M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Abraham Is Promised a Son
18 The Lord showed Himself to Abraham by the oak trees of Mamre, as he sat at the tent door in the heat of the day. 2 Abraham looked up and saw three men standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them. He put his face to the ground 3 and said, “My lord, if I have found favor in your eyes, please do not pass by your servant. 4 Let us have a little water brought to wash your feet. Rest yourselves under the tree. 5 And I will get a piece of bread so you may eat and get strength. After that you may go on your way, since you have come to your servant.”
The men said, “Do as you have said.” 6 So Abraham ran into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Hurry and get three pails of fine flour, mix it well, and make bread.” 7 Then Abraham ran to the cattle and took out a young and good calf. He gave it to the servant to make it ready in a hurry. 8 He took milk and cheese and the meat which he had made ready, and set it in front of them. He stood by them under the tree while they ate.
9 Then they said to him, “Where is your wife Sarah?” And he said, “There in the tent.” 10 The Lord said, “I will be sure to return to you at this time next year. And your wife Sarah will have a son.” Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him. 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old. They had lived many years. The way of women had stopped for Sarah. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “Will I have this joy after my husband and I have grown old?” 13 Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘How can I give birth to a child when I am so old?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” 15 But Sarah said, “I did not laugh,” because she was afraid. And He said, “No, but you did laugh.”
Abraham Cries Out for Sodom
16 Then the men got up from there and looked down toward Sodom. Abraham went with them to send them on their way. 17 And the Lord said, “Should I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, 18 since Abraham will become a great and powerful nation, because good will come to all the nations of the earth through him? 19 For I have chosen him, so that he may teach his children and the sons of his house after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and fair. So the Lord may bring to Abraham what He has promised him.” 20 Then the Lord said, “The cry against Sodom and Gomorrah is loud. Their sin is very bad. 21 I will now go down and see if they have done as much wrong as the cry against them has told Me they have. And if not, I will know.”
22 Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom. But Abraham still stood before the Lord. 23 Abraham came near and said, “Will You destroy the good also, with the bad? 24 What if there are fifty good people within the city? Will You destroy the place and not save it because of the fifty good people in it? 25 May You never do such a thing as to destroy the good with the bad! May the good never be punished like the bad! You would never do such a thing! Will not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?” 26 So the Lord said, “If I find fifty good people in the city of Sodom, I will save the whole place because of them.” 27 Abraham said, “Now see, I have taken upon myself to speak to the Lord, I who am only dust and ashes. 28 What if five of the fifty good people are not so good. Will You destroy the whole city because of five?” The Lord said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five good people there.” 29 Abraham spoke to Him again and said, “What if only forty are found there?” The Lord said, “I will not destroy it if there are forty.” 30 Then Abraham said, “O may the Lord not be angry, and I will speak. What if only thirty are found there?” The Lord said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.” 31 Abraham said, “Now see, I have taken upon myself to speak to the Lord. What if twenty are found there?” The Lord said, “I will not destroy it because of the twenty.” 32 Then Abraham said, “O may the Lord not be angry. And I may speak once more. What if ten are found there?” The Lord said, “I will not destroy it because of the ten.” 33 Then the Lord went on His way when He finished speaking with Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.
A Look at What Jesus Will Be Like (A)
17 Six days later Jesus took with Him Peter and James and his brother John. He led them up to a high mountain by themselves. 2 He was changed in looks before them. His face was as bright as the sun. His clothes looked as white as light. 3 Moses and Elijah were seen talking with Jesus. 4 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If You will let us, we will build three altars here. One will be for You and one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
5 While Peter was speaking, a bright cloud came over them. A voice from the cloud said, “This is My much-loved Son, I am very happy with Him. Listen to Him!” 6 When the followers heard this, they got down on the ground on their faces and were very much afraid. 7 Jesus came and put His hand on them. He said, “Get up! Do not be afraid.” 8 When they looked up, they saw no one there but Jesus only. 9 As they came down from the mountain, Jesus told them in strong words, saying, “Do not tell anyone what you have seen until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.”
The Followers Ask about Elijah
10 The followers asked Jesus, “Then why do the teachers of the Law say that Elijah must come first?” 11 He said, “For sure, Elijah will come first and get things ready. 12 But I tell you, Elijah has already come and they did not know him. They did to him whatever they wanted to do. In the same way the Son of Man will suffer from them also.” 13 Then the followers understood He was talking about John the Baptist.
A Boy with a Demon Is Healed (B)
14 When they came to many people, a man came up to Jesus and got on his knees. He said, 15 “Lord, have pity on my son. He is very sick and at times loses the use of his mind. Many times he falls into the fire or into the water. 16 I took him to Your followers but they were not able to heal him.”
17 Then Jesus said, “You people of this day have no faith and you are going the wrong way. How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him here to Me.” 18 Jesus spoke sharp words to the demon and the demon came out of him. At once the boy was healed.
19 The followers came to Jesus when He was alone. They said, “Why were we not able to put the demon out?” 20 Jesus said to them, “Because you have so little faith. For sure, I tell you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to over there,’ and it would move over. You will be able to do anything. 21 *But this kind of demon does not go out but by prayer and by going without food so you can pray better.”
Jesus Tells of His Death the Second Time (C)
22 While they were still in Galilee, Jesus said to the followers, “The Son of Man will be handed over to men. 23 They will kill Him, but He will be raised from the dead three days later.” The followers were very sad.
24 They came to the city of Capernaum. Those who gathered the tax for the house of God came to Peter. They said, “Does not your Teacher pay tax money for the house of God?” 25 Peter said, “Yes.” When Peter came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first. He said, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of this earth get their money or taxes, from their own people or from those of another country?” 26 Peter said to Him, “From those of another country.” Then Jesus said, “Then their own people do not pay taxes. 27 But so we will not make them to be troubled, go down to the lake and throw in a hook. Take the first fish that comes up. In its mouth you will find a piece of money. Take that and pay the tax for Me and yourself.”
7 When the wall was built and I had set up the doors, and the gate-keepers and singers and Levites were chosen, 2 I gave my brother Hanani, and Hanaiah the captain of the strong place, the work of watching over Jerusalem. For he was a faithful man and honored God with fear more than many. 3 I said to them, “Do not let the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot. And while the soldiers are on duty watching the gates, let them shut and lock the doors. Choose soldiers from the people of Jerusalem, each one for the place he is to keep watch, and each in front of his own house.”
The Jews Return to Jerusalem
4 Now the city was wide and large, but the people in it were few and the houses were not built. 5 Then my God put it into my heart to gather together the rulers, the leaders and the people to have their names written down by families. And I found the book of the family names of those who came up first. This is what I found written in it: 6 These are the people who left the land of Babylon and returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own city. Their families had been taken away to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon. 7 These people returned with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah.
The number of the men of Israel: 8 2,172 sons of Parosh, 9 372 sons of Shephatiah, 10 652 sons of Arah, 11 2,818 sons of Pahath-moab, of the sons of Jeshua and Joab, 12 1,254 sons of Elam, 13 845 sons of Zattu, 14 760 sons of Zaccai, 15 648 sons of Binnui, 16 628 sons of Bebai, 17 2,322 sons of Azgad, 18 667 sons of Adonikam, 19 2,067 sons of Bigvai, 20 655 sons of Adin, 21 98 sons of Ater, of Hezekiah, 22 328 sons of Hashum, 23 324 sons of Bezai, 24 112 sons of Hariph, 25 95 sons of Gibeon, 26 188 sons of Bethlehem and Netophah, 27 128 sons of Anathoth, 28 42 sons of Beth-azmaveth, 29 743 sons of Kiriath-jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, 30 621 sons of Ramah and Geba, 31 122 sons of Michmas, 32 123 sons of Bethel and Ai, 33 52 sons of the other Nebo, 34 1,254 sons of the other Elam, 35 320 sons of Harim, 36 345 sons of Jericho, 37 721 sons of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, 38 and 3,930 sons of Senaah.
39 The religious leaders: 973 sons of Jedaiah of the house of Jeshua, 40 1,052 sons of Immer, 41 1,247 sons of Pashhur, 42 1,017 sons of Harim.
43 The Levites: 74 sons of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, of the sons of Hodevah. 44 The singers: 148 sons of Asaph. 45 The gate-keepers: 138 sons of Shallum, of Ater, of Talmon, of Akkub, of Hatita, and of Shobai.
46 The servants of the house of God: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth, 47 the sons of Keros, the sons of Sia, the sons of Padon, 48 the sons of Lebana, the sons of Hagaba, the sons of Shalmai, 49 the sons of Hanan, the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar, 50 the sons of Reaiah, the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda, 51 the sons of Gazzam, the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah, 52 the sons of Besai, the sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephushesim, 53 the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons of Harhur, 54 the sons of Bazlith, the sons of Mehida, the sons of Harsha, 55 the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Temah, 56 the sons of Neziah, and the sons of Hatipha.
57 The sons of Solomon’s servants: the sons of Sotai, the sons of Sophereth, the sons of Perida, 58 the sons of Jaala, the sons of Darkon, the sons of Giddel, 59 the sons of Shephatiah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochereth-hazzebaim, and the sons of Amon. 60 All the servants in the house of God and the sons of Solomon’s servants were 392.
61 Now these were the men who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer. But they were not able to prove their fathers’ houses or that they were children of Israel: 62 642 sons of Delaiah, Tobiah, and Nekoda. 63 And the sons of the religious leaders: the sons of Hobaiah, Hakkoz, and Barzillai, who had married one of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called by their name. 64 These men looked for their names among the names of all the families, but could not find them. So they were thought of as being unclean, and were not allowed to work as religious leaders. 65 And the leader told them that they should not eat from the most holy things until a religious leader learned God’s will by the Urim and Thummin.
66 There were 42,360 people in all, 67 besides the 7,337 men and women servants, and 245 singing men and women. 68 They had 736 horses, 245 mules, 69 435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys.
70 Some from among the heads of the family groups gave to the work. The ruler gave 1,000 gold pieces, fifty deep dishes, and 530 sets of clothing for the religious leaders. 71 And some of the leaders of family groups gave 20,000 gold pieces and 2,200 silver pieces. 72 The rest of the people gave 20,000 gold pieces, 2,000 silver pieces, and 67 sets of clothing for the religious leaders.
73 Now the religious leaders, the Levites, the gate-keepers, the singers, some of the people, the servants in the house of the Lord, and all Israel, lived in their cities.
When the seventh month had come, the sons of Israel were in their cities.
Paul and Silas Start a Church in Thessalonica
17 After Paul and Silas had gone through the cities of Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to the city of Thessalonica. The Jews had a place of worship there. 2 Paul went in as he always did. They gathered together each Day of Rest for three weeks and he taught them from the Holy Writings. 3 He showed them that Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead. He said, “I preach this Jesus to you. He is the Christ.” 4 Some of them put their trust in Christ and followed Paul and Silas. There were many Greek people and some leading women who honored God among those who had become Christians.
The Jews Make It Hard for Paul and Silas
5 The Jews who did not put their trust in Christ became jealous. They took along some sinful men from the center of town where people gather and brought them out on the street. These angry men started all the people in the city to cry out with loud voices. They went to the house of Jason hoping to find Paul and Silas there and bring them out to the people. 6 But they did not find them there. Then they dragged Jason and some other Christians out in front of the leaders and cried out, “These men who have been making trouble over all the world have come here also. 7 And Jason has taken them in. They say there is another King called Jesus. They are working against the laws made by Caesar.”
8 When the people and city leaders heard this, they were troubled. 9 Then they made Jason and the others pay some money and let them go.
Paul and Silas Go to Berea
10 At once the Christians sent Paul and Silas away at night to the city of Berea. When they got there, they went to the Jewish place of worship. 11 These Jews were more willing to understand than those in the city of Thessalonica. They were very glad to hear the Word of God, and they looked into the Holy Writings to see if those things were true. 12 Many of them became Christians. Some of them were respected Greek women and men. 13 The Jews of Thessalonica heard that Paul was preaching the Word of God in Berea. They went there and worked against the missionaries by talking to the people. 14 At once the Christians sent Paul away to the sea-shore. But Silas and Timothy stayed there.
Paul Preaches on Mars’ Hill in Athens
15 Those who took Paul brought him to the city of Athens. Paul sent word with them that Silas and Timothy should come to him as soon as they could. Then they left. 16 While Paul was waiting for Silas and Timothy in Athens, his spirit was troubled as he saw the whole city worshiping false gods. 17 He talked to the Jews and other people who were worshiping in the Jewish place of worship. Every day he talked with people who gathered in the center of town.
18 Some men from two different groups were arguing with Paul. The one group thought that men might as well get all the fun out of life that they can. The other group thought that wisdom alone makes men happy. Some of them said, “This man has lots of little things to talk about. They are not important. What is he trying to say?” Others said, “He preaches about strange gods.” It was because he preached of Jesus and of His being raised from the dead.
19 Then they took him to Mars’ Hill and said, “We want to hear of this new teaching of yours. 20 Some of the things you are telling us are strange to our ears. We want to know what these things mean.” 21 The people of Athens and those visiting from far countries used all their time in talking or hearing some new thing. 22 Then Paul stood up on Mars’ Hill and said, “Men of Athens, I see how very religious you are in every way. 23 As I was walking around and looking at the things you worship, I found an altar where you worship with the words written on it, TO THE GOD WHO IS NOT KNOWN. You are worshiping Him without knowing Him. He is the One I will tell you about.
24 “The God Who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth. He does not live in buildings made by hands. 25 No one needs to care for Him as if He needed anything. He is the One who gives life and breath and everything to everyone. 26 He made from one blood all nations who live on the earth. He set the times and places where they should live.
27 “They were to look for God. Then they might feel after Him and find Him because He is not far from each one of us. 28 It is in Him that we live and move and keep on living. Some of your own men have written, ‘We are God’s children.’ 29 If we are God’s children, we should not think of Him as being like gold or silver or stone. Such gods made of gold or silver or stone are planned by men and are made by them.
30 “God did not remember these times when people did not know better. But now He tells all men everywhere to be sorry for their sins and to turn from them. 31 He has set a day when He will say in the right way if the people of the world are guilty. This will be done by Jesus Christ, the One He has chosen. God has proven this to all men by raising Jesus Christ from the dead.”
32 Some people laughed and made fun when they heard Paul speak of Christ being raised from the dead. Others said, “We want to listen to you again about this.” 33 So Paul went away from the people. 34 Some people followed him and became Christians. One was Dionysius, a leader in the city. A woman named Damaris believed. And there were others also.
Copyright © 1969, 2003 by Barbour Publishing, Inc.