Happy New Year! You are invited to join with others from the GCC community in sharing a devotional time by reading the same scripture passages each day. It helps to start a new habit in this new year. The Genesis readings will begin on Sunday, January 12th, when the Genesis Preaching Series begins.
~ Pastor Mike Platter
Click above to download a PDF copy of the Devotional Guide for printing or offline viewing.
FIRST WEEK
Season of Christmas
The daily readings for the first weeks come as a highlight that the New Year is marked by praise to God, and a priority for the reading the word of God. Also highlighted is the ability to recognize God’s blessings in our lives, and to press forward for all God has for us in this New Year.
Wed Jan 1 Psalm 103:1-12
Thu Jan 2 Psalm 103:13-33
Fri Jan 3 Phil 3:7-14
Sat Jan 4 Psalm 119:1-16
Sun Jan 5 Eph 1:1-12
SECOND WEEK
Season of Epiphany
The daily readings for the second week highlight the Meaning of Epiphany – the Wise Men (non-Jews) come to Jesus as a baby, and an emphasis upon the Light which Jesus brings into our world typically begins with texts which highlight the ministry of Jesus.
Mon Jan 6 Matt 2:1-12
Tues Jan 7 Hebrews 2:1-9
Wed Jan 8 Psalm 1
Thu Jan 9 Matt 3:1-12
Fri Jan 10 Matt 3:13-17
Sat Jan 11 Matt 4:1-11
Sun Jan 12 Genesis 1:1-25 (GENESIS SERIES BEGINS – Creation of the Earth)
THIRD WEEK
Season of Epiphany
The daily readings for the third week spring from Sunday’s text – God as the Creator, the One who gives us the gift of life and the beauty of Creation.
Mon Jan 13 John 1:1-14
Tues Jan 14 John 1:15-18, 35-42
Wed Jan 15 Psalm 19:1-9
Thu Jan 16 Psalm 24:1-10
Fri Jan 17 Job 38:4-15, 31-33
Sat Jan 18 Eph 1:11-23
Sun Jan 19 Genesis 1:26-31; 2:1-7
FOURTH WEEK
Season of Epiphany
The daily readings for the fourth week are intended to reflect the beauty of Creation, and the special privilege of bearing the image of a Creator who truly wants to be in relationship with us all. We belong to God by right of Creation; we can know and be known by God.
Mon Jan 20 Genesis 2:8-28
Tues Jan 21 Psalm 8
Wed Jan 22 Luke 20:19-26
Thu Jan 23 Psalm 95:1-7
Fri Jan 24 Isaiah 45:18-25
Sat Jan 25 Psalm 139:1-16, 23-24
Sun Jan 26 Genesis 3:1-24
FIFTH WEEK
Season of Epiphany
Now, the daily readings can be mostly in Genesis, because the stories and vignettes will be a few chapters apart. Our scripture readings this week flow from the text which we just read/heard on Sunday: Sin has entered the world, it is destroying peace and the ability of God’s creation to be harmonious, loving and holy. Each new generation is experiencing more and more violence; a day of reckoning (the Flood) is coming.
Mon Jan 27 Genesis 4:1-16
Tues Jan 28 Genesis 4:17-26
Wed Jan 29 Genesis 5:1-5, 21-32
Thu Jan 30 Genesis 6:1-10
Fri Jan 31 Genesis 6:11-22
Sat Feb 1 Genesis 7:1-12
Sun Feb 2 Genesis 7:13-24
SIXTH WEEK
Season of Epiphany
The readings this week complete the flood story, which, after surviving the flood, the family of Noah begins yet again to perpetuate the pain and damage. But, God gives a new covenant, and frustrated the plans of mankind for dominance. Ultimately, we see how the flood story became – in the New Testament – a tale to warn us to be watchful and prepared for judgment.
Mon Feb 3 Genesis 8:1-12
Tues Feb 4 Genesis 8:13-22
Wed Feb 5 Genesis 9:1-17
Thu Feb 6 Genesis 9:18-29
Fri Feb 7 Matthew 24:36-44
Sat Feb 8 II Peter 3:1-14
Sun Feb 9 Genesis 11:1-9
SEVENTH WEEK
Season of Epiphany
In these readings, we meet Abram, who, with his wife, Sarai, lived among idolatry and yet trusted and worshipped the True God. God calls out to him, sets him on a journey with the promise that land and offspring will be his in abundance. This week, we look at the early steps of Abram’s journey of faith.
Mon Feb 10 Genesis 11:26-32; 12:1-3
Tues Feb 11 Genesis 12:4-20
Wed Feb 12 Genesis 13:1-13
Thu Feb 13 Genesis 13:14-18
Fri Feb 14 Deuteronomy 26:1-11
Sat Feb 15 Hebrews 11:1-7
Sun Feb 16 Hebrews 11:8-19
EIGHT WEEK
Last Full-Week of the Season of Epiphany
As we are seeing the unfolding of Abraham and Sarah’s story, the texts for this week will highlight Abraham’s faith, Melchizedek’s unique role as a “type of Christ-Priest,” and will lead us to the remarkable Covenant Encounter between God and Abraham for the Sunday Sermon.
Mon Feb 17 Joshua 24:1-7, 14-15
Tues Feb 18 Acts 7:1-8
Wed Feb 19 Genesis 14:1-12
Thu Feb 20 Genesis 14:13-24
Fri Feb 21 Hebrews 6:13-20 and 7:1-4
Sat Feb 22 Hebrews 7:14-25
Sun Feb 23 Genesis 15
NINTH WEEK
Season of Lent begins on Wednesday
As we begin Lent on Wednesday of this week, our readings continue to look at some of the truths of the Abraham story, but also move toward the continued damage in our world because of sin. Our readings will take us to the “throne-room” of God, so to speak, as God looks for a partner to help Him heal the heartbreak and injustices of this world.
Mon Feb 24 Romans 4:1-8, 16-17
Tues Feb 25 Romans 4:18-25 and 5:1-8
Wed Feb 26 Genesis 16:1-15 Ash Wednesday
Thu Feb 27 Genesis 17:1-8, 15-22
Fri Feb 28 Genesis 17:23-27 and 18:1-15
Sat Feb 29 Job 34:21-28 and Deut 15:7-11
Sun March 1 Genesis 18:16-33 1st Sunday of Lent
TENTH WEEK
Season of Lent
The readings this week continue the story, letting us know what happens to Sodom and Gomorrah, telling us of Isaac’s birth, of the trauma of Abraham’s testing from God, to the terrible relationship that is found in Isaac’s twin sons. Of importance is to take note of a recurring theme: the Family of Abraham is seeing generational conflict in its sons. Isaac/Ishmael, Jacob/Esau seem incapable of living near one another.
Mon Mar 2 Genesis 19:1-13
Tues Mar 3 Genesis 19:14-29
Wed Mar 4 Genesis 21:1-21
Thu Mar 5 Genesis 22:1-19
Fri Mar 6 Genesis 24:1-21 and 66-67
Sat Mar 7 Genesis 25:19-34
Sun Mar 8 Genesis 26:34-35 and 27:1-13
ELEVENTH WEEK
Season of Lent
This week we will follow Jacob as he must leave home due to the mess he created, find a new home and family with his treacherous uncle Laban, and discover that he wants to take his family home to be with his kin. But, there is danger from Laban, and the threat of Esau’s revenge leaves Jacob (and his wives and children) in danger.
Mon Mar 9 Genesis 27:14-31a
Tues Mar 10 Genesis 27:31b – 46
Wed Mar 11 Genesis 28:1-22
Thu Mar 12 Genesis 29:1-14
Fri Mar 13 Genesis 29:15-35
Sat Mar 14 Genesis 31:3, 17-35
Sun Mar 15 Genesis 32:3-12, 22-32
TWELTH WEEK
Season of Lent
We learn more detail about the new normal between Jacob and Esau. And we discover that Jacob’s family is far from holy; in fact, their deception risks their family’s future, and causes the near-death and imprisonment of one of their own.
Mon Mar 16 Genesis 33:1-20
Tues Mar 17 Genesis 34:1-18
Wed Mar 18 Genesis 34:19-31
Thu Mar 19 Genesis 35:1-20
Fri Mar 20 Genesis 35:23-29 and 36:1-8
Sat Mar 21 Genesis 37:1-17a
Sun Mar 22 Genesis 37:17b–36
THIRTEENTH WEEK
Season of Lent
This week’s readings focus on the closing narrative arc of Genesis – Joseph is able to survive that fate his brothers chose for him, and rises to prominence and power in Egypt. God seems to be arranging an encounter that – unexpectedly – will cause them to meet up again.
Mon Mar 23 Genesis 39:1-23
Tues Mar 24 Genesis 40:1-23
Wed Mar 25 Genesis 41:1-45
Thu Mar 26 Genesis 41:46-57 and 42:1-16
Fri Mar 27 Genesis 42:9-38
Sat Mar 28 Genesis 43:26-34 and 44:1-34
Sun March 29 Genesis 45:1-8
FOURTEENTH WEEK
Season of Lent
The presence of Joseph’s brothers, who had betrayed him to nearly certain death, has created great conflict for Joseph. He does not trust them, but needs them to deliver to him his father, and the one other brother (Benjamin) who didn’t betray him. In the unfolding of events, forgiveness is found for all, and Jacob’s family is able to live together in peace. The New Plan of God for the redemption of humankind – which began in God’s call of Abraham, has now firmly established a line of grace which will change the world.
Mon Mar 30 Genesis 45:9-28
Tues Mar 31 Genesis 46:1-7, 26-34
Wed April 1 Genesis 47:1-12, 27-31
Thu April 2 Genesis 48:1-20
Fri April 3 Genesis 49:29-33 and 50:1-12
Sat April 4 Genesis 50:15-26
Sun April 5 Matthew 21:1-17 (Palm Sunday)
FIFTEENTH WEEK
Season of Lent - Holy Week
In our final week of shared devotions at GCC, we follow Jesus in his last week – Teaching in the Temple Courts, spending time with his disciples, and dying and rising for all humankind.
Mon April 6 Matthew 21:18-46
Tues April 7 Matthew 22:1-33
Wed April 8 Matthew 22:34 – 46 and 23:1-12
Thurs April 9 Matthew 26:17-46 (Maundy Thursday)
Fri April 10 Matthew 26:47-75 and 27:32-54 (Good Friday)
Sat April 11 Matthew 27:55-66 (Holy Saturday)
Sun April 12 Matthew 28:1-20 (Easter Sunday)