Bible Reading Plan 10/11 to 10/17
Path 1: New Testament and Psalms
Acts 20–22: Paul completes his third missionary journey and prepares for suffering in Jerusalem. His farewell to the Ephesian elders emphasizes faithful teaching, vigilant shepherding, and perseverance. In Jerusalem he is arrested, yet uses the opportunity to testify publicly about Christ and recount his own conversion and calling.
Shepherding the Church: Paul’s charge to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20 shows that church leadership is fundamentally pastoral and doctrinal. Elders must guard themselves, care for the flock, teach the whole counsel of God, and watch for false teachers. Faithful leadership requires both courage and vigilance because Christ purchased the church with His own blood.
Path 2: Old Testament Pentateuch/History
Ruth 1–4: Against the dark background of Judges, Ruth presents covenant faithfulness, providence, and redemption. Ruth’s loyalty to Naomi leads her to Boaz, a faithful kinsman-redeemer. Their marriage preserves the family line and ultimately leads to David, showing God quietly advancing His redemptive purposes through ordinary obedience.
Faithfulness in a Corrupt Age: Ruth takes place during the time of the judges, when Israel repeatedly abandoned God and everyone did what was right in his own eyes. Yet Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz demonstrate that covenant faithfulness can still flourish in a corrupt culture. God preserves His people and advances His purposes through ordinary obedience even during widespread decline.
Path 3: Old Testament Wisdom/Prophecy
Jeremiah 39–40: Jerusalem finally falls to Babylon exactly as Jeremiah had warned. Zedekiah is captured, the city is destroyed, and many are exiled. Yet God preserves Jeremiah and others through the judgment. Gedaliah is appointed governor, providing a fragile beginning for those remaining in Judah after the catastrophe.