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

Each month, we read all four books. Make sure you're subscribed. I don't want you to miss any of it.

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Here's how it works. I'm going to read three chapters to you. You can listen or read along in your own Bible or online, and then I'll pray, and that's it.

Today is June 12th, day 12, and I'll be reading Matthew chapters 18 through 20, and this month I'm reading from the NRSV.

Matthew 18. At that time, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

He called a child whom he put among them and said, truly, I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck, and you were drowned in the depth of the sea.

Woe to the world because of stumbling blocks, occasions for stumbling are bound to come, but woe to the one by whom the stumbling block comes.

If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or lame than to have two hands or two feet and to be thrown into the eternal fire.

And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into the hell of fire.

Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you, in heaven, their angels continually see the face of my father in heaven.

What do you think? If a shepherd has a hundred sheep and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the 99 on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray?

And if he finds it truly, I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the 99 that never went astray.

So it is not the will of your father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.

If another member of the church sends against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one.

But if you were not listened to, take one or two others along with you so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses.

If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let's such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

Truly, I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

Again, truly, I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my father in heaven.

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