Pre-Exile Prophets
These men prophesied to the Northern and Southern kingdoms of Israel in the time leading up to the exile.

• Hosea is the first to appear, though he was the last to prophecy in the Northern Kingdom before the Assyrians took them into exile. He was told to marry a prostitute and then, when she inevitably cheated on him, he was told to take her back. Through these circumstances, Hosea is an example of God.  He also married an unfaithful bride – Israel. But what does God do? He takes her back. Does she deserve it? No. Will God take us back? Yes. Do we deserve it? No.
• Joel prophesied during a time of severe drought and a plague of locusts. His main message to the Israelites is that the day of the Lord is coming, bringing judgment before restoration.
• Amos spoke of false religiosity. He told the people that God was not interested in religious routines, but rather in the heart of His followers. Amos foretold that Israel would face judgment, but God would be merciful.
• Obadiah is the shortest book in the Old Testament. He prophesied against the Edomites, the descendants of Esau. They took advantage of Judah when they were attacked by the Babylonians. But God repays injustice.
• Jonah is the most well known minor prophet because of his compelling story. He runs from God, gets swallowed by a large fish, and is purged once he finally repents. But what happens when he finally gets to Nineveh? This book teaches us that no one is outside the realm of God’s mercy and compassion.
• Micahsaw the coming judgment for Israel, but he also saw the coming restoration. The Lord sentences Israel for her crimes, but God will not stay angry forever. Micah also told of the One who would come out of Bethlehem to “be our peace.”
• Nahum also had to preach to the people of Nineveh. Many years after Jonah, the repentant people of Nineveh sunk back into sin, and Nahum came to proclaim judgment. This time there was no repentance and God did not let the guilty go unpunished. They did not realize that God is the true shelter of peace for those who trust in Him.
• Habakkuk lived in a time of violence, conflict, and injustice among God’s people. God tells Habakkuk that He is raising the Babylonians to come and bring justice to Judah. But the Babylonians were worse sinners than the Israelites. Why would they be chosen to bring the judgment to Israel?
• Zephaniah came after Habakkuk to proclaim the judgment to come. But the people of Israel were ignoring God, saying, “The Lord will do nothing, either good or bad.” Zephaniah proclaimed judgment, but, echoing the future message of Jesus, he also preached that there is security and safety in the Lord.

Post-Exile Prophets
These men prophesied to the Israelites when they were released to return to the Promised Land and rebuild the temple. This took place in the time of Ezra and Nehemiah.

• Haggai urged the Israelites to reorient their priorities. When they were being discouraged by their neighbors, they became stagnant and stopped rebuilding. How did Haggai respond? He proclaimed the glory and majesty of the temple to be a symbol for peace and blessing – which would inevitably point them to the coming Messiah.
• Zechariah was a prophet and priest who had the difficult task of receiving a series of complicated visions. Fortunately for him, and for us, an angel was sent to interpret what he saw. Over and over again, we are pointed to the branch who would come, to the messianic offspring of David, to the day when a Good Shepherd would suffer for His sheep, to remove sin and purify God’s people.
• Malachi is the final prophet to write an Old Testament book. The temple was finally rebuilt, and Malachi came to remind the people not to turn away from God like their fathers did, but to patiently serve Him. God will fulfill His promises. There will be a Messiah. And His coming will be preceded by a prophet like Elijah, who we all know to be “John the Baptist.”

Matthew 1 – 26:56  As Malachi closes out the Old Testament, you’d expect Matthew to pick up where he left off, right? Wrong. There are 400 years of history that takes place between the testaments – and much has happened.

The Israelites are conquered again, the temple gets desecrated, a family of priests lead a revolt against the Syrian Seleucid Empire, Greece conquers much of the surrounding land, Rome grows to be more powerful than Greece, and Israel is set up under kings who have to answer to the Emperor. Enter King Herod and the census, and we’ve made it to Matthew chapter 1.

As you read the Gospel of Matthew, try reading it from a 1st century Jewish perspective. Matthew was a Jew and he was writing the account of Christ’s life, death, resurrection, and ascension in light of all the books you just read.  This is when reading the Bible in such a short amount of time begins to pay off! Now you can finally start putting together the pieces from many of the Old Testament cliffhangers.

Mike Bingham, Florida

On to the New Testament. Having traveled through the Old Testament it’s nice to arrive and meet Jesus the Messiah! Have you noticed how much the Old Testament is quoted in just the first 4 chapters? Thus saith the Scriptures! Confirming and validating everything that had been said. The Word is alive! Having read the Old Testament as fast as I did I love how I see the New Testament in a whole new light. How is everyone who is on track doing? Don’t quit. This Bible bus we are on is on a non-stop course to Revelation:} ALL ABOARD!

Jim Martenson, Michigan

Why quote Exodus when we’re at the end of the Old Testament? Because this verse concisely states who God is and how He revealed Himself throughout history. This verse shows up again and again in the Minor Prophets, and it is what we should all have in mind when reading about God in Scripture.

“Rend your hearts and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.” – Joel 2:13

How many times do we need to be reminded of who God is? The Israelites needed to be reminded again and again. When we read God’s Word and discover His perfect plan for redemption – we can’t help but respond with thanksgiving and praise.

This week, find the many different ways you can worship the Lord through the reading of His Word. Try to find out something about God that you never knew before and give us your thoughts in the comment section below.

Mark  Many believe John Mark wrote down the apostle Peter’s reflections about his time with Jesus. Mark describes Jesus as both the Son of God (1:1) and the Son of Man (10:45). The former title represents Jesus’ divinity, and the latter explains His humanity. Both titles fulfill Old Testament prophecy.

Luke  Luke is the only Gentile author in the New Testament and he approaches the task like a journalist. He examines the stories and interviews eyewitnesses with the desire that anyone who reads his narrative may be certain that the events he reports about are true (1:1-4). Luke, under inspiration from the Holy Spirit, does not shy away from the truth he has learned. He continually reminds us that Jesus is the Savior (2:11) and, near the end of the gospel, that Jesus came to “seek and save the lost” (19:10).

John  The apostle John says he wrote his gospel account so that “you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (20:30-31). John does not tell Jesus’ story chronologically as the other three gospels do, but rather chooses important and profound events to support his thesis. In fact John spends nearly 40% of his time documenting the last week of Jesus’ life.  As Pastor Scotty Smith writes, this is “the most crucial week of our Lord’s life and of human history.”

Acts  Following the continuous action that took place after Christ’s resurrection, the “Acts of the Apostles” was written by Luke to document the expanding Kingdom of God. Full of Spirit-powered action, this book covers a period of nearly 30 years and was written to encourage God’s people that Jesus is always working to advance His kingdom and bless His people.

P.J., Texas

Only Jesus can fulfill the law that we broke and take our sin’s penalties (Matthew 5). Only a perfect sacrifice could be acceptable to God (Mark 10:45). That’s why, even before the world was created, our Triune God planned that God the Son would become the God-man and would die so that He could save His people from their sins.

Even those of us who are living in Christ still feel contrast. The guilt of our sin has been lifted, but we still feel tempted (and sometimes give in) to sin because of our flesh. We are already in Christ’s kingdom, and yet His kingdom is still to come. 

That is why Jesus left us His word and His Spirit to give us direction and power to redeem our time and glorify Him in all the earth (Acts 1:8).

Romans  Being a Christian is much more than just waiting to go to heaven. God calls believers to live as members of a new creation. In the letter to the Roman church, Paul outlines why this should change how they live. He writes, “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (3:23). And he shares, “But now a righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law” (3:21). This does not give us freedom to live however we please, but to “present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual act of worship” (12:1). The good news of faith in Christ completely changes us!

1 Corinthians  Paul saw himself as a father taking care of his spiritual children from far away. He accomplished much of his spiritual parenting by writing to those he called, “my beloved children” (4:14). His “children” in Corinth had split into various divisions, some calling themselves followers of Paul, and others of Apollos or Peter. The young church was sexually immoral, they were bringing lawsuits against each other, and they were marrying unbelievers. They needed to be admonished, but Paul still had great hopes for them. Paul reminds them of the pure simplicity of following Jesus, “I decided to know nothing while I was among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (2:2).

2 Corinthians  Whereas the first letter Paul wrote was a rebuke, the second is softer. He reminds them that the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ “comforts us in all our troubles” (1:4) so that we can extend a comforting word to others. Paul points these Christians to place their hope in heaven which, after they have suffered for a little while, will surely come.

Galatians  Paul gets right to the point: “I am astonished you are so quickly turning to a different Gospel” (1:6). Among other things, Jesus’ death and resurrection meant the walls between Jews and Gentiles had been torn down, and this made Jewish people uncomfortable. They wondered if they should go back to their old ways. This letter presents a clear decision that must be made: justification by faith or by works? On this specific point there is no middle ground.

Ephesians  Few books have occupied the attention of those who love God’s Word like Ephesians. The enthusiasm of Paul for the gospel of Jesus Christ is contagious. All you have to do is scan the first chapter and count how many times Paul references Jesus to realize the depth of his passion. The first half focuses on our blessings in Christ and the new reality we live in as children of God. The second half devotes itself to the implications of those truths. Our identify in Christ impacts how we live, what we do privately and in public, how we treat others, and how we make a stand in our world while continuing to grow in Christ.

Philippians  Written from Rome by Paul while he is “in chains” for the gospel, Philippians is a letter to the church in Philippi. It is one of the most joyful books in the Bible, as Paul encourages his readers to rejoice no matter their circumstances. He models it for them as he fixes his eyes on Christ, regarding everything else as “rubbish” by comparison. As you read, look for words and phrases related to joy. There are at least 20 of them in Philippians.

Colossians  One of the so-called “prison epistles,” Colossians was written while Paul endured his first imprisonment in Rome. Unique from other New Testament letters, this one was written to confront specific challenges and heresies that had risen up against the gospel. Most of his attention is placed on the supremacy, sufficiency, and lordship of Jesus Christ over all of creation. It also clarifies the full deity of Christ as Paul writes, “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form” (2:9).

1-2 Thessalonians  Like the church at Philippi, the church at Thessalonica was a fairly healthy church. Paul commends them for their love for each other and for the way they live in eager expectation of the return of Christ. However, shortly after sending the first letter, Paul received a report that the Thessalonians had accepted a false teaching that the “day of the Lord” had already passed. While confronting this false teaching, Paul clarifies several points related to the doctrine of heaven and provides some answers to the age-old question, “What happens when we die?”

1 Timothy  Paul loved Timothy like a son and had travelled extensively with him. Paul likely wrote this letter after being released from his first imprisonment. In it he encourages Timothy to persevere in his ministry and admonishes him to live a life of Christ-centered godliness. This letter is jam-packed with doctrine applicable to life, godliness, and church oversight.

2 Timothy  Written a few years after his first letter to Timothy, this letter is deeply moving. The apostle Paul seems to realize that he has reached the end of his life and ministry. Soon Jesus will call him home and, at least in this life, he will never see Timothy again. Read in this light, 2 Timothy is almost like a last will and testament. But Paul has few earthly possessions to be concerned with. His greatest concern is for Timothy’s faithfulness, effectiveness, and endurance as an overseer and leader of the church.

Titus  Titus is a young pastor who leads the church in Crete. This body of believers has two problems, one on each end of the spectrum. One on hand, they struggle with godless, rule-free living. On the other hand, they struggle with legalistic rule-following. The apostle Paul helps Titus see that the root of the problem is the same – putting hope in the flesh. Paul guides Titus toward the antidote – living in the grace of the Lord Jesus, from which springs godliness motivated by gratitude.

Philemon  Philemon is a unique letter. It is a case-in-point as Paul writes to a wealthy Colossian Christian whose former life was that of a slave owner. Both he and one of his runaway slaves have encountered the grace of Jesus Christ, which presents them both with a conundrum … how to reconcile their past lives with their new identity in Christ. This short letter is as fascinating as it is rich!

Ken Seburn, International

The life of Saul-who-became-Paul is a powerful testimony to the fact that nobody is beyond the reach of God’s grace! Aren’t you glad that this persecutor of the church and accessory to murder encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus?

Next time you find yourself regarding someone as unworthy of God’s grace, stop to consider the matter from another perspective. How greatly would this person’s conversion showcase the saving power of Jesus Christ! Instead, pray that, like Saul, they might become a Paul for the glory of God.

James  It is easy to read James’ epistle as a “list of rules” that Christians must follow in order to be saved. In fact, James even states, “faith without works is dead.” One of the most misquoted verses from the Bible, this verse is used by many cults to promote “works-based salvation.” However, we must read and interpret James in its entirety. In the last chapter, he reminds us that God “gives more grace” (4:6). This is not an excuse to keep sinning, but a reminder to “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up” (4:10).

1 Peter  Both of Peter’s epistles were written with the heart of a pastor for his flock. In the first epistle, Peter reminds his readers, who were suffering in life, that it was God’s great mercy that saved them and gave them “a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance that is imperishable” (1:3-8). It is this living hope in Jesus that abides in our lives and helps us endure suffering. Christ gives us the strength so we can “stand firm” in Him (5:10-14).

2 Peter  Peter once again felt compelled by the Holy Spirit to admonish his brothers and sisters in Christ because of the heretical teachings and destructive stories which had begun to creep into the church. He encourages his fellow believers to “be on guard” against these false teachings and to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (3:17-18).

1, 2 & 3 John  As he neared the end of his life, John, “the disciple Jesus loved,” was the only original disciple still living. As a spiritual father he shows his affection for his fellow members in Christ when he addresses them as “dear children.” John’s first letter encourages us to be more like Christ. He explains that God is love and, if we are in Christ, we can love like Him (ch. 4).

John’s second and third epistles talk about hospitality. He teaches that our full hospitality cannot extend towards false teachers and their teachings, but we are instructed to be welcoming towards those who are in Christ.

Jude  Jude, the brother of James, writes this epistle to encourage fellow believers to “contend for the faith” (3) and avoid false teachers (4). He reminds us that we cannot “live” a godly life without Jesus. It is He who “keeps us from stumbling” and it is He who will present us “blameless” to the Father (24-25).

Revelation  This final book was written to the “seven churches” that were facing very real challenges in their day. John reminds us that Jesus Himself walks in the midst of His churches, encouraging the faint and exhorting the lukewarm. Despite your interpretation of how some of the “apocryphal” descriptions will play out in the future, the ultimate purpose of Revelation is to encourage all followers that Jesus will triumph over evil. The Lamb will win! (19:1-21)

Elizabeth Bell, Connecticut

I started late and it has been a struggle to catch up … wanted to finish with everyone today, but here I am on Day 81 … what I find amazing about God’s ways … is that wherever I am His Word is pertinent to the things I am going thru … God speaks thru His Word, it is alive and active in my life and I am so thankful. This has been a real discipline for me to read so much in a day, and not to stop and study … and it still takes me a lot longer than half an hour. : )

Marilyn, International

Some people will turn back to Genesis and start it all over again (perhaps at a slower pace this time). Others will select a book that really stood out to them and begin to dig deeper. Maybe you want to look closer at Isaiah and read more about the promised Messiah. Or maybe you want to look closer at the gospel of Matthew and read how Jesus fulfilled the promises of Isaiah.

No matter where you go next in the Bible, we want to encourage you to stay connected with God through His word. It is the only trustworthy place where you can read and hear His thoughts about life. And He’s given it to us so that we can grow closer to Him.