2026 Gospel Reading Challenge

2026 Gospel Reading Challenge

We are inviting the community of St. Paul’s to try a unique reading plan for 2026. The idea is to immerse our hearts, minds, and souls deeply in the gospels. This should take each of us about 9 minutes per day (it might be a little longer in Luke, where the good doctor uses a lot more words). The blessing of this approach is to see how Jesus interacted with:
· Old Testament Prophecies
· His family
· Religious leaders
· People in pain
· His followers
· The evil empire of the day
The plan is designed to take you through all four Gospels in a thoughtful, meditative rhythm. Each chapter of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John is read not just once, but repeated over three days. On the first three days, you’ll read Matthew 1, 2, and 3. After that, you shift forward by one chapter every three days—so next you’ll read chapters 2, 3, and 4 for three days, then 3, 4, and 5, and so on. This gradual sliding pattern allows you to reflect on overlapping sections, reinforcing themes while progressing forward. In total, the 89 chapters will take you approximately 8 months, or 234 days.
The plan is perfect for communal spiritual growth. It promotes reflection and deep familiarity. By repeating a set of three chapters over three days, you reinforce what you read. The gradual shift, one chapter at a time, allows you to see how the narrative flows while maintaining the familiar context. It also makes the pace manageable—about three chapters every three days—and offers a meditative, layered approach. It’s ideal for personal or group study, focusing on both repetition and progress.
Most importantly, it should help us embed the way of Jesus in our lives. I encourage you to start each reading asking the Holy Spirit to show you what He wants you to learn, what he wants you to change, and what you should share from your reading with others. Finally, don’t worry if you get behind. The plan is not a mandate or a reason to feel like a failure! Just restart at your convenience and keep going!

We will have hard copies of the full plan in the Gathering Space as well as on the website at
https://stpaulslive.com/2026intensivegospelreadingplan

The first 14 days are below:
2026 Gospel Reading Plan

Day	Reading
1	Matthew 1, Matthew 2, Matthew 3
2	Matthew 1, Matthew 2, Matthew 3
3	Matthew 1, Matthew 2, Matthew 3
4	Matthew 2, Matthew 3, Matthew 4
5	Matthew 2, Matthew 3, Matthew 4
6	Matthew 2, Matthew 3, Matthew 4
7	Matthew 2, Matthew 3, Matthew 4
8	Matthew 2, Matthew 3, Matthew 4
9	Matthew 3, Matthew 4, Matthew 5
10	Matthew 3,  Matthew 4,  Matthew 5
11	Matthew 3, Matthew 4,  Matthew 5
12	Matthew 4, Matthew 5, Matthew 6
13	Matthew 4, Matthew 5, Matthew 6
14	Matthew 4, Matthew 5, Matthew 6