Those who began the “5x5x5 New Testament Bible Reading Plan” by Navigators in January will begin reading the book of 1 Peter on about October 10.
The apostle Peter wrote First Peter to encourage the Christians who were suffering from persecution for their beliefs and new way of life and worship. Peter’s letter includes directions on how to conduct their lives in the situations in which these Christians may find themselves. He encourages them with Christ’s example of love for us.
Those who began the “5x5x5 New Testament Bible Reading Plan” by Navigators in January will begin reading the book of 1 John on about September 29. The next books are 2 John and 3 John. All are very short books.
In John’s first letter he focuses on ways Christ followers can be assured they belong to him. It includes examples of what obedience to Christ looks like and examples of false believers. I especially like 1 John 5:13 which says “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”
2 John addresses the importance of supporting traveling evangelists and teaches Christians how to discern true evangelists from false teachers.
3 John is a personal letter to a dear friend Gaius. It too emphasizes the importance of discerning good teachers from false teachers.
Those who began the “5x5x5 New Testament Bible Reading Plan” by Navigators in January will begin reading the book of Titus on about September 26.
The book of Titus is a letter written to Titus, a Greek man and one of Paul’s faithful co-workers who he left on the island of Crete to complete the ministry they began together there. The letter was filled with instructions and guidance for choosing good church leaders, encouraging the older church members to teach and guide the younger members, and helping people deal with arguing and hatred though knowing God’s love.
Those who began the “5x5x5 New Testament Bible Reading Plan” by Navigators in January will begin reading the book of 2 Timothy on about September 20.
This second letter from Paul to Timothy is a very personal letter. Paul’s circumstances had changed and he was put in prison instead of the more comfortable house arrest he had gone through earlier. Paul was lonely and dreading the cold winter months ahead. He feared for his own life under the new wicked Roman emperor Nero. Paul’s message was his last message of encouragement and of warnings to Timothy.