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Stories, Genesis to Revelation
409 stories
Genesis 1:1–2:3
In the BeginningOut of darkness and deep water, God speaks a good and ordered world into being, crowns it with people made in his image, and then rests.
Genesis 6–9
Noah and the FloodIn a world gone wrong, Noah trusts God, builds an ark, and rides out the flood. Afterwards God sets a rainbow in the clouds as the sign of his promise.
Genesis 2:4–3:24
The Garden of EdenGod plants a garden, makes the man and the woman, and gives them one boundary. A crafty voice asks a question, a choice is made, and God comes walking in the evening, calling, “Where are you?”
Genesis 4:1–16
Cain and Abel: Sin at the DoorTwo brothers bring offerings to God. When Cain’s anger grows, God warns him that sin is crouching at the door, and even after the worst happens, God marks Cain with mercy.
Genesis 5:21–24
Enoch Walked with GodIn a family tree where every life ends with “and he died”, one man breaks the pattern. Enoch walked with God for three hundred years, and then he was not, for God took him.
Genesis 11:1–9
The Tower of BabelOn a wide plain, people who all speak one language set out to build a tower to the heavens and make a name for themselves. God comes down to look, and the building site falls into confusion.
Genesis 22:1–19
Abraham and IsaacGod tests Abraham on Mount Moriah. On the way up, Isaac asks where the lamb is, and at the top God stops Abraham’s hand and provides a ram instead.
Genesis 37; 39–45
Joseph: From the Pit to the PalaceSold into slavery by his jealous brothers, Joseph rises from prison to Pharaoh’s right hand, and when his brothers come begging for grain, he chooses to forgive.
Genesis 12:1–9
The Call of AbramGod tells Abram to leave his country and family for a land he has never seen, and promises that through him every family on earth will be blessed. At seventy-five, with no children, Abram goes.
Genesis 13
Abram and Lot: You Choose FirstWhen the herders of Abram and his nephew Lot start quarrelling over grazing, Abram makes peace by letting Lot choose first. Lot picks the green plain near Sodom, and God renews his promise to Abram.
Genesis 14:17–24
Melchizedek, the Priest-KingComing home from rescuing Lot, Abram is met by two kings. Melchizedek of Salem brings bread and wine and a blessing from God Most High; the king of Sodom brings an offer Abram refuses.
Genesis 15
Count the StarsChildless and worried, Abram pours out his heart to God. God takes him outside to count the stars, Abram believes, and that night God seals his promise with a covenant of smoke and fire.
Genesis 16; 21:8–21
Hagar and the God Who SeesAn Egyptian servant caught in someone else’s plan runs into the desert twice, and twice discovers that God sees her and hears her son.
Genesis 18:1–15
Three Visitors at MamreOn a blazing afternoon Abraham runs to welcome three strangers, and behind the tent flap Sarah laughs at a promise that sounds impossible.
Genesis 18:16–19:29
Abraham Pleads for SodomAbraham dares to bargain with God for a violent city, and two messengers drag his nephew Lot to safety before fire falls on the cities of the plain.
Genesis 21:1–7
Isaac: The Child of LaughterAfter twenty-five years of waiting, a promise that once made Abraham and Sarah laugh in disbelief comes true, and Sarah laughs again, this time for joy.
Genesis 24
Rebekah at the WellAbraham’s servant travels hundreds of miles to find a wife for Isaac, prays for a sign by a well at sunset, and meets a young woman whose kindness goes far beyond what anyone asked.
Genesis 25:19–34
A Bowl of Red StewTwin brothers wrestle before they are born, grow up as opposites, and one hungry afternoon Esau trades his birthright for a bowl of stew.
Genesis 27
The Stolen BlessingAn old, blind father prepares to bless his favourite son, but a mother’s plan, a goatskin disguise and a younger brother’s lie turn the family upside down.
Genesis 28:10–22
Jacob’s LadderRunning from home with a stone for a pillow, Jacob dreams of a stairway to heaven and wakes to find that God has been with him all along.
Genesis 29:1–30
Seven Years for RachelJacob the runaway falls in love at a well and works seven years for Rachel, only to wake after the wedding and find that Laban, his uncle, has out-tricked the trickster.
Genesis 32:22–32
Wrestling Until DaybreakAlone by the river Jabbok the night before he must face Esau, Jacob wrestles a mysterious stranger until dawn, refuses to let go without a blessing, and walks away limping with a new name: Israel.
Genesis 33
The Brother Who RanLimping and afraid, Jacob bows seven times before the brother he cheated twenty years before. Esau runs to meet him, throws his arms around him, and the two brothers weep.
Genesis 46–47
Jacob Goes Down to EgyptAn old man who thought his son was dead packs up his whole family for Egypt. God promises to go with him, Joseph weeps on his father’s neck, and a shepherd blesses a Pharaoh.
Genesis 48–50
Meant for GoodOld Jacob crosses his hands to bless Joseph’s sons, speaks a last word over each of his twelve boys, and is carried home to Canaan. Then his frightened sons wait to see whether Joseph will finally take revenge.
Exodus 3; 12–14
Through the SeaGod calls a reluctant shepherd from a burning bush, brings his people out of slavery on the night of the Passover, and opens a path through the sea.
Exodus 2:1–10
The Basket in the ReedsWhen Pharaoh orders that Hebrew baby boys be thrown into the Nile, one brave mother hides her son in a waterproof basket among the reeds, his sister keeps watch, and Pharaoh’s own daughter comes down to the river.
Exodus 2:11–25
A Stranger in a Strange LandPrince Moses tries to fight injustice his own way, kills an Egyptian slave master and flees into the desert. At a well in Midian he finds a new home, while back in Egypt God hears his people’s cry.
Exodus 3–4
The Bush That Did Not Burn UpA shepherd in the wilderness sees a bush on fire that never burns up. From the flames, God calls Moses by name, tells him his name, I AM, and sends him back to Egypt to set his people free, in spite of every excuse Moses can find.
Exodus 7–11
Let My People Go: The Ten PlaguesMoses carries one message to the most powerful king on earth: let my people go. Pharaoh says no, again and again, while Egypt is shaken by signs no magician can match.
Exodus 16
Bread from HeavenHungry and grumbling in the desert, Israel wakes to find the ground covered with something nobody has seen before. God's lesson is simple: gather what you need, every day, and trust him for tomorrow.
Exodus 17:1–7
Water from the RockIn a dry camp with no water, a frightened crowd turns on Moses and asks the question underneath every complaint: is the Lord with us or not? God answers from a rock.
Exodus 17:8–16
Hands Held HighWhile Joshua leads Israel's fighters in the valley, Moses stands on a hill with his hands raised to God. When his arms grow too tired to lift, two friends hold them up.
Exodus 19–20
Ten Words on the MountainAt the foot of Mount Sinai, amid thunder, smoke and the blast of a trumpet, God speaks to the people he rescued and gives them ten words for a free life.
Exodus 32
The Golden CalfWhile Moses is on the mountain with God, the people grow impatient and ask Aaron for a god they can see. A golden calf, a broken promise, and a leader who pleads for mercy.
Exodus 35–40
A Tent Where God LivesA people who once made bricks for Pharaoh now bring their gifts and skills to build a tent for God. When it is finished, his glory fills it, and he travels with them.
Numbers 13–14
Twelve Spies, Two Brave VoicesTwelve scouts explore the land God has promised. They all see the same giant grapes and the same walled cities, but only two of them come back trusting God.
Numbers 16
Korah’s RebellionKorah and two hundred and fifty leaders rise up against Moses and Aaron, demanding a place that was never theirs. God settles the question, and the priest they rejected ends up standing between the living and the dead.
Numbers 17
The Staff That BlossomedTo end the grumbling once and for all, twelve dry wooden staffs are laid before the Lord overnight. In the morning, one of them is alive with buds, blossoms and ripe almonds.
Numbers 21:4–9
The Bronze SerpentTired and bitter on a long detour, Israel complains against God, and venomous snakes slither into the camp. The cure God gives is strange: look up at a bronze snake on a pole, and live.
Numbers 22–24
Balaam and the Talking DonkeyA frightened king hires a famous seer to curse Israel. But the seer’s own donkey sees what he cannot, and every time he opens his mouth to curse, only blessing comes out.
Deuteronomy 34
Moses on the MountainAfter forty years of leading Israel through the wilderness, Moses climbs Mount Nebo alone. God shows him the whole promised land, and there, with his eyes still clear, Moses’ long journey ends.
Leviticus 9
Fire from the LordOn the eighth day, Aaron offers the very first sacrifices at the new tabernacle. Then fire comes out from the presence of God, and the whole people shout and fall on their faces.
Leviticus 10:1–11
Strange FireOn the very day the priests begin their work, Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu offer fire God had not asked for, and they die before the LORD. A grieving father learns that God's holiness is not a game.
Leviticus 16
The Day of AtonementOnce a year, on one special day, the high priest steps behind the curtain into the Most Holy Place. Then a goat carries the people's sins far away into the wilderness.
Leviticus 19:9–18, 33–34
Leave the Edges of Your FieldAt Mount Sinai, God tells his people how to live as neighbours: leave grain at the edges of the field for the poor, pay workers on time, never trip the blind, and love the foreigner as yourself.
Leviticus 25:8–55
The Year of JubileeGod gives Israel a remarkable law: every fiftieth year a trumpet will sound across the land, families will return to the land they lost, and Israelites who sold themselves into service will go free.
Numbers 6:22–27
The LORD Bless You and Keep YouIn the camp at Sinai, God gives Aaron and his sons the exact words to bless his people: three short lines about God's care, his kindness and his peace, still spoken over families today.
Numbers 12
Miriam and Aaron Speak OutAt Hazeroth, Moses' own sister and brother grumble against him. God calls all three to the tent, defends the humblest man on earth, and when Miriam is struck with a skin disease, Moses prays for her healing.
Numbers 27:1–11
Five Sisters AskFive sisters whose father died with no sons step forward before Moses and the whole assembly to ask for their family's share of the promised land. Moses takes their case to God, and God says they are right.
Deuteronomy 6:1–9
Hear, O IsraelOn the plains of Moab, old Moses speaks to a new generation. The LORD is one, he says. Love him with everything you have, and talk about his words at home, on the road, at bedtime and at breakfast.
Deuteronomy 8
Remember the WayBefore Israel enters a rich land, Moses asks a new generation to remember forty years of manna, water from the rock and sandals that never wore out, and never to forget the God who gave it all.
Deuteronomy 30:11–20
Choose LifeNear the end of his life, Moses sets two paths before the whole people of Israel, life and death, blessing and curse, and pleads with them: choose life, by loving the LORD and holding fast to him.
Joshua 2
Rahab and the Scarlet CordTwo Israelite spies slip into Jericho and are nearly caught. A woman named Rahab hides them on her roof, risks her life for theirs, and asks for one thing in return: a scarlet cord in her window.
Joshua 3–4
Crossing the JordanThe Jordan is in full flood, and a whole nation must cross it. The priests carrying the ark step into the water, the river stops, and twelve stones are carried out to make sure no one ever forgets.
Joshua 6
The Walls of JerichoJericho is shut up tight, and God gives Joshua the strangest battle plan in history: march, stay silent, blow the trumpets, and wait. On the seventh day, the people shout, and the walls come down.
Joshua 7
Achan's SecretAfter the walls of Jericho fall, one man hides a few stolen treasures under his tent, and a whole nation learns that secret sin is never only private.
Joshua 10:1–15
The Day the Sun Stood StillFive kings surround the city of Gibeon, and Joshua keeps a promise he was tricked into making. By the end of the day, Israel will say there has never been a day like it.
Joshua 24
Choose This DayAn old Joshua gathers every tribe at Shechem, tells the story of all God has done, and asks one question that every generation has to answer for itself: whom will you serve?
Judges 3:12–30
Ehud the Left-HandedFor eighteen years Israel pays tribute to the king of Moab, until God raises up an unlikely rescuer: a left-handed man from the tribe of Benjamin with a secret message.
Judges 4–5
Deborah and BarakNine hundred iron chariots against an army on foot. A prophet under a palm tree, a hesitant general, a sudden storm, and a woman in a tent turn the battle, and Deborah sings about it.
Judges 6
Gideon in the WinepressA frightened young farmer hiding from raiders is greeted by an angel as a mighty warrior. Gideon is full of questions, but God is patient, and one step at a time, Gideon begins to trust him.
Judges 7
Gideon's Three HundredGod tells Gideon his army of thirty-two thousand is too big. Down to three hundred men armed with trumpets, jars and torches, they surround a vast camp in the middle of the night.
Judges 11
Jephthah's VowAn outcast becomes the leader who saves his people, but on the way to battle he makes a rash promise to God, and the price falls on the person he loves most. A sobering story about careless words.
Judges 13
A Promise in the Field: Samson's BirthIn a dark time for Israel, a messenger from God visits a childless woman in a field with a promise: a son, set apart for God from birth, who will begin to rescue his people.
Judges 14
Samson, the Lion and the RiddleSamson meets a roaring lion with his bare hands, finds honey where nobody would look, and sets a riddle at his wedding feast that ends in betrayal and anger. Great strength, not much wisdom.
Judges 16
Samson and DelilahThe strongest man in Israel gives away his secret, bit by bit, to a woman paid to betray him. He loses his strength, his sight and his freedom, but in the dark, his hair begins to grow again.
Ruth 1–2
Ruth and Naomi: Where You Go, I Will GoWidowed and far from home, Naomi tells her daughters-in-law to leave her. Ruth refuses, follows her to Bethlehem, and goes out to glean grain in a field that happens to belong to a kind man named Boaz.
Ruth 3–4
Ruth and Boaz: The RedeemerRuth asks Boaz to be her family's redeemer, and Boaz settles the matter at the town gate with a sandal and ten witnesses. A son is born, Naomi's arms are full again, and the line leads to King David.
1 Samuel 1–2
Hannah's PrayerYear after year Hannah longs for a child and is taunted for having none. At Shiloh she pours out her heart to God so silently that the priest thinks she is drunk. God answers, and Hannah keeps her costly promise.
1 Samuel 3
Samuel Hears His NameIn the middle of the night at Shiloh, a voice calls the boy Samuel by name. Three times he runs to old Eli, until Eli realises who is calling and teaches him how to answer.
1 Samuel 4–6
The Ark Is CapturedIsrael carries the ark of God into battle like a lucky charm and loses it to the Philistines. But in the temple of Dagon, the captured ark proves that the God of Israel is nobody's trophy.
Joshua 22
The Altar by the JordanThe eastern tribes head home and build a huge altar by the Jordan. The other tribes think it is rebellion and gather for war, until they send a delegation to talk first, and discover it was built as a witness to their shared faith.
1 Samuel 17
David and GoliathFor forty days a giant mocks Israel’s army. Then a young shepherd arrives with a sling, five smooth stones, and complete trust in the Lord.
1 Samuel 9–10
Saul and the Lost DonkeysA tall young farmer goes looking for his father's lost donkeys and comes home as the anointed king of Israel, though when the moment comes, he hides among the baggage.
1 Samuel 15
Better Than SacrificeKing Saul is given a clear command and keeps the parts he likes. When Samuel confronts him, every excuse unravels, and Saul learns that God wants obedience more than offerings.
1 Samuel 16
The Lord Looks on the HeartSamuel goes to Bethlehem to anoint a new king. Seven tall sons of Jesse pass by, and God chooses none of them, until the youngest is called in from the sheep.
1 Samuel 18–20
David and Jonathan: The Arrow SignalThe king's son becomes the best friend of the man the king fears most. When Saul turns against David, Jonathan risks everything to keep his promise, and sends his warning with a bow and arrows.
1 Samuel 24
In the Cave at En-gediHunted by King Saul, David finds the king alone and unguarded in a dark cave. His men say this is his chance. David cuts a piece from Saul's robe, and lets him go.
1 Samuel 25
Abigail the PeacemakerA rich man insults David, and David sets out with four hundred armed men. Only one person stands in the way: Nabal's wise wife Abigail, riding out with gifts and the right words.
2 Samuel 5
King at LastYears after a prophet poured oil on a shepherd boy's head, all the tribes of Israel come to Hebron to make David king. He takes a hilltop fortress that everyone said could not be taken, and makes it his city, Jerusalem.
2 Samuel 6
David Dances Before the LordKing David sets out to bring the ark of God to Jerusalem with music and celebration. A sudden death stops everything. Three months later he tries again, God's way, and dances with all his might.
2 Samuel 9
A Seat at the King's TableKing David goes looking for someone from Saul's family, not to punish him but to keep a promise, and a lame man hiding far from the palace is given a place at the king's table for life.
2 Samuel 11–12
You Are the ManKing David stays home from war, takes another man's wife and tries to bury what he has done. Then the prophet Nathan tells him a story, and the king finds himself on trial.
2 Samuel 15–18
Absalom, My SonDavid's handsome son Absalom steals the hearts of Israel and takes his father's throne. David flees Jerusalem in tears, and when the rebellion ends, the king grieves for the son who turned against him.
1 Kings 3
Solomon Asks for WisdomGod tells young King Solomon to ask for anything he wants. Solomon asks for a wise and listening heart, and soon two mothers and one baby put his wisdom to the test.
1 Kings 5–8
A House for the Name of the LordSolomon builds the temple David dreamed of, with cedar from Lebanon and stone cut in silence. When the ark is carried in, a cloud fills the house, and the king prays a prayer for every nation on earth.
1 Kings 10:1–13
The Queen Who Came to SeeA queen from far-off Sheba hears rumours about Solomon and his God, and travels a long way with camels, gold and spices to find out for herself. What she sees leaves her breathless.
1 Kings 12
The Kingdom Splits in TwoThe people ask Solomon's son Rehoboam to lighten their load. He ignores wise advice, answers harshly, and in a single day the kingdom of David breaks apart.
1 Kings 17
Elijah, the Ravens and the WidowIn a terrible drought, God feeds the prophet Elijah by ravens at a brook, then sends him to a poor widow with one last handful of flour. Her jar never runs empty, and her son is given back to her.
1 Kings 18
Fire on Mount CarmelAfter three years of drought, Elijah stands alone against the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel and asks a wavering nation one question: who is really God?
1 Kings 19
The Still Small VoiceWorn out and afraid after Mount Carmel, Elijah runs into the desert and wants to give up. God feeds him, meets him on the mountain, and speaks, not in the storm, but in a quiet voice.
1 Kings 21
Naboth's VineyardKing Ahab wants his neighbour's vineyard, and Queen Jezebel arranges to take it by injustice. But God sees what happened in that quiet town, and sends Elijah to speak.
2 Kings 2:1–18
The Chariot of FireThree times Elijah tells Elisha to stay behind, and three times Elisha refuses. Then a chariot of fire comes between them, and Elisha picks up his master's cloak.
2 Kings 4:1–7
The Widow's OilA widow is about to lose her two sons to a creditor. All she has is a little jar of oil, until Elisha tells her to borrow every empty jar she can find.
2 Kings 4:8–37
It Is Well: The Shunammite WomanA generous woman builds a room for Elisha and is given the son she had stopped hoping for. When the boy dies, she rides to the prophet and will not let go until he comes.
2 Kings 5
Naaman Is HealedA mighty general from Aram comes to Israel for healing, expecting something grand. He is told to wash seven times in the muddy Jordan, and his pride has to go under first.
2 Kings 6:8–23
The Hidden ArmyAn enemy army surrounds Elisha's town by night. His terrified servant sees only soldiers, until God opens his eyes to the horses and chariots of fire all around them.
2 Kings 11–12
Joash: The Boy King Hidden in the TempleA baby prince is hidden in God’s temple for six years while a ruthless queen rules Judah, until a brave priest brings him out and crowns him king at seven years old.
2 Kings 18–19
Hezekiah Spreads Out the LetterThe mighty Assyrian army surrounds Jerusalem and its king sends a letter full of threats. King Hezekiah takes it into the temple, spreads it out before the Lord, and prays.
2 Kings 22–23
Josiah and the Lost BookWorkmen repairing the temple uncover a forgotten scroll of God’s law. When young King Josiah hears it read, he tears his robes, and then leads his whole nation back to God.
1 Chronicles 4:9–10
The Prayer of JabezIn the middle of a long list of names, the writer of Chronicles stops to tell us about one man. His name sounded like pain, but he prayed a short, honest prayer, and God granted it.
1 Chronicles 16
Give Thanks to the LORDThe ark of God arrives in Jerusalem. King David feeds the whole crowd, appoints Asaph and the Levites to lead worship with harps, cymbals and trumpets, and gives them a song of thanks for all the people to sing.
1 Chronicles 28
David's Plans for the TempleOld King David gathers all the leaders of Israel. He tells them God has chosen Solomon, not him, to build the temple, then hands his son the plans for a house he will never see, with a charge: be strong, and do it.
2 Chronicles 14
Asa Relies on the LORDKing Asa clears idols from Judah and builds up the land in years of peace. Then a vast army under Zerah the Cushite marches on Mareshah, and Asa prays: there is no one like you to help the powerless.
2 Chronicles 20:1–30
The Singers Went FirstA great alliance marches on Judah. King Jehoshaphat gathers the whole nation to pray, 'we do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you', and the next morning he sends a choir ahead of the army. The battle is the LORD's.
2 Chronicles 26
Uzziah's PrideUzziah becomes king at sixteen. While he seeks God, he prospers: farms, wells, towers, a famous army. But when he grows strong, he grows proud, and walks into the temple to do what only the priests may do.
2 Chronicles 30
Hezekiah's Great PassoverKing Hezekiah sends runners from one end of the land to the other, inviting north and south alike to come home to God and keep the Passover in Jerusalem. Some laugh. Many come. And there is joy like nothing since Solomon's day.
2 Chronicles 33:1–20
Manasseh Humbles HimselfManasseh undoes all his father Hezekiah's good work and leads Judah further from God than ever. Then he is taken captive in chains to Babylon. There, at his lowest, he humbles himself and prays, and God hears him.
Daniel 6
Daniel and the LionsJealous officials trap an old and honest man with a law he cannot obey. Daniel keeps praying anyway, and spends a night in a den of lions.
Jonah 1–4
Jonah Runs the Other WayGod sends Jonah to the great city of Nineveh. Jonah sails the other way, into a storm, a great fish and a lesson about how wide God's mercy really is.
Isaiah 6
Holy, Holy, Holy: Isaiah Sees the LordIn the temple, Isaiah sees the Lord on his throne and hears the seraphim calling “Holy, holy, holy”. Undone by his own sin, he is cleansed with a burning coal and answers God’s call: “Here am I; send me.”
Jeremiah 1
Jeremiah: Too Young to Speak?God calls young Jeremiah to be a prophet to the nations. Jeremiah protests that he is too young, but God touches his mouth, shows him two visions, and promises, “I am with thee to deliver thee.”
Jeremiah 18:1–12
At the Potter’s HouseGod sends Jeremiah to watch a potter at work. When a pot is spoiled, the potter reshapes it, and God uses the moment to show his people that they are like clay in his hands, and that it is not too late to turn back.
Jeremiah 38
Jeremiah in the MudAngry officials lower Jeremiah into a muddy cistern and leave him to die. Then Ebed-melech, a foreign official in the palace, risks speaking up to the king, and pulls the prophet out with ropes and old rags.
Ezekiel 37:1–14
The Valley of Dry BonesIn a vision, Ezekiel stands in a valley full of dry bones and hears God ask, “Can these bones live?” As he speaks God’s word, the bones rattle together, breath fills them, and a great army stands up: a promise of hope for a people who had lost all hope.
Amos 7:10–17
The Shepherd Who Would Not Be SilencedA shepherd from Judah brings God's warning to the king's own shrine at Bethel. The chief priest orders him to go home and keep quiet. Amos answers that he never asked to be a prophet; God sent him.
Hosea 1–3
Hosea Loves AgainGod asks the prophet Hosea to live out a painful love story: a wife who leaves, children with strange names, and a husband who goes after her anyway. It is a picture of how God loves his wandering people.
Micah 6:1–8
What Does the Lord Require?God calls the mountains to witness as he puts his case to his people. They wonder what gift could ever be enough. The answer is simpler, and harder, than anything they could bring.
Habakkuk 1–3
Habakkuk on the WatchtowerA prophet brings his hardest questions straight to God: why is there so much wrong, and why doesn't God act? He climbs a watchtower to wait for an answer, and comes down singing.
Isaiah 5:1–7
The Song of the VineyardThe prophet Isaiah sings a love song about a friend's vineyard, cared for perfectly, that grows only sour grapes. Then he reveals who the vineyard is, and what God was looking for.
Isaiah 40:27–31
They Will Soar on Wings like EaglesGod's people in exile are tired and think God has forgotten them. The book of Isaiah answers: the Creator never grows weary, and those who wait on him will soar like eagles.
Isaiah 44:24–45:7
Cyrus, My ShepherdIn the book of Isaiah, God names a foreign king, Cyrus, as the shepherd who will free his people and order Jerusalem and its temple to be rebuilt, even though Cyrus does not know him.
Jeremiah 29:1–14
A Letter to the ExilesJeremiah sends a letter from Jerusalem to the captives in Babylon. It is not what they expected: settle down, build houses, plant gardens, pray for the city, and trust God's plans for a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 32:1–15
Jeremiah Buys a FieldBabylon's army surrounds Jerusalem and Jeremiah is under guard. Then God tells him to buy a field. He signs, seals and stores the deed in a clay jar, a sign that one day life will return to the land.
Jeremiah 36
The Scroll in the FireJeremiah dictates God's warnings and Baruch writes them on a scroll and reads them in the temple. King Jehoiakim cuts the scroll apart and burns it, column by column. God has every word written again.
Joel 1:1–2:27
After the LocustsWave after wave of locusts strips the land of Judah bare. The prophet Joel calls everyone, from old to young, to turn back to God with all their hearts, and God promises to repay the years the locusts ate.
Joel 2:28–32
I Will Pour Out My SpiritAfter the locusts and the rain, Joel hears an even greater promise: one day God will pour out his Spirit on everyone, sons and daughters, old and young, servants too, and whoever calls on the Lord will be saved.
Obadiah 1–21
Edom on the CliffsWhen Jerusalem fell, its neighbour Edom, descended from Jacob's brother Esau, stood by and gloated. The shortest book in the Old Testament answers: pride will be brought down, and the kingdom belongs to the Lord.
Jonah 4
Jonah Under the VineNineveh has turned to God and been spared, and Jonah is furious. He sulks outside the city, and God uses a fast-growing plant, a worm and a hot wind to ask him a question about mercy.
Nahum 1:1–8; 3:1–7
The Fall of NinevehA century after Jonah, Nineveh has returned to cruelty, and the whole region suffers under Assyria. The prophet Nahum announces that the city will fall, and that the Lord is a stronghold for those who trust him.
Zephaniah 1:1–7; 2:3; 3:9–13
The Humble Will ShelterIn the days of young King Josiah, the prophet Zephaniah warns Jerusalem that a day of reckoning is coming, and promises that God will keep a humble, honest people safe.
Daniel 1
Daniel and the King's TableTaken far from home to be trained in the king of Babylon's palace, young Daniel is given a new name, a new language and the king's own food. He decides there is one line he will not cross, and asks for a ten-day test.
Daniel 2
The King's Impossible DreamThe king of Babylon demands that his wise men tell him not only what his dream means, but what he dreamed. No one can. Daniel and his friends pray, and God reveals a great statue and a stone that becomes a mountain.
Daniel 3
The Fiery FurnaceWhen the music plays, everyone in Babylon must bow to the king's golden statue. Three young men stay standing. Thrown into a blazing furnace, they are seen walking in the fire, and they are not alone.
Daniel 5
The Writing on the WallAt a royal feast, King Belshazzar drinks from the holy cups taken from God's temple. Suddenly a hand appears and writes on the palace wall. Only the aged Daniel can read the message: the king has been weighed and found wanting.
Esther 1–2
Esther Becomes QueenIn the dazzling court of the Persian king, a queen is sent away and an orphaned Jewish girl named Esther is chosen to take her place, while her cousin Mordecai quietly saves the king's life.
Esther 3–5
For Such a Time as ThisWhen proud Haman plots to destroy every Jew in the Persian Empire, Queen Esther must decide whether to risk her life by walking uninvited into the king's presence.
Esther 6–10
The Fall of HamanA sleepless night, a forgotten good deed and a queen's brave words turn everything upside down: proud Haman falls, Mordecai is honoured, and sorrow becomes the joy of Purim.
Ezra 1–3
Coming Home: The Return from ExileAfter long years of exile in Babylon, God moves the Persian king Cyrus to send the exiles home, and as the foundation of a new temple is laid in Jerusalem, shouts of joy and tears of memory rise together.
Nehemiah 1–6
Nehemiah Rebuilds the WallsA Persian king's cupbearer hears that Jerusalem lies in ruins, and with prayer, planning and a trowel in one hand and a sword close by, he leads the people to rebuild the city walls in just fifty-two days.
Nehemiah 8
Ezra Reads the LawWith Jerusalem's walls rebuilt, the whole city gathers to hear Ezra read God's law from dawn to noon; the people weep, and are told that the joy of the Lord is their strength.
Ezra 3:8–13
Shouts and WeepingBack from exile in Babylon, God's people lay the foundation of a new temple in Jerusalem. Trumpets sound and the young shout for joy, while the old, who remember Solomon's temple, weep aloud. No one can tell the two sounds apart.
Ezra 8:21–36
No Soldiers on the RoadEzra is about to lead families and a fortune in gold and silver across hundreds of miles of dangerous road. He has told the Persian king that God protects those who seek him, so he is too embarrassed to ask for soldiers. The travellers fast and pray instead.
Nehemiah 1–2:8
The Cupbearer's PrayerIn the Persian palace at Susa, the king's cupbearer Nehemiah hears that Jerusalem's walls lie broken. He weeps, fasts and prays for months. Then, when the king asks why he looks so sad, he sends up one more quick prayer and makes his request.
Lamentations 3:19–33
New Every MorningIn the ruins of Jerusalem, a grieving poet pours out his sorrow. Then, in the middle of the darkness, he remembers something that gives him hope: the Lord's mercies are new every morning.
Ezekiel 3:1–21
The WatchmanAmong the exiles in Babylon, the priest Ezekiel is told to eat a scroll, and it tastes as sweet as honey. Then God makes him a watchman, whose job is to warn his people faithfully, whether they listen or not.
Ezekiel 10; 43:1–5
The Glory Leaves and ReturnsIn a vision, Ezekiel watches the glory of God rise from the temple in Jerusalem and leave by the east gate. Nineteen years later he sees it come back from the east and fill God's house again.
Ezekiel 36:24–28
A New HeartAfter news arrives that Jerusalem has fallen, God gives Ezekiel a promise for the exiles: he will gather them home, wash them clean, take out their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh and his own Spirit.
Ezekiel 47:1–12
The River from the TempleIn a vision, Ezekiel sees water trickling from under the temple door. It grows deeper and deeper into a river that flows down to the Dead Sea and brings it to life, with fruit trees for food and leaves for healing.
Haggai 1
Consider Your WaysThe exiles have come home and built fine houses, but God's temple still lies in ruins. The prophet Haggai asks them to think hard about their ways, and the whole people gets up to build.
Zechariah 2
A City Without WallsIn a night vision, the prophet Zechariah sees a young man setting out to measure Jerusalem. An angel stops him: God's city will be too full of people for walls, and God himself will be its wall of fire.
Zechariah 8:1–8
Children Playing in the StreetsTo a half-empty, half-rebuilt Jerusalem, God promises a future full of ordinary joy: old people resting in the squares and boys and girls playing in the streets.
Malachi 3:6–12
Test Me in ThisThe people have been holding back their gifts to God and wondering why life feels so thin. Through Malachi, God invites them to return, bring the whole tithe, and watch him open the windows of heaven.
Malachi 3:13–18
The Book of RemembranceSome people in Judah say serving God is pointless, because proud people seem to do better. But when the faithful talk together about the Lord, God listens and has their names written in a book.
Job 1–2
Job Loses EverythingJob is a good man with a full life, until, in a single day, nearly everything is taken from him. He grieves, he worships, and three friends come and sit with him in silence.
Job 38–42
God Answers Job from the StormAfter long days of argument, God finally speaks to Job out of a whirlwind, not with explanations but with the wonders of creation, and Job, humbled and comforted, sees God for himself.
Psalm 23
The Lord Is My ShepherdA shepherd's song for every season of life: green pastures, still waters, a dark valley, and a table spread with enemies watching. Psalm 23 says the Lord walks with us through all of it.
Proverbs 8–9
Wisdom Calls OutIn the busiest part of town, Wisdom stands up and shouts an invitation to anyone who will listen. Down the street, Folly is calling too. Two voices, two tables, and a choice for every passer-by.
Job 2:11–13; 42:7–10
Seven Days of SilenceWhen disaster falls on Job, three friends travel to sit with him in silence for seven days. Then they start talking, and say far too much. In the end God corrects them, and Job prays for the friends who hurt him.
1 Samuel 22:1–2; Psalm 57
A Song from the CaveOn the run from King Saul, David hides in the cave of Adullam, where four hundred troubled men gather around him. Psalm 57 is the song connected with that time: in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, and my heart is steadfast.
2 Samuel 12:1–13; Psalm 51
Create in Me a Clean HeartThe prophet Nathan tells King David a story about a stolen lamb, and David sees his own sin. Out of that moment comes Psalm 51, the Bible's great prayer for a clean heart.
Psalms 121–122
Songs of the RoadPilgrims walking up to Jerusalem for the festivals sang songs on the way. Two of them, Psalms 121 and 122, ask where our help comes from and celebrate arriving at God's house.
Psalm 137:1–6
By the Rivers of BabylonFar from home, captives from Jerusalem sit by the rivers of Babylon. Their captors demand a cheerful song, and they hang up their harps and promise never to forget Jerusalem.
Psalm 148; 150
Let Everything PraiseThe book of Psalms ends in a great shout. Sun and moon, sea creatures and snowstorms, kings and children, and finally everything that breathes are called to praise the LORD.
Proverbs 6:6–11; 24:30–34
Go to the AntProverbs sends a lazy person to learn from a tiny ant, and a wise teacher stops beside a field full of thorns. Two short scenes about working hard and planning ahead.
Proverbs 31:10–31
A Woman of StrengthThe book of Proverbs ends with a king's mother's teaching and a poem in praise of a capable woman: hard-working, wise, generous to the poor, and full of reverence for God.
Ecclesiastes 3:1–15
A Time for EverythingThe Teacher of Ecclesiastes looks at the seasons of life, planting and harvest, weeping and laughing, and finds that God makes everything beautiful in its time and has set eternity in the human heart.
Ecclesiastes 12
Remember Your CreatorAt the end of Ecclesiastes, the old Teacher speaks to the young. In a poem about growing old, he urges them to remember God now, and sums up life in one sentence: fear God and keep his commandments.
Song of Songs 2:8–13; 8:6–7
Love as Strong as DeathThe Song of Songs is a love poem. In spring, a young man calls his beloved to come away because winter is past; later she asks him to set her as a seal on his heart, for many waters cannot quench love.
Luke 1:26–38; 2:1–20; Matthew 2:1–12
A Baby in a MangerAn angel visits a young woman in Nazareth. Months later, in crowded Bethlehem, her son is laid in a feeding trough, and shepherds come running to see.
Matthew 28; Luke 24:1–12; John 20:1–18
The Empty TombAt dawn on the first day of the week, grieving women go to Jesus' tomb and find the stone rolled away. Before the day is out, Mary Magdalene has heard him speak her name.
Luke 2:22–38
Simeon and Anna: The Long WaitForty days after Jesus is born, Mary and Joseph bring him to the temple. Two faithful old people who have waited their whole lives recognise him at once.
Matthew 2:13–23
Flight by Night: The Escape to EgyptWarned in a dream, Joseph wakes Mary in the middle of the night and the little family flees to Egypt as refugees, staying hidden until it is safe to return and make a home in Nazareth.
Luke 2:41–52
Lost and Found in JerusalemOn the way home from the Passover festival, Mary and Joseph realise twelve-year-old Jesus is missing. Three anxious days later they find him in the temple, listening to the teachers and asking questions.
Luke 3:1–20
A Voice in the WildernessOut by the Jordan River, John calls crowds to turn back to God, gives tax collectors and soldiers surprisingly practical advice, points to someone greater, and pays a price for telling a ruler the truth.
Matthew 3:13–17
Beloved: The Baptism of JesusJesus walks into the Jordan River and asks John to baptise him. John protests, but Jesus insists, and as he comes up out of the water, heaven opens and a voice calls him beloved.
Matthew 4:1–11
Forty Days in the WildernessHungry and alone after forty days in the desert, Jesus faces three temptations from the devil, and answers each one with the words of Scripture.
Luke 5:1–11
Fishers of PeopleAfter a long night of empty nets, a teacher borrows Simon's boat and tells him to try once more. The catch that follows changes what Simon will spend his life doing.
John 3:1–21
A Visitor by NightA respected teacher of Israel comes to Jesus after dark with careful questions, and hears about being born again, the wind of the Spirit, and how much God loves the world.
John 4:1–42
Living WaterAt noon by Jacob's well, a tired Jewish teacher asks a Samaritan woman for a drink. The conversation that follows crosses every line it shouldn't, and a whole town comes out to meet him.
Matthew 5–7
The Sermon on the MountOn a hillside in Galilee, Jesus sits down and turns the world's ideas upside down: blessing for the humble, love for enemies, freedom from worry, and a house built on rock.
Matthew 6:5–15
Our FatherJesus warns against praying to impress people or piling up empty words, then gives his followers a short prayer that Christians all over the world still pray every day.
Luke 19:1–10
Zacchaeus Comes DownThe richest, least popular man in Jericho climbs a tree to catch a glimpse of Jesus, and Jesus stops, looks up, calls him by name and invites himself to dinner.
Luke 10:38–42
Martha, MarthaMartha opens her home to Jesus and rushes to serve; her sister Mary sits and listens. When Martha asks Jesus to send Mary to help, his gentle answer surprises them both.
Mark 10:13–16
Let the Children ComeParents bring their little ones to Jesus for a blessing, and the disciples try to send them away. Jesus is not pleased, and he opens his arms.
Mark 10:17–31
The Man Who Had EverythingA wealthy man runs to Jesus with the biggest question there is, and gets an answer that costs more than he is willing to pay. Then Jesus tells his friends what is impossible for people, and possible for God.
Matthew 17:1–13
Shining on the MountainOn a high mountain, three friends see Jesus as they have never seen him before, shining like the sun, talking with Moses and Elijah, while a voice from a bright cloud says, Listen to him.
Mark 14:3–9
Perfume Poured Out at BethanyDays before the cross, a woman breaks open a jar of costly perfume and pours it over Jesus. The guests call it a waste. Jesus calls it a beautiful thing, and promises the world will remember it.
Matthew 21:1–11
The King on a DonkeyJesus rides into Jerusalem on a borrowed donkey while crowds throw down their cloaks and shout Hosanna, and the whole city asks the same question: Who is this?
John 2:13–22
Zeal for My Father's HouseAt Passover, Jesus finds his Father's house crowded with traders and money changers, and drives them out. When the leaders demand a sign, he gives them a puzzle about a temple raised in three days.
Mark 12:41–44
Two Small CoinsIn the busy temple courts, Jesus sits and watches people give. The rich pour in plenty. Then a poor widow drops in two tiny coins, and Jesus says she has given more than all of them.
Luke 22:7–38
The Last SupperOn the night before he dies, Jesus shares the Passover meal with his friends, gives them bread and wine to remember him by, and, as they argue about who is greatest, shows them what true greatness looks like.
John 13:1–17
The Towel and the BasinOn his last evening with his friends, Jesus gets up from the meal, wraps a towel around his waist, and kneels to wash their dusty feet, the job of a servant. Peter is horrified. Jesus has a lesson for them all.
Matthew 26:36–56
Night in GethsemaneIn an olive grove on the night before he dies, Jesus prays in deep sorrow while his closest friends fall asleep, then meets the crowd that Judas leads to arrest him.
Luke 22:54–62
Before the Rooster CrowsPeter follows the arrested Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, and by a fire in the dark he says three times that he does not know him. Then a rooster crows, and the Lord turns and looks at Peter.
John 18:28–19:16
What Is Truth?At dawn Jesus stands before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor. Pilate finds no case against him and tries to set him free, but in the end he hands Jesus over to be crucified.
Luke 23:26–49
Father, Forgive ThemOn the road to the place called the Skull and on the cross itself, Jesus forgives those who crucify him, promises paradise to a dying thief, and entrusts his spirit to his Father.
Luke 24:13–35
The Stranger on the Emmaus RoadTwo heartbroken followers of Jesus walk home from Jerusalem with a stranger who explains the scriptures to them. Only when he breaks bread at their table do they see who he is.
John 20:24–29
Thomas Sees and BelievesThomas missed the evening when the risen Jesus appeared to his friends, and he will not believe until he sees for himself. A week later, Jesus comes back for him.
John 21
Breakfast on the BeachAfter a fruitless night of fishing, the disciples meet the risen Jesus on the shore of Galilee. Over a breakfast of bread and fish by a charcoal fire, Jesus gently restores Peter and calls him to follow.
Acts 1:1–11
Up Into the CloudsForty days after Easter, the risen Jesus promises his friends the power of the Holy Spirit and sends them to be his witnesses to the ends of the earth. Then he is taken up into heaven before their eyes.
Luke 10:25–37
The Good SamaritanA clever question about who counts as a neighbour gets a story nobody expected: a wounded traveller, two religious men who pass by, and an outsider who stops.
Luke 15:11–32
The Son Who Came HomeA younger son takes his inheritance and wastes it far from home. When he limps back, his father runs to meet him, and his older brother has to decide whether to come in to the party.
Matthew 13:1–23
The Sower and the SoilsFrom a boat on the Sea of Galilee, Jesus tells of a farmer scattering seed on a path, on rock, among thorns and on good soil, and then explains what the soils mean.
Matthew 13:31–33
The Mustard Seed and the YeastTwo tiny stories, one from the field and one from the kitchen, show how God's kingdom starts small and hidden but grows until it fills everything.
Matthew 13:44–46
The Hidden Treasure and the PearlOne man stumbles on treasure buried in a field; another searches for years and finds a priceless pearl. Both gladly sell everything they have, because God's kingdom is worth it.
Luke 15:1–10
The Lost Sheep and the Lost CoinWhen people grumble that Jesus welcomes sinners, he tells of a shepherd who searches the hills for one lost sheep and a woman who sweeps her house for one lost coin, and of the joy in heaven when the lost are found.
Matthew 18:21–35
The Unforgiving ServantPeter asks how often he must forgive. Jesus answers with the story of a servant forgiven an impossible debt who then refuses to forgive a small one.
Matthew 20:1–16
The Workers in the VineyardA landowner hires workers at dawn, mid-morning, noon, afternoon and the last hour, then pays them all a full day's wage, and the early workers grumble at his generosity.
Matthew 21:28–32
The Two SonsIn the temple courts, Jesus tells of one son who says no but then goes to work, and another who says yes but never goes, and asks which one really did his father's will.
Luke 14:15–24
The Great BanquetA host prepares a great feast, but the invited guests make excuses, so he opens his doors to the poor, the disabled and strangers from the country lanes until his house is full.
Matthew 25:1–13
The Ten BridesmaidsTen young women wait through the night to welcome a bridegroom. When he finally arrives at midnight, five are ready with oil for their lamps, and five are not.
Luke 11:5–13
The Friend at MidnightA traveller turns up at midnight, the cupboard is bare, and a neighbour is already in bed. Jesus tells a small, funny story about knocking on a door, and a big promise about asking God.
Acts 15:1–35
The Council at JerusalemMust Gentile believers become Jewish to follow Jesus? The young church faces its first great argument, listens to Peter, Paul, Barnabas and James, and decides not to load extra burdens on the newcomers.
Acts 20:17–38
Goodbye at MiletusOn his way to Jerusalem, Paul calls the leaders of the Ephesian church to the port of Miletus to say goodbye. He reminds them how he lived among them, warns them to guard the flock, and they kneel, pray and weep together.
Acts 26
Paul Before King AgrippaA prisoner in chains stands before a king, a queen and a Roman governor. Paul tells them how he once hunted Jesus' followers, until a light on the Damascus road changed everything.
Acts 28:11–31
Paul in RomeAfter shipwreck and winter on Malta, Paul finally reaches Rome. Believers walk miles to meet him, and for two years, under guard in a rented house, he welcomes everyone who comes and speaks about Jesus freely.
Romans 16:1–16
Phoebe Carries the LetterPaul's great letter to the Romans ends with a long list of names. First comes Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, who is travelling to Rome, and then dozens of friends, women and men, whom Paul greets one by one.
Romans 8:28–39
Nothing Can Separate UsPaul writes to believers living in the capital of a powerful empire, some of whom had already been driven from their homes. He tells them that nothing in all creation can separate them from the love of God in Christ Jesus.
Romans 12
A Living SacrificeIn a city full of temples and altars, Paul tells the believers in Rome to offer God their whole lives, and shows them what real love looks like: blessing enemies, sharing with those in need, and weeping with those who weep.
1 Corinthians 12:12–27
One Body, Many PartsThe church in Corinth is split into rival groups, and some members think they matter more than others. Paul writes to them about a body where the foot, the ear and even the weakest parts all belong and all matter.
1 Corinthians 13
The Greatest of These Is LoveThe church in Corinth had every spiritual gift but was short on love. Paul writes them the Bible's most famous words about love: patient, kind, never giving up, and greater even than faith and hope.
1 Corinthians 11:17–34
The Lord's Supper in CorinthWhen the Corinthian believers meet to share the Lord's Supper, the wealthy eat first and the poor go hungry. Paul reminds them of the night Jesus broke bread, and tells them to wait for one another.
1 Corinthians 15:1–28, 50–58
Death, Where Is Your Sting?Some in Corinth are saying the dead do not rise. Paul answers by listing the people who saw the risen Jesus, and tells of a trumpet, a twinkling of an eye, and the day death itself is swallowed up in victory.
2 Corinthians 4:1–18
Treasure in Clay JarsSome in Corinth think Paul looks too weak and battered to be a real apostle. Paul agrees he is like a cheap clay pot, but says the pot carries a priceless treasure, so that everyone can see the power belongs to God.
2 Corinthians 11:21–33; Acts 9:23–25
Let Down in a BasketRival teachers in Corinth boast about how impressive they are. So Paul 'boasts' too, but about shipwrecks, dangers, sleepless nights, and the undignified night he escaped Damascus in a basket over the wall.
2 Corinthians 12:1–10
My Grace Is EnoughPaul tells, almost shyly, of being caught up into paradise. Then he tells of a painful 'thorn in the flesh' he begged God three times to take away, and the answer he received: my grace is sufficient for you.
Galatians 2:11–21
Paul Confronts PeterIn Antioch, Peter happily eats with Gentile believers, until visitors arrive from Jerusalem and he quietly moves to another table. Paul challenges him face to face, because the good news is at stake.
Galatians 5:13–26
The Fruit of the SpiritThe churches in Galatia are quarrelling and biting at each other. Paul tells them that freedom in Christ is freedom to serve in love, and describes the fruit that grows in a life led by the Spirit.
Ephesians 2:11–22
The Wall Torn DownWriting as a prisoner, Paul tells Gentile believers that they were once outsiders, far from God's people. But Christ has torn down the wall between Jew and Gentile and made them one new family, one holy temple.
Ephesians 6:10–20
The Armour of GodChained to a Roman soldier, Paul looks at his guard's equipment and describes the armour God gives his people: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the sword of the Spirit, and prayer.
Philippians 1:12–26
Joy in ChainsFrom prison, not knowing whether he will live or die, Paul writes to his dear friends in Philippi. Instead of complaining, he rejoices: his chains are helping the good news spread, and whatever happens, Christ will be honoured.
Philippians 2:19–30
Epaphroditus, Who Nearly DiedA church in Philippi sends one of its own to carry a gift to Paul in prison. On the way he falls desperately ill, and God has mercy on him.
Philippians 4:1–9
Two Friends Who DisagreedTwo women who once worked side by side with Paul have fallen out. From prison, Paul asks them by name to agree in the Lord, and tells the whole church to rejoice, pray and not be anxious.
Colossians 4:7–18
Tychicus and Onesimus Set OutTwo travellers set out with Paul's letters for the towns of the Lycus valley. One is a trusted helper. The other is a runaway slave going home as a brother.
1 Thessalonians 3
Timothy Brings Good NewsPaul had to slip out of Thessalonica by night, leaving a brand-new church behind. He sends young Timothy back to check on them, and waits anxiously for news.
1 Thessalonians 4:13–18
Comfort for the GrievingSome believers in Thessalonica have died, and their friends are heartbroken and confused. Paul writes to tell them that Jesus is coming, and that those who sleep in him will rise.
2 Thessalonians 3:6–15
Keep On WorkingSome believers in Thessalonica have stopped working and are living off others. Paul reminds them how he worked night and day for his own bread, and tells them never to grow tired of doing good.
1 Timothy 4:6–16
Don't Let Anyone Look Down on YouTimothy is leading the church in the great city of Ephesus, and some people think he is too young. Paul writes to encourage him: train for godliness, and be an example to everyone.
2 Timothy 1:1–7; 3:14–15
A Grandmother and a MotherWriting to Timothy, Paul remembers where Timothy's faith began: with his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice, who taught him the scriptures from childhood.
2 Timothy 4:6–22
Bring My Cloak and the ScrollsFrom a cold Roman prison, Paul writes his last words to Timothy. He has finished the race and kept the faith. Now he wants his friend, his cloak and his scrolls, and he wants them before winter.
Titus 1:1–9; 2:1–8
Titus on CretePaul leaves his co-worker Titus on the island of Crete with a hard job: appoint good leaders in every town, and teach young and old alike how to live.
Hebrews 11
By FaithA letter to tired, tempted believers walks them through the great heroes of the Bible, from Abel to the prophets. Every one of them, it says, lived by faith.
Hebrews 12:1–13
Run the RaceAfter the great list of heroes of faith, the letter to the Hebrews pictures them filling the stands of a stadium. Now it is the readers' turn to run, with their eyes fixed on Jesus.
James 2:14–26
Faith That WorksJames, the brother of Jesus, asks a sharp question: what good is faith that wishes a hungry neighbour well, and leaves them hungry? Real faith, he says, shows itself in what we do.
James 3
Taming the TongueJames compares the tongue to a horse's bit, a ship's rudder and a tiny spark that sets a forest on fire. Words are small, he says, but they steer whole lives.
1 Peter 2:4–10
Living StonesPeter writes to believers scattered far from home who feel like outsiders. You are living stones, he tells them, being built together into God's own house.
1 Peter 5:1–11
Cast Your Cares on HimNear the end of his letter, the old fisherman Peter tells church leaders to shepherd God's flock gently, and tells everyone to clothe themselves with humility and throw all their worries onto God, because he cares for them.
2 Peter 1:12–21
We Saw His MajestyKnowing his life is nearly over, Peter writes to remind believers of what is true. He was not passing on clever stories, he says. He was there on the mountain when Jesus shone with God's glory.
1 John 1:5–2:2
Walking in the LightThe aged apostle John writes to the believers he calls his little children. God is light, he tells them. Walk in the light, be honest about your sins, and God will forgive.
2 John
To the Chosen LadyJohn, calling himself the elder, sends a short letter to a church he calls the chosen lady and her children. Keep loving one another, he says, and be careful whom you welcome.
3 John
Gaius and DiotrephesJohn writes a short, warm letter to his friend Gaius, who welcomed travelling teachers into his home. He also warns about Diotrephes, a church leader who loved to be first and shut the door on them.
Jude
Keep Yourselves in God's LoveJude, a brother of Jesus, sat down to write a happy letter about the salvation believers share. Instead he had to write urgently, warning the church to hold on to the faith and keep themselves in God's love.
Revelation 1:9–20
The Vision on PatmosExiled to a rocky island for his faith, the old apostle John hears a voice like a trumpet behind him. He turns, and sees the risen Jesus in glory, who tells him, fear not.
Revelation 2–3
Letters to Seven ChurchesThe risen Jesus sends a message to each of seven real churches in Asia Minor. Some are praised, some are warned, and every one receives a promise for those who overcome.
Revelation 4
The Throne RoomJohn sees a door standing open in heaven. Inside is God's throne, circled by an emerald rainbow, and every creature around it singing holy, holy, holy.
Revelation 7:9–17
A Great MultitudeJohn sees a crowd too big to count, from every nation and language, waving palm branches before God's throne. The Lamb will be their shepherd, and God will wipe away every tear.
Revelation 22:1–5
The River of LifeAt the very end of the Bible, John is shown a crystal river flowing from God's throne, and the tree of life growing on its banks. The story that began in a garden ends with God's people seeing his face, and no more night.
Genesis 3:8–15
The First PromiseOn the saddest day in the garden, Adam and Eve hide from God. But before God speaks a word of consequence to them, he speaks a promise: a child of the woman will one day crush the serpent.
Genesis 12:1–3; 22:15–18
All Families BlessedGod calls Abram to leave home for a land he has never seen, and promises that through his family every nation on earth will be blessed. Years later, on a mountain, God repeats the promise.
Genesis 22:1–14
God Will Provide the LambGod tests Abraham by asking for his beloved son Isaac. On the climb up Mount Moriah, Isaac asks where the lamb is, and Abraham answers that God himself will provide it.
Genesis 28:10–17
Heaven OpenedJacob runs from home with only a stone for a pillow. In a dream he sees a stairway joining earth and heaven, and God promises to be with him wherever he goes.
Genesis 49:8–12
The Sceptre Shall Not DepartOld Jacob, near death in Egypt, gathers his twelve sons to bless them. To Judah he speaks of a lion, a sceptre, and a ruler whom the nations will obey.
Exodus 12:1–14
The Lamb at the DoorOn the night before Israel leaves Egypt, God tells every family to choose a lamb and mark their doorframes with its blood. When the judgement passes through the land, it passes over the marked houses.
Exodus 13:17–22
Light by NightFreed from Egypt, Israel sets out into the wilderness. God does not lead them by the short road, but goes ahead of them himself: a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.
Numbers 24:15–19
A Star Out of JacobA foreign king hires the famous seer Balaam to curse Israel. Each time Balaam opens his mouth, a blessing comes out instead, and at last he sees a star and a sceptre rising from Jacob.
Deuteronomy 18:15–19
A Prophet Like MosesNear the end of his life, Moses tells Israel that God will raise up another prophet like him from among their own people, and that they must listen to him.
2 Samuel 7:1–17
A House ForeverKing David, settled in his cedar palace, wants to build a house for God. Instead, God promises to build David a house: a family line and a kingdom that will last forever.
Psalm 2
You Are My SonA royal song from Jerusalem: the nations plot against God and his anointed king, but God laughs, crowns his king on Zion, and says, 'You are my Son.'
Psalm 24
Lift Up Your HeadsA song of David for climbing God's hill. Who may go up to meet God? And then a great cry to the ancient city gates: open wide, for the King of glory is coming in.
Psalm 72:1–17
Kings Will Bring GiftsA prayer for the king, linked with Solomon: may he rule with justice, rescue the poor, and reign as long as the sun, while kings from far-off lands bring him gifts.
Isaiah 7:10–16
ImmanuelTwo enemy kings threaten Jerusalem, and young King Ahaz is shaking with fear. Isaiah offers him any sign from God. Ahaz refuses, and Isaiah gives him one anyway: a child called Immanuel, God with us.
Isaiah 9:1–7
People Walking in DarknessGalilee has been crushed by Assyria and lies in deep shadow. Isaiah announces a great light, a broken yoke, and a child born to sit on David's throne: Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 11:1–10
A Shoot from Jesse's StumpIsaiah pictures David's royal family as a tree chopped down to a stump. But a green shoot will grow from it: a king full of God's Spirit, who brings justice and a peace so deep that wolves lie down with lambs.
Isaiah 2:1–5
Swords into PloughsharesIn a land used to war, Isaiah sees a vision of the last days: the nations streaming up to God's mountain to learn his ways, and beating their weapons into farming tools.
Isaiah 25:6–9
A Feast for All PeoplesIsaiah sees God preparing a banquet on his mountain for every nation, with the finest food and wine. There God removes the veil of sorrow, swallows up death forever, and wipes away every tear.
Isaiah 35
The Desert Will BloomIsaiah sings of a dry wilderness bursting into flower, weak hands made strong, the blind seeing and the lame leaping, and a holy highway leading God's rescued people home with singing.
Isaiah 40:1–11
Comfort, Comfort My PeopleTo God's people, crushed and far from home, comes a tender message: comfort. A voice cries out to prepare a road in the wilderness, for God is coming, strong as a king and gentle as a shepherd carrying lambs.
Isaiah 42:1–9; 49:6
A Light for the NationsGod introduces his chosen Servant: so gentle he will not snap a bruised reed or snuff out a flickering wick, yet so faithful he will bring justice to the whole earth and be a light for every nation.
Isaiah 52:7–10
How Beautiful on the MountainsWatchmen stand on the broken walls of Jerusalem. Far off, a runner appears on the mountains, bringing good news: peace, salvation, your God reigns. The watchmen shout for joy, and the ruins sing.
Isaiah 52:13–53:12
Despised and RejectedIsaiah describes God's servant growing up like a tender shoot in dry ground, not admired, rejected and wounded, carrying the sorrows and sins of others, and in the end raised up and honoured.
Isaiah 55:1–13
Come, All Who Are ThirstyLike a market seller calling out across a crowded square, God invites everyone to a free feast of water, wine and milk, and promises an everlasting covenant of faithful love, as sure as the rain that waters the earth.
Isaiah 60:1–6
Arise, ShineDarkness covers the earth, but God's glory rises like the dawn over Jerusalem. The nations come to her light, and camel caravans arrive from Midian and Sheba carrying gold and frankincense.
Isaiah 61:1–3
Good News to the PoorIsaiah hears the voice of one anointed by God's Spirit to bring good news to the poor, heal the broken-hearted and proclaim freedom. Centuries later, in the synagogue at Nazareth, Jesus reads these words and says they are fulfilled today.
Micah 5:2–5
Little BethlehemWhile Jerusalem faces siege and humiliation, the prophet Micah names a tiny village as the birthplace of Israel's true ruler: Bethlehem, where a shepherd-king will come whose origins are from of old.
Jeremiah 23:5–6
The Righteous BranchIn Jerusalem's last troubled years, Jeremiah condemns the bad shepherds who scattered God's flock, and promises a righteous Branch from David's family, a King called 'The LORD Our Righteousness'.
Jeremiah 31:31–34
A New CovenantIn the darkest years of Jerusalem, Jeremiah brings a promise of hope: God will make a new covenant, writing his law on people's hearts, so that everyone will know him and their sins will be forgiven.
Daniel 7:13–14
One Like a Son of ManIn Babylon, Daniel dreams of four terrifying beasts rising from a stormy sea. Then thrones are set, the Ancient of Days takes his seat, and one like a son of man comes with the clouds to receive a kingdom that will never end.
Daniel 9:1–27
Gabriel Answers DanielAn old exile in Babylon reads Jeremiah's promise, confesses his people's sin, and prays. Before he finishes, the angel Gabriel arrives with a message about an Anointed One to come.
Zephaniah 3:14–20
He Will Sing over YouIn the days of King Josiah, the prophet Zephaniah warns Jerusalem of judgment. Then his message turns: God himself will live among his humbled people and rejoice over them with singing.
Haggai 2:1–9
The Glory of This HouseReturned exiles are rebuilding the temple, and the old folk who remember Solomon's temple think it looks like nothing. Through Haggai, God tells them to be strong, and promises that the glory of this house will be greater than the first.
Zechariah 9:9–10
Your King Comes, HumbleTo a small, struggling Jerusalem, the prophet Zechariah announces a king unlike any other: righteous, bringing salvation, gentle, and riding on a donkey, who will speak peace to the nations.
Malachi 3:1–4; 4:2–6
Sending My MessengerTo a tired, careless people, the last of the Old Testament prophets brings God's promise: a messenger will prepare the way, the Lord will come to his temple, and the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings.
Matthew 1:1–17
Fourteen GenerationsMatthew begins the story of Jesus with a family tree. Look closely and it is full of surprises: patriarchs and shepherds, kings and exiles, and four remarkable women.
Genesis 38
TamarTwice widowed and then forgotten by her father-in-law Judah, Tamar takes a bold and risky step to claim her place in his family. When the truth comes out, Judah admits: she is more righteous than I.
Joshua 2; 6:22–25
The Scarlet CordIn Jericho, a woman named Rahab hides two Israelite spies under stalks of flax on her roof and hangs a scarlet cord from her window. When the city falls, her whole family is saved, and she becomes part of Israel and an ancestor of Jesus.
Ruth 2
Ruth in the Barley FieldsRuth, a widow from Moab, goes out to pick up leftover grain in the fields of Bethlehem so that she and Naomi can eat. She happens to come to the field of Boaz, who treats the foreigner with surprising kindness.
Ruth 3–4
The Kinsman-RedeemerNaomi sends Ruth to the threshing floor to ask Boaz to be their redeemer. At Bethlehem's town gate, Boaz settles the matter before the elders, redeems Naomi's land, and takes Ruth as his wife.
Ruth 4:13–22
A Son for NaomiRuth and Boaz have a son, and the women of Bethlehem lay him in Naomi's lap. They name him Obed. He will be the grandfather of King David.
Genesis 18:1–15; 21:1–7
Is Anything Too Hard?Three visitors come to Abraham's tent and announce that old Sarah will have a son. Sarah laughs to herself at the idea. A year later, God turns her doubtful laughter into joy, and she names her baby Isaac, 'he laughs'.
Genesis 44:18–45:5
Judah Steps ForwardBenjamin is about to be kept as a slave in Egypt. Judah, the brother who once helped sell Joseph, steps forward and offers to take his place. Joseph cannot hold back any longer.
1 Samuel 16:1–13
Jesse's YoungestGod sends the prophet Samuel to Bethlehem to anoint a new king from Jesse's sons. Seven tall sons pass by, and God says no to each. The one chosen is the youngest, out in the fields with the sheep.
1 Samuel 17:12–20, 34–37
The Shepherd of BethlehemYoung David leaves his sheep near Bethlehem to carry bread and cheese to his brothers at the battle line. Facing doubts about his age, he tells King Saul how he rescued his flock from a lion and a bear, and how the Lord delivered him.
2 Samuel 23:13–17
Water from Bethlehem's WellHiding in a cave while Philistines hold his hometown, David sighs for a drink from Bethlehem's well. Three of his mighty men break through enemy lines to bring it, and David pours it out as an offering to the Lord.
1 Kings 1:11–40
Bathsheba's SonAs King David lies old and weak, his son Adonijah tries to seize the throne. Bathsheba and the prophet Nathan remind David of his promise, and Solomon rides David's own mule to Gihon to be anointed king.
1 Kings 8:22–30
Will God Dwell on Earth?At the dedication of the new temple, King Solomon stands before the altar with his hands raised to heaven and asks a question that echoes all the way to Bethlehem: will God really live on earth?
2 Kings 11:1–12
The Hidden PrinceWhen Queen Athaliah tries to wipe out the royal family of Judah, a brave princess named Jehosheba hides baby Joash in the temple. Six years later, the priest Jehoiada brings out the boy and crowns him king, and David's line goes on.
2 Kings 25:27–30
The King Released from PrisonAfter thirty-seven years as a captive in Babylon, Jehoiachin, the king of David's line, is released from prison by a new Babylonian king, given new clothes, and seated at the king's table for the rest of his life.
Haggai 2:20–23
The Signet RingOn the same day the temple foundation is honoured, God gives Haggai a private message for Zerubbabel, the governor descended from David: I have chosen you, and I will make you like my signet ring.
1 Samuel 1
A Child Given BackYear after year Hannah goes to the house of the Lord at Shiloh without a child, mocked by her rival. She pours out her heart to God and vows to give him her son. God remembers her, and she gives Samuel back to the Lord.
1 Samuel 2:1–10
Hannah's SongHaving given young Samuel to the Lord at Shiloh, Hannah sings. Her song praises a God who humbles the proud, lifts the poor from the dust, and will give strength to his king, his anointed one.
Judges 13
An Angel Announces a BirthIn the days when the Philistines ruled over Israel, the angel of the Lord appears to a childless woman and promises her a son who will begin to save Israel. She and her husband Manoah meet the visitor, ask his name, and watch him rise in the flame of their offering.
2 Kings 4:8–17
A Promised SonA wealthy woman of Shunem feeds the prophet Elisha whenever he passes, and builds him a little room on her roof. When Elisha asks how he can repay her, she asks for nothing. He promises her a son, and a year later she holds him in her arms.
Luke 1:5–17
Zechariah in the TempleAn old priest named Zechariah is chosen by lot to burn incense in the temple. Alone beside the altar, he sees the angel Gabriel, who tells him that his prayer has been heard: his wife Elizabeth will have a son, John, who will prepare the people for the Lord.
Luke 1:18–25
Nine Months of SilenceZechariah asks the angel how he can be sure, and Gabriel tells him he will be unable to speak until the promise comes true. He comes out of the temple silent. Back home, Elizabeth conceives, and her long sorrow turns to joy.
Luke 1:26–33
Gabriel Comes to NazarethSix months after visiting Zechariah, the angel Gabriel is sent to a small village in Galilee, to a young woman named Mary, engaged to Joseph. He greets her as highly favoured and tells her she will bear a son, Jesus, who will reign on David's throne for ever.
Luke 1:34–38
How Will This Be?Mary asks Gabriel one honest question: how can this happen, since I am a virgin? The angel tells her the Holy Spirit will come upon her, points to Elizabeth's pregnancy, and says nothing is impossible with God. Mary answers: let it be to me according to your word.
Luke 1:39–45
Mary Hurries to the HillsAfter Gabriel's visit, Mary sets out in haste from Nazareth to the hill country of Judea to see her relative Elizabeth. When she arrives and calls a greeting, Elizabeth's baby leaps, and Elizabeth blesses Mary for believing.
Luke 1:41–44
The Baby Who LeapedMary walks into Elizabeth's house and says hello. Before Elizabeth can answer, the baby inside her leaps for joy, and she is filled with the Holy Spirit.
Luke 1:46–56
Mary's SongIn Elizabeth's house, Mary answers with a song. She praises a God who lifts up the humble, scatters the proud and fills the hungry with good things.
Luke 1:57–66
His Name Is JohnElizabeth's son is born, and on naming day everyone expects him to be called Zechariah. His silent father asks for a writing tablet and settles it in four words: his name is John.
Luke 1:67–80
Zechariah's SongAfter nine silent months, Zechariah's voice returns as a song. He praises God for keeping his promises and tells his baby son he will prepare the way for the dawn from on high.
Matthew 1:18–19
Joseph, a Righteous ManJoseph discovers that Mary, his promised bride, is expecting a baby. Hurt and confused, he decides to end the engagement quietly, so that she will not be shamed.
Matthew 1:20–25
Joseph's DreamJust as Joseph decides to end his engagement, an angel speaks to him in a dream: do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. Joseph wakes up and does exactly as he is told.
Luke 2:1–3
Caesar's DecreeFar away in Rome, the emperor Augustus orders a registration of his people. Across the empire, families pack up and travel to their home towns, and God's quiet plan moves forward.
Luke 2:4–5
The Road to BethlehemBecause of the emperor's registration, Joseph must travel to Bethlehem, the town of King David. He takes Mary with him, though she is heavily pregnant, on the long road south from Galilee.
Luke 2:6–7
No Guest RoomIn crowded Bethlehem, Mary's time comes. There is no space for them in the guest room, so when her son is born, she wraps him up and lays him in a manger.
Luke 2:7, 12
Wrapped in ClothsMary wraps her newborn in strips of cloth and lays him in a feeding trough. Later an angel tells the shepherds that these two ordinary things will be the sign that they have found the Saviour.
Luke 2:8–9
Shepherds Keeping WatchOn the hills outside Bethlehem, shepherds are keeping watch over their sheep through the night. Suddenly an angel stands before them, the glory of the Lord blazes around them, and they are terrified.
Luke 2:10–12
Good News of Great JoyThe angel tells the terrified shepherds not to be afraid. A Saviour has been born in the city of David, Christ the Lord, and this good news is for all the people.
Luke 2:13–14
Glory in the HighestAs the angel finishes speaking, the sky over Bethlehem fills with a vast heavenly army. They are not there to fight. They are praising God and announcing peace on earth.
Luke 2:15–16
Let's Go and SeeWhen the angels leave, the shepherds don't wait. They hurry down into Bethlehem and find Mary, Joseph and the baby lying in a manger, exactly as they were told.
Luke 2:17–18
Everyone Was AmazedAfter seeing the baby, the shepherds cannot keep quiet. They tell everyone what the angel said about this child, and everyone who hears is amazed. The first people to spread the news of Jesus are shepherds.
Luke 2:19
Mary Treasured These ThingsWhile the shepherds tell everyone their news and the town buzzes with amazement, Mary stays quiet. She keeps every word and turns it over in her heart.
Luke 2:20
The Shepherds Went Back PraisingAfter the angels, the manger and the amazed crowds, the shepherds go back to their sheep and their hills. Their work is the same, but they are not: they return glorifying and praising God.
Luke 2:21
Named JesusEight days after his birth, Mary and Joseph's baby is circumcised, as the law of Moses taught, and given the name the angel chose before he was even conceived: Jesus.
Luke 2:22–24
Two Young PigeonsAbout forty days after the birth, Mary and Joseph carry Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. Their offering is the one the law allowed for poor families: two young birds.
Luke 2:25–27
Simeon WaitsIn Jerusalem lives a faithful man named Simeon, waiting for God to comfort his people. God has promised he will see the Messiah before he dies, and on the very day Mary and Joseph arrive, the Spirit leads him into the temple.
Luke 2:28–32
Simeon's SongIn the temple courts, Simeon takes the baby Jesus in his arms and praises God. He has seen God's salvation, a light for the nations and the glory of Israel, and now he can depart in peace.
Luke 2:33–35
A Sword Will PierceAfter his song of joy, Simeon blesses Mary and Joseph. Then he turns to Mary with a harder word: her son will be opposed, and a sword will pierce her own soul too.
Luke 2:36–38
Anna Never Left the TempleAnna, an elderly widow and prophet, has spent decades worshipping in the temple night and day. When she sees the baby Jesus, she thanks God and tells everyone who is waiting for Jerusalem's redemption.
Luke 2:39–40
Growing Up in NazarethWith everything the law required now done, Mary and Joseph take Jesus home to Nazareth in Galilee. There the child grows strong, full of wisdom, and God's grace is on him.
Matthew 2:1–2
Magi from the EastTravellers from the east, scholars who study the stars, arrive in Jerusalem with a startling question: where is the one born king of the Jews? They have seen his star and have come to worship him.
Matthew 2:3–6
Herod Was DisturbedWhen King Herod hears that foreign visitors are looking for a newborn king of the Jews, he is deeply troubled. He calls the chief priests and scholars of the law, and they point him to Micah's prophecy: the ruler will come from Bethlehem.
Matthew 2:7–8
A Secret MeetingHerod calls the magi to a secret meeting, finds out exactly when the star appeared, and sends them to Bethlehem. Find the child, he says, and report back, so that I can come and worship him too. But Herod is not telling the truth.
Matthew 2:9–10
The Star StoppedThe magi leave Herod's palace and set out for Bethlehem. The star they first saw in the east goes ahead of them and stops over the place where the child is, and they are overwhelmed with joy.
Matthew 2:11
Gold, Frankincense and MyrrhThe magi enter a house in Bethlehem, see the child with his mother Mary, and fall down to worship him. Then they open their treasure chests and offer gifts fit for a king: gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Matthew 2:12
Home by Another WayAfter worshipping Jesus, the magi are warned by God in a dream not to go back to Herod. So they leave for their own country by another road, and Herod's plan to use them fails.
Matthew 2:13–15
Flight by NightThe wise men have gone home. In the middle of the night an angel warns Joseph, and he wakes Mary, lifts the child, and leads the family away toward Egypt.
Matthew 2:16–18
The Cry in RamahWhen Herod realises the wise men have gone home without him, his fear turns to cruelty, and Bethlehem's mothers weep. Matthew hears in their grief the old words of Jeremiah about Rachel weeping for her children.
Matthew 2:19–21
Back from EgyptIn Egypt, Joseph waits for word from God. When King Herod dies, an angel comes again in a dream, and the family packs up and turns for home.
Matthew 2:22–23
A NazareneComing home from Egypt, Joseph learns that Herod's son Archelaus now rules Judea. Warned in a dream, he takes the family north to the small Galilean village of Nazareth.
Luke 2:41–50
Three Days SearchingAfter the Passover in Jerusalem, Mary and Joseph set off home and realise twelve-year-old Jesus is missing. Three anxious days later they find him in the temple, listening and asking questions.
Luke 2:51–52
Growing in Wisdom and StatureAfter the temple, Jesus goes home to Nazareth and lives quietly with his family. For years he grows up in a carpenter's home, in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and people.
John 1:1–14
The Word Became FleshJohn begins his Gospel not in Bethlehem but before time began. The Word who was with God, and was God, through whom everything was made, became flesh and lived among us.
John 1:4–9
The Light No Darkness Could OvercomeJohn writes that the life in the Word was the light of all people, a light that shines in the darkness. Another John, the Baptist, came to point to it. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.
Luke 3:23–38
Son of Adam, Son of GodWhen Jesus begins his work at about thirty, Luke pauses to trace his family line backwards, through David and Abraham, past Noah, all the way to Adam, the son of God.
Luke 3:1–6
In the Fifteenth Year of TiberiusLuke names the emperor, the governor, the rulers and the high priests, and then tells us that God's word came to John in the wilderness. The grown-up promise is about to step onto the stage of history.
Revelation 12:1–6
The Child and the DragonOn the island of Patmos, John sees a vision: a woman clothed with the sun, a child about to be born, and a great red dragon waiting to devour him. The child is caught up to God, and the woman is kept safe.
Galatians 4:4–7
When the Time Had Fully ComePaul writes an urgent letter to the churches of Galatia. In the middle of it he explains Christmas in one sentence: when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, so that we could be adopted as God's children.
Philippians 2:5–11
He Made Himself NothingWriting from prison to his friends in Philippi, Paul shares what may be one of the church's earliest songs: the one who was in the form of God came down, all the way down, to a servant's life and a cross, and God lifted him up.
Colossians 1:15–20
The Image of the Invisible GodPaul writes to a small church in Colossae that has never met him. He tells them who Jesus is: the image of the invisible God, the one through whom all things were made, in whom all the fullness of God was pleased to live.
John 3:16–21
God So Loved the WorldA respected teacher named Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night with questions. In their conversation comes the most famous sentence in the Bible: God so loved the world that he gave his only Son.
Titus 2:11–14; 3:4–7
Grace Has AppearedPaul writes to his friend Titus, who has been left to organise the young churches on the island of Crete. He reminds him of the day God's grace, kindness and love appeared, not because of anything we had done, but because of his mercy.
1 John 1:1–4
What We Have Seen and TouchedAn old eyewitness writes to the churches he loves. The Word of life was not an idea or a ghost: we heard him, we saw him with our own eyes, and we touched him with our own hands.
1 John 4:7–12
This Is LoveJohn writes to his dear children in the faith that love comes from God, because God is love. And if you want to see what love looks like, look at the Son God sent into the world.
2 Corinthians 8:9; 9:6–15
The Indescribable GiftPaul is collecting money for poor believers in Jerusalem, and he asks the wealthy church in Corinth to give generously. His reason is Christmas: though Christ was rich, he became poor for their sake.
Hebrews 1:1–6
Better Than the AngelsAn unnamed writer encourages tired believers. God spoke in many ways through the prophets, but now he has spoken through his Son, and when the Son came into the world, the angels were told to worship him.
Hebrews 2:14–18
Made Like UsThe writer to the Hebrews explains why the Son of God became flesh and blood: to break the power of death, to set free those held by fear, and to help us as one who has been tested too.
Luke 4:16–21
Today This Is FulfilledJesus comes home to Nazareth and stands up in the synagogue where he grew up. He reads Isaiah's promise of good news for the poor and freedom for captives, rolls up the scroll, and says: today this has come true.
John 8:12; 9:1–7
The Light of the WorldIn the temple courts, near the place where great lamps blazed at the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus says, I am the light of the world. Soon after, he shows what he means by giving sight to a man born blind.
John 10:1–18
The Good ShepherdThe child whose birth was first announced to shepherds grows up to call himself the Good Shepherd: the one whose sheep know his voice, the door of the fold, the shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep.
John 6:30–51
Bread from HeavenThe day after feeding five thousand people, Jesus is asked for a sign like the manna in the wilderness. He tells the crowd that he himself is the true bread that came down from heaven. The child born in Bethlehem, the house of bread, is the bread of life.
John 14:25–27
Peace I Leave with YouOn the night before he dies, Jesus sits with his frightened friends. He promises them the Holy Spirit, and he gives them a parting gift: his own peace, not the kind the world gives.
John 12:1–8
Perfume Poured OutSix days before the Passover, at a dinner in Bethany, Mary pours a jar of costly perfume over Jesus' feet and wipes them with her hair. Judas complains about the waste, but Jesus defends her gift.
Mark 12:41–44
The Gift That Cost EverythingJesus sits near the temple offering chests and watches people give. Rich people put in large amounts. Then a poor widow drops in two tiny coins, and Jesus says she has given more than all of them.
Luke 8:16–18; Matthew 5:14–16
A Lamp on a StandNobody lights a lamp and then hides it under a bowl. On a Galilean hillside and by the lake, Jesus tells his followers that they are the light of the world, and that their light is meant to be seen.
Matthew 25:31–40
When Did We See You?In his last days in Jerusalem, Jesus describes the King coming in glory. The King says that whenever someone fed the hungry, welcomed the stranger or visited the sick and imprisoned among the least of his family, they did it for him.
Luke 19:1–10
Joy in the House of ZacchaeusZacchaeus, the richest and least liked man in Jericho, climbs a tree to catch a glimpse of Jesus. Jesus stops, calls him by name, and invites himself to dinner, and joy turns a greedy man generous.
Exodus 35:20–29; 36:3–7
The People Gave FreelyIn the desert at Sinai, Moses asks for gifts to build God's dwelling place. The people bring so much, gladly, that the craftsmen have to ask Moses to tell them to stop.
1 Chronicles 29:1–20
Everything Comes from YouOld King David cannot build the temple himself, but he gives everything he can for it. Then the people give too, and David prays a prayer that turns every gift around: everything we have came from you.
1 Kings 10:1–13
A Queen Brings GiftsThe queen of Sheba hears of Solomon's wisdom and travels a very long way with camels, spices and gold to test him. What she finds leaves her breathless, and she praises the God of Israel.
Nehemiah 8:9–18
Rejoice Before the LORDWhen Ezra reads God's law aloud, the people of Jerusalem weep. But Nehemiah tells them this is a holy day of joy: go, feast, share with those who have nothing. Then they build shelters of branches and celebrate as they have not done for centuries.
2 Kings 4:42–44
A Hundred FedIn a time of famine, a man brings twenty small barley loaves to the prophet Elisha. Elisha says: feed a hundred men with them. It seems impossible, but God says there will be some left over, and there is.
2 Kings 7:3–16
We Have Good NewsSamaria is starving under siege. Four outcasts with leprosy, sitting at the city gate, decide to try the enemy camp, and find it empty and full of food. Then they realise: this is a day of good news, and we cannot keep quiet.
Zechariah 4:1–10
Not by MightThe returned exiles are trying to rebuild God's temple, and it all looks small and hopeless. The prophet Zechariah sees a golden lampstand fed by two olive trees, and hears God say: not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit.
Zechariah 3:1–10
Clean ClothesIn a vision, Zechariah sees Joshua the high priest standing before God's angel in filthy clothes, while an accuser points at him. God rebukes the accuser, takes away the dirty clothes, dresses Joshua in clean ones, and promises a servant called the Branch.
Zechariah 6:9–15
The Man Called the BranchThree men arrive from Babylon with silver and gold. God tells Zechariah to make a crown from it and set it on the head of Joshua the high priest, as a sign of a coming man called the Branch, who would be both priest and king.
Daniel 3:19–28
A Fourth Man in the FireShadrach, Meshach and Abednego refuse to bow to a golden statue and are thrown into a blazing furnace. But when the king looks in, he sees four men walking free in the fire, and the three come out without even the smell of smoke.
Daniel 2:31–45
A Stone Not Cut by HandsKing Nebuchadnezzar dreams of a giant statue of gold, silver, bronze, iron and clay. Daniel tells him what it means: empires will rise and fall, but a stone not cut by human hands will smash them and grow into a mountain that fills the earth, God's kingdom that will never end.
Isaiah 1:16–20
White as SnowThrough the prophet Isaiah, God tells his people to stop doing evil and start doing good, and then invites them to come and talk it over: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow.
Isaiah 54:1–10
Sing, Barren WomanTo a people who feel abandoned like a woman with no children and a wife sent away, God says through Isaiah: sing! Make your tent bigger. The mountains may move, but my steadfast love will never move from you.
Ezekiel 34:11–24
David My Servant Will ShepherdThe prophet Ezekiel, in exile in Babylon, brings a message about bad shepherds who fed themselves instead of the flock. God says: I myself will search for my sheep, bring back the lost, bind up the injured, and set over them one shepherd, my servant David.
Hosea 11:1–4
Out of Egypt I Called My SonThrough the prophet Hosea, God remembers Israel as a little child he loved, called out of Egypt, taught to walk and lifted to his cheek. Matthew later heard these words echo in the journey of the child Jesus.
Jeremiah 31:15–17
Rachel WeepingJeremiah hears a mother weeping in Ramah for children who are gone. Then God answers her: stop your crying, wipe your tears, there is hope for your future, your children will come home.
Psalm 110; Matthew 22:41–46
The LORD Said to My LordIn the temple courts in his last week, Jesus asks the Pharisees a question about the Messiah: whose son is he? David's, they say. Then why does David, in Psalm 110, call him Lord? Nobody can answer.
Acts 2:29–39
The Promise Is for YouOn the day of Pentecost, Peter stands before a festival crowd in Jerusalem and explains that God kept his oath to David by raising Jesus, David's descendant, from the dead. Then he says: the promise is for you, your children, and all who are far off.
Acts 13:16–33
Paul Tells of David's SonIn a synagogue in Pisidian Antioch, the leaders invite Paul to speak. He stands up and walks his listeners through their own history, from Egypt to the wilderness to King David, and then tells them that God has brought a Saviour from David's family: Jesus.
Luke 24:25–27, 44–47
Beginning with MosesOn the road to Emmaus, and later in a room in Jerusalem, the risen Jesus opens the Scriptures to his disappointed followers, beginning with Moses and all the prophets, and shows them that everything written there was about him.
Mark 1:1–8
Prepare the WayMark's gospel skips the manger and begins with a voice in the wilderness. John the Baptist, dressed in camel hair, calls Israel to repent and points to someone far greater who is coming.
John 10:22–30
It Was WinterIt is winter in Jerusalem, during the Festival of Dedication, the feast of lights. Jesus walks in Solomon's Colonnade, and people surround him demanding a plain answer: are you the Messiah? He speaks of his sheep, who hear his voice, and whom no one can snatch from his hand.
John 19:25–27
Mary at the CrossAs Jesus is crucified, his mother Mary stands near the cross with other women and the disciple Jesus loved. Simeon's old words about a sword piercing her soul come true, and Jesus, even in his suffering, gives her a son to care for her.
Acts 1:12–14
Mary Among the BelieversAfter Jesus returns to heaven, his followers walk back to Jerusalem and gather in an upstairs room to pray. Among them is Mary, the mother of Jesus. It is the last time the Bible shows her: praying with the first believers.
Mark 13:32–37
Keep WatchOn the Mount of Olives, Jesus tells his closest friends that no one knows the day or hour of his return. Like a doorkeeper whose master has gone on a journey, they must stay awake and ready. Advent looks back to the first coming and forward to the second.
Luke 12:35–40
Ready with Lamps BurningJesus tells his followers to be like servants waiting up late for their master to return from a wedding, dressed and ready with lamps burning. When he comes and finds them awake, he does something no master ever did: he puts on an apron and serves them dinner.
Revelation 21:1–5
God Will Live with ThemOn the island of Patmos, John sees a vision of the end of the story: a new heaven and a new earth, a holy city, and a loud voice saying God's home is now with people. He will wipe away every tear, and make all things new.
Revelation 5:1–14
Worthy Is the LambIn John's vision of heaven, a scroll sealed with seven seals lies in God's hand, and no one is worthy to open it. John weeps, until an elder says: the Lion of Judah, the Root of David, has won. John turns, and sees a Lamb that had been slain, and all heaven sings.
Revelation 22:12–17
The Bright Morning StarIn the last chapter of the Bible, Jesus speaks: I am coming soon. I am the Alpha and the Omega. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright and morning star. And the Spirit and the bride say: come. Whoever is thirsty, come and take the water of life freely.