The theme for October, to strive to be virtuous, is a very appropriate theme for the section of Scripture we’ll be reading this month. Paul writes a letter to the believers at Corinth, instructing and encouraging them to remain pure and obedient. Biblical Corinth was a centre of sin. It was a sexually immoral place, with its goddess Aphrodite. There were false gods and idols everywhere. Definitely not the most suitable place to strive for purity and obedience to Jesus’ teachings. Paul encourages the Philippians to continue in their obedience, writing the letter from prison. He commends their joy in serving Christ. Paul himself is in the midst of the persecution from others as a result of his own obedience to Christ. Although Paul encourages the Church to live pure lives that are pleasing to God, he also reminds the churches of Galatia and Ephesus that our salvation is by faith, and not works alone. Timothy shows perhaps one of the best examples in the Bible of a godly woman. Timothy’s mother and grandmother are praised for raising Timothy in a godly home and living as virtuous women. As you read these letters, focus on what God is saying to the churches, and to us, through Paul.
By Lisa Grimenstein
Suggested Reading, October 2008
October 01 (1 Corinthians 10:1-33; 11:1-16)
October 02 (1 Corinthians 11:17-34; 12:1-31)
October 03 (1 Corinthians 13:1-13; 14:1-40)
October 04 (1 Corinthians 15:1-49)
October 05 (1 Corinthians 15:50-58; 16:1-24)
October 06 (2 Corinthians 1:1-24; 2:1-17)
October 07 (2 Corinthians 3:1-18; 4:1-18; 5:1-11)
October 08 (2 Corinthians 5:12-21; 6:1-18; 7:1-16)
October 09 (2 Corinthians 8:1-24; 9:1-15)
October 10 (2 Corinthians 10:1-18; 11:1-33)
October 11 (2 Corinthians 12:1-21; 13:1-14)
October 12 (Galatians 1:1-24; 2:1-21)
October 13 (Galatians 3:1-29; 4:1-31)
October 14 (Galatians 5:1-26; 6:1-18)
October 15 (Ephesians 1:1-23; 2:1-22)
October 16 (Ephesians 3:1-21; 4:1-32)
October 17 (Ephesians 5:1-33; 6:1-24)
October 18 (Philippians 1:1-30; 2:1-30)
October 19 (Philippians 3:1-21; 4:1-23)
October 20 (Colossians 1:1-23; 2:1-23)
October 21 (Colossians 3:1-25; 4:1-18)
October 22 (1 Thessolonians 1:1-10; 2:1-20; 3:1-13)
October 23 (1 Thessolonians 4:1-18; 5:1-28)
October 24 (2 Thessolonians 1:1-12; 2:1-17; 3:1-18)
October 25 (1 Timothy 1:1-20; 2:1-15; 3:1-16)
October 26 (1 Tomothy 4:1-16; 5:1-25)
October 27 (1 Timothy 6:1-21)
October 28 (2 Timothy 1:1-18; 2:1-26)
October 29 (2 Timothy 3:1-17; 4:1-22)
October 30 (Titus 1:1-16; 2:1-15; 3:1-15)
October 31 (Philemon 1:1-25)
Great overview! Every sentence is crammed full of information, and their world doesn’t sound much different than ours today. This article makes me really excited to dig into the reading this month; you wrote this at a great time since I’ve recently began reading almost every day again. I will definitely use this plan!