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.

So each month we read all four books. We've worked our way through John. We've worked our way through Matthew.

Now we are on to the book of Luke and we just have Mark left. And here's how it works.

I'm going to read three chapters to you today. You can listen or read along in your own Bible. And then I'll pray. And that's it.

So today is July 21st, day 21 of this month. And I'll be reading Luke chapters 10 through 12. And this month I'm reading from the CSB.

Luke 10. After this, the Lord appointed 72 others. And he sent them ahead of him and pairs to every town in place where he himself was about to go.

He told them the harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.

Now go, I'm sending you out like lambs among wolves. Don't carry a money bag traveling bag or sandals. Don't greet anyone along the road.

Whatever house you enter first say peace to this household. If a person of peace is there, your peace will rest on him. But if not, it will return to you.

Remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they offer for the worker is worthy of his wages.

Don't move from house to house. When you enter any town and they welcome you, eat the things set before you.

He'll the sick who are there and tell them the kingdom of God has come near you.

When you enter any town and they don't welcome you, go out into its streets and say, we are wiping off even the dust of your town that clings to our feet as a witness against you.

Know this for certain, the kingdom of God has come near. I tell you, on that day, it will be more tolerable for Sodom than for that town.

Woe to you, Chorus and Woe to you, Betheseda. For if the miracles that were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.

But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And you, Capernum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will go down to Hades.

Whoever listens to you, listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.

The 72 returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name. He said to them, I watch Satan fall from heaven like lightning.

Look, I have given you the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing at all will harm you.

However, don't rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.

At that time, he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and revealed them to infants.

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