Esther

Focal Verses:  Esther 3:2-3, 5-6a; 4:7-16
A Time for Courage
Haman was infuriated when Mordecai refused to bow down to him. In retaliation, he ordered not only that Mordecai be killed, but all the Jews of the Kingdom. Mordecai gave this message to Esther, the queen, who was his cousin/niece. Mordecai told Esther to plead the cause of the Jewish people before the King.

Keep in Mind
” Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” (Esther 4:16c, KJV)

Aim for Change
By the end of the lesson, we will  ANALYZE Esther’s faith in God when confronting opposition; BE ENCOURAGED to face challenging situations; and COMMIT to honor God when God’s guidance seems absent.

Focal Verses: Esther 3:2-3, 5-6a; 4:7-16
Esther 3:2-3
² All the royal officials at the king’s gate knelt down and paid honor to Haman, for the king had commanded this concerning him. But Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor.³ Then the royal officials at the king’s gate asked Mordecai, “Why do you disobey the king’s command?”
Esther 3:5-6
⁵ When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged. ⁶ Yet having learned who Mordecai’s people were, he scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai. Instead Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes.
Esther 4:7-16
⁷ Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews. ⁸ He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to instruct her to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people.⁹ Hathak went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said. ¹⁰ Then she instructed him to say to Mordecai, ¹¹ “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.” ¹² When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, ¹³ he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. ¹⁴ For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” ¹⁵ Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: ¹⁶ “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”

Daily Bible Readings:
MONDAY: Judges 3 – 5
TUESDAY:  Judges 6 -7
WEDNESDAY:  Judges 8 – 9
THURSDAY: Judges 10 – 12
FRIDAY: Judges 13 – 15
SATURDAY: Judges 16 – 18
SUNDAY:  Judges 19 -21

Job

Focal Verses:  Job 1:14-15, 18-19, 22; 3:1-3, 11
When Tragedy Occurs
These Scripture passages deal with the age-old question, “Why do Christians or good people suffer?” It acknowledges the fact that even God said that Job was “perfect, upright, and eschewed evil” (Job 1:1). However, these facts did not keep Job from being tried in the crucible of suffering.

Keep in Mind
“ He replied, “You are talking like a foolish^[a] woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.” (Job 2:10, KJV)

Aim for Change
By the end of the lesson, we will  DISCUSSE some of the insights for living with suffering caused by tragedy; BE CHALLENGED to share our feelings about specific tragedies in our own lives; and IDENTIFY ways to work with God to use our suffering to serve a higher purpose.

Focal Verses: Job 1:14-15, 18-19, 22; 3:1-3, 11
Job 1:14-15
¹⁴ a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, ¹⁵ and the Sabeans attacked and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
Job 1:18-19
¹⁸ While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, ¹⁹ when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
Job 1:22
²² In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.
Job 3:1-3
¹ After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. ² He said: ³ “May the day of my birth perish,    and the night that said, ‘A boy is conceived!’
Job 3:11
¹¹ “Why did I not perish at birth,  and die as I came from the womb?

Daily Bible Readings:
MONDAY: Ruth
TUESDAY:  1 Samuel 1 -3
WEDNESDAY:  1 Samuel 4 – 8
THURSDAY:  1 Samuel 9 – 12
FRIDAY: 1 Samuel 13 – 14
SATURDAY: 1 Samuel 15 – 17
SUNDAY:  1 Samuel 18 -20

Psalms

Focal Verses:  Psalm 47:1-9
God’s Rule Over the Nations
God is the Sovereign King, all are invited to praise Him and acknowledge His Kingship

Keep in Mind
“ ⁶Sing praises to God, sing praises;  sing praises to our King, sing praises. ⁷ For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise” (Psalm 47:6-7, KJV)

Aim for Change
By the end of the lesson, we will  IDENTITY reasons to praise God’s rule over all the earth; BE FILLED with joy that God rules over all the earth; and PRAISE God for His sustaining leadership.

Focal Verses: Psalm 47:1-9
¹ Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.
² For the Lord Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth.
³ He subdued nations under us, peoples under our feet.
⁴ He chose our inheritance for us, the pride of Jacob, whom he loved.
⁵ God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets.
⁶ Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises.
⁷ For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise.
⁸ God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne.
⁹ The nobles of the nations assemble as the people of the God of Abraham, for the kings of the earth belong to God; he is greatly exalted.

Daily Bible Readings:
MONDAY: 1 Samuel 21 – 24
TUESDAY:  1 Samuel 25 -27
WEDNESDAY:  1 Samuel 28 – 31
THURSDAY:  2 Samuel 1 – 3
FRIDAY: 2 Samuel 4 – 7
SATURDAY: 2 Samuel 8 – 12
SUNDAY:  2 Samuel 13 -15

Proverbs

Focal Verses:  Proverbs 2:1-5; 3:1-6, 13-18
A Treasure Worth Seeking
In these Scriptures, Solomon gives fatherly advice to young people so they will not negatively impact or shorten their days by making costly mistakes.

Keep in Mind
“Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding” (Proverbs 3:13, KJV)

Aim for Change
By the end of the lesson, we will  DEFINE wisdom both in the context of Proverbs and in terms of its practical application to our own lives; COMPARE knowledge and wisdom; and DECIDE to seek God’s wisdom in our own lives.

Focal Verses: Proverbs 2:1-5; 3:1-6, 13-18
Proverbs 2:1-5
¹ My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, ² turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding—³ indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, ⁴ and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure,⁵ then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.
Proverbs 3:1-6
¹My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, ² for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity.
³ Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. ⁴ Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man. ⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; ⁶ in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:13-18
¹³ Blessed are those who find wisdom,  those who gain understanding, ¹⁴ for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.
¹⁵ She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. ¹⁶ Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. ¹⁷ Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.¹⁸ She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed.

Daily Bible Readings:
MONDAY: 2 Samuel 16 – 18
TUESDAY:  2 Samuel 19 -21
WEDNESDAY:  2 Samuel 22 – 24
THURSDAY:  1 kings 1 – 2
FRIDAY: 1 kings 3 – 5
SATURDAY: 1 kings 6 – 7
SUNDAY:  1 kings 8 -9

Ecclesiastes – Song of Solomon

Focal Verses:  Song of Solomon 6:4-12
The Most Beautiful Bride
When marriages are grounded in love, couples view each other primarily with adoration. How can someone adequately describe the beauty of someone they love dearly? The writer of the Song of Solomon eloquently describes mutual adoration for the matchless inner and outer beauty of one another.

Keep in Mind
” My dove, my undefiled is but one; she is the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and blessed her; yea, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her” (Song of Solomon 6:9, KJV).

Aim for Change
By the end of the lesson, we will  EXPLORE love and adoration as pictured in the Song of Solomon; REFLECT on romantic relationships and the ways to nurture them; and SEEK ways to recognize and express appreciation, in appropriate ways, for inner and physical beauty in others.

Focal Verses: Song of Solomon 6:4-12
⁴ You are beautiful, my darling, like the lovely city of Tirzah. Yes, as beautiful as Jerusalem,  as majestic as an army with billowing banners.
⁵ Turn your eyes away, for they overpower me. Your hair falls in waves, like a flock of goats winding down the slopes of Gilead.
⁶ Your teeth are as white as sheep that are freshly washed. Your smile is flawless, each tooth matched with its twin.
⁷ Your cheeks are like rosy pomegranates behind your veil.
⁸ Even among sixty queens and eighty concubines and countless young women, ⁹ I would still choose my dove, my perfect one—the favorite of her mother, dearly loved by the one who bore her. The young women see her and praise her; even queens and royal concubines sing her praises:
¹⁰ “Who is this, arising like the dawn, as fair as the moon, as bright as the sun,
as majestic as an army with billowing banners?”
¹¹ I went down to the grove of walnut trees and out to the valley to see the new spring growth, to see whether the grapevines had budded or the pomegranates were in bloom.
¹² Before I realized it, my strong desires had taken me to the chariot of a noble man.

Daily Bible Readings:
MONDAY: 1 Kings 10  – 11
TUESDAY:  1 Kings 12 -14
WEDNESDAY:  1 Kings 15 – 17
THURSDAY:  1 Kings 18 – 20
FRIDAY: 1 Kings 21 – 22
SATURDAY: 2 Kings 1 – 3
SUNDAY:  2 Kings 4 -5

Isaiah

Focal Verses:  Isaiah 9:2-7
God Promised a Righteous Lord
Christ was born to be our Lord and Savior. He would ultimately redeem the world. As our hope, the prediction of the birth of a child finds fulfillment in the birth of Christ (Matthew 4:12-16)

Keep in Mind
“ For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6, KJV).

Aim for Change
By the end of the lesson, we will  ANALYZE the relationship between Isaiah’s prophecy and its fulfillment in Jesus Christ; REFLECT on God’s promise of justice to those who are without hope; and IDENTIFY  signs of hope in conflict-ridden areas such as inner cities and our government.

Focal Verses: Isaiah 9:2-7
² The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.
³ You will enlarge the nation of Israel, and its people will rejoice. They will rejoice before you  as people rejoice at the harvest and like warriors dividing the plunder.
⁴ For you will break the yoke of their slavery and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders. You will break the oppressor’s rod, just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian.
⁵ The boots of the warrior and the uniforms bloodstained by war will all be burned. They will be fuel for the fire.
⁶ For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor,^[c] Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
⁷ His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!

Daily Bible Readings:
MONDAY: 2 Kings 6  – 8
TUESDAY:  2 Kings 9 -11
WEDNESDAY:  2 Kings 12 – 14
THURSDAY:  2 Kings 15 – 17
FRIDAY: 2 Kings 18 – 19
SATURDAY: 2 Kings 20 – 22
SUNDAY:  2 Kings 23 – 25

Jeremiah – Lamentations

Focal Verses:  Jeremiah 31:27-34
Mediator of the New Covenant
Try as we might, humans often fail in our relationships. How can we restore broken relationships with others? Jeremiah foresaw a time when God would make a new covenant, writing His law on human hearts with the vow to be Israel’s God and to make Israel His people

Keep in Mind
“ Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah” (Jeremiah 31:31, KJV).

Aim for Change
By the end of the lesson, we will  EVALUATE Jeremiah’s message about the new covenant; CARE about how the new covenant makes a difference in our relationship with God; and DECIDE  to live in accordance with the law written on our hearts.

Focal Verses: Jeremiah 31:27-34
²⁷ “The day is coming,” says the Lord, “when I will greatly increase the human population and the number of animals here in Israel and Judah.
²⁸ In the past I deliberately uprooted and tore down this nation. I overthrew it, destroyed it, and brought disaster upon it. But in the future I will just as deliberately plant it and build it up. I, the Lord, have spoken!
²⁹ “The people will no longer quote this proverb: The parents have eaten sour grapes,
but their children’s mouths pucker at the taste.’
³⁰ All people will die for their own sins—those who eat the sour grapes will be the ones whose mouths will pucker.
³¹ “The day is coming,” says the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah.
³² This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and brought them out of the land of Egypt. They broke that covenant, though I loved them as a husband loves his wife,” says the Lord.
³³ “But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel after those days,” says the Lord. “I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
³⁴ And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, ‘You should know the Lord.’ For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already,” says the Lord. “And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.”

Daily Bible Readings:
MONDAY: 1 Chronicles 1  – 2
TUESDAY:  1 Chronicles 3 -5
WEDNESDAY:  1 Chronicles 6
THURSDAY:  1 Chronicles 7 – 8
FRIDAY: 1 Chronicles 9 – 11
SATURDAY: 1 Chronicles 12 – 14
SUNDAY:  1 Chronicles 15 – 17

Ezekiel

Focal Verses:  Ezekiel 43:1-12
God’s Divine Glory Returns
People look for a place in which they can experience some sense of release and orderliness, away from the chaos that sometimes surrounds them. Ezekiel’s vision, given to him by God, revealed to the Israelites that God’s calming presence and merciful glory could be felt in sacred places where He is truly worshiped.

Keep in Mind
“ So the spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of the Lord filled the house” (Ezekiel 43:5, KJV).

Aim for Change
By the end of the lesson, we will  COMPREHEND the vision of God’s holy and merciful glory in the temple; ASSOCIATE a sense of holiness of place with the presence and mercy of God; and GROW  in respect for the sacredness of worship settings.

Focal Verses: Ezekiel 43:1-12
¹Then he brought me to the east gate,
² and I saw the shining-greatness of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice was like the sound of many waters, and the earth was shining because of His greatness.
³ It was like the special dream that I saw when He came to destroy the city. It was like the special dream that I saw by the Chebar River. I fell with my face to the ground.
⁴ As the shining-greatness of the Lord came into the house through the east gate,
⁵ the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner open space. And the shining-greatness of the Lord filled the house.
⁶ While the man was standing beside me, I heard Someone speaking to me from inside the house.
⁷ And He said to me, “Son of man, this is the place for My throne and for the bottom of My feet, where I will live among the people of Israel forever. No longer will the people of Israel or their kings make My holy name unclean, by worshiping other gods or by the dead bodies of their kings.
⁸ They put their doorways by My doorways, and their door pillars beside My door pillars, with only a wall between Me and them. In doing so, they have made My holy name unclean by the hated sins they have done. So I have destroyed them in My anger.
⁹ Now let them put their worship of other gods and the dead bodies of their kings far from Me. And I will live among them forever.
¹⁰ “Son of man, tell the people of Israel about the house of the Lord, that they may be ashamed of their sins. Let them look over the plan.
¹¹ And if they are ashamed of all that they have done, let them know how the house is built, the house with its doors and gateways, and its whole plan. Let them know all its laws. Write it down in front of them, so that they will see its whole plan and obey all its laws.
¹² This is the law of the house: All the ground around it on top of the mountain will be most holy. This is the law of the house.

Daily Bible Readings:
MONDAY: 1 Chronicles 18  – 21
TUESDAY:  1 Chronicles  22 -24
WEDNESDAY:  1 Chronicles 25 – 27
THURSDAY:  1/2 Chronicles 28 – 1
FRIDAY: 2 Chronicles 2 – 5
SATURDAY: 2 Chronicles 6 – 8
SUNDAY:  2 Chronicles 9 – 12

Daniel

Focal Verses:  Daniel 1:8-21
A Sincere Faith
People find themselves confronted by contradictory requirements from different sources of authority. How do we resolve such conflicts? Daniel’s active faith, combined with his tact, helped him resolve his conflict and remain obedient to God in terms of dietary requirements.

Keep in Mind
“But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself..” (Daniel 1:8, KJV)

Aim for Change
By the end of the lesson, we will  ANALYZE the choice that Daniel and his friends faced and that choice’s outcome; ASPIRE to have the faith of Daniel when confronted with contradictory directives from authorities; and IDENTIFY similar situations that call for the exercise of faith.

Focal Verses: Daniel 1:8-21
⁸ But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods.
⁹ Now God had given the chief of staff both respect and affection for Daniel.
¹⁰ But he responded, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has ordered that you eat this food and wine. If you become pale and thin compared to the other youths your age, I am afraid the king will have me beheaded.”
¹¹ Daniel spoke with the attendant who had been appointed by the chief of staff to look after Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
¹² “Please test us for ten days on a diet of vegetables and water,” Daniel said.
¹³ “At the end of the ten days, see how we look compared to the other young men who are eating the king’s food. Then make your decision in light of what you see.”
¹⁴ The attendant agreed to Daniel’s suggestion and tested them for ten days.
¹⁵ At the end of the ten days, Daniel and his three friends looked healthier and better nourished than the young men who had been eating the food assigned by the king.
¹⁶ So after that, the attendant fed them only vegetables instead of the food and wine provided for the others.
¹⁷ God gave these four young men an unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom. And God gave Daniel the special ability to interpret the meanings of visions and dreams.
¹⁸ When the training period ordered by the king was completed, the chief of staff brought all the young men to King Nebuchadnezzar.
¹⁹ The king talked with them, and no one impressed him as much as Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So they entered the royal service.
²⁰ Whenever the king consulted them in any matter requiring wisdom and balanced judgment, he found them ten times more capable than any of the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom.
²¹ Daniel remained in the royal service until the first year of the reign of King Cyrus.

Daily Bible Readings:
MONDAY: 2 Chronicles 13 – 17
TUESDAY:  2 Chronicles 18 -20
WEDNESDAY:  2 Chronicles  21 – 24
THURSDAY:  2 Chronicles 25 – 27
FRIDAY: 2 Chronicles 28 – 31
SATURDAY: 2 Chronicles 32 – 34
SUNDAY:  2 Chronicles 35 -36

Hosea

Focal Verses:  Hosea 4:1-4; 7:1-2; 12:8-9
Hosea Preaches God’s Accusation against Israel
Hosea identifies many sins the people of Israel had committed in rejecting the covenant commands of God. Since God had not judged the nation so far, the people boasted that judgment would never come. The prophet pleaded with them to repent and return to God in order to avoid His judgment.

Keep in Mind
” Hear the word of the Lord, ye children of Israel: for the Lord hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land..” (Hosea 4:1, KJV)

Aim for Change
By the end of the lesson, we will  ANALYZE the need to confess and be forgiven; SENSE that although God is displeased when we sin, He forgives and restores us when we truly repent; and ASK God to forgive us for any known sin of acting callously or selfishly.

Focal Verses: Hosea 4:1-4; 7:1-2; 12:8-9
Hosea 4:1-4
¹ Hear the word of the Lord, O people of Israel! The Lord has brought charges against you, saying: “There is no faithfulness, no kindness, no knowledge of God in your land.
² You make vows and break them; you kill and steal and commit adultery. There is violence everywhere—one murder after another. ³ That is why your land is in mourning, and everyone is wasting away.  Even the wild animals, the birds of the sky, and the fish of the sea are disappearing. ⁴ “Don’t point your finger at someone else
and try to pass the blame! My complaint, you priests, is with you
Hosea 7:1-2
¹ “I want to heal Israel, but its sins are too great. Samaria is filled with liars. Thieves are on the inside and bandits on the outside! ² Its people don’t realize that I am watching them. Their sinful deeds are all around them, and I see them all.
Hosea 12:8-9
⁸ Israel boasts, “I am rich! I’ve made a fortune all by myself! No one has caught me cheating! My record is spotless!”  ⁹ “But I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from slavery in Egypt. And I will make you live in tents again, as you do each year at the Festival of Shelters.

Daily Bible Readings:

MONDAY: Ezra 1 – 3
TUESDAY:  Ezra 4 -7
WEDNESDAY:  Ezra 8 – 10
THURSDAY:  Nehemiah 1 – 3
FRIDAY: Nehemiah 4 – 6
SATURDAY: Nehemiah 7
SUNDAY:  Nehemiah 8 -9

Joel

Focal Verses:  Joel 2:1-2, 12-14, 28-29
Call to Repentance
God’s call in this lesson is a call to repentance. As a symbol of pending judgment and darkness, God sent a plague of locusts.  Joel told the Children of Israel that judgment could be avoided if they repented. God promised the people a day in which God’s Spirit would be poured out on the people.

Keep in Mind
” ¹² Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: ¹³ And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.” (Joel 2:12-13, KJV)

Aim for Change
By the end of the lesson, we will  SUMMARIZE the changes in the heart of the believers; APPRECIATE God’s plan of salvation for  us, and SEEK God’s rewards for righteousness.

Focal Verses: Joel 2:1-2, 12-14, 28-29
Joel 2:1-2
¹ Sound the trumpet in Jerusalem! Raise the alarm on my holy mountain! Let everyone tremble in fear because the day of the Lord is upon us. ² It is a day of darkness and gloom, a day of thick clouds and deep blackness. Suddenly, like dawn spreading across the mountains, a great and mighty army appears. Nothing like it has been seen before or will ever be seen again.
Joel 2:12-14
¹² That is why the Lord says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. ¹³ Don’t tear your clothing in your grief,  but tear your hearts instead.”  Return to the Lord your God,  for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
He is eager to relent and not punish. ¹⁴ Who knows? Perhaps he will give you a reprieve, sending you a blessing instead of this curse.  Perhaps you will be able to offer grain and wine to the Lord your God as before.
Joel 2:28-29
²⁸ “Then, after doing all those things, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams,  and your young men will see visions. ²⁹ In those days I will pour out my Spirit  even on servants—men and women alike.

Daily Bible Readings:
MONDAY: Nehemiah  10 – 11
TUESDAY:  Nehemiah  12 – 13
WEDNESDAY:  Esther  1 – 5
THURSDAY:  Esther  6 – 10
FRIDAY: Job 1 – 4
SATURDAY: Job 5 – 7
SUNDAY:  Job 8 -10

Amos

Focal Verses:  Amos 5:14-15, 18-27
God is Not Fooled
Some people cover their evil ways with outward acts of goodness. Who will uncover their deceit and demand justice? The people learned through Amos that God will not be fooled by insincere offerings and will severely punish all sinners.

Keep in Mind
” But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream. ” (Amos 5:24, KJV)

Aim for Change
By the end of the lesson, we will  ANALYZE how God establishes justice for the righteous and punishes deceivers; RECOGNIZE and REFLECT on actions of injustice within the community of faith, and IDENTIFY unjust practices, commit to stop our participation in them and help others do the same.

Focal Verses: Amos 5:14-15, 18-27
Amos 5:14-15
¹⁴ Do what is good and run from evil so that you may live! Then the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies will be your helper, just as you have claimed. ¹⁵ Hate evil and love what is good; turn your courts into true halls of justice. Perhaps even yet the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies  will have mercy on the remnant of his people.
Amos 5:18-27
¹⁸ What sorrow awaits you who say, “If only the day of the Lord were here!” You have no idea what you are wishing for. That day will bring darkness, not light.
¹⁹ In that day you will be like a man who runs from a lion— only to meet a bear.
Escaping from the bear, he leans his hand against a wall in his house—    and he’s bitten by a snake. ²⁰ Yes, the day of the Lord will be dark and hopeless,  without a ray of joy or hope. ²¹ “I hate all your show and pretense— the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies. ²² I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain offerings. I won’t even notice all your choice peace offerings.
²³ Away with your noisy hymns of praise! I will not listen to the music of your harps. ²⁴ Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice,  an endless river of righteous living.  ²⁵ “Was it to me you were bringing sacrifices and offerings during the forty years in the wilderness, Israel? ²⁶ No, you served your pagan gods—Sakkuth your king god and Kaiwan your star god—the images you made for yourselves. ²⁷ So I will send you into exile, to a land east of Damascus,” says the Lord, whose name is the God of Heaven’s Armies.

Daily Bible Readings:
MONDAY: Job  11 – 13
TUESDAY:  Job  14 – 16
WEDNESDAY: Job   17 – 20
THURSDAY:  Job  21 – 23
FRIDAY: Job 24 – 28
SATURDAY: Job 29 – 31
SUNDAY:  Job 32 -34

Obadiah

Focal Verses:  Obadiah 1-4, 10-11-15, 21
Edom’s Condemnation
God gave Obadiah a message of judgment of Edom. Obadiah said that the Lord would do the Israelites’ enemies what those enemies had done to them. This lesson should be an encouragement to all those who have suffered injustice.

Keep in Mind
“For the day of the Lord is near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head. ” (Obadiah 15, KJV)

Aim for Change
By the end of the lesson, we will  IDENTIFY opportunities to serve God, be INSPIRED by God’s expectation of His people for mutual love, aid in times of trouble and intervention, and SUPPORT one another in our experiences of injustice .

Focal Verses: Obadiah 1-4, 10-11-15, 21
Obadiah 1-4
¹ This is the vision that the Sovereign Lord revealed to Obadiah concerning the land of Edom. We have heard a message from the Lord  that an ambassador was sent to the nations to say, “Get ready, everyone! Let’s assemble our armies and attack Edom!” ² The Lord says to Edom, “I will cut you down to size among the nations; you will be greatly despised. ³ You have been deceived by your own pride because you live in a rock fortress  and make your home high in the mountains. ‘Who can ever reach us way up here?’  you ask boastfully. ⁴ But even if you soar as high as eagles and build your nest among the stars, I will bring you crashing down,” says the Lord.
Obadiah 10-11
¹⁰ “Because of the violence you did to your close relatives in Israel, you will be filled with shame and destroyed forever. ¹¹ When they were invaded, you stood aloof, refusing to help them. Foreign invaders carried off their wealth  and cast lots to divide up Jerusalem, but you acted like one of Israel’s enemies.
Obadiah 15
¹⁵ “The day is near when I, the Lord, will judge all godless nations! As you have done to Israel, so it will be done to you. All your evil deeds will fall back on your own heads.
Obadiah 21
²¹ Those who have been rescued will go up to Mount Zion in Jerusalem to rule over the mountains of Edom. And the Lord himself will be king!”

Daily Bible Readings:
MONDAY: Job  35 – 37
TUESDAY:  Job  38 – 39
WEDNESDAY: Job   40 – 42
THURSDAY:  Psalms  1 – 8
FRIDAY: Psalms 9 – 16
SATURDAY: Psalms 17 – 20
SUNDAY:  Psalms 21 -25

Jonah

Focal Verses:  Jonah 1:1-4, 11-17; 2:1, 10
Jonah Rejects God’s Call
God called Jonah to prophesy in Nineveh, but Jonah attempted to flee from God’s presence. God sent a storm that impacted not only Jonah but all the sailors around him in order to call him to repentance,

Keep in Mind
” But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord. He went down to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping to escape from the Lord by sailing to Tarshish. ” (Jonah 1:3, NLT)

Aim for Change
By the end of the lesson, we will  COMPREHEND that God’s sovereignty is irreversible, FEEL REMORSE for how our disobedience can impact others, and COMMIT to follow God’s will even when we may not understand His larger plan .

Focal Verses: Jonah 1:1-4, 11-17; 2:1, 10
Jonah 1:1-4
¹ The Lord gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: ² “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are.” ³ But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord. He went down to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping to escape from the Lord by sailing to Tarshish. ⁴ But the Lord hurled a powerful wind over the sea, causing a violent storm that threatened to break the ship apart.
Jonah 1:11-17
¹¹ And since the storm was getting worse all the time, they asked him, “What should we do to you to stop this storm?” ¹² “Throw me into the sea,” Jonah said, “and it will become calm again. I know that this terrible storm is all my fault.”¹³ Instead, the sailors rowed even harder to get the ship to the land. But the stormy sea was too violent for them, and they couldn’t make it. ¹⁴ Then they cried out to the Lord, Jonah’s God. “O Lord,” they pleaded, “don’t make us die for this man’s sin. And don’t hold us responsible for his death. O Lord, you have sent this storm upon him for your own good reasons.” ¹⁵ Then the sailors picked Jonah up and threw him into the raging sea, and the storm stopped at once! ¹⁶ The sailors were awestruck by the Lord’s great power, and they offered him a sacrifice and vowed to serve him. ¹⁷ Now the Lord had arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights
Jonah 2:1
¹Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from inside the fish.
Jonah 2:10
¹⁰ Then the Lord ordered the fish to spit Jonah out onto the beach.

Daily Bible Readings:
MONDAY: Job  35 – 37
TUESDAY:  Job  38 – 39
WEDNESDAY: Job   40 – 42
THURSDAY:  Psalms  1 – 8
FRIDAY: Psalms 9 – 16
SATURDAY: Psalms 17 – 20
SUNDAY:  Psalms 21 – 25

Micah – Nahum

Focal Verses:  Micah 6:3-8
Justice, Love, and Humility
People sometimes forget what a benefactor has done for them, or they make insincere efforts to show gratitude. How will benefactors react to such forgetfulness or ingratitude? God instructs the unjust to be just, love kindness, and walk humbly with Him,

Keep in Mind
” No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good,  and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy,  and to walk humbly with your God. ” (Micah 6:8, NLT)

Aim for Change
By the end of the lesson, we will  EVALUATE how to honor God gratefully by exhibiting the character traits that God requires, EXPRESS feelings about living up to God’s expectations for us to be just, loving, and humble; and LEAD the community into making God’s requirements a reality.

Focal Verses: Micah 6:3-8
³ “O my people, what have I done to you?  What have I done to make you tired of me?  Answer me!
⁴ For I brought you out of Egypt and redeemed you from slavery. I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to help you.
⁵ Don’t you remember, my people, how King Balak of Moab tried to have you cursed  and how Balaam son of Beor blessed you instead? And remember your journey from Acacia Grove^[a] to Gilgal,  when I, the Lord, did everything I could  to teach you about my faithfulness.”
⁶ What can we bring to the Lord? Should we bring him burnt offerings? Should we bow before God Most High  with offerings of yearling calves? ⁷ Should we offer him thousands of rams  and ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins?
⁸ No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good,  and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy,  and to walk humbly with your God.

Daily Bible Readings:
MONDAY: Psalms  66 – 69
TUESDAY:  Psalms 70 – 73
WEDNESDAY: Psalms   40 – 42
THURSDAY:  Psalms  78 – 79
FRIDAY: Psalms  80 – 85
SATURDAY: Psalms 86 – 89
SUNDAY:  Psalms 90 – 95

Habakkuk

Focal Verses:  Habakkuk 2:1-5, 3:17-19
Rejoice Anyway
Some people experience so many difficulties in life that they lose all hope for the future. Job and Habakkuk both affirmed that – no matter what calamities might come their way- they would trust God, rejoice in His presence in their lives, and praise Him for strength to carry on.

Keep in Mind
“¹⁷ Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: ¹⁸ Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” (Habakkuk 3:17-18, KJV)

Aim for Change
By the end of the lesson, we will  DISCOVER God’s message of patience and assurance that God will act with justice; EXPERIENCE the feeling of joy that comes from patiently waiting on God’s promises; and PRACTICE responding to difficulties by trusting in God’s presence and by praising God for strength to endure.

Focal Verses: Habakkuk 2:1-5, 3:17-19
Habakkuk 2:1-5
I will climb up to my watchtower  and stand at my guardpost. There I will wait to see what the Lord says  and how he^[a] will answer my complaint. ² Then the Lord said to me, “Write my answer plainly on tablets,  so that a runner can carry the correct message to others. ³ This vision is for a future time.  It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled.
If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed. ⁴ “Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked.
But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God.⁵ Wealth^[c] is treacherous, and the arrogant are never at rest. They open their mouths as wide as the grave and like death, they are never satisfied. In their greed they have gathered up many nations and swallowed many peoples.

Habakkuk 3:17-19
¹⁷ Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! ¹⁹ The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.

Daily Bible Readings:
MONDAY: Psalms 96-102
TUESDAY:  Psalms 103-105
WEDNESDAY:  Psalms 106-107
THURSDAY:  Psalms 108-114
FRIDAY: Psalms 115-118
SATURDAY: Psalm 119:1-88
SUNDAY:  Psalm 119:89-176

Zephaniah

Focal Verses:  Zephaniah 3:1-5,8-9
Zephaniah Announces God’s Justice
Israel’s leaders have turned away from God. The officials, the rulers, the prophets, and the priests have been arrogant and treacherous. They have profaned God’s sanctuary and done violence to His Law. But the day will come when God will judge all the nations. Israel’s God will be acknowledged by the nations, and God’s people will be held in honor by them.

Keep in Mind
“ ⁸ Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the Lord, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy. ” (Zephaniah 3:8, KJV)

Aim for Change
By the end of the lesson, we will  EXPLORE those that will bring God’s judgment upon us; DEVELOP hearts that are not arrogant, treacherous, or profane; and PRACTICE obedience to God’s law.

Focal Verses: Zephaniah 3:1-5,8-9
Zephaniah 3:1-5
¹ What sorrow awaits rebellious, polluted Jerusalem, the city of violence and rime!
² No one can tell it anything; it refuses all correction. It does not trust in the Lord
or draw near to its God.³ Its leaders are like roaring lions hunting for their victims.
Its judges are like ravenous wolves at evening time, who by dawn have left no trace of their prey. ⁴ Its prophets are arrogant liars seeking their own gain.
Its priests defile the Temple by disobeying God’s instructions. ⁵ But the Lord is still there in the city,  and he does no wrong. Day by day he hands down justice,
and he does not fail. But the wicked know no shame.

Zephaniah 3:8-9
⁸ Therefore, be patient,” says the Lord.  “Soon I will stand and accuse these evil nations. For I have decided to gather the kingdoms of the earth and pour out my fiercest anger and fury on them. All the earth will be devoured by the fire of my jealousy. ⁹ “Then I will purify the speech of all people, so that everyone can worship the Lord together.

Daily Bible Readings:
MONDAY: Psalms 120-132
TUESDAY:  Psalms 133-139
WEDNESDAY:  Psalms 140-145
THURSDAY:  Psalms 146-150
FRIDAY: Proverbs 1-3
SATURDAY: Proverbs 4-6
SUNDAY:  Proverbs 7-9

Haggai

Focal Verses:  Haggai 1:1-4, 7-10, 12-15
The Temple Rebuilt
The prophet Haggai reminded the Israelites of their first priority: to keep their covenant with God and rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.

Keep in Mind
“ ⁸ Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the Lord.” (Haggai 1:8, KJV)

Aim for Change
By the end of the lesson, we will  EXPLORE why God withheld His blessings from His people; SENSE times when our own ambitions are contrary to God’s plans for us, and DECIDE that we will do exactly as God has commanded.

Focal Verses: Haggai 1:1-4, 7-10, 12-15
Haggai 1:1-4
¹ On August 29 of the second year of King Darius’s reign, the Lord gave a message through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Jeshua^[b] son of Jehozadak, the high priest. ² “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: The people are saying, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord.’ ³ Then the Lord sent this message through the prophet Haggai: ⁴ “Why are you living in luxurious houses while my house lies in ruins?

Haggai 1:7-10
⁷ “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you! ⁸ Now go up into the hills, bring down timber, and rebuild my house. Then I will take pleasure in it and be honored, says the Lord. ⁹ You hoped for rich harvests, but they were poor. And when you brought your harvest home, I blew it away. Why? Because my house lies in ruins, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, while all of you are busy building your own fine houses. ¹⁰ It’s because of you that the heavens withhold the dew and the earth produces no crops.

Haggai 1:12-15
¹² Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the whole remnant of God’s people began to obey the message from the Lord their God. When they heard the words of the prophet Haggai, whom the Lord their God had sent, the people feared the Lord. ¹³ Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, gave the people this message from the Lord: “I am with you, says the Lord!” ¹⁴ So the Lord sparked the enthusiasm of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the enthusiasm of Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the enthusiasm of the whole remnant of God’s people. They began to work on the house of their God, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, ¹⁵ on September 21^[a] of the second year of King Darius’s reign.

Daily Bible Readings:
MONDAY: Proverbs 10-12
TUESDAY:  Proverbs 13-15
WEDNESDAY:  Proverbs 16-18
THURSDAY:  Proverbs 19-21
FRIDAY: Proverbs 22-23
SATURDAY: Proverbs 24-26
SUNDAY:  Proverbs 27-29

Zechariah

Focal Verses:  Zechariah 1:1-6; 7:8-14
Zechariah Calls for a Return to God
Zachariah invites the people to return to t God with the sure promise that God will return to them. Zechariah says that when we return to the Lord, wholeness and happiness becomes available to us a well.

Keep in Mind
“³ Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the Lord of hosts.” (Zechariah 1:3, KJV)

Aim for Change
By the end of the lesson, we will  IDENTIFY God’s calling for us to repent of our sins and seek forgiveness; CONVICTED for any wrong things that we have done; and PRAY for forgiveness of our sins.

Focal Verses: Zechariah 1:1-6; 7:8-14
Zechariah 1:1-6
¹ In November^[a] of the second year of King Darius’s reign, the Lord gave this message to the prophet Zechariah son of Berekiah and grandson of Iddo:² “I, the Lord, was very angry with your ancestors. ³ Therefore, say to the people, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.’ ⁴ Don’t be like your ancestors who would not listen or pay attention when the earlier prophets said to them, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Turn from your evil ways, and stop all your evil practices.’ ⁵ “Where are your ancestors now? They and the prophets are long dead. ⁶ But everything I said through my servants the prophets happened to your ancestors, just as I said. As a result, they repented and said, ‘We have received what we deserved from the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. He has done what he said he would do.’”

Zechariah 7:8-14
⁸ Then this message came to Zechariah from the Lord: ⁹ “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Judge fairly, and show mercy and kindness to one another. ¹⁰ Do not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners, and the poor. And do not scheme against each other. ¹¹ “Your ancestors refused to listen to this message. They stubbornly turned away and put their fingers in their ears to keep from hearing. ¹² They made their hearts as hard as stone, so they could not hear the instructions or the messages that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies had sent them by his Spirit through the earlier prophets. That is why the Lord of Heaven’s Armies was so angry with them. ¹³ “Since they refused to listen when I called to them, I would not listen when they called to me, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. ¹⁴ As with a whirlwind, I scattered them among the distant nations, where they lived as strangers. Their land became so desolate that no one even traveled through it. They turned their pleasant land into a desert.”

Daily Bible Readings:
MONDAY: Proverbs 30-31
TUESDAY:  Ecclesiastes 1-4
WEDNESDAY: Ecclesiastes 5-8
THURSDAY:  Ecclesiastes 9-12
FRIDAY: Song of Solomon 1-8
SATURDAY: Isaiah 1-4
SUNDAY:  Isaiah 5-8

Malachi

Focal Verses:  Malachi 3:1-10
Return to a Just God
Fairness and philanthropy are most apparent during times of great tragedy and loss. How do the faithful demonstrate the same benevolent and just spirit all the time? Malachi informs the faithful that God requires justice and faithfulness and will bestow bountiful blessings in proportion to what they are willing to give.

Keep in Mind
“⁷ Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return? ” (Malachi 3:7, KJV)

Aim for Change
By the end of the lesson, we will  ANALZE Malachi’s prophecy about possessions, CONFESS personal unfaithfulness to God, and INSTITUTE a personal charitable living plan.

Focal Verses: Malachi 3:1-10
¹ “Look! I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. Then the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to his Temple. The messenger of the covenant, whom you look for so eagerly, is surely coming,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
² “But who will be able to endure it when he comes? Who will be able to stand and face him when he appears? For he will be like a blazing fire that refines metal, or like a strong soap that bleaches clothes.
³ He will sit like a refiner of silver, burning away the dross. He will purify the Levites, refining them like gold and silver, so that they may once again offer acceptable sacrifices to the Lord.
⁴ Then once more the Lord will accept the offerings brought to him by the people of Judah and Jerusalem, as he did in the past.
⁵ “At that time I will put you on trial. I am eager to witness against all sorcerers and adulterers and liars. I will speak against those who cheat employees of their wages, who oppress widows and orphans, or who deprive the foreigners living among you of justice, for these people do not fear me,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
⁶ “I am the Lord, and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already destroyed.
⁷ Ever since the days of your ancestors, you have scorned my decrees and failed to obey them. Now return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “But you ask, ‘How can we return when we have never gone away?’
⁸ “Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me! “But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’ “You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me.
⁹ You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me.
¹⁰ Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!

Daily Bible Readings:
MONDAY: Isaiah 9-12
TUESDAY:  Isaiah 13-17
WEDNESDAY: Isaiah 18-22
THURSDAY:  Isaiah 23-27
FRIDAY: Isaiah 28-30
SATURDAY: Isaiah 31-35
SUNDAY:  Isaiah 36-41

Matthew

Focal Verses:  Matthew 1:18-25
Emmanuel Is Born
The angel told Joseph about Mary’s pregnancy. The Old Testament prophets had already foretold the virgin birth of Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.” Joseph was obedient to God and did not put Mary away privately,

Keep in Mind
” ²¹ And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. ” (Matthew 1:21, KJV)

Aim for Change
By the end of the lesson, we will  EVALUATE the story of the birth of Jesus with fresh eyes, FEEL the presence of God in our lives, and CONSIDER fresh ways of sharing the Good News with others.

Focal Verses: Matthew 1:18-25
¹⁸ This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit.
¹⁹ Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.
²⁰ As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit.
²¹ And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
²² All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:
²³ “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”
²⁴ When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife.
²⁵ But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.

Daily Bible Readings:
MONDAY: Isaiah 42-44
TUESDAY:  Isaiah 45-48
WEDNESDAY: Isaiah 49-53
THURSDAY:  Isaiah 54-58
FRIDAY: Isaiah 59-63
SATURDAY: Isaiah 64-66
SUNDAY:  Jeremiah 1-3

Mark

Focal Verses:  Mark 11:1-11
Hosanna!
Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem for the Passover celebration marked the beginning of His final days. He fulfills the prophecies of the coming Messiah.

Keep in Mind
” ⁹ And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.” (Mark 11:9, KJV)

Aim for Change
By the end of the lesson, we will  RECOUNT the story of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem; REFLECT on the meaning of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem; and DEVELOP a prayer in praise of Jesus’ triumphal entry.

Focal Verses: Mark 11:1-11
¹ As Jesus and his disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead.
² “Go into that village over there,” he told them. “As soon as you enter it, you will see a young donkey tied there that no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here.
³ If anyone asks, ‘What are you doing?’ just say, ‘The Lord needs it and will return it soon.’”
⁴ The two disciples left and found the colt standing in the street, tied outside the front door.
⁵ As they were untying it, some bystanders demanded, “What are you doing, untying that colt?”
⁶ They said what Jesus had told them to say, and they were permitted to take it.
⁷ Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it, and he sat on it.
⁸ Many in the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others spread leafy branches they had cut in the fields.
⁹ Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting, “Praise God!
Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
¹⁰ Blessings on the coming Kingdom of our ancestor David! Praise God in highest heaven!”
¹¹ So Jesus came to Jerusalem and went into the Temple. After looking around carefully at everything, he left because it was late in the afternoon. Then he returned to Bethany with the twelve disciples.

Daily Bible Readings:
MONDAY: Jeremiah 4-6
TUESDAY:  Jeremiah 7-9
WEDNESDAY: Jeremiah 10-13
THURSDAY:  Jeremiah 14-17
FRIDAY: Jeremiah  18-22
SATURDAY: Jeremiah 23-25
SUNDAY:  Jeremiah 26-29

Luke

Focal Verses:  Luke 22:7-23
The Lord’s Supper
The Scripture passage focuses on the institution of the Lord’s Supper. Jesus sent Peter and John out to find a room, which had already been prepared for them. It was here that Jesus had His last supper with His apostles.

Keep in Mind
” ¹⁹ And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. ²⁰ Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.” (Luke 22: 19-20, KJV)

Aim for Change
By the end of the lesson, we will  EXPLORE the principles behind the Lord’s Supper; COMMIT to participate in the Lord’s Supper as Jesus would have believers do; and MOTIVATED to teach someone else about the importance of the Lord’s Supper.

Focal Verses: Luke 22:7-23
⁷ Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread arrived, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed.
⁸ Jesus sent Peter and John ahead and said, “Go and prepare the Passover meal, so we can eat it together.”
⁹ “Where do you want us to prepare it?” they asked him.
¹⁰ He replied, “As soon as you enter Jerusalem, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him. At the house he enters,
¹¹ say to the owner, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?’
¹² He will take you upstairs to a large room that is already set up. That is where you should prepare our meal.”
¹³ They went off to the city and found everything just as Jesus had said, and they prepared the Passover meal there.
¹⁴ When the time came, Jesus and the apostles sat down together at the table.
¹⁵ Jesus said, “I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins.
¹⁶ For I tell you now that I won’t eat this meal again until its meaning is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.”
¹⁷ Then he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. Then he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves.
¹⁸ For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come.”
¹⁹ He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
²⁰ After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.
²¹ “But here at this table, sitting among us as a friend, is the man who will betray me.
²² For it has been determined that the Son of Man^[c] must die. But what sorrow awaits the one who betrays him.”
²³ The disciples began to ask each other which of them would ever do such a thing.

Daily Bible Readings:
MONDAY: Jeremiah 30-31
TUESDAY:  Jeremiah 32-34
WEDNESDAY: Jeremiah 35-37
THURSDAY:  Jeremiah  38-41
FRIDAY: Jeremiah 42-45
SATURDAY: Jeremiah 46-48
SUNDAY:  Jeremiah 49-50

John

Focal Verses:  John 20:1-10, 19-20
The Living Word
The disciples were afraid and locked themselves in a room. They did not expect a resurrection. When Jesus appeared to them, they greatly rejoiced. 

Keep in Mind
“ ²⁰ And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the LORD!.” (John 20:20, KJV)

Aim for Change
By the end of the lesson, we will  DESCRIBE the disciples’ response to Jesus’ death and resurrection; APPRECIATE the beginning of a new life in Christ; and INVITE someone to learn more about Christ.

 Focal Verses: John 20:1-10, 19-20
John 20:1-10
¹ Early on Sunday morning,^[a] while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.  ² She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, “They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” ³ Peter and the other disciple started out for the tomb. ⁴ They were both running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. ⁵ He stooped and looked in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he didn’t go in. ⁶ Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, ⁷ while the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying apart from the other wrappings. ⁸ Then the disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in, and he saw and believed— ⁹ for until then they still hadn’t understood the Scriptures that said Jesus must rise from the dead. ¹⁰ Then they went home.

John 20:19-20
¹⁹ That Sunday evening^[a] the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. ²⁰ As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord!

Daily Bible Readings:
MONDAY: Jeremiah 51-52
TUESDAY:  Lamentations 1-3; 36
WEDNESDAY: Lamentations 3;37-5
THURSDAY:  Ezekiel 1-4
FRIDAY: Ezekiel 5-8
SATURDAY: Ezekiel 9-12
SUNDAY:  Ezekiel 13-15