We are now approaching the end of our read through the New Testament. By now we have read three of the Gospels, having experienced the miracles, the teachings, the betrayals, the crucifixion and resurrection mutlitple times. We have read all about the start and spread of the early church. We have wrestled through questions of theology, identity, and community. We have face hardships and persecutions and great victories. Now as the journey through the New Testament draws to a close, we are...

Part of the "Miracle Babies" series We're continuing our journey through miraculous births in the Bible, and today we're looking at a baby born to a woman who wasn't supposed to have children. Unlike Sarah from last week, this woman isn't even named in Scripture—but I think there's a powerful reason for that beyond simple oversight. The Cycle of Darkness The story of Samson's birth takes place during one of Israel's darkest periods. The book of Judges records a repeating cycle: the people...

I developed this method for reading the New Testament in four volumes because I wanted to 1) emphasize the differences in the four Gospels, 2) explore the development of Christianity over the course of the First Century, and 3) encounter the New Testament writings in a more (but not exclusively) chronological order. I hope by now you are beginning to understand the vision and purpose behind this reading plan. Next up we will spend time with Luke, Paul, and the broader Greco-Roman world. [...