
Devotional
Matthew 6:9 Pray like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. WEB Jesus begins with relationship and ends the line with reverence. Father, so you may come freely. In heaven and hallowed, so you never…
Devotional
2 Timothy 2:15 Give diligence to present yourself approved by God, a workman who does not need to be ashamed, properly handling the Word of Truth. WEB Paul assumes it is possible to handle Scripture badly, which is why…
Devotional
Ruth 1:16 Ruth said, "Don't urge me to leave you, and to return from following after you, for where you go, I will go; and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God my God. WEB Naomi has…
Devotional
Matthew 6:33 But seek first God’s Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well. WEB This sentence sits at the end of a passage about anxiety over food, drink and clothing. Jesus…
Devotional
1 Peter 4:10-11 As each has received a gift, employ it in serving one another, as good managers of the grace of God in its various forms. WEB Peter assumes that every believer has received something worth putting to…
Devotional
Genesis 18:25 May it be far from you to do things like that, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be like the wicked. May that be far from you. Shouldn’t the Judge of all the earth do…
Devotional
1 Kings 11:4 For it happened, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods; and his heart was not perfect with Yahweh his God, as the heart of David his father was. WEB Solomon began his…
Devotional
Luke 15:20 “He arose, and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. WEB The father sees the son while he is…
Devotional
Mark 10:14-15 But Jesus, when he saw it, was moved with indignation, and said to them, “Allow the little children to come to me! Don’t forbid them, for God’s Kingdom belongs to such as these. Most certainly I tell you,…
Devotional
Galatians 3:24 So that the law has become our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. WEB Paul pictures the law as a tutor, the household servant in the ancient world responsible for…
Devotional
Jeremiah 31:33 "But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days," says Yahweh: "I will put my law in their inward parts, and I will write it in their heart. I will be their God, and…
Devotional
Philippians 2:9-10 Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the…
Devotional
Mark 1:14-15 Now after John was taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the Good News of God’s Kingdom, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and God’s Kingdom is at hand! Repent, and believe in the Good…
Devotional
Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. WEB Proverbs speaks in the language of general wisdom, not iron guarantee, and this verse is best read that way: it…
Devotional
Matthew 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and in the harvest time I will tell the reapers, “First, gather up the darnel, and bind it in bundles to burn it; but gather the wheat into my barn.”’” WEB The…
Biblical concept
The kingdom of God is God's rule, not a territory. Mark opens the ministry of Jesus with the announcement that the kingdom of God has come near, and calls for repentance and faith as the response. Scripture speaks of…
Biblical concept
Jesus says he is the light of the world, and adds a promise: whoever follows him will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life. Light here is both revelation and direction. In Matthew 5:14 he turns the same…
Place in Scripture
Mountains in Scripture are meeting places. Abraham is sent to a mountain in Moriah, Moses receives the law on Sinai, the temple is built on a hill in Jerusalem, Jesus teaches, is transfigured, prays and is crucified on…
Biblical concept
To anoint someone was to pour oil on their head and so mark them out as chosen for a task God had given. Samuel anoints Saul and then David, and in David's case Scripture says the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon him…
Biblical concept
In Exodus 12 each household killed a lamb, put its blood on the doorframe, and ate in haste. Where the blood was, the destroyer passed over. Israel was not spared because it was better but because it was covered. The…
Biblical concept
In the gospels Son of God is not a title of honour handed round freely. When Jesus uses it of himself his hearers understand a claim to equality with God, which is why John 5:18 records the reaction it caused. The…
Biblical concept
This is the title Jesus uses of himself more than any other. In Ezekiel the phrase simply means a human being, but in Daniel 7 one like a son of man comes with the clouds and receives an everlasting kingdom from the…
Biblical concept
John opens his gospel by saying that the Word already was in the beginning, that the Word was with God, and that the Word was God. Three claims are made in one sentence: the Word is eternal, the Word is distinct from…
Christian Living
Joshua 24:15 If it seems evil to you to serve Yahweh, choose today whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell; but…
Christian Living
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 These words, which I command you today, shall be on your heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way,…
Bible question
John 10:27-30 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is…
Bible question
Matthew 6:9 Pray like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. WEB This is one of the few questions the disciples asked out loud, and Jesus answered it directly. Read his answer before any advice about…
Bible question
John 20:28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” WEB Read three passages before any argument. One is a claim Jesus made, one is what his hearers understood by it, one is what a disciple said to his face. John 8:58…
Bible question
Proverbs 9:10 The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom. The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. WEB Before we define the fear of the Lord, listen to how God speaks of it. Proverbs 9:10-11 The fear of…
Bible question
Luke 9:23-24 He said to all, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever will lose his life for my sake,…
Bible question
Psalms 68:6 God sets the lonely in families. He brings out the prisoners with singing, but the rebellious dwell in a sun-scorched land. WEB Hear God's answer to loneliness before any explanation of it. Psalms 68:5-6 A…
Bible question
Colossians 3:23-24 And whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord, and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. WEB Three passages give…
Bible question
Matthew 6:31-34 “Therefore don’t be anxious, saying, ‘What will we eat?’, ‘What will we drink?’ or, ‘With what will we be clothed?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you…
Bible question
John 14:16-17 I will pray to the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, that he may be with you forever, — the Spirit of truth, whom the world can’t receive; for it doesn’t see him, neither knows him. You know…
Bible question
Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost.” WEB Three sentences of stated purpose, two from Jesus and one from Paul. Read them before any explanation, and notice that each one names the…
Bible question
Isaiah 53:5 But he was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought our peace was on him; and by his wounds we are healed. WEB God explained the cross before it…
Bible question
Psalms 2:7 I will tell of the decree. Yahweh said to me, “You are my son. Today I have become your father. WEB The title has a history. Read where it comes from, then hear it spoken over Jesus, then hear how his…
The Sunday Study
Verse-by-verse teaching with historical context, and a prayer to close. Nothing else in the email.