Hi friends, I am Annie F. Downs. Let's read the Gospels. The Gospels are the first four books of the New Testament in the Bible, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

These are the stories of Jesus Christ's life on earth, the friendships, the parables, the sacrifices, the meals, and the miracles.

We'll read three chapters a day and finish in 30 days, so every month we'll read all four books.

Go ahead and subscribe if you haven't yet, and join us as we read the Gospels together this year.

We're going to start this month in the book of John. We've already done the first nine chapters, so go back and listen to those if you want.

For many of us, this is our first time listening through the Gospels, and I think this book is a great place to begin our journey this month.

As January continues, we'll read Luke next, and then Matthew, and then Mark. Each month will be a little different, but we wanted to start this year with the fresh lens to these stories.

We're going to use multiple translations as the year goes on, but I want to start this year off reading from the Bible I've had for years. The one I read from most mornings.

It's a quest study Bible in IV 84 translation. I'll read three chapters to you today, and you can listen or read along in your own Bible, and then I'll pray, and that's it.

Today is January 4th, day four, and I'll be reading John chapters 10 through 12, and the translation I'll be reading from this month is the NIV 84.

John chapter 10, the shepherd and his flock. I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way is a thief and a robber.

The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him and the sheep listen to his voice.

He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.

But they will never follow a stranger. In fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice.

Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.

Therefore, Jesus said again, I tell you the truth. I am the gate for the sheep, all who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.

I am the gate, whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away.

Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he has a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep know me just as the father knows me and I know the father and I lay down my life for the sheep.

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