Category: Through the Bible in a year.

May 27, read the Bible in a year; in PowerPoint, with comments.

Luke 21:25-38. Jesus told about the signs of the times, the end of the age, the destruction of Jerusalem, the coming of the Son of Man and finally the parable of the fig tree.

2 Kings 3. There was trouble all around: Moab Rebelled against Israel. Israel called for Judah and Edom to help. They gathered their armies and horses, but after seven days without water they called for Elisha. He told them to dig ditches in the desert. They obeyed, and without rain the ditches were filled, they all got water and quenched the rebellion. Then they punished Moab, but the King offered his firstborn son as a burnt offering. This was too drastic even for Israel, so they drew back.

2 Kings 4. Like Elijah, Elisha multiplied a widow’s oil, like Elijah, Elisha raised a person from death, this time the Shunammite’s son. Elisha purified a pot of stew, and at another time he fed one hundred men with twenty small loaves of bread, and there were leftovers, much like Jesus did, but on a much smaller scale.

2 Kings 5. Naaman’s Leprosy was healed. This was so important that Jesus mentioned it to the self- righteous Jews, proving they were not that special. Elisha refused payment for healing Naaman, but his servant Gehazi accepted payment instead, so he became leprous instead of Naaman.

May 26, read the Bible in a year; in PowerPoint, with comments.

Luke 21:1-24. There is giving and then there is giving. Jesus watched the people give their offerings in the Temple with his disciples, and from that he taught us a lesson about the widow’s two mites. After that he told about the signs of the times, the end of the age and the destruction of Jerusalem.

2 Kings 1. God Judged Ahaziah. Elijah the prophet delivered the messages from God, and so Ahaziah died, left no heir, so Joram, son of Ahab became king.

2 Kings 2. Elijah was taken up to heaven, Elisha asked for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit, and received it because he witnessed Elijah’s ascension.

May 25, read the Bible in a year; in PowerPoint, with comments.

Luke 20:20-47, continuing Holy Week, it is now Tuesday, Jesus was teaching in the Temple and his authority was questioned. Standing in Solomon’s colonnades the religious leaders tried to entrap Jesus so they asked him: “Is it legal to pay Taxes to Caesar?” You know the answer, “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s.” After that it was the Sadducee’s turn: What about the Resurrection? Jesus answered with scripture: “How can David call his descendant Lord?” Jesus finally warned the people: “Beware of the teachers of the Law.”

Proverbs 5 tells of the perils of adultery and does not mince words.

May 24, read the Bible in a year; in PowerPoint, with comments.

Luke 20:1-19,  continuing Holy Week, it is now Tuesday. Jesus was teaching in the Temple and his authority was questioned. Standing in Solomon’s colonnades he taught the parable of the wicked wine dressers. The religious leaders tried to entrap Jesus, but were afraid of the people.

1 Kings 20. Ahab defeated the Syrians and he did it twice. After that Ahab made a treaty with Ben-Hadad, and that led to the prophecy of Ahab’s Condemnation.

1 Kings 21. Naboth was killed for his vineyard and for that the LORD condemned Ahab.

1 Kings 22. Micalah prophesied against Ahab, Ahab therefore disguised himself for protection but died in battle by a stray arrow. Jehoshaphat became King of Judah, followed by Ahaziah.

May 23, read the Bible in a year; in PowerPoint, with comments.

Luke 19:28-48. Jesus entered what is called “Holy Week”, beginning with the triumphal entry. Seeing Jerusalem, Jesus wept over it, and after entering Jerusalem Jesus cleansed the Temple.

1 Kings 19. After the fantastic victory at Mount Carmel Elijah fled from Jezebel, the “exhibit A” of names of evil women featured in literature and films.  He fled, got strengthened by an angel that fed him a meal that gave him enough strength to go all the way to Mount Horeb. There he heard “The Still Small Voice.” God reminded Elijah  that “I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.” Leaving Mount Horeb Elijah met Elisha and called him to follow Elijah.

May 22, read the Bible in a year; in PowerPoint, with comments.

Luke 19:1-27 starts with the story of Zacchaeus ( a wee little man), then is recorded Jesus’ parable of the minas. One take home from that parable is: “Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds. (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)”

1 Kings 18. This chapter alone makes the reading of all of 1 Kings worthwhile. Elijah met Obadiah and sent a message to King Ahab. When they met, Elijah challenged Ahab to a competition: Four hundred fifty prophets of Baal and four hundred prophets of Asherah against Elijah alone on Mount Carmel to see whose God is victorious! You know the rest, enjoy reading!

May 20, read the Bible in a year; in PowerPoint, with comments.

Luke 17. Jesus told about the consequences of sin, the importance of faith and the call of duty. Then is recorded the story of ten lepers healed but only one came back and thanked Jesus, and he was a Samaritan! Finally Jesus spoke of the Coming of the Kingdom of God and the end times.

Not much good in 1 Kings 14, it tells of judgment on the house of Jeroboam and his death, and Rehoboam taking over power and his death.

1 Kings 15, the evil king Abijam reigned in Judah. After his death Asa became king over Judah and he was a good king. Meanwhile in Israel Nadab reigned, and after him Baasha both doing evil things in the eyes of the LORD.

1 Kings 16 displays a depressing list of kings over Israel, Baasha, Elah, Zimri, one worse than the other, finally culminating with Ahab, the worst of them all, setting up Baal worship in Israel.

May 19, read the Bible in a year; in PowerPoint, with comments.

Luke 16. Jesus told the parable of the unjust steward to show it is not enough to follow the practices of the land, one must be above reproach in spiritual things, even if you are following the Law and the Prophets to the letter you will fail. He ended with the parable of the rich man and Lazarus.

1 Kings 12 tells of the revolt against Rehoboam and Jeroboam’s Golden Calves at Bethel and Dan. They were put up so Rehoboam didn’t have to go to Jerusalem to sacrifice.

1 Kings 13. From Judah came a Man of God with a message. It did not go over well, so through lies and intrigues the Man of God was killed by a lion. One quote from this chapter: “After this thing Jeroboam returned not from his evil way, but made again of the lowest of the people priests of the high places: whosoever would, he consecrated him, and he became one of the priests of the high places.” Large portions of the Old Testament describes how not to worship, let this be a warning to us.

May 18, read the Bible in a year; in PowerPoint, with comments.

Luke 15 is deceptively simple. Just three parables; the lost sheep, the lost coin, and finally the lost son. The parable of the lost son is the most famous story of redemption in the Bible.

In 1 Kings 10 the Queen of Sheba visited Solomon and praised him “The half had not been told”; of Solomon’s great wisdom and wealth.

1 Kings 11. Solomon’s heart turned from the LORD, ( blame the foreign women and their idolatry). It records Solomon’s adversaries, Jeroboam’s rebellion, and Solomon’s death.

May 17, read the Bible in a year; in PowerPoint, with comments.

In Luke 14, again on the Sabbath, at a Pharisee’s house no less, Jesus healed a man with an edema. Noticing how the people competed for the best places Jesus spoke of the lowly place to be sought rather than the place of honor, and as an object lesson he gave us the parable of the Great Supper and the cost of following Christ. Finally Jesus mentioned the value of good salt and the worthlessness of salt that lost its savor.

1 Kings 8. It was celebration time when the Ark was brought into the Temple, Solomon gave a great speech and a prayer of dedication. Then he blessed the Assembly and dedicated the Temple with lots of sacrifices and it finished with a fourteen day feast.

1 Kings 9 tells of God’s second appearance to Solomon, this time with a promise and a warning. Solomon and Hiram exchanged gifts and the chapter lists more of Solomon’s achievements.