Contemplative Bible Reading

Ephesians 2:4-5 (New Living Translation) 4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) The writer is […]

[Read more →]

2 Peter 1:1 (New Living Translation) This letter is from Simon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ. I am writing to you who share the same precious faith we have. This faith was given to you because of the justice and fairness of Jesus Christ, our God and Savior. Peter opens his second […]

[Read more →]

1 John 5:21 (New Living Translation) Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts. John ends his first letter with a simple bit of advice. Keep away from that stuff. That stuff is anything that might take over our hearts. Well, certainly John could be a bit more specific […]

[Read more →]

1 John 1:4 (New Living Translation) We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy. John writes a letter to fellow Christians. Why? Well, to teach, I guess. That is what all these writings in the Bible are about, right? Yes. To some degree, but look at the above sentence. John […]

[Read more →]

Matthew 27:1 (New Living Translation) Very early in the morning the leading priests and the elders of the people met again to lay plans for putting Jesus to death. This verse is from the (hi)story of the crucifixion of Jesus. We look back on those who had Jesus arrested and executed with all sorts of […]

[Read more →]

Mark 6:49-51 (New Living Translation) 49 but when they saw him (Jesus) walking on the water, they cried out in terror, thinking he was a ghost. 50 They were all terrified when they saw him. But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage! I am here!” 51 Then he […]

[Read more →]

Luke 14:1 (New Living Translation) One Sabbath day Jesus went to eat dinner in the home of a leader of the Pharisees, and the people were watching him closely. The people were consumed with thoughts of Jesus—this fellow from Nazareth who walked around talking to people and doing things that were not believable if you […]

[Read more →]

John 5:8,11 (New Living Translation) 8 Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!”…11 But he replied, “The man who healed me told me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’” This was the man who was at the pool at Bethesda. He had been lame for 38 years. Jesus healed the man […]

[Read more →]

Mark 5:18-20 (New Living Translation) 18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon possessed begged to go with him. 19 But Jesus said, “No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been.” 20 So the man […]

[Read more →]

Matthew 16:21-22 (New Living Translation) 21 From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on […]

[Read more →]