Chronological Gospels: John 20-21

by Water On Thirsty Land | Nov 11, 2025 | Basic Bible Studies, Bible Studies, Books of the Bible, Chronological Gospels, Gospels Guided Study, New Testament Studies, Study with Me

Chronological Gospels: John 20-21

This week we conclude our year-long journey through the gospels and end on a beautiful note. John concludes his gospel account with several unique and emphasized details. One aspect that I notice in John 20-21 is that Jesus focuses His attention on two particular people when He appears to His followers after the resurrection.

Mary Magdalene is the first He gives special attention to. Mary is the one who went back to tend to Jesus’ body and is the first Jesus reveals Himself to after He rose from the dead. Mary was so deeply devoted to Jesus and was so excited to see Him alive again. Jesus told her to go and tell the disciples she had seen Him alive.

There is so much hope and comfort for us in this moment. Mary sought the Lord desperately, and she was the first one He revealed Himself to. He promises us, too, that if we earnestly seek Him we will find Him.

What does Jesus’ encounter with Mary teach you about your relationship with the Lord?

Later, Jesus reveals Himself to the others by entering a locked room and proceeding to give them the gift of the Holy Spirit. This moment is incredible. Just as life was given to the first person, Adam, by the breath of God, spiritual life is given to the first apostles by the breath of the Son of God. Creation began with the breath of God, and the new creation begins with the breath of Jesus Christ.

Jesus gives the disciples a commission. They are to go and tell the world the truth of the gospel and with this the truth about the forgiveness of sins. Forgiveness comes to those who believe in the gospel, and those who believe and repent can be confident in the forgiveness they have received.

As John closes his gospel account, I find it so encouraging to read about Peter. Jesus knew Mary needed to see Him, and He also knew Peter needed some special attention before He ascended as well. Jesus asked Peter if Peter loves Him three times. Jesus uses a word for love that is a deep, committed, faithful love whereas Peter uses a word for love that indicates fondness, affection, and personal attachment.

Peter uses a less significant word for love, maybe because he understands now that no one can match the love of Jesus. Peter appears humbled, and rightfully so. At this moment Jesus chooses to give Peter a specific call – to feed His lambs and shepherd His sheep. It is in this call Jesus teaches the importance of spiritual growth. The lambs, the less mature in faith, need to be spiritually fed, whereas the sheep, the more spiritually mature, need spiritual guidance. No one should remain as a lamb.

Then Peter does what Peter does and starts comparing himself to someone else.

The gospel of John closes with Jesus teaching Peter, and all future generations of believers, to focus on doing the will of God ourselves. It is not for us to say what God has called others to do, but it is for us to obey the call He has given each of us individually. We are all called to obedience as followers, but God uses each of us uniquely for His will.

Focus on doing the will of God. Focus on the job Christ gave each of us to do to share the gospel with the world, teach others about salvation and forgiveness of sins through faith in Jesus Christ, and feed the lambs and lead the sheep in the unique ways the Lord has commissioned each of us to do for His glory.

What does this teach you about Jesus?

What does this teach you about your relationship with Jesus?

What does this teach you about your own commission?

What are some ways you can share the gospel with others?

Chronological Gospels: Luke 24

by Water On Thirsty Land | Nov 4, 2025 | Basic Bible Studies, Bible Studies, Books of the Bible, Chronological Gospels, Gospels Guided Study, New Testament Studies, Study with Me

Chronological Gospels: Luke 24

Luke’s gospel account was a collection of witness accounts compiled to become a credible record of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As we read the end of Luke’s account of the Gospel, we get a glimpse into how others relayed this incredible finale to Luke, and to all of us.

Several things pop out in this final chapter, such as how many people failed to believe that Christ had in fact risen from the dead. Reading about the disciples who had walked, talked, ate, drank, and lived with Jesus failing to even be able to recognize Him on the road is eye-opening. In their wonder and unbelief, their eyes and hearts were spiritually blind and they could not see Jesus present with them.

Even the ways they explained themselves are important. They recognized that they were prevented from recognizing Him, and Jesus later rebukes them for being slow to believe. They could not see because they did not believe. This is a prime lesson of seeing is not believing – believing allows us to see what God is revealing to us.

What does this teach you about your own spiritual awareness and blindness?

Even though the disciples failed to believe, Jesus did eventually reveal Himself to them. This is again another lesson for all of us. Even in our unbelief, Jesus reveals Himself. This goes along with Romans 1 where the Apostle Paul writes that no one has an excuse because God has revealed Himself to all of His creation. In our lack of belief, we are blinded, but we are still given revelations and opportunities to believe. The Lord still reveals Himself and is present with us, even in our unbelief, waiting for us to believe and follow.

Jesus takes full advantage of this time with the disciples before ascending to Heaven. He shows us the human tendency to unbelief and reinforces the reason for His horrifying death and glorious resurrection. He leaves all disciples, both then and future, with a mission – the great commission – to tell the world what He has done and why, challenges all of us to believe even when we cannot see or understand, and convicts us to trust in Him even when it doesn’t make sense.

What do these final moments with Jesus before He ascended to Heaven teach us about Him and our relationship with Him?

Chronological Gospels: Matthew 28; Mark 16

by Water On Thirsty Land | Oct 28, 2025 | Basic Bible Studies, Bible Studies, Books of the Bible, Chronological Gospels, Gospels Guided Study, New Testament Studies, Study with Me

Chronological Gospels: Matthew 28; Mark 16

We just spent a couple of weeks delving into the imperative truth of Christ’s death on the cross. Those chapters bear much weight for all of mankind, yet they are even more important when read with the chapters we will spend the next three weeks concluding the gospel accounts with. After spending several weeks studying the darkness and evil surrounding Christ’s crucifixion, today the tomb is opened and Jesus is no longer buried inside – He is risen! There is hope!

Jesus died on the cross with the full weight of mankind’s sins, and 3 days later He rose from the dead just as He told His disciples He would. His resurrection is a real event, just like His death was a real event. He was dead and buried, and then He was alive again, walking, talking, teaching, and commanding. Christ rose from the dead showing that He has power over death, and dying carrying the full weight of sin shows He has power over sin. Through these two vital events, Jesus defeats the power of both sin and death. All who believe in His death and resurrection for the salvation of mankind will themselves be saved by their faith.

What does the resurrection teach you about Jesus?

What does His resurrection teach you about your relationship with Jesus?

Jesus didn’t just rise from the dead, high-five everyone, and ascend to Heaven – Jesus spent time with His disciples, cared for them, and gave them their mission before He went away to sit at the right hand of God. The mission He gave the disciples is the same mission each an every one of us has also been given as followers of Jesus. Our great commission straight from the mouth of Jesus is to go into all the world and share the gospel. We are called by Christ Himself to tell the world about Him and what He has done for all of mankind.

How does the great commission impact you? How are you or can you be living this out?

Chronological Gospels: John 18-19

by Water On Thirsty Land | Oct 21, 2025 | Basic Bible Studies, Bible Studies, Books of the Bible, Chronological Gospels, Gospels Guided Study, New Testament Studies, Study with Me

Chronological Gospels: John 18-19

Absorbing each gospel account chronologically has allowed me to see things I have missed when reading them separately. As we read through each account of Jesus’s arrest, sentencing, beating, and crucifixion there are many little details scattered throughout that I am seeing for the first time. The way Jesus responds, the words He chooses, and even His silent moments all teach us more about Him. As we learn more about Jesus, we learn more about how He calls us to live and behave.

Through faith in Jesus, we should then follow Him – His teachings, and His example. As Jesus goes through the final and aggressive stages before His death on the cross we see Him trust in God, remain calm, and do what He has been called to do even through incredible suffering. It hits home for me as I realize that even my worst pains and sufferings cannot even compare to the agony of dying carrying the weight of all mankind’s sins, let alone the flogging and abuse Jesus endured before His death.

We live in a culture that so often feels so much like the Pharisees and the Romans. They don’t care about God’s truth, the absolute Truth, and they don’t care about doing what’s right. They focus on what serves themselves, while Christ focuses on what serves God.

How does Jesus set an example for you in these chapters?

What do these passages teach you about the world and your place in it?

We are called to be in the world but not of the world. We are to cling to the Lord no matter what we endure. The days will get darker, sin will grow broader, and wickedness will become more accepted and normal. At the same time, God is still on the move, He is still on the throne, and Jesus is still sitting at His right hand waiting for the time He will return to vanquish sin once and for all.

What does Jesus’s crucifixion and the anticipation of His return teach you today?

Chronological Gospels: Luke 23

by Water On Thirsty Land | Oct 14, 2025 | Basic Bible Studies, Bible Studies, Books of the Bible, Chronological Gospels, Gospels Guided Study, New Testament Studies, Study with Me

Chronological Gospels: Luke 23

We jump back into the gospel story with Luke’s account of Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion. So many things can be seen by studying each account, reading each perspective deeply, comparing them, and appreciating the unique ways each person presented the same story. By the divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and the testimonies of others who were present, Luke captures aspects of these moments that the other accounts don’t always do the same way, yet they all speak of the same true story that changed everything for all of mankind.

Something that struck me today is that Pilot said multiple times that Jesus was innocent and did not deserve death. Because of the reaction of the crowd and religious leaders, though, Pilot caved and sent Jesus to His death. But on the flip side, the religious leaders asked for a murderer to be released and for Jesus to be killed. Think about that for a moment.

Barabbas, a known murderer, was demanded to be released while Jesus, who was innocent of all sin, was demanded to be killed in the most brutal and humiliating way. Barabbas walked free, a killer, a criminal, whose crimes were known by those who demanded his release instead of Jesus’. Jesus, knowing this, allowed Himself to be taken away, beaten, mocked, and murdered for telling the truth that the religious leaders did not want to hear or believe.

Jesus was the Truth that the religious leaders had studied the scriptures about, taught their flocks about, and waited and prepared for the coming of – yet, they had become so corrupted and hard-hearted that they could not see the Truth right in front of them. They chose a murderer over the Messiah they’d waited so long for. They were guilty of the blasphemy they accused Jesus of and killed Him for, and they released a murderer and murdered Jesus.

They mocked Him, beat Him, and told Him that if He was really the Son of God that He should save Himself, but what they did not realize is that He was sacrificing Himself in order to save them. The most mind-boggling part of this is that He knew more than we ever will. He knew their sin, their evil, and He knows yours and mine as well. As He hung on the cross in agony, He prayed for God to forgive them.

Reflecting on Luke’s account of Jesus’s arrest and crucifixion, what does this teach you about Jesus that you may not have seen before?

Chronological Gospels: Matthew 27; Mark 15

by Water On Thirsty Land | Oct 7, 2025 | Basic Bible Studies, Bible Studies, Books of the Bible, Chronological Gospels, Gospels Guided Study, New Testament Studies, Study with Me

Chronological Gospels: Matthew 27; Mark 15

This week we enter into the heart-breaking, chain-breaking part of God’s redemptive plan. As we read through Matthew’s and Mark’s accounts of the crucifixion of Jesus, I encourage you to take your time. Don’t fall into the temptation to speed through the story you’ve heard and read so many times before. Read each word, study it, analyze it, and notice the things God may draw out differently this time.

Jesus has been brought before Pontius Pilate by the religious leaders who demanded Jesus be crucified, which is one of the most horrendous and humiliating deaths. It is said to have been “perfected” by the Romans as the perfect way to kill someone by torture. In Rome, it was reserved for slaves, disgraced soldiers, and foreigners, and usually took between 6 hours and 4 days for a person to die on a cross. It was a long and excruciating death. The Roman soldiers on duty were not permitted to leave until the victim was dead, so they would often torture those on the cross further to speed up the process in horrible ways.

As Jesus was on the cross, being mocked, beaten, tortured, and spat on, He bore the weight of all of mankind’s sins for all time to die with Him there on that cross. At the moment before He breathed His last, He cries out to God “My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?” To die in sin is to die without the presence of God. Jesus experienced God turning His back on His One and Only Son at that moment, and Jesus was in even greater agony.

This was the death Jesus experienced, and this is the death we deserve for our sins. That separation from God that agonized Jesus is the eternal fate that awaits those who die in their sin. Jesus died a humiliating, torturous, agonizing death in our place, was separated from the Father because He was carrying every sin in all of history, and He did it so that we would not have to – if only we would have faith and believe in Him as the Son of God, and our Savior.

What does Jesus’ death on the cross teach you about God?

What does this part of the story teach you about sin?

Chronological Gospels: John 16-17

by Water On Thirsty Land | Sep 30, 2025 | Basic Bible Studies, Bible Studies, Books of the Bible, Chronological Gospels, Gospels Guided Study, New Testament Studies, Study with Me

Chronological Gospels: John 16-17

The Holy Spirit is an essential focus for our reading this week. Often misunderstood, or simply not understood, the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead. When we choose to have faith in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection Jesus tells us that we will receive the Counselor, or Helper, the Holy Spirit.

Before reading these chapters, what is/was your understanding of the Holy Spirit in your life?

Jesus tells us many important things to help us understand the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives and in the world. There are three specific truths Jesus wants us to understand;

Holy Spirit convicts the world of the sin of unbelief and reveals the truth about Christ’s death and resurrection as payment for all sin.
Holy Spirit convicts the world of the need for, and truth about, righteousness, and will guide us to and in the truth.
Holy Spirit convicts us about Satan’s judgment at the cross and the judgment for all that is yet to come.

The Holy Spirit proves the world is in the wrong and convicts the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment. It is our responsibility to respond to this conviction and truth, and allow the Holy Spirit to sanctify us, leading us to glorify God with our lives.

The Holy Spirit does not force or coerce, but leads. It is our responsibility to follow His lead in the Truth to become mature believers who are well-equipped. Jesus gives us His Spirit as our Helper and His Word as Truth. When we learn to trust His Spirit and not only believe but live His Truth, we are sanctified, mature in our faith, and glorify Jesus.

The more we know, the more there is to believe. The more you believe, the more we receive. The more we receive, the more opportunity and responsibility we have to glorify Jesus.

After reading these passages, how has your understanding of the Holy Spirit changed?

To glorify Christ is to make Him known. When we glorify Jesus, we are putting Him on display for others to see so that they may come to know Him as well. When we glorify Jesus, making Him known to others, there will be suffering and hardships for the sake of His name. Jesus encourages us that we need not be afraid or discouraged. When we believe in Him, He becomes our Great High Priest and intercedes on our behalf with God. With this, because of our relationship we Jesus, we gain direct access to God and can pray to Him.

How does knowing you have direct access to God impact your faith?

Jesus not only encourages us about our personal relationship and access to God, but goes on to pray for the disciples, as well as future generations of believers. Through His deep and powerful prayer, we can learn many things. He prays for believers to be sanctified by the Word of God and go out into the world, for the Church to be unified as the Godhead is unified, and for us to abide in Him. Jesus wants us to be kept from evil and to grow in holiness.

What does this prayer teach you about Jesus?

How does this prayer impact your faith and relationship with the Holy Spirit?

Chronological Gospels: John 14-15

by Water On Thirsty Land | Sep 23, 2025 | Basic Bible Studies, Bible Studies, Books of the Bible, Chronological Gospels, Gospels Guided Study, New Testament Studies, Study with Me

Chronological Gospels: John 14-15

As we begin this week, read the very first verse of John 14 and carry that with you through the rest of the reading. This is a passage to memorize, meditate on, and find comfort in. Here in John 14, Jesus makes some vital promises and teaches some vital truths. He knows He is about to be crucified and that He doesn’t have much time left with His disciples and He makes this point very clear to them.

The primary truths that strike me through our chapters this week are that Jesus is the only way to God, that if we know Jesus we know God, and that if we love Him it will be evident all over our lives. Jesus implores His disciples to believe in Him, and likewise to believe in the Father. He also promises to give us a Counselor, the Holy Spirit, when He goes back to Heaven to make a place for His people.

What does it mean that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life?

Jesus presses this point that faith is based on love, and true love is evident by our obedience. Obedience based on love and faith is evident by the fruits produced. If we truly believe in Jesus, we believe what He says. Because we believe it, we obey and follow His teachings. If we are following His teachings and commandments, we are abiding in Him and Him in us. If we are abiding in the will of God, we are aligned with Him and in good standing with Him. Prayers prayed by those who are aligned with Him will be heard and answered and there will be evidence in our lives if we are truly abiding in Him.

What does this teach you about your own faith and relationship with Jesus?

None of us can do anything without Christ. When we have faith in Jesus, we then get to know God, are given His Holy Spirit, and are indwelt by Him. It is through Him and His power that we can understand any of His teachings and again by His power that we can obey Him. On our own, we will fail. When we are truly aligned with Him, we will do His will and it will bring us peace and joy no matter the circumstances we face. We will draw closer to Him, and we will also be a testimony to draw others to the Lord.

Jesus also makes the promise that He is going away to His Father’s house to make a place for us and that He will return. This is a vital promise we should all cling to and look forward to – that Jesus will be back for us! Those who are abiding in Him will have a place with Him. Those who are not abiding in Him will be like dead branches, cut off and thrown into the fire.

What does this truth teach you about Jesus?

What does this teach you about Biblical prayer?

Jesus also teaches us that we are to remain in His love, which requires faith, love, and obedience. It requires lovingly abiding in Him. Likewise, we are supposed to love one another. This “one another” refers to fellow believers. We should be loving the Church as Christ loves His Church. We are tasked with the commission to endure, to bear with, to be kind, to not be arrogant, rude, selfish, or dishonest. We are instructed to love the way that God so loves us (1 Corinthians 13). To do this, we must commit to learning about the true love of God and how we are to live it in our own life.

What does it mean to love as Christ loves us?

How do these truths impact and apply to your own faith, life, and relationships?

Chronological Gospels: Luke 22; John 13

by Water On Thirsty Land | Sep 16, 2025 | Basic Bible Studies, Bible Studies, Books of the Bible, Chronological Gospels, Gospels Guided Study, New Testament Studies, Study with Me

Chronological Gospels: Luke 22; John 13

We jump back into the gospels with Luke and John this week and their accounts of the events surrounding the Last Supper with Jesus. A few nuggets in these chapters give us some additional insight into the accounts we have read from Matthew and Mark.

One of these chapters’ main pieces centers on Satan’s hand in the events that are about to unfold. In these passages, we learn that Satan put the thought of betraying Jesus into the mind of Judas Iscariot, that later Satan entered Judas, and also that Satan had asked to sift Peter like wheat. Satan’s fingerprints are all over this scene. There are several reasons this is important.

Knowing that Satan was at work here is vital. First of all, notice “Satan has asked” in Luke 22:31. Satan had to get permission. On the flip side, though, notice that Satan did not enter Judas until after the idea had been put into his very heart. Satan cannot enter someone whose heart is steadfast on Jesus. Judas’ heart had turned on Jesus, and the fact that Satan entered him tells us that the deepest thoughts of Judas’ heart were on betraying Jesus.

Jesus knows our very hearts, and we see all over scripture warnings to guard our hearts and our minds. Later on, Jesus commands the exhausted disciples to pray so that they do not enter temptation. Instead, they kept falling asleep rather than praying, eventually, they all fled, and Peter ended up doing just as Christ warned him he would do and denied Christ 3 times to save his own neck.

Jesus knows exactly what Satan wants, exactly what will tempt us, exactly what we will stumble on, and He also knows exactly what – or should I say, Who – will save us from all of the above. He is the only One. When we place our faith and trust entirely in Him, He gives us what we need.

What does this teach you about the work of Satan in your own life?

Jesus also emphasizes that the disciples have never lacked anything they need while they were with Him. They agree with Him. He is pointing out that He made a way for them and provided all they needed. It was not their own doing, but His provisions that supplied their needs. He provides for our physical needs, as well as our spiritual needs.

When Jesus washed the feet of the disciples, He was teaching them even more about His provision and how we as His followers are to live and lead. In this beautiful moment, Jesus takes on the appearance and role of a servant, washing the dust off of their feet, and then explains to them that we are to do likewise.

By washing their feet He teaches them not only to serve one another, to not seek their own greatness, but also He is teaching a vital spiritual lesson. Once a believer is bathed by the Lord, once we enter into the family of God by faith in Jesus, we are made clean. From there on, we do not need to be made entirely clean again as if cleaning the whole body, but we need daily confession to wash the daily filth of life from us. When we confess our sins daily, we are forgiven of our sins. This is like washing only dusty feet rather than bathing the entire body.

What does Jesus washing the disciples’ feet teach you about Jesus?

What does this teach you about your own prayer and confession life?

As true disciples of Jesus, we are to humble ourselves to serve others, and daily confess our sins. He tells them later on His new command to love as He has loved, and that we will be known as His disciples by how we love other believers. This expands on loving your neighbor, and zeroes in on caring for one another as followers of Jesus.

What does this command teach you about biblical love?

What does this teach you about your relationship with other believers?

Chronological Gospels: Matthew 26; Mark 14

by Water On Thirsty Land | Sep 9, 2025 | Basic Bible Studies, Bible Studies, Books of the Bible, Chronological Gospels, Gospels Guided Study, New Testament Studies, Study with Me

Chronological Gospels: Matthew 26; Mark 14

This week we enter into a deeper, tougher part of the gospel story when Jesus is betrayed and arrested. Not only this, but His disciples desert Him after having JUST sworn to stay by Him. I feel like every time I have gone through this part of the story before I have shouted at the disciples in my head wondering HOW they could do that!

Something struck me this time, though. This is before the disciples receive the gift, and therefore the power, of the Holy Spirit. They do not yet have Jesus’ strength within them. The power of Jesus that gives believers the strength and endurance needed to withstand all circumstances. They are not yet filled by God, and this part of the story is a prime example of what we can (and cannot) withstand without the strength of the Lord.

The disciples complain about the woman who anointed Jesus with oil, prepare for the Passover, share the Last Supper with Jesus, and promise to stand with Him no matter what, even to death. In between these big moments, Judas scurries off to sell Jesus to the religious leaders, and Jesus, knowing this, breaks bread with the disciples, even Judas.

In this intense part of the story, what about the disciples stands out to you?

What stands out to you about Jesus in this part of the story?

One thing I cannot help but notice is how Jesus prays before He is arrested. He knows exactly what He has to do, and He knows that it means for that moment on the cross when He is bearing the sins of the world that God will have to turn His back on Him. He knows that to be without God for that moment in order to pay for our sins is going to be utter agony. He asks God to take this responsibility from Him if there is another way. Even still, Jesus submits to the will of God and proceeds with the plan in obedience and submission knowing what must be done.

What does Jesus praying in Gethsemane teach you about God?

Another thing that struck me was the way the Sanhedrin dealt with Jesus. It is covered in lies and false witnesses. What really stood out to me is that those who were opposed to Jesus, or even simply responded to not feel the wrath of the religious leaders, were all muddled and confused. The false testimony was a jumbled mess that caused confusion and frustration.

The truth of the gospel has been proclaimed far and wide for centuries. The truth stays the same, and the lies of the enemy continue to confuse people and push people away from the gospel truth. We must be careful not to fall into the lies and confusion of the enemy and cling to what is true.

What does the encounter with the Sanhedrin teach you about Jesus?

It is also important to note that Peter, who adamantly promised to stay by Jesus no matter what, faltered. This is one of the big moments Peter is known for. What I love, though, is that Peter continues to be used in incredible ways to share the gospel of Jesus and teach others about Him. Peter did not yet have the Holy Spirit to strengthen Him, and in Peter’s weakness, he fell away and denied Christ.

How have you changed since becoming a follower of Jesus? Take some time this week to prayerfully consider how you have been changed through your faith, and are being sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

Chronological Gospels: Matthew 24-25

by Water On Thirsty Land | Sep 2, 2025 | Basic Bible Studies, Bible Studies, Books of the Bible, Chronological Gospels, Gospels Guided Study, New Testament Studies, Study with Me

Chronological Gospels: Matthew 24-25

This week is a harsh set of chapters. We explore a bit deeper the signs of the end of the age, and what to expect before Christ returns. Along with this, Jesus also has a good bit to say about what will happen when He returns, as well as how He will return. Matthew 24 and 25 provide much detail as well as some encouragement and warnings for all of us that we must take seriously.

What are the things Jesus tells us will take place before the Son of Man will return?

I find it convicting that Jesus warns us that life on this earth will get more dangerous, hostile, and cruel the closer we get to His return. This life will get harder and darker, and it will get more difficult to stay close to Jesus and cling to our faith. He tells us, though, that those who endure to the end will be saved, and that this good news will be proclaimed all over the world.

What stands out to you in what Jesus shares about His return?

Jesus goes on to teach about the importance of being prepared for His return. When He returns, those who are not doing the work He has given us to do will be cast out. None of us know when He will return. It could be at any moment. He gives us all a job to do, and if we are not doing that work when He comes back we are going to be left behind and cast out into the darkness.

Jesus takes the commission He has given us all very seriously. He does not stand for laziness and procrastination, and there is no excuse for failing to do the work He has given us. This is a harsh reminder, but here’s the beautiful thing – there is still hope for each of us. We have time to get started, get moving, and get working on the tasks He has given us to do for His Kingdom and glory.

How can you begin preparing better for the return of Jesus?

Chronological Gospels: Mark 13; Luke 20-21

by Water On Thirsty Land | Aug 26, 2025 | Basic Bible Studies, Bible Studies, Books of the Bible, Chronological Gospels, Gospels Guided Study, New Testament Studies, Study with Me

Chronological Gospels: Mark 13; Luke 20-21

As we dive into our passages this week, we explore some vital points straight from Jesus not long before He was handed over to be killed. The more I study each book of the Bible the more connections I see. Throughout Mark 13 and Luke 20-21 we are warned by Jesus about the signs that will come that will indicate the end drawing near and Jesus’ return coming soon. “Soon” and “near” are not the same to us as to the Lord, but there are some key things we need to take from these chapters this week.

Our world continues to darken, sickness spreads, inflation increases, prices soar, food grows scarce, ungodliness is celebrated, war is again raging and rumored, persecution rises, natural disasters are frequent, and deception is spreading like wildfire. We are inundated with these things daily from the news, social media, and conversations at work, and they often seem to filter into sermons on Sundays. It can be incredibly difficult not to worry, or even to panic.

How are you feeling about all the things happening around the world?

Throughout our readings this week, though, we are given some encouragement and instructions as followers of Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself tells us not to be deceived, and not to be alarmed when we see these things happening. Let me say that again – WHEN we see these things, don’t be alarmed. Jesus is telling us that these things have to happen, and that God is still in control of it all. It is part of the story. In order for redemption to come, we have to endure the birthing pains of the world.

When Jesus tells us the signs of the end of the age, He also tells us that those who endure to the end will be saved. In other words, those who remain faithful even in great tribulation, in times of persecution, war, famine, sickness, and worse will be saved. Salvation comes to those who cling to their faith to the very end no matter what suffering may come as a result.

What about these passages stands out to you personally? Why?

What do these warnings teach you about Jesus?

Jesus also makes it clear that persecution will happen, and will increase to a degree never experienced before. People will turn against their own families and kill them, nation will rise against nation, and those truly faithful to the Lord will risk death for their faith. The people of the Kingdom of God are constantly at war with this world, and it is going to feel like it. We are supposed to be set apart, willing to obey God even unto death in order to do the works and share the gospel however and wherever He calls and leads each of us to do.

How can this information encourage you in your faith?

What does this teach you about your personal relationship with Jesus?

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Chronological Gospels: Matthew 23

by Water On Thirsty Land | Aug 19, 2025 | Basic Bible Studies, Bible Studies, Books of the Bible, Chronological Gospels, Gospels Guided Study, New Testament Studies, Study with Me

Chronological Gospels: Matthew 23

As we pick up in Matthew 23, Jesus is rebuking the religious leaders in front of a crowd. There are quite a few important lessons here for all of us as He declares what is wrong with the way these scribes and Pharisees are behaving, leading, and teaching. He tells the crowd that because of the positions these religious leaders are in, listen and obey, but don’t mimic them for they do not, and are not willing to, do what they teach.

This is the first lesson of this week’s passage. Just because someone is in charge does not mean we should mimic their character. We should obey our leaders, but be careful not to mimic ungodly behaviors. I want to point out how much Jesus calls them hypocrites. Don’t miss this – Christ does not appreciate, praise, and condone hypocrisy. In fact, He calls out their hypocrisy and follows up by calling them a “brood of vipers”. Hypocrisy is serious business.

We all need to be careful that we “practice what we preach” as the saying goes, and that we are not falling in line with the Pharisee’s hypocrisy. As Christians, we should be following the example and teachings of Jesus, and being careful to mimic godly people in our life. In order to know whether someone is a Christ-like or un-Christ-like example, we must be learning more about Christ Himself. As we learn about the example Christ sets we will learn to tell the difference.

What stands out to you about Jesus’s rebuke of the religious leaders?

What do these rebukes teach you about Jesus?

What do these rebukes teach you about your own conduct and relationships?

Chronological Gospels: Matthew 22; Mark 12

by Water On Thirsty Land | Aug 12, 2025 | Basic Bible Studies, Bible Studies, Books of the Bible, Chronological Gospels, Gospels Guided Study, New Testament Studies, Study with Me

Chronological Gospels: Matthew 22; Mark 12

This week we read through Matthew 22 and Mark 12 where things begin to heat up between Jesus and the Jewish religious leaders. The traps continue to be set for Jesus, but Jesus being God knows what they are doing. This is the first thing that really strikes me in these passages. Jesus knows their thoughts and intentions. He knows when they are purely trying to trip Him up, and He knows when they are being sincere or not. He knows their hearts and their minds.

Jesus not only knows the hearts and minds of the Jewish religious leaders, but He knows ours as well. He knows when we truly desire Him, when we truly desire to learn from Him, when we truly desire to follow Him, and when we truly intend to obey Him. He knows when we are neglecting our sins and when we are truly repentant. He knows us better than we know our own selves.

What does this truth teach you about Jesus and your own relationship with Him?

I love the depth of the parables in these chapters where Jesus describes the Kingdom of God. The more I read and learn from scripture, the more nuggets I draw out of the parables throughout the gospels.

What about these parables stands out to you today? What do these parables teach you about God and your relationship with Him?

The main thing I am convicted of with these parables is that we are the servants sent to tell others of the wedding banquet and to the Vineyard to collect the fruit. We are commissioned with telling the world about Jesus, even unto death. This is not a lighthearted quest or a halfhearted commitment. This is an all-in experience. Faith isn’t for convenience. Faith is absolute belief, being fully convinced, and committing to the truth we believe about Jesus, choosing every day to live it out in all circumstances.

Throughout these chapters, what stands out to you about Jesus Himself? What stands out about the responses He gets, and the responses He gives? What does this teach you about Him?

These chapters are filled with so many vital truths we are called to believe and live by. Here we see Jesus tell us what the greatest command is, and to the surprise of those listening it was a two-parter. In our culture we simplify it by saying “Love God, Love people”, but be careful of oversimplifying these vital truths. Jesus was clear. Loving God and loving people should go deeper than this simple phrase depicts. We are to love God with our whole heart, self, mind, soul, and strength.

Jesus tells us this vital lesson right after also teaching to give God what is God’s. We are God’s. We are made by God, for God, and we were bought with the blood of Jesus. By giving to God what is God’s we are to give God our whole selves, to truly love God with our whole life and being.

How does this encourage or convict you in your own relationship with the Lord?

Chronological Gospels: Mark 11; John 12

by Water On Thirsty Land | Aug 5, 2025 | Basic Bible Studies, Bible Studies, Books of the Bible, Chronological Gospels, Gospels Guided Study, New Testament Studies, Study with Me

Chronological Gospels: Mark 11; John 12

This week’s reading takes us deeper into why Jesus came to earth. We read again about His entry into Jerusalem, and then the cleansing of the temple because it had been made a dishonest marketplace. Reading through this bit of the story again reminded me yet again of the importance of prayer. Another thought also struck me – Jesus says “my house is to be a house of prayer.” Scripture also teaches us that believers are the temple of the Holy Spirit.

This passage is a good reminder that we are the dwelling place of God on earth and are called to be devoted to prayer and godliness and not allow ourselves to fall into greed and corruption, making our hearts a den of thievery like the temple where Jesus turned over the money tables. If we allow our hearts to be filled with greed He will come and turn the tables over and do the painful sanctifying work of cleansing His temple that is us.

What does reading this part of the story again teach you about Jesus and your own relationship with Him?

Moving on, we read about the withering of the fig tree. This is a symbolic encounter. Jesus is giving a warning to those who are not producing fruits in accordance with godliness. Those who do not produce the fruits of faith will be destroyed, just like the fig tree. I love how reading this passage altogether provides some different context than when read as separate pieces. Within this part of the passage, Jesus also explains to Peter that one of the ways to see the fruits of authentic faith is forgiveness and answered prayers. If our prayers are not being answered we should be checking our hearts.

Are we harboring unforgiveness? Are we asking out of selfishness? Are we truly praying in faith within a right relationship with the Lord? Jesus is not telling us to just ask God selfishly for whatever we want and we will get it. What He is teaching us is that if we truly are in a right relationship with the Lord, there will be fruits to prove it, and some of those fruits include a forgiving heart and answered prayers. Prayers are only answered when our hearts are right with the Lord.

Take some time to pray over and consider this and seek God to work in your heart today.

Jesus also takes some time to explain more about what it means to believe in Him and to truly follow Him. All over these passages, He gives us insight into how we should live as believers. In particular I can’t help but dig into the light versus darkness. Multiple times He explains that we should walk in the light and resist the darkness. If we truly believe in Him we will not dwell in the darkness anymore but we will walk in the Light, and He is very clear that He is the Light.

What about these passages stands out the most to you and what have you learned about it today?

I can’t help but notice that Jesus is reminding us that there is only a limited amount of time to believe and give our life to the Light before it is too late and time runs out. We have to be careful not to let our hearts grow hardened against God, and we should be living according to the truth and knowledge of salvation.

This word for “light” used throughout this set of passages means “saving truth”, and to live agreeably to saving wisdom, to continue to be devoted to the saving truth, and to persevere in keeping with the saving truth. In other words, to walk in the Light is to live according to the truth of salvation and the teachings of Jesus Christ, to truly follow Him, and live by His example.

What does this teach you about who Jesus is and how He calls on you to live your life?

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I am a wife, mom, writer, crafter, and above all, a Child of God. I love to study the Bible, fellowship with other Christians, and serve God. I am thrilled to invite you to join me in seeking to satisfy our thirsty souls with the Living Water of Christ, which is what Water On Thirsty Land is here to do.