Read the Bible: The New Testament in a Year

2 Corinthians 2. Day 169 - The New Testament in a Year
Episode Notes:
Today's Scripture: 2 Corinthians 2 (CSB)Podcast Homepage: The New Testament in a YearBible Reading Plan: Navigators Bible Reading PlanContact Sean: (seanbailey1985@gmail.com)Follow NTIY on Facebook: facebook.com/newtestamentinayear
In Today's Episode
Correction That Leads to Restoration. The Power of Forgiveness. The Aroma of Christ.
"For to God we are the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing." — 2 Corinthians 2:15
Second Corinthians 2 gives us a beautiful picture of what grace looks like when it is lived out in relationships. Paul had previously written some difficult words to the Corinthian church, and he makes it clear that his correction did not come from anger or a desire to hurt them. It came from love. Sometimes love requires difficult conversations. Biblical correction is never meant to tear someone down or prove that we are right. Its goal is repentance, restoration, and ultimately a closer walk with Christ.
Paul then urges the church to forgive and comfort a man who had apparently repented after being disciplined. The correction had accomplished its purpose, and now it was time for restoration. Paul warns that continued condemnation could overwhelm the man with grief and even give Satan an opportunity to divide the church. There is an important lesson here for us. When repentance is genuine, God's people should be eager to forgive. We cannot preach a gospel of grace while refusing to extend grace to someone who has turned from their sin. Forgiveness does not pretend that sin never happened, but it refuses to let that sin have the final word.
The chapter closes with one of Paul's most memorable pictures of the Christian life. He describes believers as "the fragrance of Christ." In the ancient world, a victorious king would return from battle in a triumphal procession accompanied by the smell of incense. Paul uses that picture to remind us that Christ is the victorious King, and our lives should carry the fragrance of knowing Him wherever we go. To some, the gospel will be welcomed as the aroma of life. To others, it will be rejected. Our responsibility is not to control how people respond but to faithfully represent Jesus. Second Corinthians 2 challenges us to love enough to correct, forgive enough to restore, and live in such a way that when people encounter us, they catch the unmistakable fragrance of Christ.

2 Corinthians 1. Day 168 - Read the Bible: The New Testament in a Year
Episode Notes:
Today's Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1 (CSB)Podcast Homepage: The New Testament in a YearBible Reading Plan: Navigators Bible Reading PlanContact Sean: (seanbailey1985@gmail.com)Follow NTIY on Facebook: facebook.com/newtestamentinayear
In Today's Episode
The God of All Comfort. Strength Through Suffering. Every Promise Is Yes in Christ.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort." — 2 Corinthians 1:3
Second Corinthians opens with Paul speaking honestly about suffering. He does not pretend that following Jesus means life will always be easy. Paul and his companions had experienced affliction so severe that he says they even "despaired of life itself." Yet it was in those moments of deepest weakness that Paul experienced God as the "Father of mercies and the God of all comfort." The comfort God gives is more than simply making us feel better. It is His presence and strength sustaining us when we cannot carry ourselves.
Paul also shows us that God's comfort is never meant to stop with us. He comforts us in our affliction "so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction." God can take some of the most painful chapters of our lives and use them to prepare us to walk beside someone else. Our suffering is never something we would choose, but in the hands of God it is never wasted. Sometimes the place where we have hurt the deepest becomes the very place where God allows us to minister most powerfully to others.
Paul then explains that his suffering taught him something even deeper: to stop relying on himself and rely on God who raises the dead. That is a lesson most of us would rather learn another way, but there are moments when God allows our own strength to run out so that we discover His strength is enough. Paul closes this section by reminding the Corinthians that God's faithfulness is ultimately seen in Jesus Christ. "Every one of God's promises is 'Yes' in him." Second Corinthians 1 reminds us that our confidence is not found in easy circumstances but in a faithful God. Whatever we are carrying today, we can trust the One who comforts us, sustains us, keeps His promises, and even raises the dead. Our suffering may be real, but it will never be greater than the faithfulness of our God.

1 Corinthians 16. Day 167 - The New Testament in a Year
Episode Notes:
Today's Scripture: 1 Corinthians 16 (CSB)Podcast Homepage: The New Testament in a YearBible Reading Plan: Navigators Bible Reading PlanContact Sean: (seanbailey1985@gmail.com)Follow NTIY on Facebook: facebook.com/newtestamentinayear
In Today's Episode
Generous Giving. Open Doors for Ministry. Standing Firm in Love.
"Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong. Do everything in love." — 1 Corinthians 16:13–14
First Corinthians 16 may feel like a collection of final instructions and personal greetings, but Paul's closing words show us what the truths of this letter should look like when they are lived out. He begins by giving practical instructions about an offering for struggling believers in Jerusalem. Paul encourages the Corinthians to set something aside regularly according to how God has prospered them. Generosity was not meant to be an occasional emotional response. It was to become a regular part of their discipleship. The gospel changes not only what we believe but also how we view everything God has placed in our hands.
Paul then shares his plans for ministry and gives us an important glimpse into the way he viewed opportunities and opposition. He tells the Corinthians that "a wide door for effective ministry has opened for me, yet many oppose me." We can sometimes assume that opposition means we are headed in the wrong direction. Paul reminds us that an open door from God does not necessarily mean an easy road. Sometimes the greatest opportunities for the gospel come with the greatest resistance. Our calling is not to look for the path with the least difficulty but to faithfully walk through the doors God opens.
Paul's final instructions beautifully summarize much of the letter: be alert, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong, and do everything in love. Strength and love belong together in the Christian life. We are called to stand firmly on truth without becoming harsh, and to love people deeply without compromising truth. That balance reflects the heart of Christ. As First Corinthians comes to a close, Paul reminds us that everything we have studied about unity, holiness, freedom, spiritual gifts, worship, love, and resurrection is meant to shape the way we actually live. Stand firm. Stay faithful. Love well. And keep serving Christ wherever He opens the door.

1 Corinthians 15. Day 166 - The New Testament in a Year
Episode Notes:
Today's Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15 (CSB)Podcast Homepage: The New Testament in a YearBible Reading Plan: Navigators Bible Reading PlanContact Sean: (seanbailey1985@gmail.com)Follow NTIY on Facebook: facebook.com/newtestamentinayear
In Today's Episode
The Gospel We Stand On. The Resurrection Changes Everything. Victory Over Death.
"But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!" — 1 Corinthians 15:57
First Corinthians 15 brings us to the very heart of the Christian faith: the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Paul begins by reminding the Corinthians of the gospel he had preached to them, the same gospel they received and upon which they now stand. Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, He was buried, and He was raised on the third day. Paul then points to the many eyewitnesses who saw the risen Christ. Christianity is not built on a philosophy or simply a collection of good teachings. It is built on a historical claim that changes everything: Jesus was dead, and Jesus is alive.
Some in Corinth were questioning whether there would really be a resurrection of the dead, and Paul shows just how much is at stake. If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless, our faith is worthless, we remain in our sins, and those who have died in Christ are lost. But then Paul gives us two of the most important words in the chapter: "But as it is, Christ has been raised from the dead." Because Jesus lives, those who belong to Him will live as well. Paul calls Christ the "firstfruits" of those who have fallen asleep. His resurrection is not an isolated miracle. It is the guarantee of what God will one day do for every believer.
Paul then explains the hope of our own resurrection. The bodies we have now are perishable, weak, and mortal, but God promises that they will one day be raised imperishable, glorious, powerful, and immortal. Death does not get the final word. Because of Christ, death has been swallowed up in victory. That future hope should change the way we live right now. Paul closes by telling believers to be steadfast, immovable, and always excelling in the Lord's work because our labor in the Lord is not in vain. First Corinthians 15 reminds us that because the tomb is empty, we can face life with purpose and death with hope. Whatever we are walking through today, we know how the story ends. Christ is risen. Death is defeated. And in Jesus, victory is ours.

1 Corinthians 14. Day 165 - The New Testament in a Year
Episode Notes:
Today's Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14 (CSB)Podcast Homepage: The New Testament in a YearBible Reading Plan: Navigators Bible Reading PlanContact Sean: (seanbailey1985@gmail.com)Follow NTIY on Facebook: facebook.com/newtestamentinayear
In Today's Episode
Pursuing Love. Gifts That Build the Church. Worship with Order and Purpose.
"Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, and especially that you may prophesy." — 1 Corinthians 14:1
First Corinthians 14 continues directly from Paul's teaching about love in chapter 13. The Corinthians had become fascinated with spiritual gifts, especially speaking in tongues, but Paul redirects their attention to the purpose of those gifts. Spiritual gifts are given to build up the church, not to elevate the person using them. Paul gives special attention to prophecy because understandable words of instruction, encouragement, and consolation strengthen the entire congregation. His concern is not simply whether a spiritual experience is genuine, but whether what happens when believers gather actually helps others grow in Christ.
Paul spends much of the chapter contrasting speaking in tongues with speaking words that people can understand. His point is practical. If no one understands what is being said, the church is not being instructed. Paul would rather speak five understandable words that teach others than ten thousand words in a tongue that no one understands. This gives us an important principle for worship and ministry: clarity matters. What happens in the church should point people toward Christ, communicate God's truth, and strengthen believers rather than create confusion or draw attention to ourselves.
The chapter closes with Paul's instructions for orderly worship. Corinthian gatherings had apparently become chaotic, with people speaking over one another and spiritual expression becoming disconnected from mutual edification. Paul reminds them that "God is not a God of disorder but of peace." His solution is not lifeless worship but purposeful worship in which spiritual gifts operate under biblical order and self-control. First Corinthians 14 challenges us to think beyond what we personally enjoy or experience when the church gathers. The better question is, "Does this build up the body of Christ?" Whatever gifts God has given us should be exercised in love, grounded in truth, and used for the good of others so that everything in the church is done decently and in order.

1 Corinthians 13. Day 164 - The New Testament in a Year
Episode Notes:
Today's Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13 (CSB)Podcast Homepage: The New Testament in a YearBible Reading Plan: Navigators Bible Reading PlanContact Sean: (seanbailey1985@gmail.com)Follow NTIY on Facebook: facebook.com/newtestamentinayear
In Today's Episode
The Necessity of Love. The Character of Christlike Love. What Lasts Forever.
"Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love—but the greatest of these is love." — 1 Corinthians 13:13
First Corinthians 13 is often called the "love chapter," and we hear it frequently at weddings. But Paul's original context is much bigger than marriage. This chapter sits directly between Paul's teaching about spiritual gifts in chapters 12 and 14 because the Corinthian church had become focused on who had the greatest gifts. Paul shows them a better way. We can possess incredible knowledge, exercise remarkable spiritual gifts, speak with impressive words, give away everything we own, and even make tremendous sacrifices, but if those things are not motivated by love, Paul says they amount to nothing. Spiritual maturity is not ultimately measured by how gifted we are. It is measured by how deeply our lives reflect the love of Christ.
Paul then tells us what that love actually looks like. Love is patient and kind. It does not envy, boast, or become arrogant. It is not selfish, easily provoked, or constantly keeping a record of wrongs. Love rejoices in truth and continues to bear, believe, hope, and endure. These familiar words become much more challenging when we stop reading them as poetry and begin using them as a mirror. Am I patient with difficult people? Do I celebrate when someone else succeeds? Am I keeping score of how someone has hurt me? Biblical love is not simply an emotion we feel. It is a Christlike way of living that consistently chooses the good of another person.
Paul closes by reminding us that spiritual gifts are temporary, but love is eternal. Right now our understanding is incomplete. We see only part of what God is doing, like looking through a dim reflection. One day, when we stand in the presence of Christ, what is partial will give way to what is complete. Faith, hope, and love remain, and the greatest is love. First Corinthians 13 challenges us to evaluate our lives by a different standard. We can be right and still fail to love. We can be gifted and still fail to love. We can accomplish great things and still miss what matters most. The clearest evidence of a life being shaped by Jesus is not simply what we know or what we can do, but how faithfully we love God and the people He has placed around us.

1 Corinthians 12. Day 163 - The New Testament in a Year
Episode Notes:
Today's Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12 (CSB)Podcast Homepage: The New Testament in a YearBible Reading Plan: Navigators Bible Reading PlanContact Sean: (seanbailey1985@gmail.com)Follow NTIY on Facebook: facebook.com/newtestamentinayear
In Today's Episode
Gifts from the Spirit. One Body with Many Parts. Every Believer Has a Purpose.
"Now you are the body of Christ, and individual members of it." — 1 Corinthians 12:27
First Corinthians 12 turns our attention to spiritual gifts and the work of the Holy Spirit within the church. The Corinthians had begun treating certain gifts as signs of greater spirituality, creating competition and division where there should have been unity. Paul reminds them that while there are different gifts, ministries, and activities, they all come from the same God. The Holy Spirit distributes gifts according to His will, and every gift is given "for the common good." Spiritual gifts are not trophies that show how important we are. They are tools God gives us to serve others and strengthen His church.
Paul then gives us one of the most powerful pictures of the church in the New Testament: the body of Christ. A body has many different parts, and every part has a different function, but they all belong to one body. The eye cannot tell the hand that it is unnecessary, and the head cannot tell the feet that they are not needed. In the same way, there are no insignificant members of Christ's church. We do not all have the same gifts, personalities, responsibilities, or calling, and that is exactly how God designed it. Our differences should not lead to comparison or competition. They should lead us to depend on one another.
That picture also means that Christianity was never intended to be lived alone. When one part of the body suffers, we suffer together. When one is honored, we rejoice together. God has intentionally placed each believer within His body, and every person has something meaningful to contribute. First Corinthians 12 challenges us to stop comparing our gifts with someone else's and instead faithfully use what God has entrusted to us. You do not have to be gifted like someone else to be valuable to the Kingdom. God has placed you in His body on purpose. The question is not whether your gift looks impressive, but whether you are faithfully using it to serve others and point people to Christ.

1 Corinthians 11. Day 162 - The New Testament in a Year
Episode Notes:
Today's Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11 (CSB)Podcast Homepage: The New Testament in a YearBible Reading Plan: Navigators Bible Reading PlanContact Sean: (seanbailey1985@gmail.com)Follow NTIY on Facebook: facebook.com/newtestamentinayear
In Today's Episode
Following Christ's Example. Honoring God in Worship. Remembering Christ at the Lord's Supper.
"Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ." — 1 Corinthians 11:1
First Corinthians 11 continues Paul's concern for how the gospel should shape every part of life, including the way believers worship together. Paul begins with a simple but challenging statement: "Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ." The ultimate pattern for the Christian life is not our culture, our preferences, or even another Christian leader. It is Jesus. Paul then addresses issues of men and women, head coverings, and order in worship that were particularly significant in the culture of Corinth. While some of the cultural expressions require careful interpretation, Paul's larger concern is clear: our worship should reflect God's created order, honor one another, and ultimately bring glory to Christ rather than drawing attention to ourselves.
Paul then turns to a serious problem surrounding the Lord's Supper. What was meant to demonstrate the unity of the church had become another place where the Corinthians' divisions were being exposed. Some ate plenty while others went hungry, and the meal that was supposed to proclaim Christ's sacrificial love had become centered on selfishness. Paul brings them back to the words of Jesus on the night He was betrayed: "This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." Every time believers share the bread and the cup, we look backward to the cross and proclaim the Lord's death until He comes again.
Paul closes with a call to examine ourselves before coming to the Lord's Table. This is not meant to keep imperfect people away from communion. If perfection were required, none of us could come. Instead, we approach with humility, repentance, gratitude, and a proper recognition of Christ's body. First Corinthians 11 reminds us that worship is never supposed to be about us. Whether we gather with the church, follow godly examples, or receive the Lord's Supper, our attention should continually return to Jesus. We remember His body given for us, His blood poured out for us, and the promise that the Savior who died and rose again is coming back.

1 Corinthians 10. Day 161 - The New Testament in a Year
Episode Notes:
Today's Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10 (CSB)Podcast Homepage: The New Testament in a YearBible Reading Plan: Navigators Bible Reading PlanContact Sean: (seanbailey1985@gmail.com)Follow NTIY on Facebook: facebook.com/newtestamentinayear
In Today's Episode
Learning from Israel's Failure. Standing Firm Against Temptation. Doing Everything for God's Glory.
"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God." — 1 Corinthians 10:31
First Corinthians 10 begins with a warning from Israel's history. God's people experienced incredible blessings. They were delivered from Egypt, passed through the sea, received God's provision in the wilderness, and experienced His presence among them. Yet many still fell into idolatry, immorality, complaining, and unbelief. Paul tells the Corinthians that these events were written as examples for us. Experiencing God's blessings does not make us immune to spiritual failure. We must guard our hearts against becoming comfortable, overconfident, or careless in our walk with Christ. Paul warns us plainly, "Whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall."
Paul then gives one of the most encouraging promises in Scripture concerning temptation. Temptation is common to all of us, but God is faithful. He will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear without also providing a way to endure it. That does not mean we should see how close we can get to sin without falling. Paul's command is much stronger: "Flee from idolatry." Sometimes the most spiritual response to temptation is not to stand around and fight with it but to run from it. Through his discussion of the Lord's Supper and food offered to idols, Paul reminds believers that our deepest allegiance belongs to Christ. We cannot claim fellowship with Jesus while willingly giving our hearts to the idols of this world.
The chapter closes by bringing Paul's teaching about Christian freedom into sharp focus. The question is not simply whether something is permissible. Paul tells us to consider whether it is beneficial, whether it builds others up, and ultimately whether it brings glory to God. That gives us a powerful filter for every area of life: Can I do this for the glory of God? First Corinthians 10 challenges us to learn from the failures of those who came before us, take temptation seriously, and use our freedom with love and wisdom. Whether in the big decisions or the ordinary moments of our day, the goal of the Christian life remains the same: whatever we do, do it all for the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 9. Day 160 - The New Testament in a Year
Episode Notes:
Today's Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9 (CSB)Podcast Homepage: The New Testament in a YearBible Reading Plan: Navigators Bible Reading PlanContact Sean: (seanbailey1985@gmail.com)Follow NTIY on Facebook: facebook.com/newtestamentinayear
In Today's Episode
Surrendering Our Rights. All Things for the Gospel. Running to Win.
"I have become all things to all people, so that I may by every possible means save some." — 1 Corinthians 9:22
First Corinthians 9 continues Paul's teaching about Christian freedom by using his own ministry as an example. As an apostle, Paul had legitimate rights. He had the right to receive financial support for his ministry, and he carefully explains why those who preach the gospel are worthy of being supported by the church. Yet Paul willingly chose not to exercise some of those rights when doing so might create an obstacle to the gospel. His point is not that Christian rights are unimportant. His point is that the mission of Christ is more important. Sometimes following Jesus means willingly laying down something we have every right to claim because reaching people with the gospel matters more.
That same heart is behind Paul's well-known statement that he became "all things to all people." Paul was not changing the gospel to make people happy or compromising biblical truth to fit the culture. He was willing to change himself. He adapted his approach, surrendered personal preferences, and entered into the lives of different people so that unnecessary barriers would not keep them from hearing about Jesus. The message never changed, but Paul's methods could. His life revolved around one consuming purpose: "I do all this because of the gospel." That challenges us to consider what preferences, comforts, or traditions we might be willing to surrender if it helps someone see Christ more clearly.
Paul closes the chapter with the picture of an athlete competing in a race. Runners do not train accidentally. They exercise discipline, deny themselves certain comforts, and keep their eyes fixed on the prize. Paul says the Christian life should be lived with that same intentionality. We are not running for a temporary crown but an eternal one. First Corinthians 9 challenges us to ask whether we are simply participating in the Christian life or truly running to win. Following Christ requires discipline, sacrifice, and focus. Our freedom is real, but our mission is greater. May we be willing to lay aside anything necessary, discipline ourselves faithfully, and spend our lives for the sake of the gospel.