3-Day Bible Reading Plan - “Unveiling the Potential God Sees in You”
Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount calls for a high standard of righteousness. This standard is intimidating, leaving the most eager followers feeling inadequate in their own power. Thankfully, Jesus doesn’t leave us crushed under the burden of obedience but instead speaks words of encouragement and spiritually empowers us to do the things He has called us to do. - Pastor Paul Crandell, 1/26/25
Day 1
Featured Verse: Matthew 5:13-16 - “You are the salt of the earth.”
Cross References:
Mark 9:50 - “...if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again?”
Name is a scenario when “salt” would ever lose its saltiness. How would that scenario parallel the life of faith?
Luke 14:34-35 - “It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile.”
If salt loses its preservative power, it’s good for nothing, not even the manure pile. What conclusion is Christ drawing here?
Colossians 4:6 - “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt.”
We equate being “salty” with being flippant or rude to someone, yet Paul says to let your speech always be gracious. With that in mind, what does it mean, then, for our speech to be “seasoned with salt”?
“If a man can take up the profession of Christ, and yet remain graceless, no other doctrine, no other means, can make him profitable. Our light must shine, by doing such good works as men may see. What is between God and our souls, must be kept to ourselves; but that which is of itself open to the sight of men, we must study to make suitable to our profession, and praiseworthy. We must aim at the glory of God.” - Matthew Henry
Day 2
Featured Verse: Isaiah 9:2 - “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.”
Cross References:
John 1:4 - “In him was life, and the life was the light of men.”
Why is “life” equated with “light” in Scripture?
John 8:12 - “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness.”
By giving this metaphor, Christ equates Himself with the sun. How might the light of day versus the dark of night give you a better understanding of walking in life or death?
1 John 1:5-7 - “If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.”
The Apostle John doesn’t mince any words. No Christian can can walk in darkness while claiming Christ, and if they do, they’re a liar. While we all stumble at times, this verse speaks of living in gross, flagrant sin while calling yourself a “Christian.” What are some sins you have left behind since coming to Christ?
“Our Lord here is declaring that to follow Him is the true deliverance from that midnight of the soul. There is a darkness of ignorance, a darkness of impurity, a darkness of sorrow; and in that threefold gloom, thickening to a darkness of death, are they enwrapt who follow not the Light. That is the grim, tragical side of this saying, too sad, too awful for our lips to speak much of, and best left in the solemn impressiveness of that one word. But the hopeful, blessed side of it is, that the feeblest beginnings of trust in Jesus Christ, and the first tottering steps that try to tread in His, bring us into the light.” - Alexander Maclaren
Day 3
Featured Verse: 1 Thessalonians 5:11-14 - “Encourage one another and build one another up.”
Cross References:
1 Corinthians 16:18 - “For they refreshed my spirit as well as yours.”
In what ways has a brother or sister in Christ refreshed your spirit? How might you walk in their example?
Romans 15:32 - “That by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company.”
Paul was eager to return to the Romans that he might be refreshed by them. Spending too long in the world or among unbelievers can be daunting. How has coming to church and being among the family of God given you joy in their company?
Philemon 1:7 - “...the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.”
Paul’s joy was found in Philemon’s faithfulness to the hearts of others. How have you rejoiced to see a friend or loved one refresh others through the love in their hearts? How have you rejoiced to refresh another from the love in your own heart?
“If there were someone here, who was very low in spirit, I should be happy to go to him; I would go to the deeps a hundred times to cheer a downcast spirit. It is good for me to have been afflicted, that I might know how to speak a word in season to one that is weary…I would count it my highest honour, if I might but be a cupbearer to a weary soul. It would be sweet indeed to be a messenger of consolation to those who sit in the darkness of despair.” - Charles Spurgeon