Reading Through The New Testament

We begin this week with Paul’s letter to Philemon, the master of a runaway slave named Onesimus, who had stolen from his master and ran off to Rome.  While in Rome, Onesimus encounters the Apostle Paul and accepts Jesus Christ as his Savior.  Paul sends Onesimus back with this letter in hand, urging Philemon to extend forgiveness.

Over the next five weeks, we will be reading through the Gospel written by Luke, a physician who carefully documents the perfect humanity of the Son of Man, Jesus Christ.  As you read this week, you will notice Luke begins with a strong emphasis on the ancestry, birth, and early years of Jesus and His forerunner, John the Baptist, as he records their birth announcements, advents, and temple presentations.  Luke summarizes Jesus’ first 30 years in one verse — Luke 2:52.