Jesus called His twelve disciples and gave them His authority to cast out demons and heal diseases (v. 1). He then sent them on a mission to the lost sheep of Israel, telling them to preach that the kingdom of heaven was near and to freely give what they had received—God’s power and mercy (vv. 5–8). They were to travel light, trust God for provision, and bring peace where they were welcomed (vv. 9–13). But if a town rejected the message, they were to shake off the dust as a sign of warning (v. 14).
Jesus also prepared them for hard days ahead. He warned that they would face persecution, hatred, and even betrayal by family members, but He encouraged them not to be afraid. God would give them the words to say when they were on trial (vv. 16–20), and He reminded them that they were deeply valued by their heavenly Father—even the hairs on their heads were numbered (vv. 29–31). Still, following Jesus would divide families and demand full allegiance (vv. 34–37). Disciples must take up their cross and follow Him—even if it costs them everything (vv. 38–39).
Welcoming Jesus’s messengers meant welcoming Jesus Himself—and God would reward even the smallest act of kindness done in His name (vv. 40–42). This chapter shows that being sent by Jesus is both a great privilege and a great cost. But the King is worth it.
🌀 Reflection: Am I following Jesus with full surrender, even when it costs me comfort, approval, or control?
💬 Mission Challenge: Find a way to serve or encourage someone who is helping others know Jesus—support a missionary, your pastor, or a gospel worker (v. 41).
Jesus kept showing His authority—this time not just to heal, but also to forgive sins. When a paralyzed man was brought to Him, Jesus first told him, “Your sins are forgiven” (v. 2). That made the religious leaders angry, but Jesus showed He had the power to forgive by also healing the man (vv. 5–7). Then He called Matthew, a tax collector, to follow Him (v. 9). When Jesus ate with Matthew and other “sinners,” He explained that He came not for those who thought they were good enough, but for those who knew they needed mercy (vv. 10–13). Jesus reminded the people that He hadn’t come to patch up the old ways but to bring something totally new—like new wine in new wineskins (vv. 16–17).
More miracles followed: a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years was healed when she touched Jesus’s clothes (vv. 20–22), and Jesus raised a young girl from the dead (vv. 23–25). Two blind men were healed because they believed Jesus could do it (vv. 27–30), and a mute man spoke after Jesus cast out a demon (vv. 32–33). Still, some of the Pharisees rejected Him and claimed His power came from demons (v. 34). But Jesus kept going, teaching, healing, and preaching the gospel everywhere He went (v. 35).
🌀 Reflection: Do I see people the way Jesus does—with compassion and a heart to help them know God?
💬 Mission Challenge: Pray that God would raise up more people to share the gospel—maybe even you (v. 38)!
After preaching with authority, Jesus now shows His authority through powerful miracles. He heals a man with leprosy just by touching him (vv. 2–3), heals a Roman centurion’s servant from far away with just a word (vv. 5–13), and heals Peter’s mother-in-law with a touch (vv. 14–15). By evening, He was healing many and casting out demons, fulfilling Isaiah’s words that the Messiah would take our sicknesses and carry our diseases (v. 17).
But Jesus didn’t come just to do miracles—He also came to call people to follow Him. When someone said they’d go wherever Jesus went, Jesus warned that following Him might mean not even having a place to sleep (vv. 19–20). When another wanted to wait, Jesus said, “Follow Me” now (v. 22). Then, when a storm threatened the disciples on the sea, Jesus calmed it with a command, and they were amazed (vv. 23–27). Even the winds and waves obey Him! Finally, Jesus crossed into Gentile territory and cast demons out of two men (vv. 28–32), but the townspeople, more worried about their pigs than people, asked Him to leave (v. 34).
🌀 Reflection: Am I more interested in what Jesus can do for me, or am I ready to follow Him no matter the cost?
💬 Mission Challenge: Encourage someone today who’s walking through a storm. Remind them that Jesus is still in control—and still in the boat with them.
Jesus ends the Sermon on the Mount by turning our attention to how we relate to others and how we respond to Him. He warns us not to judge others harshly or with pride, especially when we haven’t first looked at our own hearts (vv. 1–5). At the same time, we are called to be discerning (v. 6). Jesus invites us to ask, seek, and knock—to keep coming to our Father in prayer with confidence that He loves to give good gifts (vv. 7–11). Then, in one powerful sentence, He sums up the law and the prophets with what we call the Golden Rule: treat others how you want to be treated (v. 12).
Jesus gives four warnings to close His sermon: there are two gates (vv. 13–14), two kinds of prophets (vv. 15–20), two kinds of disciples (vv. 21–23), and two foundations for life (vv. 24–27). The narrow road to life is hard and few find it, but it leads to Jesus. The wide road is easy, but it leads to destruction (vv. 13–14). Some may appear to speak for God, but their lives prove otherwise (vv. 15–20). Even those who say “Lord, Lord” can be far from Jesus if they don’t truly know Him and obey Him (vv. 21–23). The wise person listens to Jesus’s words and lives by them—like building a house on a rock that can’t be shaken (vv. 24–27).
🌀 Reflection: What kind of foundation is my life built on? Am I only hearing Jesus’s words—or am I putting them into practice?
💬 Mission Challenge: Take time today to encourage someone who may be walking the “narrow road.” Speak truth, show grace, and pray for them by name.
Jesus warns us not to do good things just to be seen by others (v. 1). Whether giving, praying, or fasting, God is more interested in our hearts than in a show (vv. 2–18). When we pray, we don’t need long, fancy words—just a real relationship with our Father. Jesus gives us a model prayer that puts God first and reminds us to depend on Him every day (vv. 9–13). Forgiveness is so important that Jesus ties receiving it from God with offering it to others (vv. 14–15). Even in fasting, God looks for humble hearts that want to please Him, not impress people (vv. 16–18).
Jesus also reminds us not to chase after money or stuff, but to treasure what lasts—heavenly things (vv. 19–21). We can’t serve both God and money (v. 24). Instead of worrying about what we eat, wear, or need, we’re invited to trust that our loving Father sees us, knows us, and cares for us (vv. 25–32). Our focus should be to seek God’s kingdom and His righteousness, trusting that everything else will fall into place (v. 33). Worrying about tomorrow doesn’t help today—God gives grace for each day as it comes (v. 34).
🌀 Reflection: Do I serve God with a sincere heart, or do I care more about what others see? What would it look like today to trust Him instead of worry?
💬 Mission Challenge: Look for a quiet way to give, serve, or encourage someone today—not for credit, but for Christ. Let it be just between you and God.
Jesus sits down on a mountainside and begins to teach—and what He says turns the world upside down. In the Beatitudes, He blesses the poor in spirit, the mourning, the meek, and those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (vv. 1–12). His words show us what life in the Kingdom of Heaven is like—full of grace, humility, mercy, purity, and peace. These are the traits that mark true followers of Jesus, not worldly power or wealth.
He calls His people to be salt and light—to preserve what is good and shine His truth into a dark world (vv. 13–16). Then Jesus explains He didn’t come to do away with the law, but to fulfill it (v. 17). In fact, His standards go even deeper than what the law says—He cares not only about our actions, but also our hearts. Anger, lust, lies, revenge—He addresses them all (vv. 21–48). But instead of giving rules to follow, He shows us how to love. He calls us to forgive, to be truthful, and even to love our enemies. Jesus is not just after behavior change—He wants to transform us from the inside out.
🌀 Reflection: Jesus doesn’t just want you to avoid doing wrong—He wants you to love what’s right. Where do you need His help to live out His kingdom values today?
💬 Mission Challenge: Shine your light today—do something kind, forgiving, or generous that points someone to Jesus and the hope we have in Him.
Right after His baptism, Jesus is led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil (v. 1). After fasting for forty days, He’s hungry—and Satan tempts Him three times. Each time, Jesus resists by quoting Scripture (vv. 1–11). Where Adam and Israel failed, Jesus succeeds. He proves He is the true Son of God who will obey the Father completely.
After this, Jesus begins His public ministry. He moves to Capernaum, fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy that a great light would shine on those in darkness (vv. 12–16; cf. Isa. 9:1–2). He preaches, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (v. 17), and starts calling disciples. Peter and Andrew, James and John leave their fishing boats to follow Him (vv. 18–22). Jesus goes through Galilee teaching, preaching, and healing—and large crowds begin to follow Him (vv. 23–25).
🌀 Reflection: Jesus didn’t avoid temptation—He faced it and overcame it. What temptations are you facing right now, and how can God’s Word help you fight them?
💬 Mission Challenge: Jesus said, “Follow me.” Invite someone today to learn more about Jesus—maybe by reading the Bible with you, coming to church, or hearing how He changed your life.
John the Baptist steps onto the scene like a voice from the Old Testament—living in the wilderness (v. 1), dressed wildly in clothes made out of camel hair and eating locusts (v. 4), and preaching with power. His message was simple but urgent: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (v. 2). Crowds came to the Jordan River to confess their sins and be baptized (vv. 5–6), preparing their hearts for the coming King. But when the religious leaders showed up with pride and no repentance, John warned them that real change—not just religious talk—is what God wants (vv. 7–10).
Then Jesus came—not to call others to repent, but to be baptized Himself (v. 13). John was shocked (v. 14). But Jesus wasn’t repenting—He was identifying with us. His baptism was a sign that He would fulfill all righteousness and stand in our place (v. 15). As He came out of the water, the heavens opened, the Spirit of God descended like a dove (v. 16), and the Father spoke from heaven: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (v. 17). The King had arrived—and the Trinity was present in full.
🌀 Reflection: Jesus was perfect, but He still chose to be baptized to stand in our place. How does that deepen your understanding of His love for you?
💬 Mission Challenge: Share with someone why Jesus’ baptism matters. Talk about how He identified with us—and how we now follow Him in baptism and obedience.
Wise men from the east came looking for a newborn king. They followed a star that led them to Jesus, and they worshiped Him and brought Him gifts (vv. 1–12). But not everyone welcomed the news. King Herod felt threatened and ordered all the baby boys in Bethlehem to be killed (vv. 13–18). This heartbreaking event fulfilled prophecies from the Old Testament (vv. 5–6, 15, 18, 23).
Joseph was warned in a dream and took Mary and Jesus to Egypt until it was safe (vv. 13–15). After Herod’s death, they returned and settled in Nazareth (vv. 19–23). Matthew shows that even in danger and exile, God’s plan for Jesus never wavered. The child born in Bethlehem was not just another baby—He was the promised Savior, and God was guiding every step.
🌀 Reflection: The wise men traveled far and gave costly gifts to honor Jesus. What does it look like for you to give your worship to Jesus today?
💬 Mission Challenge: Tell someone why Jesus is worth following—even when others don’t understand. Like the wise men, point someone to the King with your words and actions today.
This phase will have us reading Matthew, Luke, and Hebrews. These books were written for Jewish-background believers and help us see Jesus as the promised King and fulfillment of the Old Testament. Matthew presents Jesus as the Son of David. James gives wisdom for living out our faith. And Hebrews explains how Jesus completes the story of God’s covenant people.
Below, you’ll find brief synopses of each book in this phase to help you understand the scope of the book and most importantly, how it fits into the full Story of the Bible.
When you click on each day’s link, you will find a link to audio, a summary of the chapter, a key verse from the chapter, and opportunities for reflection and outreach.
Matthew
The Gospel of Matthew is the first book in the New Testament and helps us see that Jesus is the promised Savior. Matthew, one of Jesus’ twelve disciples and a former tax collector, likely wrote this account to help his fellow Jews see that Jesus is the Messiah. He uses many Old Testament references to show how Jesus fulfilled God’s promises, and he points to Jesus as the Son of David and rightful King.
Matthew’s Gospel is filled with both what Jesus did and what He taught (Matthew 4:23). It includes well-known passages like the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7), the parables of the kingdom (Matthew 13), and the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18–20). As we read, we see Jesus healing, forgiving, teaching, and confronting the religious leaders. Though rejected by many, Jesus is shown to be the King who came to save—not just Israel, but the whole world.
This Gospel reminds us that Jesus is Immanuel—God with us—from beginning to end (Matthew 1:23, 28:20). It shows how Jesus brings God’s kingdom near and calls us to follow Him. Matthew connects the Old Testament to the New and invites us to believe in the One who died for our sins and rose again in victory. The story of Jesus is good news for all people, and His mission continues through us today.
The letter of James was written by James the Just, the half-brother of Jesus (Matt. 13:55) and a leader in the church at Jerusalem (Acts 15:13). Once an unbeliever (John 7:5), James came to faith after the risen Christ appeared to him (1 Cor. 15:7). Known for his wisdom and integrity, James wrote to Jewish Christians scattered outside Israel, likely due to persecution (Acts 11:19). This makes James one of the earliest New Testament writings, probably in the mid-40s AD—just a few years after Jesus’ resurrection. The letter is filled with strong, practical teaching for believers who were suffering trials, facing poverty, and struggling with division.
James’s main message is clear: real faith is shown by real obedience. He urges his readers not just to hear God’s Word but to do it (ch. 1:22–25). Like the wisdom books of the Old Testament—especially Proverbs—James is full of vivid pictures, direct commands, and memorable sayings. He addresses the power of the tongue (ch. 3:1–12), the danger of favoritism (ch. 2:1–7), the need for patient endurance (ch. 5:7–11), and the call to care for the poor (ch. 1:27; 2:14–17). Throughout, James points believers to seek “wisdom from above” (ch. 3:17), to pray with faith (ch. 5:13–18), and to live with humility before God (ch. 4:6–10).
In the story of the Bible, James calls God’s people to live out the new life they have received in Christ. His letter echoes the teaching of Jesus, especially the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5–7), and reminds the church that faith and works are not enemies but friends—true faith always produces the fruit of obedience (ch. 2:17, 26). James urges believers to endure trials with hope, resist the pull of the world, and show mercy, because the Judge is standing at the door (ch. 5:9). Until Christ returns, we are to live as wise, wholehearted disciples whose lives point others to the mercy and power of our Savior.
Hebrews
Hebrews is a Spirit-breathed sermon turned letter, written to weary believers to lift their eyes to Jesus. Its author remains unknown—Origen famously concluded, “only God knows.” What we do know is that the book’s majesty is unmistakable. As Wayne Grudem observes, “The majestic glory of Christ shines forth from the pages of the epistle to the Hebrews so brightly that no believer who reads it should ever want to question its place in the canon.” Indeed, there is no other book in Holy Scripture more clearly breathed out by God’s Spirit. The Spirit’s fingerprints are evident in every line as the writer draws deeply from the Old Testament to show that Jesus is the final and complete Word from God.
Written to Christians—likely from a Jewish background—facing discouragement, pressure, and even persecution, Hebrews urges them to persevere (ch. 10:32-36). They were tempted to drift back toward familiar religious traditions (ch. 2:1, 3:12), but the writer shows them a better way. Jesus is better than angels (ch. 1:4), better than Moses (ch. 3:3), and the better High Priest (ch. 4:14-15). He mediates a better covenant through His once-for-all sacrifice (ch. 8:6, 9:11-14, 10:10). Through rich exposition, urgent warnings, and heartfelt encouragements, Hebrews calls the church to “hold fast” (ch. 10:19-22)and to draw near to God with confidence, because Jesus Himself is our anchor (ch. 6:19-20).
In the New Testament, Hebrews is a “word of exhortation” (Heb. 13:22)—what we might call a pastoral sermon—full of both deep theology and practical application. It moves in a rhythm: teaching about Christ’s supremacy, then urging believers to respond with endurance and faith (ch. 12:1-2). The letter’s structure reflects its purpose: to strengthen believers by fixing their hope firmly on Christ (ch. 3:6, 10:23) and calling them to live faithfully until the end (ch. 3:14, 12:28). Along the way, it uses powerful Old Testament imagery—priests, sacrifices, covenants, and the tabernacle—to show that all of Scripture points to Jesus (ch. 9:23-28).
In the Story of the Bible, Hebrews ties the threads together. God spoke through the prophets in many ways, but now He has spoken definitively through His Son (Heb. 1:1–2). Jesus is the final Word (ch. 1:3), the great High Priest (ch. 7:23-25), and the perfect Sacrifice who has opened the way into God’s presence (ch. 10:19-20). By His death and resurrection, we have a cleansed conscience (ch. 9:14), a new covenant (ch. 8:10-12), and a living hope (ch. 6:19). Hebrews calls us to run the race with endurance (ch. 12:1), to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus (ch. 12:2), and to encourage one another until He returns in glory (ch. 10:24-25).
Just Keith Harris 