John is the outlier of the four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). The first three are referred to as the synoptic gospels, synoptic meaning these books were written from the same point of view. They use similar source material, and sometimes the wording is very similar between them. John is markedly different. It is less a biography of the life of Jesus and more about framing portions of His life in a theological message. The author is preaching the message of Jesus’ life. He uses words and phrases that are deceptively simple, for they will have literal and figurative implications. For example, consider the opening words: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” There are only eight unique words in the sentence because most are repeated. Of the three nouns, “beginning” is written once, “God” is written twice, and “Word” is written three times. The sentence is grammatically simple and very easy to read, but it deals with the cosmological start of our existence as well as the complex theological nature of Christ.

When you read the Gospel of John, look for the spiritual imagery: light and dark, water, bread, door/gate, shepherd, and sheep, among others. The Gospel of John is written to reveal the divine nature of Jesus. Throughout the book, you will find statements that subtly suggest or loudly proclaim that Jesus is God. The “I am” statements are a great example of this. Remember the answer of God to Moses when asked for His name? God said, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” In Hebrew, the holy Name of God is “Yahweh,” and it means “I am.” So imagine the shock of the Jewish audience each time that Jesus made the following statements: “I am the Bread of Life,” “I am the Light of the World,” “I am the Door,” “I am the Good Shepherd,” and so on. Each time Jesus was making the “I am” statement about Himself, He was connecting His identity with Yahweh. The Gospel of John is written to reveal Jesus as God, and proclaim that the God of the universe through whom all things were made, has been made known in the person of Jesus Christ so we would know the everlasting love that is ours to receive and that is our responsibility to share.

Acts Synopsis

Although the author does not name themselves, the Book of Acts is written by Luke. It is the continuation of the Gospel of Luke. Acts provides the link between the Gospels and the early church. The Book of Acts begins with the end of Christ’s earthly ministry in Jerusalem. The book ends with Paul preaching in Rome. Luke was a companion of the Apostle Paul, and so much of the book of Acts recounts the conversion and ministry of Paul. Although Acts tells the story of the early church, Luke makes it clear that all that is accomplished after the death and resurrection of Jesus begins with the leading of the Holy Spirit. Perhaps the title of this book should have been The Acts of the Holy Spirit. Through God’s grace and leading of the Holy Spirit, the early church is empowered to become “…witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

Romans Synopsis

The book of Romans is one of the best theological studies of the entire Bible. It is the hallmark of the Apostle Paul and his missional legacy. While many of the New Testament books traditionally attributed to Paul were actually written by his followers either on his behalf or in carrying on his teaching, the book of Romans has always been regarded by scholars as having been authentically written by Paul. It was written to the church in Rome in anticipation of the trip that Paul hoped to make to them. The church in Rome was largely made up of Gentiles, though a portion of Jewish Christians were also there. This would explain the Old Testament references. While Paul’s long sentences can be daunting, the book of Romans presents the very basic framework of the meaning of Christ. Jesus Christ came to set us free from sin and death so that we might better understand the love that God has for us. We have been saved by faith, not by the things we have done or not done. In addition, the things we have done or not done do not change the love that God lavished upon us. Just as good parents love their children before they are born and love them before they have done anything to merit that love, God loves us unconditionally because we are children of God. (Romans 8:14-16)

I & II Corinthians Synopsis

Corinth was a large city located on the south end of the Greek peninsula. It was a significant city situated between two seaports. Home to over 500,000 people, the Apostle Paul worked to share the good news of Jesus in this city. Paul stopped in Corinth on his first missionary journey and spent over a year establishing a growing faith community. The letters of 1 and 2 Corinthians are from the Apostle Paul to the congregation he helped to establish. Corinth was home to many temples to other gods. These letters show us the struggles of being faithful to Jesus in the face of a culture that does not reflect the One True God’s love, grace, and peace. Paul wrote to continue the work of moving people from the life they once knew to a life centered on Christ and His love. 

We encourage you to begin your Bible reading time by reciting the month’s memory verse and then the daily Bible reading. Reflect on the reading – did it raise questions or confusion; did it inspire you or warm your heart? Then, to live in a spirit of gratitude, write down three things for which you’re grateful. Finally, close your devotional time in prayer. While you might not feel the same way each day, the ongoing discipline of having a daily devotional time will have lasting impact on your life and certainly deepen your relationship with God.