DAILY GUIDE

January 2024

Confession of Sin & Prayer for Grace

Lord Jesus, I confess to you the shallowness of my repentance. I am content to deal with surface sins, rather than exploring the dark contours of my inner being. I am content to offer words of repentance, rather than bringing forth the fruit of repentance. Humble me greatly today. Reveal to me the depth of my depravity and the strength of my idolatry, that I may drink more deeply of your mercy and delight more fully in the beauty of Jesus Christ my Savior. Amen.

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“Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.

You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.” (Micah 7:18–19)

Scripture Reading

  • January 1 - Psalm 1, Mark 1
  • January 2 - Psalm 2, Mark 2
  • January 3 - Psalm 3, Mark 3
  • January 4 - Psalm 4, Mark 4
  • January 5 - Psalm 5, Mark 5
  • January 6 - (No reading)
  • January 7 - (No reading)
  • January 8 - Psalm 6, Mark 6
  • January 9 - Psalm 7, Mark 7
  • January 10 - Psalm 8, Mark 8
  • January 11 - Psalm 9, Mark 9
  • January 12 - Psalm 10, Mark 10
  • January 13 - (No reading)
  • January 14 - (No reading)
  • January 15 - Psalm 11, Mark 11
  • January 16 - Psalm 12, Mark 12
  • January 17 - Psalm 13, Mark 13
  • January 18 - Psalm 14, Mark 14
  • January 19 - Psalm 15, Mark 15
  • January 20 - (No reading)
  • January 21 - (No reading)
  • January 22 - Psalm 16, Mark 16
  • January 23 - Psalm 17, 1 Peter 1
  • January 24 - Psalm 18, 1 Peter 2
  • January 25 - Psalm 19, 1 Peter 3
  • January 26 - Psalm 20, 1 Peter 4
  • January 27 - (No reading)
  • January 28 - (No reading)
  • January 29 - Psalm 21, 1 Peter 5
  • January 30 - Psalm 22, 2 Peter 1
  • January 31 - Psalm 23, 2 Peter 2

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Apostles' Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

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Lord's Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name.
Thy kingdom come,
thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.
Amen.

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Prayer

O God, the King eternal, whose light divides the day from the night and turns the shadow of death into the morning: Drive far from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to keep your law, and guide our feet into the way of peace; that, having done your will with cheerfulness during the day, we may, when night comes, rejoice to give you thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Resources

Mark Introduction

Author, Date, and Recipients

The apostle Peter passed on reports of the words and deeds of Jesus to his attendant, John Mark, who wrote this Gospel for the wider church as the record of Peter’s apostolic testimony. The book was likely written from Rome during the mid- to late-50s A.D. (though the mid- or late-60s is also possible). Mark’s audience, largely unfamiliar with Jewish customs, needed to become familiar with such customs in order to understand the coming of Jesus as the culmination of God’s work with Israel and the entire world, so Mark explains them.

Purpose and Theme

The ultimate purpose and theme of Mark’s Gospel is to present and defend Jesus’ universal call to discipleship. Mark returns often to this theme, categorizing his main audience as either followers or opponents of Jesus. Mark presents and supports this call to discipleship by narrating the identity and teaching of Jesus. For Mark, discipleship is essentially a relationship with Jesus, not merely following a certain code of conduct. Fellowship with Jesus marks the heart of the disciple’s life, and this fellowship includes trusting Jesus, confessing him, observing his conduct, following his teaching, and being shaped by a relationship with him. Discipleship also means being prepared to face the kind of rejection that Jesus faced.

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December 2023 | Bible Reading Plan | February 2024