Thursday, March 31, 2016

Daily Bible Readings March 31, 2016

1 Corinthians 11:23-26Common English Bible (CEB)

23 I received a tradition from the Lord, which I also handed on to you: on the night on which he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread. 24 After giving thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this to remember me.” 25 He did the same thing with the cup, after they had eaten, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Every time you drink it, do this to remember me.” 26 Every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you broadcast the death of the Lord until he comes.

Common English Bible (CEB), used with permission

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Daily Bible Readings March 30, 2016

Psalm 70

For the music leader. Of David. For the memorial offering.

70 Hurry, God, to deliver me;
    hurry, Lord, to help me!
2 Let those who seek my life be ashamed and humiliated!
    Let them fall back and be disgraced—
        those people who delight in my downfall!
3 Let those who say, “Aha! Aha!”
    stop because of their shameful behavior.
4 But let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you,
    and let those who love your saving help say again and again:
        “God is great!”
5 But me? I’m poor and needy.
    Hurry to me, God!
You are my helper and my deliverer.
    Oh, Lord, don’t delay!

Common English Bible (CEB), used with permission

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Daily Bible Readings March 29, 2016

Isaiah 49:1-7Common English Bible (CEB)

The servant speaks up

49 Listen to me, coastlands;
    pay attention, peoples far away.
The Lord called me before my birth,
    called my name when I was in my mother’s womb.
2 He made my mouth like a sharp sword,
    and hid me in the shadow of God’s own hand.
He made me a sharpened arrow,
        and concealed me in God’s quiver,
3     saying to me, “You are my servant,
        Israel, in whom I show my glory.”
4 But I said, “I have wearied myself in vain.
    I have used up my strength for nothing.”
Nevertheless, the Lord will grant me justice;
    my reward is with my God.
5 And now the Lord has decided—
    the one who formed me from the womb as his servant—
    to restore Jacob to God,
    so that Israel might return to him.
    Moreover, I’m honored in the Lord’s eyes;
    my God has become my strength.
6 He said: It is not enough, since you are my servant,
    to raise up the tribes of Jacob
    and to bring back the survivors of Israel.
    Hence, I will also appoint you as light to the nations
    so that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.

7 The Lord, redeemer of Israel and its holy one,
    says to one despised,
    rejected by nations,
    to the slave of rulers:
    Kings will see and stand up;
    commanders will bow down
    on account of the Lord, who is faithful,
    the holy one of Israel,
    who has chosen you.

Common English Bible (CEB), used with permission

Monday, March 28, 2016

Daily Bible Readings March 28, 2016

John 19:31Common English Bible (CEB)

Witness at the cross

31 It was the Preparation Day and the Jewish leaders didn’t want the bodies to remain on the cross on the Sabbath, especially since that Sabbath was an important day. So they asked Pilate to have the legs of those crucified broken and the bodies taken down.

Common English Bible (CEB), used with permission

Sunday, March 27, 2016

Daily Bible Readings March 27, 2016

Luke 24:1-12Common English Bible (CEB)

The empty tomb

24 Very early in the morning on the first day of the week, the women went to the tomb, bringing the fragrant spices they had prepared. ²They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, ³but when they went in, they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. ⁴They didn’t know what to make of this. Suddenly, two men were standing beside them in gleaming bright clothing. ⁵The women were frightened and bowed their faces toward the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? ⁶He isn’t here, but has been raised. Remember what he told you while he was still in Galilee, ⁷that the Human One^[a]must be handed over to sinners, be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” ⁸Then they remembered his words. ⁹When they returned from the tomb, they reported all these things to the eleven and all the others.¹⁰It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles. ¹¹Their words struck the apostles as nonsense, and they didn’t believe the women. ¹²But Peter ran to the tomb. When he bent over to look inside, he saw only the linen cloth. Then he returned home, wondering what had happened.

Footnotes:

Luke 24:7 Or Son of Man

Common English Bible (CEB), used with permission

Saturday, March 26, 2016

Daily Bible Readings March 26, 2016

Luke 24:1-12Common English Bible (CEB)

The empty tomb

24 Very early in the morning on the first day of the week, the women went to the tomb, bringing the fragrant spices they had prepared. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in, they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 They didn’t know what to make of this. Suddenly, two men were standing beside them in gleaming bright clothing. 5 The women were frightened and bowed their faces toward the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He isn’t here, but has been raised. Remember what he told you while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Human One[a]must be handed over to sinners, be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” 8 Then they remembered his words. 9 When they returned from the tomb, they reported all these things to the eleven and all the others.10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles. 11 Their words struck the apostles as nonsense, and they didn’t believe the women. 12 But Peter ran to the tomb. When he bent over to look inside, he saw only the linen cloth. Then he returned home, wondering what had happened.

Footnotes:

Luke 24:7 Or Son of Man

Common English Bible (CEB), used with permission

Friday, March 25, 2016

Daily Bible Readings March 25, 2016

Hebrews 9:11-15Common English Bible (CEB)

11 But Christ has appeared as the high priest of the good things that have happened. He passed through the greater and more perfect meeting tent, which isn’t made by human hands (that is, it’s not a part of this world). 12 He entered the holy of holies once for all by his own blood, not by the blood of goats or calves, securing our deliverance for all time. 13 If the blood of goats and bulls and the sprinkled ashes of cows made spiritually contaminated people holy and clean, 14 how much more will the blood of Jesus wash our consciences clean from dead works in order to serve the living God? He offered himself to God through the eternal Spirit as a sacrifice without any flaw.

Christ’s death and the new covenant

15 This is why he’s the mediator of a new covenant (which is a will): so that those who are called might receive the promise of the eternal inheritance on the basis of his death. His death occurred to set them free from the offenses committed under the first covenant.

Common English Bible (CEB), used with permission

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Daily Bible Readings March 24, 2016

Psalm 118:1-2Common English Bible (CEB)

Psalm 118

11Give thanks to the Lord because he is good,
because his faithful love lasts forever.
2 Let Israel say it:
“God’s faithful love lasts forever!

Psalm 118:19-29Common English Bible (CEB)

19 Open the gates of righteousness for me
so I can come in and give thanks to the Lord!
20 This is the Lord’s gate;
those who are righteous enter through it.

21 I thank you because you answered me,
    because you were my saving help.
22 The stone rejected by the builders
    is now the main foundation stone!
23 This has happened because of the Lord;
    it is astounding in our sight!
24 This is the day the Lord acted;
    we will rejoice and celebrate in it!

25 Lord, please save us!
Lord, please let us succeed!

26 The one who enters in the Lord’s name is blessed;
    we bless all of you from the Lord’s house.
27 The Lord is God!
    He has shined a light on us!
So lead the festival offering with ropes
    all the way to the horns of the altar.[a]
28 You are my God—I will give thanks to you!
    You are my God—I will lift you up high!
29 Give thanks to the Lord because he is good,
    because his faithful love lasts forever.

Footnotes:

Psalm 118:27 Heb uncertain

Common English Bible (CEB), used with permission

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Daily Bible Readings March 23, 2016

Luke 19:28-40Common English Bible (CEB)

28 After Jesus said this, he continued on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

Procession into Jerusalem

29 As Jesus came to Bethphage and Bethany on the Mount of Olives, he gave two disciples a task. 30 He said, “Go into the village over there. When you enter it, you will find tied up there a colt that no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If someone asks, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say, ‘Its master needs it.’” 32 Those who had been sent found it exactly as he had said.

33 As they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?”

34 They replied, “Its master needs it.” 35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their clothes on the colt, and lifted Jesus onto it. 36 As Jesus rode along, they spread their clothes on the road.

37 As Jesus approached the road leading down from the Mount of Olives, the whole throng of his disciples began rejoicing. They praised God with a loud voice because of all the mighty things they had seen. 38 They said,

“Blessings on the king who comes in the name of the Lord.
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest heavens.”

39 Some of the Pharisees from the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, scold your disciples! Tell them to stop!”

40 He answered, “I tell you, if they were silent, the stones would shout.”

Common English Bible (CEB), used with permission