October 27th - 31st | Student Reading Plan

October 27th - 31st | Student Reading Plan


Monday: Matthew 16


Key Points: 


  • The Pharisees demand a sign from Jesus. Even though they have seen Him do a multitude of miracles. Even if Jesus shows them a sign they still won’t believe. They choose to not believe in spite of all Jesus has taught and done. 
  • Jesus’s disciples begin worrying because they have no bread. Jesus quickly reminds them that He fed 5,000 people multiple times. Jesus was really talking about being careful of false teaching. 
  • Peter confesses that Jesus is Lord. He is Christ. 
  • Peter in just a few verses goes from “You’re the rock I will build my church upon” to “Get behind me Satan” Jesus reminds Peter that Jesus’s ultimate mission is to die for us. No one can stand in the way of God’s will. Peter is reminded to focus on heavenly things. 
  • Jesus commands His followers to deny themselves. Pick up their cross and follow Jesus. 
  • Denying yourself looks like not participating in fleshly desires. It is denying yourself sinful worldly pleasures. This is acknowledging that we aren’t in control and that Jesus is Lord of our lives and His will shall be done in our own lives. It also puts into perspective that following Jesus will be difficult. It isn’t a decision that should be taken lightly. 
  • He shows the difficulty by the image of pick up your cross daily. It means to pay any price for Christ’s sake. 


What areas do you struggle to deny yourself?


What are some habits that allow you to deny yourself?


How can you take up your cross daily?


Application: 


In this chapter, Jesus makes it clear that following Him is not just about belief it’s about surrender. The call to “deny yourself and take up your cross daily” is one of the most challenging commands He gives. It means that being a disciple of Jesus requires more than words; it demands daily action, humility, and sacrifice. Jesus reminds His followers that the way to truly live is to give up control. Denying ourselves means letting go of selfish desires, pride, and comfort to make room for obedience and trust in God’s plan. Picking up our cross daily means willingly accepting the challenges, sacrifices, and even suffering that come with following Jesus. The cross wasn’t a decoration or symbol of status rather it was an instrument of death. Jesus uses that image to show that following Him means dying to ourselves so that His life can shine through us and transform us to be more like Him.


Daily Encouragement: 


Write down a few ways you need to deny yourself to follow Jesus faithfully. 
What is one way you can walk alongside your friends to help each other better follow Jesus?


Prayer: 


Thank You for showing us what true surrender looks like. You denied Yourself completely for our sake, even to the point of death on the cross. Help me to follow Your example daily. Teach me to let go of my selfish desires and to choose Your will over my own. When the path of obedience feels hard, remind me of the cross You carried for me.


Tuesday: Matthew 17 


Key Points: 


  • The disciples witness Jesus transfigure into a divine display of Jesus’s glory. 
  • Peter references this event later in 2 Peter 1:17 
  • “17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,”
  • The first thing Jesus does after is to comfort His disciples. He reminds them to have no fear. They just witnessed a divine power and Jesus doesn’t scold them for feeling afraid. He walks over and tells them Rise up and have no fear. Jesus comforts us in our moments of fear or worry. He is all powerful as we see in this story. 
  • This passage also proves Jesus is God’s Son. God states “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” 
  • In vs. 12, Jesus again predicts His own death. 
  • Jesus again heals another person who is possessed by a demon. 
  • Jesus has shown in divine glory and then cast out a demon. This shows His power. Jesus is omnipotent which means all-powerful. 
  • In vs. 22-23, Jesus again predicts His death. It says “ They were greatly distressed. This is because they didn’t know God’s plan. They just saw death and they freaked out. The disciples didn’t understand what Jesus’s death would mean. They didn’t understand that it meant that all sin would be forgiven. They didn’t understand that by Jesus dying on that cross He paid the price for their sin. That Jesus’s death and resurrection would allow for people to be saved by faith in Jesus. 
  • Often times we like the disciples don’t understand God’s plan and so we freak out. We become distressed over what might or might not happen. It seems scary because we don’t know God’s plan we don’t and can’t see what He’s doing. We should trust in Him because He’s been faithful and His plans are good. 


Why were the disciples so afraid of Jesus dying? 

What is your response when you don’t know God’s plan? What should it be? 

How should today’s reading about Jesus’s power reassure you in those moments? 

Application: 


When the disciples fall on their faces in fear, Jesus doesn’t rebuke them. Instead, He walks over, touches them, and says, “Rise, and have no fear.” What a beautiful picture of Jesus’s compassion. Even when we don’t understand what God is doing, His power is never meant to scare us it’s meant to comfort and strengthen us.
Later in the chapter, Jesus casts out a demon and again predicts His death and resurrection. The disciples become distressed because they can’t see the bigger picture. They only see death and they don’t yet see the resurrection, the victory, or the salvation that will come from it.
We’re often the same way. When we don’t understand what God is doing, we panic. We try to control what’s happening, or we lose peace because the plan doesn’t make sense to us. But Matthew 17 reminds us that Jesus is in control. He is both all-powerful and all-loving. Even when we can’t see the plan, we can trust the One who holds it.


Daily Encouragement: 


Write down a few times where something worried you or scared you and God worked it all out. 
Put this reminder somewhere this week to encourage you to endure because God is all powerful and is in control. 

Prayer: 


Thank You for showing us Your power and Your love. Just like the disciples on the mountain, we are often overwhelmed by what we don’t understand. Help us to remember that You are always in control even when life feels uncertain.
When fear starts to rise in our hearts, remind us of Your words: “Rise, and have no fear.” Give us peace in knowing that You are working out Your perfect plan, even when we can’t see it. Strengthen our faith to trust in Your timing and Your goodness.
Thank You for being both all-powerful and gentle with us. Help us to rest in Your presence and find confidence in Your promises.


Wednesday: Matthew 18 


Key Points: 


  • Someone asks Jesus who is the greatest? Jesus points to a child and says essentially a child is. This goes to the teaching that in God’s kingdom the last shall be first and the least shall be the greatest. A child was not a valuable member of society in this day. They weren’t as important as adults. Yet, Jesus says they are the greatest. A child isn’t concerned with who is the greatest or with trivial things. That is why Jesus says that in order to be great in His kingdom you must first Humble yourself. 
  • 1 Peter 5:6 “6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,” 
  • Jesus also cautions us to not cause Children to sin. There is a heavy punishment for those that cause children to sin. 
  • In vs. 7-10, Jesus provides warnings against temptation. Jesus tells us temptation will come but they are necessary for they test your faith. However, Jesus says don’t be a temptation or stumbling block for others. This means be careful by the way you talk, act, dress, and joke with others. You don’t want to be the cause of someone else’s sin. 
  • Jesus also commands to cut off limbs of your body to avoid sin. He doesn’t mean literally, but He’s showing how serious you should take casting off sin. If your phone is causing you to sin get rid of it. If your TV is causing you to sin get rid of it. If Social Media is causing you to sin delete it. If a relationship with someone causes you to sin be cautious around that person. It is better to live a less convenient life then one full of sin. 
  • Jesus tells a parable about searching for a sheep. Jesus wants all to follow Him.He wants us to have the same attitude. To search for people who are struggling to not let others off on their own. 
  • Vs. 15-20 model how to handle conflict in a godly way. Bring the issue to someone. If they won’t listen bring witnesses. Then, tell the Church if he won’t listen to the Church you did what you could. 
  • Jesus tells the parable of the unforgiving servant. This story shows how ridiculous we are when we have been forgiven by God, but we won’t forgive the people around us. We are foolish. We have been forgiven for so much we should be able to forgive others. 


Why do we desire to be the greatest? How can we humble ourselves to serve others?


What temptations or sin needs to go from your life?


Are you holding back forgiveness from someone in your life?


Application: 


In Matthew 18, Jesus teaches His disciples about humility, temptation, conflict, and forgiveness that it is all connected by one central truth: life in God’s kingdom looks radically different than life in the world. When the disciples ask who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, Jesus points to a child. This answer would’ve shocked everyone listening. In that culture, children weren’t considered important or powerful yet, Jesus says that unless we become like them, we cannot enter His kingdom. Greatness in God’s eyes begins with humility. True followers of Jesus don’t fight for position or recognition. Instead, they lower themselves, trust fully in the Father, and serve others.
Later in the chapter, Jesus tells the parable of the unforgiving servant. The servant is forgiven a massive debt but refuses to forgive someone who owes him just a little. It’s a powerful picture of how foolish we are when we hold onto bitterness while standing forgiven before God. Jesus wants His followers to live freely and forgiveness is part of that freedom. When we forgive others, we reflect the mercy God has shown us.


Daily encouragement: 


Write down one way you can serve someone else today. Make sure it doesn’t benefit you in some way. 


Prayer: 


Thank You for showing us what true greatness looks like and it’s not power or position, but humility and a heart that trusts You completely. Teach us to be like children before You: humble, dependent, and full of faith. Help us take sin seriously, Lord. Show us what needs to be removed from our lives so that nothing keeps us from You or causes others to stumble. Give us the strength to let go of anything that draws us toward temptation. Soften our hearts to forgive. When we remember how much You’ve forgiven us, help us to extend that same mercy to others. Remove bitterness, pride, and anger, and replace them with compassion and grace.


Thursday: Matthew 19


Key Points: 


  • Jesus debunks how divorce used to be handled. Moses just allowed people to write divorce tickets whenever they pleased. The Pharisees just care about the law. Jesus cares about the heart. He is stating that marriage is union of two people to become one flesh. 
  • Jesus once again stresses the importance of children being allowed in His presence. 
  • A rich man asks Jesus “How can I have eternal life.” Jesus tells him to sell all that the man has to the poor. This isn’t Jesus telling us we can’t have money. Jesus knows this man’s heart. He knows this man loves money more than people. The man placed money over a relationship with Jesus. 
  • Jesus’s disciples’s ask who can be saved. Jesus states that with God anything is possible. Anyone can be saved because it’s not up to us. Nothing we do justifies us in God’s eyes. We are only justified through Jesus. Jesus transforms us as we walk with Him. 
  • What things are you tempted to place above God?

How can you not be a stumbling block to others? 


Why is it reassuring that we are justified by what Jesus did not by ourselves?


Application: 


Matthew 19 shows us how easily our hearts can get distracted from what truly matters to God. The Pharisees cared more about rules than relationships, but Jesus reminded them that God’s commands are rooted in love and faithfulness and especially in marriage, which is meant to be a lasting union where two become one. He also emphasized that children, often overlooked in society, belong in His presence. Jesus values humility and sincerity over status or knowledge.
Then we see the rich young ruler someone who seemed to have it all and he walks away sad because his wealth meant more to him than following Jesus. This story reminds us that anything we put above God whether it’s money, comfort, relationships, reputation any of this can become an idol that keeps us from fully trusting Him. Jesus ends the chapter by assuring His disciples that salvation is not something we earn but something only God can give. That truth should give us peace. We don’t have to strive or perform to earn God’s favor because Jesus has already done the work. Our role is to surrender and follow Him wholeheartedly.


Daily Encouragement: 


Spend time thanking God for saving you! Even though you don’t deserve it. 


Prayer: 


Help us to value people and relationships the way You do and to love faithfully, forgive freely, and not let anything take Your place in our lives. Keep us from clinging to things that fade, and teach us to trust in You. Thank You that our salvation rests in what Jesus has done, not in what we can do.

Friday: Matthew 20 


Key Points: 


  • A landowner goes out at different times of the day to hire workers for his vineyard early in the morning, at 9 a.m., noon, 3 p.m., and even 5 p.m.
  • At the end of the day, he pays them all the same wage a denarius. Those who worked all day grumble because the latecomers get equal pay. The landowner reminds them he has paid them what was agreed upon and asks, “Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?”
  • In God’s kingdom, grace, not merit, determines reward. The last may be first and the first last because God’s generosity overturns human expectations. Every believer whether saved young or old, after a lifetime of sin or after faithful years receives the same priceless gift: eternal life in Christ.
  • Jesus predicts His death a third time. He is raised to life on the third day. Peter later denies Jesus three times. 
  •  The mother of James and John ask if they can be at Jesus’s right hand in heaven. 
  • Jesus says you don’t know what you’re asking. They can’t drink from the cup Jesus will drink from. Meaning Jesus will die and be resurrected. 
  • Jesus once again reiterates that if you want to be great you must be a servant of others. 
  • Jesus reminds them that He, the son of God came to serve and not be served. 
  • Philippians 2: 5-9 “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,[a] 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,[b] 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,[c] being born in the likeness of men.8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,”
  • Jesus had more right than anyone ever to be proud and yet even He came to serve others. 
  • Jesus took pity on two blind men and healed them of their blindness. 

How do you build humility? 

What does it look like to practice generosity? 

How do we change our mindset of trying to be the greatest?

Application: 


True greatness in God’s kingdom doesn’t come from power, position, or personal achievement it comes from humility and service. The parable of the laborers in the vineyard reminds us that God’s grace, not our effort, determines our reward. Just as every worker received the same wage, each believer receives the same gift of eternal life and not because of what we’ve done, but because of what Jesus has done. When Jesus predicts His death and reminds His disciples that He came “not to be served but to serve,” He flips the world’s definition of greatness upside down. Greatness in the kingdom of God is found in serving others, showing generosity, and humbly following Jesus’ example.

Daily Encouragement: 


How can you practice serving others like Jesus this week?
How can you serve without expecting anything in return?


Prayer: 
Thank You for showing us that true greatness comes through humility and service. Forgive us for the times we’ve sought recognition or compared ourselves to others. Help us to find joy in serving, to be generous without expecting anything in return, and to see others through Your eyes of grace. Teach us to follow Your example to empty ourselves, to love deeply, and to give freely so that in all we do, Your name is lifted high.