M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Rules for the Sabbath Day
35 Moses gathered the whole community of Israel together. He said to them, “Here are the things the Lord has commanded you to do. 2 You must do your work in six days. But the seventh day will be your holy day. It will be a day of sabbath rest to honor the Lord. You must rest on it. Anyone who does any work on it must be put to death. 3 Do not even light a fire in any of your homes on the Sabbath day.”
Supplies for the Holy Tent
4 Moses spoke to the whole community of Israel. He said, “Here is what the Lord has commanded. 5 Take an offering for the Lord from what you have. Those who want to can bring an offering to the Lord. Here is what they can bring.
“gold, silver and bronze
6 blue, purple and bright red yarn and fine linen
goat hair
7 ram skins that are dyed red
another kind of strong leather
acacia wood
8 olive oil for the lights
spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet-smelling incense
9 onyx stones and other jewels for the linen apron and the chest cloth
10 “All the skilled workers among you must come. They must make everything the Lord has commanded 11 for the holy tent and its covering. Here is what they must make.
“hooks, frames, crossbars, posts and bases
12 the ark of the covenant law, the poles and cover for the ark, and the curtain that hides the ark
13 the table for the holy bread, the poles and all the things for the table, and the holy bread
14 the lampstand for light and everything used with it, the lamps, and the olive oil that gives light
15 the altar for burning incense, the poles for the altar, the anointing oil and the sweet-smelling incense
the curtain for the entrance to the holy tent
16 the altar for burnt offerings with its bronze grate, its poles and all its tools
the large bronze bowl with its stand
17 the curtains of the courtyard with their posts and bases, and the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard
18 the ropes and tent stakes for the holy tent and for the courtyard
19 and the sacred clothes for Aaron the priest and the clothes for his sons when they serve as priests”
20 Then the whole community of Israel left Moses. 21 Everyone who wanted to give offerings to the Lord brought them to him. The offerings were for the work on the tent of meeting. They were also for the sacred clothes and for any other purpose at the tent. 22 Every man and woman who wanted to give came. They brought gold jewelry of all kinds. They brought pins, earrings, rings and other jewelry. All of them gave their gold as a wave offering to the Lord. 23 People brought what they had. They brought blue, purple or bright red yarn or fine linen. They brought goat hair, ram skins dyed red, or the other kind of strong leather. 24 Some brought silver or bronze as an offering to the Lord. Others brought acacia wood for any part of the work. 25 All the skilled women spun yarn with their hands. They brought blue, purple or bright red yarn or fine linen. 26 All the skilled women who wanted to spin the goat hair did so. 27 The leaders brought onyx stones and other jewels for the linen apron and the chest cloth. 28 They also brought spices and olive oil. They brought them for the light, for the anointing oil, and for the sweet-smelling incense. 29 All the men and women of Israel who wanted to bring offerings to the Lord brought them to him. The offerings were for all the work the Lord had commanded Moses to tell them to do.
Bezalel and Oholiab
30 Then Moses spoke to the people of Israel. He said, “The Lord has chosen Bezalel, the son of Uri. Uri is the son of Hur. Bezalel is from the tribe of Judah. 31 The Lord has filled him with the Spirit of God. He has filled him with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skill. 32 Bezalel can make beautiful patterns in gold, silver and bronze. 33 He can cut and set stones. He can work with wood. In fact, he can work in all kinds of arts and crafts. 34 And the Lord has given both him and Oholiab the ability to teach others. Oholiab, the son of Ahisamak, is from the tribe of Dan. 35 The Lord has filled Bezalel and Oholiab with skill to do all kinds of work. They can carve things and make patterns. They can sew skillfully with blue, purple and bright red yarn and on fine linen. They use thread to make beautiful cloth. Both of them have the skill to work in all kinds of crafts.
Jesus Comforts His Disciples
14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God. Believe in me also. 2 There are many rooms in my Father’s house. If this were not true, would I have told you that I am going there? Would I have told you that I would prepare a place for you there? 3 If I go and do that, I will come back. And I will take you to be with me. Then you will also be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
Jesus Is the Way to the Father
5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. So how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father also. From now on, you do know him. And you have seen him.”
8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father. That will be enough for us.”
9 Jesus answered, “Don’t you know me, Philip? I have been among you such a long time! Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. So how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father? Don’t you believe that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. The Father lives in me. He is the one who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say I am in the Father. Also believe that the Father is in me. Or at least believe what the works I have been doing say about me. 12 What I’m about to tell you is true. Anyone who believes in me will do the works I have been doing. In fact, they will do even greater things. That’s because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do anything you ask in my name. Then the Father will receive glory from the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name. I will do it.
Jesus Promises That the Holy Spirit Will Come
15 “If you love me, obey my commands. 16 I will ask the Father. And he will give you another friend to help you and to be with you forever. 17 That friend is the Spirit of truth. The world can’t accept him. That’s because the world does not see him or know him. But you know him. He lives with you, and he will be in you. 18 I will not leave you like children who don’t have parents. I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore. But you will see me. Because I live, you will live also. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father. You will know that you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Anyone who has my commands and obeys them loves me. My Father will love the one who loves me. I too will love them. And I will show myself to them.”
22 Then Judas spoke. “Lord,” he said, “why do you plan to show yourself only to us? Why not also to the world?” The Judas who spoke those words was not Judas Iscariot.
23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them. We will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. The words you hear me say are not my own. They belong to the Father who sent me.
25 “I have spoken all these things while I am still with you. 26 But the Father will send the Friend in my name to help you. The Friend is the Holy Spirit. He will teach you all things. He will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 I leave my peace with you. I give my peace to you. I do not give it to you as the world does. Do not let your hearts be troubled. And do not be afraid.
28 “You heard me say, ‘I am going away. And I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad I am going to the Father. The Father is greater than I am. 29 I have told you now before it happens. Then when it does happen, you will believe. 30 I will not say much more to you. The prince of this world is coming. He has no power over me. 31 But he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father. They must also learn that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me to do.
“Come now. Let us leave.
11 The Lord hates it when people use scales to cheat others.
But he is delighted when people use honest weights.
2 When pride comes, shame follows.
But wisdom comes to those who are not proud.
3 Those who do what is right are guided by their honest lives.
But those who aren’t faithful are destroyed by their lies.
4 Wealth isn’t worth anything when God judges you.
But doing what is right saves you from death.
5 The ways of honest people are made straight because they do what is right.
But those who do what is wrong are brought down by their own sins.
6 Godly people are saved by doing what is right.
But those who aren’t faithful are trapped by evil longings.
7 Hopes placed in human beings will die with them.
Everything their power promised comes to nothing.
8 Those who do right are saved from trouble.
But trouble comes on those who do wrong.
9 With their words ungodly people destroy their neighbors.
But those who do what is right escape because of their knowledge.
10 When those who do right succeed, their city is glad.
When those who do wrong die, people shout for joy.
11 The blessing of honest people builds up a city.
But the words of sinners destroy it.
12 Whoever makes fun of their neighbor has no sense.
But the one who has understanding controls their tongue.
13 Those who talk about others will tell secrets.
But those who can be trusted keep the secrets of others.
14 Without guidance a nation falls.
But many good advisers can bring victory to a nation.
15 Whoever promises to pay for what someone else owes will certainly suffer.
But a person who doesn’t agree to pay someone else’s bill is safe.
16 A woman who has a kind heart gains honor.
But men who are not kind gain only wealth.
17 Those who are kind benefit themselves.
But mean people bring ruin on themselves.
18 An evil person really earns nothing.
But the one who plants what is right will certainly be rewarded.
19 Surely right living leads to life.
But whoever runs after evil finds death.
20 The Lord hates those whose hearts are twisted.
But he is pleased with those who live without blame.
21 You can be sure that sinners will be punished.
And you can also be sure that godly people will go free.
22 A beautiful woman who has no sense
is like a gold ring in a pig’s nose.
23 What godly people long for ends only in what is good.
But what sinners hope for ends only in God’s anger.
24 One person gives freely but gets even richer.
Another person doesn’t give what they should but gets even poorer.
25 Anyone who gives a lot will succeed.
Anyone who renews others will be renewed.
26 People ask for bad things to happen to those who store up grain for themselves.
But people ask for God’s blessing on those who are willing to sell.
27 Anyone who looks for what is good will be blessed.
But bad things will happen to a person who plans to do evil.
28 Those who trust in their riches will fall.
But those who do right will be as healthy as a green leaf.
29 Those who bring ruin on their families will receive nothing but wind.
And foolish people will serve wise people.
30 The fruit that godly people bear is like a tree of life.
And those who are wise save lives.
31 Godly people get what they should get on earth.
So ungodly people and sinners will certainly get what they should get!
Growing Up Together in the Body of Christ
4 I am a prisoner because of the Lord. So I am asking you to live a life worthy of what God chose you for. 2 Don’t be proud at all. Be completely gentle. Be patient. Put up with one another in love. 3 The Holy Spirit makes you one in every way. So try your best to remain as one. Let peace keep you together. 4 There is one body and one Spirit. You were appointed to one hope when you were chosen. 5 There is one Lord, one faith and one baptism. 6 There is one God and Father of all. He is over everything. He is through everything. He is in everything.
7 But each one of us has received a gift of grace. These gifts are given to us by Christ. 8 That is why Scripture says,
“When he went up to his place on high,
he took many prisoners.
He gave gifts to his people.” (Psalm 68:18)
9 What does “he went up” mean? It can only mean that he also came down to the lower, earthly places. 10 The one who came down is the same one who went up. He went up higher than all the heavens. He did it in order to fill all creation. 11 So Christ himself gave the gift of the apostles to the church. He gave the prophets and those who preach the good news. And he also gave the pastors and teachers as a gift to the church. 12 He gave all these people so that they might prepare God’s people to serve. Then the body of Christ will be built up. 13 That will continue until we all become one in the faith. We will also become one in the knowledge of God’s Son. Then we will be grown up in the faith. We will receive everything that Christ has for us.
14 We will no longer be babies in the faith. We won’t be like ships tossed around by the waves. We won’t be blown here and there by every new teaching. We won’t be blown around by cleverness and tricks. Certain people use them to hide their evil plans. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love. So we will grow up in every way to become the body of Christ. Christ is the head of the body. 16 He makes the whole body grow and build itself up in love. Under the control of Christ, each part of the body does its work. It supports the other parts. In that way, the body is joined and held together.
Teachings for Living as Christians
17 Here is what I’m telling you. I am speaking for the Lord as I warn you. You must no longer live as the Gentiles do. Their thoughts don’t have any purpose. 18 They can’t understand the truth. They are separated from the life of God. That’s because they don’t know him. And they don’t know him because their hearts are stubborn. 19 They have lost all feeling for what is right. So they have given themselves over to all kinds of evil pleasures. They take part in every kind of unclean act. And they are full of greed.
20 But that is not the way of life in Christ that you learned about. 21 You heard about Christ and were taught about life in him. What you learned was the truth about Jesus. 22 You were taught not to live the way you used to. You must get rid of your old way of life. That’s because it has been made impure by the desire for things that lead you astray. 23 You were taught to be made new in your thinking. 24 You were taught to start living a new life. It is created to be truly good and holy, just as God is.
25 So each of you must get rid of your lying. Speak the truth to your neighbor. We are all parts of one body. 26 Scripture says, “When you are angry, do not sin.” (Psalm 4:4) Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry. 27 Don’t give the devil a chance. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must never steal again. Instead, they must work. They must do something useful with their own hands. Then they will have something to give to people in need.
29 Don’t let any evil talk come out of your mouths. Say only what will help to build others up and meet their needs. Then what you say will help those who listen. 30 Do not make God’s Holy Spirit mourn. The Holy Spirit is the proof that you belong to God. And the Spirit is the proof that God will set you completely free. 31 Get rid of all hard feelings, anger and rage. Stop all fighting and lying. Don’t have anything to do with any kind of hatred. 32 Be kind and tender to one another. Forgive one another, just as God forgave you because of what Christ has done.
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