JANUARY 14, 2022
The Gospel of Luke
Welcome to unit 9 of an overview of the entire New Testament.
(Please note my closing comments at the very end…)
Basic Background Information on the Gospel of Luke:
Author: Luke. He was a Physician, well educated, and often emphasized the healing miracles of Jesus. Luke was not one of the 12 disciples chosen by Jesus, but some scholars think he relied on Peter and Mary and other eyewitness accounts as God guided him to write his Gospel.
Date Written: c. 60 AD. Luke followed Paul from his second missionary journey until Paul’s house arrest in Rome mentioned in 2 Timothy 4:11. Tradition says that Paul was martyred during the reign of Roman Emperor Nero between 64-68 A.D. Thus, Luke was likely wrtten before this.
JANUARY 10, 2022
Our New Testament overview continues! Just as it was with the Magi (aka "Wise Men"), God always guides and provides for us on our Divinely directed daily journey of faith and life. God’s promises are magnified as we pondered the Epiphany story from Matthew 2 - and as we continue to dive into the entire New Testament. What a joy it is to immerse ourselves in this New Testament overview during January. We currently have 1,245 emails on our Immanuel eblast list. What a blessing that for the first 7 days/units we have had around 500-600 “opens” every day - hundreds of people diving into God’s Word in the New Testament!
Check out the interesting chart below which provides an estimate of about how long it takes to read each Book of the Bible. We would need around 5 hours to read the 150 Psalms but only 3 minutes to read Philemon or just 2 minutes to read 3 John. However much time we spend in it, God’s Word keeps our faith focused on Jesus, Who is “the Way and the Truth and the Life” for us during this Epiphany season (which will last until Transfiguration Sunday February 27th), during this entire New Year 2022, and until God gives us eternal rest and joy in Jesus.
JANUARY 7, 2022
The Gospel of Mark
Welcome to day/unit 7 of an overview of the entire New Testament.
Basic Background Information on the Gospel of Mark:
Author: Mark (He is also known as John Mark; see Acts 12:12, 25 & Acts 13:13)
Date Written: c. 50 AD. - Many scholars think Mark was the first Gospel written.
Where Written: Perhaps in Rome
Intended Audience: Mark often explains Jewish traditions which likely indicates he was writing to a mostly pagan Gentile audience of Romans.
JANUARY 6, 2022
Matthew 2 - The Epiphany of Our LORD
Welcome to day/unit 6 of an overview of the entire New Testament. Today is a special narrow focus unit on one chapter, Matthew 2, in recognition of The Epiphany of our LORD observed on January 6th.
JANUARY 5, 2022
The Gospel of Matthew
Welcome to day/unit 5 of an overview of the entire New Testament.
Personal Application: As we navigate crazy Covid and an even crazier culture, Christ comforts us! Jesus tells us what we need to hear and heed often in Matthew 11:28-30,
”28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (And all God’s people said/say: “AMEN!”)
JANUARY 4, 2022
A Brief History of the Intertestamental Period
From Malachi to Matthew: 400 Years When the Prophets Were Silent
Welcome back to this New Year overview of the entire New Testament. During January 2022 we are on a journey of faith with Jesus as we examine and reflect upon the 27 Books of the New Testament.
What happened in between the Old and New Testaments?
400 years of fascinating history between Malachi and Matthew! This is known as the Intertestamental Period after the prophets stopped prophesying and before Jesus was born. Becoming a bit more familiar with this interesting, long period enhances our understanding of the overall context, culture, characters, language, and politics of the Old and New Testaments.
JANUARY 3, 2022
A Brief, Big Picture Introduction to the New Testament
Welcome to day 3 of an overview of the entire New Testment. This brief, big picture summary and study will provide a “30,000 foot” introductory view of the New Testament.
JANUARY 2, 2022
Welcome to this New Year overview of the entire New Testament. During January 2022, we are on a journey of faith with Jesus as we examine and reflect upon the 27 Books of the New Testament.
How Well Do I Know The New Testament?
Let’s begin our New Year 2022 New Testament overview with a pop quiz! Yes, God has given us two wonderful gifts - our faith and our brains. We use these gifts to God’s glory as we grow in His grace!
JANUARY 1, 2022
The WORD of God is Our Manger
We begin our New Year 2022 New Testament overview with a devotional journey to the manger. God’s Word is our manger where we find Jesus wrapped in swaddling cloths, walking on water, healing the sick, stilling the storm, forgiving sins, feeding thousands, nailed to a cross, and resurrected from the dead with glorious nail-scarred hands embracing us with His love and forgiveness daily during 2022 (and every year)...
