Read the NT in 10 Weeks - Revelation

Revelation 21:5-7
⁵ Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” ⁶ And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. ⁷ He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.

(Yes, I skipped writing for several weeks, but I figured I could at least get the conclusion of my writing.)

I have finished my reading of the NT and of course it ends with Revelations. It is a powerful book in the sense that it is humbling to read about the supreme power of God and the justice he pours out on the earth, and that destruction is contrasted with praise and worship seen by the believers in Heaven, then the new creation Jesus does with the new heaven and earth.

It wasn't peaceful reading but awe inspiring. The theme I got was power demonstrated in both the immensity of God's Love and the exactness of His judgment. He is a truly amazing God in control of all things and at the same time Loves us, gives everything to us, even His life. It is amazing. And those in heaven just fall on there face in praise and admiration of His majesty.

4:11 “ You are worthy, O Lord,
To receive glory and honor and power;
For You created all things,
And by Your will they exist and were created.”

Amen

Read the NT in 10 Weeks - Thessalonians

1 Thessalonians 5:8-10
⁸But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. ⁹ For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁰ who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.

Paul was more encouraged by the Thessalonians than some of the churches in his previous letters like the Galatians.

1 Thess 1:5 For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance

I found it interesting how Paul addressed matters of the Second Coming of Jesus more than other letters. In 1 Thess Paul has a reminding tone about his writing "5:2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night."

And then in 2nd Thess, Paul has to use a more corrective tone. In 2 Thess 2:3 "Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first". And again in 2:5 "Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?"

Writing an outline of the events and message is redundant because Paul was already summarizing. It just needs to be read (2 Th 2:1-12 and 1Th 5:1-11)

These verses did stick out to me while reading though.
1 Thess 5:8-10
But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.

Read the NT in 10 Weeks - Colossians

Colossians 3:17
¹⁷ And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

This is another great book to explain some basic doctrine of who Christ is.

• Christ is the creator of all things (1:16)
• We are reconciled to the Father by Christ (1:20)
• Christ is who should be preached (1:28)
• Christ is more important than philosophy which can be deceptive (2:8)
• "For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily" (2:9)
• Christ is the way, not rules or being good enough (2:11-23)
• Avoid false humility, follow Christ (2:18)
• Be holy and follow Christ, do not be filled with lust and evil desire (3:1-10)

After discussing who Christ is there is also some instruction on how to live among other believers. "Therefore as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering...."(3:12).

Christ is for us all.

Read the NT in 10 Weeks - Philippians

Philippians 4:12-13
¹² I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me.

This verse doesn't really sum up Philippians to me, but it stood out, and seemed like a good reminder to trust in God and not myself.

In Philippians I can really see Paul being thankful for a church that has followed Christ. The people of Philipi were truly a comfort to their pastor. They shared in spreading the gospel (1:5), they were faithful even while persecuted (1:29), and they supported Paul as he ministered to others (4:10-18). Paul even tells the Philippians that they are his encouragement to live in a way (1:24-26).

Can we be as encouraging to our pastor's? and as faithful to Jesus Christ our savior?

Read the NT in 10 week - Ephesians

Ephesians 2:8-10
⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast. ¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

I like these verses every time I read it so I made it one of my memory verses. Today it is an encouragement to think of my salvation. Other days it might be my reminder to be humble, or of the enormity of God's love for us, or of how Jesus gives us significance.

Regarding Ephesians in general. This time while reading this group of Paul's letters I was interested in who he was writing them to and what he had to tell them. Ephesians seem more of a general letter that explains the Christian doctrine. Paul is not addressing specific items like he did in his letters to the Corinthians and the Galatians. He doesn't have to do as much correcting of bad practices or doctrine.

Also, I have to admit that I find Paul's long sentences awkward at times and it seems he uses them more in Ephesians. Reading it out loud helps when my concentration isn't high enough to keep up. And while reading out loud, I can really notice how this was a spoken letter. It starts making more sense.

I got curious of the other historical details of these letters and did a bit of google searching and found this site informative Historical Background To Paul's Prison Epistles.

As always, Paul is an inspiration to take the time to be a minister for Christ. I think about how he could see the purpose in sharing the Gospel even while he was in prison.

Thank you Jesus for your grace. Amen.

Read the NT in 10 week - Acts

Acts 4:11-12
¹¹ This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ ¹² Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

I just like this verse. I often search for it because I haven't actively memorized the reference. Now I think it is about time. Acts 4:11, Acts 4:11, Acts 4:11, Acts 4:11. Say it several times outload now. Ok I think I got it.

This verse summarizes our need to accept Jesus alone as our savior. Sometimes I guess it can feel restrictive, but it is the narrow path that we are called to walk.

Read the NT in 10 Weeks - John

John 4:1-2
¹ Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John ² (though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples)

This verse caught my attention for a couple reasons. First I never really noticed before that Jesus had been baptizing people. And He even baptized more than John did. And of course the second part, Jesus didn't baptize directly but His disciples did.

From the beginning baptism was an important part of becoming a disciple. I think also He demonstrated that baptism was to continue by not doing the baptism Himself, but the very people that were baptized, where also baptizing others into the faith.

Jesus, thank you for forgiving my of my sins. Help me to follow you and to let others know about you that they to might be forgiven and be saved.

Read the NT in 10 weeks - Luke

Luke 7:28
For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.

I noticed this verse while reading Luke because of thinking about what it means to be a prophet. John foretold of Jesus' coming. It seem like there is another place in the Bible that says John the Baptist was the last prophet. I will keep my eyes open for it as I read through the New Testament this time.

You may have noticed I changed my title from 5 to 10 weeks. Thats right, I am a slacker :). My study partner and I haven't been keeping up with the 5 week schedule, but we are doing pretty good with a 10 week one. Now I just have to get some more verses posted from the other books I have read. I am up to Acts.