Life of Jesus

The life of Jesus
(This resource is partially finished.)
A blend of selected passages from Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John rendered in everyday English with helpful real world insights arranged in bite-sized daily readings. Taken from Dwight’s book, Rediscover God.

#1 The God Man (pdf)
How does an invisible God show Himself to the human race? He clothes Himself with human skin. Discover how God joined the human family, and how He invites us to join His family. (John 1:1-18, Luke 3:23b-38), Discoveries: Coming to Know God (John 1:1,12)

#2 Our Inner Cry (pdf)
Good News for a Childless Couple Sometimes our lives are defined by a single prayer. If you’ve ever pleaded with God only to have your prayers fall on “deaf ears,” this is for you.(Luke 1:5-25), Discoveries: A Plan Worth Waiting For (Luke 1:7,13)

#3 Two Miracle Mothers (pdf)
Follow the story of two women who couldn’t have children, yet, miraculously, they did. Discover the secret of seeing beyond our circumstances to a much greater God-given reality.(Luke 1:26-56), Discoveries: The Ability to See (Luke 1:46,51,55, John 1:1)

Here’s what I’m planning to post in the future:

#4 No Fear
Two Surprises What happens when we take our fears to God? Learn a little-known process for transforming your fears. (Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 1:57-80), Discoveries: Freedom from Fear (Luke 1:74-75)

#5 The First Christmas
Relive the first Christmas and discover why the birth of Jesus has inspired wonder and awe for more than twenty centuries. (Luke 2:1, 3-35), Discoveries: From Common to Extraordinary (Luke 2:6-7)

#6 Jesus as a Child
Look at two incidents from Jesus’ childhood. Hint: They both involve travel. (Matthew 2:1-23, Luke 2:41-51), Discoveries: Following the Star (Matthew 2:1-3)

#7 Repent! John the Baptist
Even well-meaning Christians misunderstand the word “repent.” Learn more about this precious gift God gives His children. (Matthew 3:1-17, Luke 3:10-14, John 1:29-31), Discoveries: Make Room for Jesus (Matthew 3:8+)

#8 Temptation and Rejection
Jesus shows us how to meet and defeat temptation. As a bonus, learn the oxygen mask principle. (Matthew 4:1-11, Luke 4:14-30), Discoveries: The Oxygen Mask Principle (Luke 4:18-19)

#9 Oops!
Wine and Fish A socially awkward moment—but God shows up! (John 2:1-11, Luke 5:1-11), Discoveries: Which Direction Do We Run? (Luke 5:8, John 1:11)

#10 The Center of God’s Favor
Jesus slices through the cloud of confusion that surrounds religion, and makes things beautifully clear. (Proverbs 4:23, Matthew 5:1-19), Discoveries: Least to Offer, Most to Gain (Matthew 5:3,4,5,7)

#11 A Higher Standard
Some people love rules. Others hate them. Jesus weighs in with His surprising take on a culture governed by rules. (Matthew 5:20-48), Discoveries: Purity, Peace and Persecution (Matthew 5:8-12)

#12 A Conversation with God
Take a fresh look at the most famous prayer in the Bible and discover how to make it work for you. (Revelation 3:20, Matthew 6:9b-13, Ephesians 3:20), Discoveries: Our One Power (Revelation 3:20)

#13 Your Secret Identity
Eternal Return on Your Investment. Look at our three identities and learn powerful lessons about who we really are. (Matthew 6:1-8,14-34), Discoveries: Our Real Identity (Matthew 6:1)

#14 Con Artists
Not Always the Way It Appears. How do you tell the difference between a con artist and the real thing? Jesus gives us a formula. (Matthew 7:1-29), Discoveries: Are You Tuned In? (Exodus 20:3-4,6)

#15 Born Again
Spiritual Birth and God’s Paradise. Do you need to “get religion”? No. We need something far important. (John 3:1-21), Discoveries: Love and Life (John 1:4, 3:16-17)

#16 Unwanted?
Healing, Compassion and Faith. Ever been left out, excluded, picked last, unwanted? Ever wonder how God feels about you? (Matthew 8:5-13, Mark 1:35-45), Discoveries: Come Clean (Mark 1:40-42)

#17 Shameful Secrets
Living Water. Have you ever felt that God would never want you because of who you are or what you’ve done? Learn the reassuring truth. (John 4:1-26), Discoveries: God and Our Desires (John 4:10)

#18 Stuck!
Jesus Confronts the Religious Police. Trapped by our own inability to see a way out? Jesus makes a way where there is no way. (John 5:1-40 selections), Discoveries: We Have More (John 5:39-40)

#19 The Widow and the Prostitute
Jesus slices through human tragedy and brings us what we didn’t dare imagine. (Luke 7:11-17,36-47), Discoveries: Needs Met and Unmet (Luke 7:13,36)

#20 Panic
The Power of Peace. Learn a powerful secret about the way out of panic. (Mark 4:35-41, 5:1-20), Discoveries: Into the Storm (Mark 4:37-38)

#21 Shopping for a God
The Power to Forgive and Restore. If you could go shopping for a God, what kind of God would you look for? (Mark 2:1-17, Luke 6:12-16), Discoveries: Carrying God’s Name (Exodus 20:7)

#22 What We Hide
A Beautiful Interruption. Nearly all of us have problems that we cannot talk about. We scramble for solutions, but Jesus has something much better. (Psalm 30:11-12, Mark 5:22-43), Discoveries: Into the Light (Mark 5:25-34)

#23 Being Cool
Dinner Parties. Trying to fit in? Jesus offers a refreshing alternative. (Luke 14:1-33), Discoveries: The Way Back (Luke 7:36-39)

#24 Perfect, You and Me?
Farmers and the Kingdom. You and I are headed (I hope) for heaven—a perfect place filled with perfect people. But what happens when we get there? After all, we aren’t perfect, right? (Matthew 13:3-30,36-43), Discoveries: Weeding Out (Genesis 1:3, Matthew 3:15 NIV, Matthew 13:41-42)

#25 Starting Over
The Lost Son Returns. We each get a shot at life. But, sooner or later, all of us—at some level—blow it. We make a bad decision, and we’re stuck with the consequences. See how God picks up the pieces of our lives and empowers us to start over. (Luke 15:1-3,11-32), Discoveries: The Father Wasn’t Listening (Luke 15:22 The Message)

#26 The Death of a Friend
Powerful lessons about loss, doubt and leadership. (Matthew 14:13a, Mark 6:17-29, Luke 10:14), Discoveries: Let the Children Come to Jesus (Mark 10:14)

#27 Enough: A Miracle Meal
It’s easy to look around and see what we lack. But God invites us to see what Jesus can do with what we have. (Matthew 14:22-36, Mark 6:30-38a,39-44, John 6:8-9), Discoveries: Why Does Jesus Test You? (John 6:37)

#28 Getting the Door to Open
How to Approach God. How do you approach God? Do you need fancy religious prayers? The answer may surprise you! (Matthew 15:21-28, Mark 10:13-16, Luke 18:1-14), Discoveries: The Silence of Jesus (Matthew 15:23,24,28)

#29 Ruined?
The Path to Freedom. Has anyone ever tried to destroy your reputation? (John 8:1-19,28-29,31b-36), Discoveries: Find the Pain, and You Will Find the Door to Freedom (John 8:10-11)

#30 Blame or Opportunity?
The Man Born Blind. Some look at tragedy and see blame. Others see an opportunity for God. (John 9:1-41), Discoveries: A Miracle Waiting to Happen (John 9:1-3)

#31 Dead End?
Back from the Grave. A powerful story about compassion, friendship, hope and the supernatural power of God. (John 11:1-57), Discoveries: God’s Heart and Our Pain (John 11:3,6,35)

#32 The Shepherd Song
Like a Shepherd. For centuries the people of God have turned here for comfort, hope and inspiration. (Psalm 23:1-6, John 10:10-18,27-30), Discoveries: Reason to Rejoice (Psalm 23:1,3)

#33 Mountaintop Experience
This is the one question we need to get right. (Mark 8:27-9:1, Luke 9:28-42), Discoveries: Giving Up and Getting Back (Mark 8:32,35)

#34 Pixie Dust
Dying with the Most Toys. Do you really want to die with the most toys? (Mark 10:17-31, Luke 12:15-21, 16:19-31), Discoveries: Pixie Dust (Luke 12:20)

#35 Actions Trump Religion
The Good Samaritan. Jesus breaks through stereotypes and prejudices to show us how to care for one another. (Luke 10:25-42), Discoveries: Everything (Exodus 20:17, Mark 9:23)

#36 Must Read! Canceling the Debt
Almost everybody says we should do this, but few people know how it works. (Matthew 18:15-35), Discoveries: Our Own Freedom (Matthew 18:21)

#37 Getting Noticed
You never know when your actions will open the door for something amazing… (Mark 10:46-52, Luke 19:1-10), Discoveries: Two Men, Two Destinies (Luke 19:9)

#38 Collision
The King Arrives. Have you ever wondered how someone can be perfectly normal and totally crazy at the same time? (Mark 11:15-18, Luke 19:28-44), Discoveries: Tossing Fear Aside (Mark 10:51, 11:18)

#39 Bullies
Stories, Questions and Tests. There’s just one problem with trying to bully God in the flesh… (Matthew 21:28-32, Luke 20:9-39), Discoveries: A Matter of Perspective (Luke 20:25)

#40 Hidden Heroes
Commended and Condemned. Some people are overlooked in this life, but I can assure you they are well known in heaven. (Matthew 23:2-4,13,33-40, Mark 12:41-44, Luke 20:45-47), Discoveries: Caring (Matthew 23:37, Luke 20:47)

#41 What to Expect / What’s Ahead
Jesus lifts the curtain between us and the future, and tells us what to expect. (Matthew 24:12-14,23-44, Mark 13:20, Luke 21:5-24), Discoveries: The Meaning of Sacrifice (Mark 12:42)

#42 Inspecting the Fruit
Sorting Out. How do we tell if we’re really connected to Jesus? Surprising answers! (Matthew 25:14-46), Discoveries: A New Spin on Things (Luke 21:13,18)

#43 The Tough Choice
Have you ever needed to make a difficult but courageous decision? (John 12:23-50), Discoveries: Be Ready (Matthew 24:42,44)

#44 Beauty and Treachery
The pieces are put in position to unleash the greatest event in history. (Mark 14:1-2,6-9, Luke 22:3-6, John 12:1-6), Discoveries: God Remembers (Mark 14:6, Luke 22:3-5)

#45 Love and Betrayal
Reckless Devotion. Shocking, by the social standards of the day, but Jesus did it anyway. (Mark 14:12-17, John 13:1-30), Discoveries: Reckless Devotion (Luke 12:20-21)

#46 Jesus Says Goodbye
If you knew you would be dead in 24 hours, what would you say to those you love? (John 13:33-16:33 selections, 1 Corinthians 11:23b-25), Discoveries: Room (John 14:3)

#47 What Will Heaven Be Like?
Arrested. I’ve seen many people arrested, but never anything like this. (Matthew 26:47-49,52-56, Mark 14:51-52, Luke 22:39-46,48,49,51, John 17:1-25 selections, 18:4-8,10-11,12), Discoveries: What Will Heaven Be Like? (John 17:3)

#48 Religion Without God
Trial, Denial, Regret. Do you know the difference between the real thing and a multitude of fakes? (Matthew 27:3-8, Mark 14:53-72), Discoveries: Stability (Mark 14:62)

#49 Clueless
Pilate and Herod. They were the two most powerful leaders in the region, and they didn’t have a clue. (Matthew 27:1-2,12-14, Luke 23:2,5-12, John 18:28-38), Discoveries: Judging God (Mark 14:64)

#50 Nobody Outmaneuvers God
Pronouncing Sentence: Pilate’s Decision. A lot of people have tried, but nobody outmaneuvers God. (Matthew 27:15-26,31, Luke 23:13-16, John 19:1-15), Discoveries: You Can’t Outsmart God (Proverbs 21:30)

#51 The Death of Jesus
The soldier was a dealer in death, but this was a death unlike any he had ever seen. (Matthew 27:45-53, Luke 23:26-43, John 19:17,19-26,28-30a,31-37), Discoveries: One of Us (Mark 15:2)

#52 Unexpected Developments
What would you do if you came face to face with the greatest miracle in history? (Matthew 27:60-28:4,11-15, Luke 23:50-56, 24:1-12, John 20:3-18), Discoveries: In the Place of Despair (John 20:13)

#53 Defining Moment
The Road to Emmaus In a moment, everything can change. (Luke 24:13-35), Discoveries: When Eyes Are Opened (Luke 24:31)

#54 The Original Skeptic
Not a Ghost. Meet the original skeptic: doubting Thomas. Discover how Jesus leads him back to faith (Luke 24:36-49, John 20:21-29, 1 Corinthians 15:5-6), Discoveries: It Means Peace (Luke 24:36)

#55 I Want You Back
Breakfast by the Lake. Watch Jesus restore a man who failed. (John 21:1-24), Discoveries: No Elephants in this Room (John 21:17)

#56 Going Viral
Our Turn. Long before viral videos, a message started in an out-of-the-way Roman province. That message spread until there are now adherents in every nation on earth. Here’s how it started. (Matthew 28:16-20, Mark 16:15-16,19-20, Luke 24:50-53, John 20:30-31, Acts 1:3-11), Discoveries: A Bigger Vision (Acts 1:6-8)