<![CDATA[Center - Through the Bible Reading Plan & Devotion]]>Fri, 15 May 2026 04:58:29 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[December 28-31]]>Sun, 28 Dec 2025 12:00:00 GMThttp://www.centerchristian.org/through-the-bible-reading-plan--devotion/december-28-31Heart Prep:
So after a year of reading through scripture chronologically and sharing these devotionals with one another, finally, here we are -– at the end!  …...but really, this is just the beginning. Every day is a new beginning, until the Lord is finished with our tenure here on earth. That being said…
My suggestion for a “heart prep” regarding Revelation is, as I’m sure you would before any scripture study, that you would pray intently for God’s wisdom (and certainly His guidance) as you read these chapters over the next four days. Look at chapter 1 vs 3, where he says, “Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.” 
So it stands to reason that as we are ‘reading’ this (and all of God’s Word), then as we read we should also be ‘hearing’ from God as well. 
​

This Week’s Study:
  • Sunday, Dec 28th –  Revelation 1-5
  • Monday, Dec 29th – Revelation 6-11
  • Tuesday, Dec 30th – Revelation 12-18
  • Wednesday, Dec 31st – Revelation 19-22


Some Things to Look For:
Letters to Seven Churches (Chapters 2-3): Messages of praise, warning, and encouragement to specific churches facing trials, symbolizing the whole Church.
Heavenly Throne Room & The Lamb (Chapters 4-5): John sees God on His throne and the worthy, slain Lamb (Jesus) who opens a scroll, signifying divine authority over history.
Cycles of Judgment (Chapters 6-16): Three series (Seals, Trumpets, Bowls) depict escalating judgments on the world for rejecting God, showing God's justice. 
The Beast & Babylon (Chapters 13-18): Visions of symbolic beasts representing evil empires (like Rome) and the corrupt city of Babylon, warring against God's people.
Christ's Return & Final Victory (Chapters 19-20): Jesus returns as a triumphant King (Armageddon), Satan is bound, and the final Great White Throne Judgment occurs.
New Heaven & New Earth (Chapters 21-22): God creates a new reality where evil is gone, the New Jerusalem descends, and believers live eternally with God. 


My Thoughts:
Countless books have been written concerning this one book in the Bible, not to mention the number of films that have been produced. Why? Because always and often incessantly there begs the question, “what really happens at the end of it all?’ And when are the end times?” Now then, this book ties together and confirms prophecies and visions from many other books in scripture. It would be impossible for some forty men, or forty-thousand, or even four-hundred thousand – many of them uneducated – to even attempt to write this and then try to tie it all together, were it not spiritually superimposed on them and in them supernaturally by God. Listen, if you do not already know this, and I believe you do, then know this: the revelation that was written to those early Christian believers was also meant for us as well. All of scripture is! And it has always been the Lord’s desire for mankind to seek redemption through Jesus. And despite intense suffering and evil, God will prevail, and His kingdom will be established. All of scripture is His story (history), and Christ is the grand subject, from Genesis to Revelation. 
Jesus won the victory not only on the cross, but by His subsequent resurrection and ascension. And through this book, His revelation, Jesus calls for all of us to resist idolatry and oppression. And this is not new; again, all through scripture we are called to be faithful to the Lord and to serve Him and, via the Holy Spirit, to be faithful to and serve one another. In the New Testament we read letters that were written by God, through man, to the early church. Jesus addresses some of the churches in Revelation, and He is still addressing His church today.
Behold, He comes!  Riding on the clouds!  Shining like the sun!  Hear the trumpet call!  
The Lion of the Tribe of Judah… He will return!
His first cry broke the silence.
His second cry tore the veil.
His final cry will tear open the skies, and shake the universe… forever.

Prayer:
Lord, As we read through this final leg, this final chapter(s) in scripture, we see how there are many wondrous and many very terrifying events that will take place in times ahead. Some of them appear to be on the cusp of occurring already. Yet through it all and because of our faith in You, we know that You are our strong tower, our ever-present help in time of need.
So give us a renewed hunger for Your Word, a renewed passion to serve You, and an intense desire to share with the world that their only hope – indeed, that the only hope – is found only in Jesus Christ.  


In Jesus’ Name,  
Amen.


studog 
]]><![CDATA[December 21-27, 2025]]>Sun, 21 Dec 2025 14:14:39 GMThttp://www.centerchristian.org/through-the-bible-reading-plan--devotion/december-21-27-2025Heart Preparation
"Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!" -Ps. 34:8

Maybe before we begin our reading each day we can remember this invitation. God himself is inviting us to life with him. What that looks like, how that works out, is in large part what the readings are this week. Normal people. Regular people. People invited into life with God working it out in their jobs and relationships, their families and churches. They are the same as us. So is the invitation.

Reading Plan
  • Sunday, December 21 - Hebrews 1-6 
  • Monday, December 22 - Hebrews 7-10
  • Tuesday, December 23 - Hebrews 11-13
  • Wednesday, December 24 - 2 Timothy 1-4
  • Thursday, December 25 - 2 Peter 1-3, Jude
  • Friday, December 26 - 1 John 1-5
  • Saturday, December 27 - 2 John, 3 John


What To Expect
Expect to read people of faith, God people, people who have accepted the invitation, to be reminded of what they believe and how to live as a result. All of the readings this week are from letters from individuals to churches (or in the case of 2 Timothy, another individual) concerning what they believe and how that changes their lives. Paul, Peter, John, Jude, and an unknown individual (I think it is Appolos) are the authors. The people are scattered around the known world. But all of them have accepted the invitation to life with God and are being encouraged to live with God right where they are.
Expect warnings. Expect reminders. Expect encouragement and guidance. Expect the confidence of seeing Christ in the flesh having come and our future inhabiting his kingdom not built by hands. He has come and he is coming again.

Personal Insight
This is Christmas week. We will be remembering in worship and celebration Christ come to us enfleshed. We say with confidence, "The Messiah has come!" At the same time we remember his promise and say, "He is coming again!" Until then we live life with God this side of eternity. One of my favorite encouragements in the NT is in Hebrews 11-12. The author reminds us of God's faithful people through history. They lived life with God where they were. Now, they are with God. What are they doing? Well, at least one thing is cheering you on. They are part of the "great cloud of witnesses" clapping, whooping and hollering. "Keep going! Keep living! Keep worshipping and loving God and one another! We've been there. We know what it's like. We made it. You will too." 

How? How do we do that? What does this invitation look like? If ever in doubt, overwhelmed, worried that you're missing something, John boils it down. "And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us." Love one another. Love one another. Sure, that can be tough. Sometimes I'm in a bad mood and I don't want to. Sometimes the other person makes it easy for me to say I don't want to love you right now. Hang on. Can you hear them? Moses. Samuel. Jeremiah. Jesus. "Keep going! Keep loving! Keep trusting God! Love one another! He has come and he's coming again! It's worth it. It is soooo worth it!"

Prayer
Lord Jesus, fill us with joy at your coming. Fill us with hope at your coming again. May we remember and know the encouragement of the faithful to continue to love until that day. Amen.

This weeks devotion was prepared by Justin Coberley ]]><![CDATA[December 14-20, 2025]]>Sun, 14 Dec 2025 12:00:00 GMThttp://www.centerchristian.org/through-the-bible-reading-plan--devotion/december-14-20-2025Heart PreparationYou are nearing the end of our reading plan, just a couple of more weeks to go. Even if you haven’t been doing the reading, now is still a great time to jump back into the Word and seek God out. That’s the purpose of this time and this journey, to know the message of Scripture, so that we can know the God of the Scripture better and better. Finish strong, you’re almost there! 

Reading Plan
  • Sunday, December 14 — Acts 27–28
  • Monday, December 15 — Col 1–4, Philemon
  • Tuesday, December 16 — Eph 1–6
  • Wednesday, December 17 — Phil 1–4
  • Thursday, December 18 — 1 Tim 1–6
  • Friday, December 19 — Titus 1–3
  • Saturday, December 20 — 1 Pet 1–5

What To Expect
The Bible passages you are about to read were written during hard times. There are storms, prison cells, unfair treatment, and suffering. Paul is quite honestly, suffering. He is locked up. Peter writes to people who feel pressure and pain because of their faith. Yet these letters are filled with hope, joy, and confidence in God.
As you read this week's devotion, don’t expect stories about things getting easier. Instead, expect to see how God works when life is hard for these guys. God’s plans are not stopped by all of these setbacks. In Acts, the storm does not cancel God’s promise to Paul. It actually leads to new opportunities to share the gospel. What looks like a tragedy becomes part of God’s plan to keep it in His hands.
One thing you will notice is that suffering does not destroy faith—it often makes it stronger. Paul and Peter do not pretend pain isn’t real, and in fact acknowledge it several times. They show believers how to trust God even in the midst of it. Hard times bring chances to grow and to depend on God in a very deep way..
You will also see that faith is meant to show up in everyday life. These books talk about how to treat others, how to live at home and work, how to speak, how to forgive, and how to keep going when things are tough. Although they acknowledge we will mess up! There are many examples of them doing the right thing for the gospel. Men of integrity.
Look for repeated reminders about joy, endurance, and hope. This joy does not come from good circumstances at all. It in fact comes from knowing that Jesus firmly in control and that God always finishes on top!

Personal InsightMy personal insight from these pages always makes me think of not only Jesus, but Paul himself! The fact this man lived through suffering for the gospel specifically is inspiring. We know that even in today’s world when people suffer for the gospel, it tends to spread more. Paul stood out because of what he was suffering for! It’s interesting to note that Paul is nowhere near a believer and killing Christians, and yet is willing to give his own life for it in the end. Paul shows us that we will stand out when we claim to be Christians because we have a different kind of hope, that is in Jesus Christ! We tend to WANT to live differently when we know this world is only temporary! Paul knew exactly the trials he would go through because he was one of these people at one point! But him mentioning that if he were to die it would be gain, but even on earth it’s gain to be able to spread the gospel more! However, knowing he couldn’t be around forever you can see the real son and father relationship between Paul and Timothy! I like to view this as a passing of the torch! Paul knows he’s getting old, and he uses this to raise Timothy to love the Lord, and share it with others! It’s inspiring for a person like myself who is just getting his adult life started and knowing there’s still plenty to come hopefully!


PrayerGod, thank you for all that you do for us. Thank you for the work that you have done through the apostles and continue to do through the church. Thank you for the transformative work that you show us in Scripture, so that we can see that you are able to redeem all lives. 

This week’s devotion was prepared by Hayden Collins ]]><![CDATA[December 7-13, 2025]]>Tue, 09 Dec 2025 19:16:17 GMThttp://www.centerchristian.org/through-the-bible-reading-plan--devotion/december-7-13-2025Heart Preparation:  Looking forward to your readings this week, I want to point to a verse that might get glazed over while reading through Romans. Though I think it is hope-filled and beautiful. It's Romans 4:17. "As it is written, 'I have made you the father of many nations' - in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist." Remember those underlined words. Here, Paul is using the example of Abraham fathering Isaac. But this isn't the only time God did this. We are in the season of Advent, that time of year the church anticipates the coming of Jesus. How God once appeared in the flesh where he was not before. How he will appear again. That is our God.
 Reading Plan:
  • Sunday, December 7 — Acts 20:1-3; Romans 1-3
  • Monday, December 8 — Romans 4-7
  • Tuesday, December 9 — Romans 8-10
  • Wednesday, December 10 — Romans 11-13
  • Thursday, December 11 — Romans 14-16
  • Friday, December 12 — Acts 20:4-23:35
  • Saturday, December 13 — Acts 24-26
 What to Expect:Paul has wanted to get to Rome for some time. You hear his desire when reading through Romans and you see the attempt when you read through Acts. It just had not worked out for him to get there. He has his motivation. But up until now the way has been blocked. It did not exist. But in the letter to the Romans God brings into existence words that have helped shape the course of history for the gospel. Had Paul found a way to get there before that maybe the letter would not have been written. And if I were going to take a trip to Rome I would not get myself arrested, beaten up, almost killed, jailed, used for entertainment by the powerful, and shipwrecked before walking into town. But there it is. This is how God got Paul to Rome. This is how God brought this into existence.
 Personal Insight:I am going to try and be short. You just never know what God might bring into existence when you think on what He has written. And there are not many places better for surprising love and worship to rise up out of us while doing this than in Romans. Remembering that God is both just and justifier (3:26); how Christ died for us in our weakness (5:6); that in Christ we are not condemned (8:1); when we have no words to speak to God for sorrow God speaks for us (8:26); how nothing can separate us from the love of God (8:39). I could go on. But there is far too much to list here. Yet, consider the great sweep of the plan of God to justify sinners by faith and to make one people from all nations, tribes, and tongues through the gospel of Jesus Christ that Paul lays out in Romans. Listen to what rises up in you. What is God growing up in your heart and mind? What is God causing to exist that did not in you before?
 Prayer:Merciful Father, Just and Justifier, One who causes to exist what did not before, create in me what was not there before. Grow up in me what you have planted and cause your fruit to witness to Your great love for me in Jesus. Amen.

This week's devotion was prepared by Justin Coberley. 
]]><![CDATA[November 30-December 6, 2025]]>Sun, 30 Nov 2025 12:00:00 GMThttp://www.centerchristian.org/through-the-bible-reading-plan--devotion/november-30-december-6-2025Heart Preparation:  
Speaking about Paul’s letters in 2 Peter 3:16, Peter writes to the church that “his letters contain some things that are hard to understand”. I’m not afraid to admit that I agree wholeheartedly with Peter. So, if you’re like Peter and myself, there are portions of Paul’s writing that can be difficult to fully understand. Therefore, each day this week as you prepare to read through First and Second Corinthians, pray that God will give you understanding and clarity in what He is wanting you to learn and understand through the words of Paul.
 
Reading Plan: 
  • Sunday, November 30 — 1 Corinthians 5-8
  • Monday, December 1 — 1 Corinthians 9-11
  • Tuesday, December 2 — 1 Corinthians 12-14
  • Wednesday, December 3 — 1 Corinthians 15-16
  • Thursday, December 4 — 2 Corinthians 1-4
  • Friday, December 5 — 2 Corinthians 5-9
  • Saturday, December 6 — 2 Corinthians 10-13
 
What to Expect:
1 Corinthians 5-6:  Paul addresses the Christians in Corinth regarding disorder in the church. Sin had crept into the church. Specifically, sexual immorality and lawsuits amongst the believers.


1 Corinthians 7-16: These chapters contain Paul’s answers/instruction to the questions the Corinthians had been asking. Paul addresses marriage, food sacrificed to idols, rights of an apostle, gifts of the spirit, and the resurrection of Christ. 1 Corinthians closes with an appeal for the church to take a collection of money to send to the much poorer saints in Jerusalem. 

2 Corinthians: While 1 Corinthians is mostly a letter of correction and instruction, 2 Corinthians has a considerably more personal feel. Paul devotes a large part of this letter to defending his authority to teach the gospel, as well as his commitment to spreading the gospel.
 
Personal Insight: 
At some point in all of our lives we have gone through valleys. Periods of time in our lives that test our resolve, our strength, and even our faith. It’s likely that someone reading this is in one of those valleys right now. They are an inevitable part of our life on this side of heaven. But Paul gives believers great hope, and comfort, in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18. Speaking of hardships, he says: “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” This is only true IF we are in Christ, and he is in us. Because without Christ, we do lose heart. And we actually waste away inwardly at a much faster pace than we do outwardly. Without him, we have nothing to renew us day by day. A person going through these times without Jesus will ONLY see what can be seen. It’s all they know. And what can be seen will bring nothing but more pain, worry, and fear. All of this together can put someone in a pretty dark place. To me this is what makes Paul’s metaphor earlier in chapter 4 about treasures in jars of clay so profoundly true. When we go through this life with Jesus as our Lord and Savior, even though our physical bodies and minds are just fragile jars that can be shattered at any time, we are filled with treasure. That treasure is the eternal glory that outweighs all of our trials. It is that unseen, eternal hope that we fix our eyes on when we find ourself in the valley. King David wrote In Psalm 34 17-19


The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles. 
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

If you are in one of those valleys today, or the next time you find yourself in one, no matter the depth, strive to focus on that glorious, unseen thing that is eternal.


Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comesupon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. -1 Peter 4:12-13


More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.  -Romans 5:3-5.


Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him. -James 1:12
 
Prayer:
Heavenly father, thank you for loving us so much and being our rock. Thank you for being that outstretched hand when we feel like we’re in a sea of quicksand. May we spend our time in this earthly life honoring, and loving you above all other things. May we lean on your word, and your promises even more when we are at our lowest. In the mighty name of Jesus -Amen
                       
This week’s devotion was prepared by Jonathan King]]><![CDATA[November 9-15, 2025]]>Sun, 09 Nov 2025 02:00:19 GMThttp://www.centerchristian.org/through-the-bible-reading-plan--devotion/november-9-15-2025Heart Preparation:

This week’s reading is pretty well known. It’s the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. As much as you might’ve known it before, make sure you enter with eyes open to see God’s truths. Even though you might read the same event four different ways, look at each of the individual perspectives that the authors write from. And in it all, know that you are reading the fulfillment of prophecy, you are reading the account of what our hope is built on, the sacrifice of Jesus, and that His sacrifice was fully accepted by God, and therefore you are reading how we are able to be in right relationship with God. Through the atoning sacrifice of the Lamb of God.


Weekly Reading:
  • Sunday, November 9 — Matthew 26, Mark 14
  • Monday, November 10 — Luke 22, John 13
  • Tuesday, November 11 — John 14–17
  • Wednesday, November 12 — Matthew 27, Mark 15
  • Thursday, November 13 — Luke 23, John 18–19
  • Friday, November 14 — Matthew 28, Mark 16
  • Saturday, November 15 — Luke 24, John 20–21


What to Expect:

This week, you are going to be reading another account of Jesus’ final week, often called Holy Week. This stems from His triumphal entry, to being anointed by Mary at Bethany, to clearing out the temple for the abuse that the religious leaders were having with it, to His final evening with His disciples in the upper room, where He institutes the Lord’s Supper.


You will then witness the trial of Jesus, where He stands before the High Priest, Caiaphas (the religious leader), King Herod (the national puppet leader), and Pilate (the governor/political leader). You will read four different accounts of how they treated Jesus, seeing the fulfillment of Isaiah 53, He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed… He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth.


Though Jesus was innocent, you are going to read about His crucifixion, facing extreme agony physically (Romans were experts at inflicting pain), emotionally (the soldiers and leaders mock Jesus and humiliate Him, and spiritually (Jesus feels complete separation from God, experiencing His wrath and being forsaken by Him on the cross). He went through all of this for us.


You will then see the greatest moment in the history of the world. Paul states it this way, If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. BUT IN FACT CHRIST HAS BEEN RAISED FROM THE DEAD! I hope you shouted that, because it is the news that needs to be shouted from the mountain tops! Christ is not dead, but instead He has conquered death, and we too therefore have a hope because of this very moment that you are going to be reading this week!


Personal Insight:

Every year we celebrate Easter, the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Every year we hear about what He has done for us. Every year we reflect on the fact that He has risen from the dead. But, have we become numb to it? Just as I typed that last couple of sentences in the prior section, I could feel an intensity increase in my striking the keyboard. Jesus is raised from the dead. He promises that through His resurrection we too can be raised from the dead. We don’t have to fear death. It is not the end for us, but the beginning. The beginning of eternal glory. We live in eternal life right now, knowing Jesus, but as Paul says, now we see in part, soon we will see fully. I just got done reading Revelation in my own study, and when you read Revelation with the resurrection fresh in your mind, you have confidence. You see that as much as the spiritual and political forces may try, Christ is victorious! He wins! He proved that already at the resurrection. The cross could not hold Him. The grave could not hold Him. Our sin could not hold Him. He lived a perfect, completely sinless life, in every way, to be the perfect Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, so that He is the only one worthy of all praise and glory and honor, and He did it so that we could enter into perfect relationship with the Father, as adopted sons, because we, though unrighteous, are now righteous before the Father because we have received His righteousness! A righteousness not of works, but of faith in the perfect Son of God! Thank you Jesus!


Prayer:

Jesus thank you! That’s it, Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Amen!


This week’s devotion was prepared by Andrew Peterman.
]]><![CDATA[November 2-8, 2025]]>Sun, 02 Nov 2025 12:00:00 GMThttp://www.centerchristian.org/through-the-bible-reading-plan--devotion/november-2-8-2025Heart Preparation
Many of the stories that we read in the Gospels can seem repetitive to us, or just potentially seem like stories we are familiar with. If you grew up in church, you have probably heard of the miracles of Jesus, as well as many of His parables. Therefore, we can grow almost numb to what we are really reading. This week, as you open up God’s Word, pray for Him to give you fresh eyes to what you are reading. When you read about the miracles of Jesus, think of what it would have been like to witness those firsthand. He simply speaks or touches, and the person is healed. When you read about His teachings, think of what it would have been like when hearing what He has to say in a culture that was extremely rules driven. Take what Jesus is saying and look at it as if He were also speaking to you. We often like to see Him make Pharisees mad, because they represent the abuse of religion that seems prevalent today, but don’t miss the potential we all have in us to be just like the Pharisees, hypocrites who hear what God says and think it needs to apply to everyone else. Each day, pray the prayer of Paul over the Ephesians, that you may have the eyes of your hearts enlightened….

Reading Plan
  • Sunday, November 2 — Luke 18:15–19:48
  • Monday, November 3 — Mark 11, John 12
  • Tuesday, November 4 — Matt 22, Mark 12
  • Wednesday, November 5 — Matt 23, Luke 20–21
  • Thursday, November 6 — Mark 13
  • Friday, November 7 — Matt 24
  • Saturday, November 8 — Matt 25

​What to Expect
This week’s readings consist of the final week of Jesus’ earthly ministry. You will get one more account of the Triumphal entry, where they proclaim Him to be the coming Messiah. But in just a few days, the rulers will crucify Him. In His final week before His crucifixion, you are going to see the rhetoric of the Pharisees and religious rulers increase, and the tensions between Jesus and the rulers grows as He calls them out for their hypocrisy, for their misuse of the Temple, and for their lack of care for what truly matters, the hearts of the people.

What to Look For
As mentioned already, the tension between the religious leaders and Jesus is growing. Take note of how Jesus treats those He encounters. The heart of the Gospel is coming for the broken. That’s how Jesus started His ministry, in Mark 2:17, I came not to call the righteous, but sinners. The Pharisee’s thought that they were righteous, and Jesus showed them that they were unrighteous. The sinners and tax collectors knew that they were looked down upon, and Jesus gave them grace, compassion, and love.

Personal Insight
The statement above has really hit me. So often, I can see those Pharisee tendencies in my life. I can see times where I allow pride to sneak in and therefore I believe that I am deserving of God’s grace. I feel that I am righteous by my own efforts. I feel like when Jesus said that He came to save sinners and not the righteous, the Pharisee’s potentially thought they didn’t need His saving. They missed the point. There is no one who does righteous. There is no one who is righteous by our own standard. That’s the beauty of the Gospel. It’s not based on our works, but on His perfect work. The Gospel is that Jesus, God in nature, took on flesh and became like us, so that we all, from the lowest level (sinners and tax collectors of Jesus’ day), to the highest (Pharisees), all have a level playing field. On the days that I feel that I am rocking it, I am still saved by grace through faith in Christ. On the days that I feel like I am failing miserably at everything I do, I am still saved by grace through faith in Christ. For our sake He made Him who knew no sin to become sin, so that in Him WE might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you! It is because of Your great love that I am able to pray this prayer to a God who hears me. Even in my darkest moments, Your love comes running after me. You give me grace. Even when I am arrogant in my own works, You are patient with me and gently lead me back to You. Thank you for never giving up on me! May I walk with a heart of humility, seeing the mission of Your Son as the driving force in my life, that He came to seek and save the lost. Thank you for saving a lost like me, and adopting me into your eternal home.

This week’s devotion was prepared by Andy Peterman.
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The Dating for the Crucifixion of Christ
]]><![CDATA[October 26 - November 1, 2025]]>Sun, 02 Nov 2025 12:00:00 GMThttp://www.centerchristian.org/through-the-bible-reading-plan--devotion/october-26-november-1-2025Heart Preparation:
  As you read this week, God is showing you His character in the person of His Son Jesus.  “He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation,” as Paul wrote in Colossians 1:15.  Hebrews 1:2 tells us that God “in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.”  When Jesus was transfigured on a mountaintop in front of Peter, James and John, “a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, ‘This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!’” (Mark 9:7).  Ask God to help you learn more and more from Jesus, and to love Him (which means to obey Him) more and more.

 Week’s Reading Plan:• Sunday, Oct. 26th – Luke 12-13
• Monday, Oct. 27th – Luke 14-15
• Tuesday, Oct. 28th – Luke 16:1-17:10
• Wednesday, Oct. 29th – John 11
• Thursday, Oct. 30th – Luke 17:11-18:14
• Friday, Oct. 31st – Matthew 19, Mark 10
• Saturday, Nov. 1 -- Matthew 20-21
 What to Expect:  These chapters take place during the last 3 months of Jesus’ earthly life, from early Jan. to early March of 33 A.D.  In Luke chapters 12-16, Jesus was still proclaiming Truth to crowds, “passing through from one city and village to another, teaching, and proceeding on His way to Jerusalem.”  After the Jerusalem temple leaders tried to stone him in John chapter 10, Jesus and His disciples had gone away to Perea, east of the Jordan River.  In John chapter 11, the pivotal point in John’s Gospel, Jesus went to Bethany, just 2 miles from Jerusalem, to raise his friend Lazarus from the dead.
 
  The outraged Jerusalem temple leaders then sought to kill both Lazarus and Jesus, so Jesus and His disciples went to Ephraim, about 25 miles north of Jerusalem and near the border with Samaria.  There he healed 10 lepers, but only the one Samaritan leper came back to thank him (Luke 17:11-19).  Jesus then made his final trip south to Jerusalem, met the rich young ruler, healed blind Bartimaeus in Jericho, and called Zaccheus as a disciple in Jericho.  He made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem from Bethany on the Mount of Olives, while people proclaimed Him as Messiah and King.
 Things to Look For:  In Luke 12:4, Jesus says to not fear those who kill the body, but to fear God.  He says this knowing that He will be killed in less than 3 months, and that many of His followers will later be persecuted and killed.  He then tells the parable of the rich fool, and tells people not to lay up treasure for themselves, but to be rich toward God.  In Luke chapter 15, Jesus tells the parables of the lost sheep, lost coin and lost son, and concludes each parable with: “There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous persons who need no repentance.”
 
  Jesus makes his 5th of 7 “I AM” statements in John 11:25, saying “I AM the resurrection and the life” (which equates Jesus with God the Father). In John 11:27, Martha is the5th of 7 witnesses in this Gospel who state that Jesus is God.  The last of Jesus’ 7 “signs” in John’s Gospel, that prove that He is God, is raising Lazarus from the deadafter he’s been in the grave for 4 days (something never done before or since then).  This final sign is a dividing point among people in Israel, as many more come to believe in Jesus as Messiah and God, but the Jerusalem temple leaders become hardened and dead-set to killJesus.
 
  On Jesus’ final trip to Jerusalem, the rich young rulerrefuses to repent and give up his privileges to follow Jesus.  Soon after that, Zaccheus (a chief tax collector) does repent, makes restitution to those whom he cheated, gives to the poor, and follows Jesus.  This echoes the joy in heaven in the parables of Luke chapter 15.  The religious rulers’ rage grows as Jesus enters Jerusalem on a donkey,fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9, but the common people proclaim Him as Messiah and King.
 Personal Insight:  Jesus acts out His stated mission (and parables) of seeking and saving the lost by asking the rich young ruler to follow Him, inviting Himself to Zaccheus’ house, healing the injured in synagogues while teaching on the Sabbath, and healing lepers and blind men along the road.  Jesus demonstrates the wisdom of God in His teaching, the power of God in His miracles, and the compassion of God in His concern for people.  Jesus weeps 3 times: over unrepentant Jerusalem in Luke 13:34-35 and in Luke 19:41-44, and over the curse of death in John 11:35.
 
  Jesus has fully dedicated His life to bringing people back to God the Father, and will soon lay down His life to accomplish this.  He calls us to follow Him by always listening for the Holy Spirit’s leading in opportunities to share the love of Jesus with others.
We cannot do this on our own, as we’re all born with a sinful bent.  The model for coming to God is in John chapter 11.  We must die to our worldly false self, be buried in baptism, and allow Jesus to call us to our true, eternal life in Him.
 Prayer:  Father God, empower us with your Holy Spirit to be boldly preemptive like Jesus in seeking out those who don’t know You but are searching for meaning or fulfillment in their lives.  Help us to not be “rich fools” but to emulate Zaccheus by continuing to repent of any and all sins that You reveal to us, and to give generously to missions that help people and lead them to Christ, both nearby and around the world. Enable us to fully dedicate our lives to following Jesus and bringing people to Him, as we pray this in Jesus’ name.  May it be so.
 
This week’s devotion was prepared by Brenda Reid, Missions Team leader at Center Christian Church.]]><![CDATA[October 19-25, 2025]]>Sun, 19 Oct 2025 11:00:00 GMThttp://www.centerchristian.org/through-the-bible-reading-plan--devotion/october-19-25-2025​Heart Preparation: 
Before reading each day this week, say a quick prayer that God would reveal new things to you within these gospels that you have likely read several times. There is so much to be absorbed from the short period of time that Jesus walked on this earth among us. Sometimes it's easy to glaze over details when you have read something more than once or twice. So take your time, and really study these scriptures. Think about how they pertain to your life today.


Reading Plan: 
  • Sunday Oct 19:  Mt 15/Mk                                                                                                 
  • Monday Oct 20: Mt 16/Mk 8/Lk 9:18-27                                                                         
  • Tuesday Oct 21: Mt 17/Mk 9/Lk 9:28-62                                                                      
  • Wednesday Oct 22: Mt 18                                                                                                     
  • Thursday Oct 23: Jn 7-8                                                                                                         
  • Friday Oct 24: Jn 9-10:21                                                                                                 
  • Saturday Oct 25: Lk 10-11/Jn 10:22-42


What to Expect: 
We will continue to read about Jesus ministry on earth this week. There are several things to look for as you read through the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Among them are several miracles performed by Jesus: The blind are made to see, the deaf/mute hear and speak again, demons are cast out, Jesus feeds four thousand with seven loaves of bread, and a coin even appears in the mouth of a fish. Another highlight of this weeks reading is the transfiguration of Jesus in front of Peter, James, and John. During this transfiguration, Moses and Elijah appear and are talking to Jesus.


What to Look for: 
Pay attention to the amount of scepticism and hatred the Pharisees show Jesus. They do everything they can think of to find fault in every move Jesus makes. Even after seeing first hand the miracles that Jesus was performing, they wanted more. They wanted a sign in the sky.  In John chapter 10 Jesus uses a shepherd, and his sheep as an analogy for Himself and those who choose to follow him.  But the Pharisees don't understand. They eventually try to arrest him, and stone him.  But Jesus is able to flee.


Personal Insight: 
In the midst of all the miraculous things that Jesus does, including healing the sick, lame, deaf, and demon possesed. In a week where Jesus is transfigured on a mountain top and has a conversation with Moses and Elijah. Where God himself tells Peter, James, and John that "This is my son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to Him". In the middle of all these profound things, one verse in Luke really stuck with me. As Jesus and the disciples are on thier way to Jeruselum, a number of men either ask to follow Jesus, or are asked by Jesus to follow Him. One in particular says that he must first go say goodbye to his family. In Luke 10:62 Jesus replied "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the Kingdom of God". Here, Jesus uses an agricultural metaphor involving the operation of a plow. In Bible times, farmers used what is called an ard, or a scratch plow. These plows were much different than the ones we think of and know today. If you've never seen one, I encourage you to look it up. This simple, and very unstable tool requires the operator to be fully focused on both the direction of the draft animal, and the operation of the plow. So when Jesus says "anyone who puts his their hand to the plow and gets distracted is not fit for service in the Kingdom of God" He is saying in very strong language that we need to be focused on serving Him, and not looking at, or serving the distractions in our lives. For me, putting my hand to the plow and making the decision to give my life to Christ was the easy part. The hard part, the part that requires constant, intentional focus is the not looking around. Or even worse, looking back. Looking back into the past keeps us from having that completely undivided heart that Jesus tells us we should have. We have to leave that old life behind, and not look back. Putting our "hands to the plow" and being a follower of Christ is the most serious commitment we will ever make. It requires more than an hour a week, or an hour a day. It requires CONSTANT, intentional commitment to Jesus Christ, who's blood was the atonement of our sins so that we don't ever have to look back.


Prayer: 
Heavenly Father, Strengthen my focus daily on following you and doing your will. There is nothing I want more than to serve in your Kingdom. So let your preserved word be a beacon to guide me foward through the rest of my days in this life, so that I am fit for service.    
-Amen 




This week’s devotion was prepared by Jonathan King 
]]><![CDATA[October 12-18, 2025]]>Sun, 12 Oct 2025 11:00:00 GMThttp://www.centerchristian.org/through-the-bible-reading-plan--devotion/october-12-18-2025Heart Preparation:
This week, I invite you to read Matthew 11:28-30 and Matthew 12:18-21 before every day's reading. Take them in slowly. What do these words reveal about Jesus? About his heart for you? About the character of your Father? Pay attention to what rises up in your heart as you read these words. Whatever that is, hold it up to the Father honestly. Then proceed with the reading.


This Week's Reading:
  • Sunday - Matthew 11
  • Monday - Matthew 12:22-50; Luke 11
  • Tuesday - Matthew 13; Luke 8
  • Wednesday - Matthew 8:14-34; Mark 4-5
  • Thursday - Matthew 9-10
  • Friday - Matthew 14; Mark 6; Luke 9:1-17
  • Saturday - John 6


What to Expect:
Expect to see the inbreaking of the Kingdom of God, the reign of God in His Son, Jesus Christ, in this world. This is good news. This is the realer than real and the truer than true. Jesus Christ is Lord of heaven and earth. The good news of his Kingdom is being established. It happens as the good news is preached from the mouth of God the Son. It happens as the broken are healed and put back together. It happens as the self-righteous are confronted with their own need for Jesus. It is summarized in Jesus' own words to John the Baptist through his followers, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: "the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have the good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me" (Matt. 11:4-6).


What to Look For: 
In these reading's there is encounter after encounter with people. Look for how Jesus responds to people. Read these encounters through the lens of the verses highlighted at the beginning. Jesus is living out of his own heart description. Jesus is merciful, kind, powerful, and good. Jesus is only ever upset with people who say he is no good for them or others and who, by their religious observance, harm and hurt his people with loads too heavy for their shoulders to carry.


Personal Insight:
Sometimes I wonder if the way we beat up on ourselves as believers is just another misguided way we try to justify ourselves to God; another way we try to convince God we are worth Jesus' death on the cross. How's that? When my posture towards God is saying again and again what a failure I am, how terrible I am, how I need to do and be better, isn't that just another way of saying, "God, aren't you proud of me? I am sufficiently repentant. I am beating up on myself the proper amount. You must be satisfied with how awful I know I am and my efforts to fix myself. If you have come to Jesus, you know your need. Go back and read these accounts. Does Jesus treat people who know their need for him like I do? Nope.


Prayer:
Jesus, I love you. Here I am. Take me as I am. You see what is rising up in my heart. Here it is, Lord. Here I am Lord. I trust you. You are good. Amen.

This week's devotion was prepared by Justin Coberley. 

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