But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

Luke 2:10

Social media viral challenges have been a part of our online lives for a number of years, particularly exploding during the pandemic in 2020 (Moteventure even did our own “Covid-19 Silent Sync Challenge” way back then). Whether you were participating in the Ice Bucket Challenge, the Pillow Challenge, the Wipe It Down Challenge, or the Flip the Switch Challenge, the camaraderie of the challenges brought us together at a time we seemed so desperately apart (usually 6 feet to be precise).

These viral challenges have changed somewhat over time since the advent of TikTok, but the purpose still remains the same – getting people together whether they work outside the home or work remotely.

While watching random episodes of “One Tree Hill” with my wife on Hulu several nights ago, I was randomly checking out headlines and social media on my iPhone during the commercial breaks (side note…why do I see commercials when I pay a Hulu subscription?). I stumbled upon a post about reading the Book of Luke during the month of December, taking in one chapter per day, with the final 24th chapter read on Christmas Eve.

Jesus is the centerpiece of the Gospel of Luke, stepping chronologically through his birth, his life, his ministry, his crucifixion and finally his resurrection.

Being that I came upon this challenge a few days into December, it was quite easy to catch up to current, as I’ll be reading the sixth chapter tonight before bed. The hardest part was finding a version of the Bible that didn’t confuse me too much. The King James version tends to be chock full of “thees” and “thys” to a point where I read it, look over at my wife and say, “what does this mean to you?”

I switched to the Contemporary English Version (CEV) which is translated for “today’s family”, and it was very much more readable for this 21st century guy.

So, what transpires in the first five chapters of the Gospel of Luke?

Luke, Chapter 1:

Luke introduces his story as a formal history, told by eyewitnesses, setting up the best possible account of the gospel. He begins not with Jesus but with the prophecy of the birth of John, who will herald Jesus.

Luke, Chapter 2:

Jesus’s birth in Bethlehem was foretold, but required a movement of empires to fulfill. Simeon’s song emphasizes that Jesus came for Gentiles, too, a fact few others understand until decades later.

Luke, Chapter 3:

Luke, with the benefit of hindsight, connects John the Baptist to Elijah. John’s sermons prefigure Jesus’s message. God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit all take part in Jesus’s baptism.

Luke, Chapter 4:

Jesus rebukes Satan with ancient words of Scripture, even though Jesus is literally God, thereby showing us the way rather than taking a path we can’t follow.

Luke, Chapter 5:

Jesus is doing a new thing. He makes fishers of fish into fishers of men. He not only eats with tax collectors but makes them disciples. He heals sickness and forgives sin. Some people can accept the changes, but some cannot.

Source: Versenotes.com

So, where do you go to access the 24 chapters in the Gospel of Luke? Check out the links below for the KJV and CEV Bible versions and begin the challenge now!