Quarter 1 Reading Guide
2026 Quarter I (Epiphany-Lent)
Click here to get a PDF copy of the Quarter 1 Reading Guide
The Synoptic Gospels:
“The people were amazed and said,
‘What kind of person is this?
Even the winds and lake obey him!’”
Matthew 8:27 (CEB)
To answer the question “What kind of person is this?” requires telling a story. We can only know who Jesus is by telling the story of his life. Matthew, Mark, and Luke are storytellers whose accounts of Jesus comprise the “Synoptic Gospels.” “Gospel,” meaning “good news,” is a unique literary genre that emerged among early Christians who organized the stories and sayings of Jesus into an account of his life. The Gospels were shared among early Christians for their common worship, discipleship, and witness in the world.
The Christian Gospels differ from the biographies we read today in that their primary aim is theologically infused proclamation concerning Jesus of Nazareth. The Gospels seek not only to inform but, even more, to transform communities through the sharing of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection as the definitive unfolding of God’s creating, redeeming, and sustaining love in history. How we respond to the question “Who is this man?” is more about confession than about having the correct answer. Indeed, just as he did with the early disciples, Jesus turns the question back on us today: “Who do you say that I am?” (Matt. 16:15; CEB). The story of Jesus continues through the life of Jesus’ Church as our common confession leads us to discover ourselves as characters in the story of God’s everlasting love for creation.
How to use this guide:
However, the nature of this guide is to organize our communal reading of the Synoptic Gospels into week-long segments that allow us to read, re-read, and meditate on the Scriptures slowly. This guide is a suggestion for how to read, not a definitive standard. The pacing of each week’s reading is primarily determined by how our congregation will move through the Synoptic Gospels in worship. For example, we will read through the Gospel of Mark much more quickly than the Gospel of Matthew.
The Bowen Library is an excellent resource for research as we journey together. Throughout our reading of the Synoptics, the church will feature helpful commentaries and books for further study. Finally, The New Interpreter’s Study Bible (NRSV) and the Wesley Study Bible (CEB) are two fantastic resources for personal devotion and study.
The Gospel According to Matthew // January 2026
Introduction: The Gospel of Matthew begins with Jesus’ genealogy, linking the story of Israel with the arrival of Jesus Christ and the formation of the Church. Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promises through Israel’s prophets; truly, Jesus is Emmanuel, “God with us.” (Matt. 1:23; Isa. 7:14). Across the course of the Gospel, Jesus is revealed as the definitive teacher of the Torah first received by Moses. Five significant teaching discourses frame the Gospel, most notably “The Sermon on the Mount” (5:1-7:27). In keeping with Mosaic typology, Matthew presents Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection as the work of God, initiating a new Exodus and leading humanity through sin and death. The resurrected Christ commissions his apostles as teachers, sending them to all nations to join God in the mission of gathering all people into communities that embody the life of Christ. Finally, the Gospel ends just as it begins, with the fulfillment of the promise: always and everywhere, God is with us (28:20).
Week I (January 1-10)
Ground your reading in this prayer: Ever-Present God, open our hearts to the fullness of your grace that we might not only learn Jesus’ teachings, but also faithfully live them through our devoted love of you and our sacrificial love for our neighbors. Amen.
Consider these observations and questions:
- Read Jesus’ Genealogy slowly (1:1-17). In particular, look at the footnotes in a study Bible for more details on characters like Jacob, Rahab, David, and Uriah. Recognize how nothing is hidden in Jesus’ family line; even the messy parts are incorporated into the story.
- John the Baptist was an important figure in Israel’s history. Notably, he is the first teacher to appear in the Gospel. What is his message? Why is the urgency of his teaching so important?
- Jesus’ baptism by John (3:13-17) precedes Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness (4:1-11). It is from his identity as God’s beloved son (3:17) and the Spirit’s power that Jesus resists the tempter. How can Jesus’ story encourage us to live into our baptismal identity and the gifts of the Holy Spirit as we “resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves”? (UMC Baptismal Covenant).
- What teachings of Jesus in “The Sermon on the Mount” (5:1-7:27) are most challenging to you? How do Jesus’ teachings encourage us to live differently for the sake of the world’s renewal?
Week II (January 11-17)
Ground your reading in this prayer: Ever-Present God, open our hearts to the fullness of your grace that we might not only learn Jesus’ teachings, but also faithfully live them through our devoted love of you and our sacrificial love for our neighbors. Amen.
Consider these observations and questions:
- Jesus trusts his twelve disciples with tremendous authority and purpose in fulfilling God’s mission. What do they learn along the journey? Consider the gifts and purpose that God has given you to share with others in fulfilling God’s mission. How can you use these gifts to serve both God and your neighbor?
- Chapter 13 includes a series of Jesus’ parables that use earthy metaphors to explore the nature of the “kingdom of heaven” (a particularly Matthean term). Which metaphor is most helpful to you? How does Jesus’ teaching encourage us to recognize the abiding connection between earth and heaven?
- Jesus’ call to Peter to join him in walking on water (14:29) is often interpreted as an image of the Church’s journey to follow Jesus across the trials and tribulations of time. How does Jesus’ encouraging call speak to you today? How is Jesus calling the Church to follow him today?
Week III (January 18-24)
Ground your reading in this prayer: Ever-Present God, open our hearts to the fullness of your grace that we might not only learn Jesus’ teachings, but also faithfully live them through our devoted love of you and our sacrificial love for our neighbors. Amen.
Consider these observations and questions:
- Matthew stitches Peter’s Confession at Caesarea to Jesus’ first prediction of his suffering and death (16:13-28). Why do you think Peter rejects Jesus’ prediction? Why do you think the narrator places these stories right next to one another?
- Jesus’ teaching tone intensifies as he approaches Jerusalem (18:1-20:34). In particular, he challenges the disciples repeatedly. Who does Jesus present as a model disciple? Why is maintaining a teachable heart so critical in our discipleship journey?
Week IV (January 25-31)
Ground your reading in this prayer: Ever-Present God, open our hearts to the fullness of your grace that we might not only learn Jesus’ teachings, but also faithfully live them through our devoted love of you and our sacrificial love for our neighbors. Amen.
Consider these observations and questions:
- Jesus’ last block of teaching in Matthew (24:3-25:46) is focused on eschatology (meaning “the last things”). Notice how, unlike many doomsday predictors, Jesus focuses on how we are to live today in expectation of “the last things.” Specifically, who does Jesus call us to gather with in solidarity? How does Jesus’ call echo the Beatitudes (5:3-12)?
- Jesus’ greatest lesson as a teacher is his non-violent resistance to the Temple authorities and Roman officials. At every turn, Jesus resists the urge to raise the sword or even shout curses. Jesus lives his teachings (5:38-48). How can Jesus’ suffering inspire our non-violent resistance to the injustice of our world today?
- After the disciples’ betrayals and failures during Jesus’ arrest and trial, the resurrected Jesus restores their commission right where he first called them (Galilee). How might Jesus Christ restore you in your call to join God in making disciples? Who are the people you would like to come alongside in the journey?
The Gospel According to Mark // February 1-14, 2026
Introduction: Unlike the Gospel of Matthew, the Gospel of Mark begins in the middle of things, on the shores of the Jordan River, when Jesus is baptized by John the Baptist. From there, Mark narrates the ministry of Jesus at a rapid pace. From town to town, Jesus brings healing and wholeness, disrupting the religious, social, and political order. However, the narrative shifts and slows after Mark 8:22. The narrator focuses less on Jesus’ miraculous powers and more on his suffering and passion on the cross. The Gospel of Mark ends abruptly, leaving us with more questions than answers, calling us to go and encounter the risen Christ in our world today.
Week I (February 1-7)
Ground your reading in this prayer: Compassionate God, may our reading of the good news of Jesus challenge and encourage us so that we might, through your Holy Spirit, receive and share the healing and wholeness Jesus brings to all. Amen.
Consider these observations and questions:
- “God’s good news” is an oft-repeated refrain in Mark (1:1, 1:14). As you read the story of Jesus, what does “God’s good news” look like? How do people around Jesus respond to this good news?
- The early chapters of Mark focus on the conflicts that arise from Jesus’ healing ministry and table practices. Why do you think certain groups resist the miraculous and inclusive work of Jesus?
- Jesus’ primary form of teaching in Mark is through parables. Which parable of Jesus most resonated with you? Why do you think Jesus emphasizes secrecy concerning God’s Kingdom” (4:11) in both his teaching and as an encouraged response to his healings (3:12)?
Week II (February 8-14)
Ground your reading in this prayer: Compassionate God, may our reading of the good news of Jesus challenge and encourage us so that we might, through your Holy Spirit, receive and share the healing and wholeness Jesus brings to all. Amen.
Consider these observations and questions:
- Reread Mark 8:22-9:1. Do you recognize a shift in tone and focus? What role does foreshadowing play in the unfolding story of Jesus’ life?
- Mark’s narration slows to a crawl when Jesus enters Jerusalem in chapter 11. What moments from Jesus’ final days in Jerusalem were most surprising to you? Did you notice any differences in how Mark and Matthew narrate Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross?
- The original ending of Mark (16:8) is extraordinarily abrupt. How can we read Mark’s ending alongside the “Great Commission” in Matthew 28:20? Which Gospel more closely resembles the way you think you would have responded to the resurrection of Jesus Christ?
The Gospel According to Luke // February 15 - April 4 2026
Introduction: The Gospel of Luke begins with the narrator’s storytelling goal: “I want you to have confidence in the soundness of the instruction you have received” (1:4). Luke’s Gospel reads with the narrative artistry of the best fiction: Angels and shepherds celebrating in fields at Jesus’ birth (2:8-20), mic-drop sermons that leave the crowd first amazed and then disturbingly resistant to the message (4:14-30), and a comedic encounter of dramatic irony on the road to Emmaus (24:13-27). Yet it reveals to us a story that is too good not to be true. Indeed, the story of Jesus is the story of the love at the heart of everything—the love of God, open and inclusive to all people. Thus, it is fitting that Luke’s Gospel, which begins with a profound purpose statement, ends with overwhelming joy and unceasing praise (24:52-53).
Week I (February 15-21)
Ground your reading in this prayer: Merciful God, may the stories of your great faithfulness turn our hearts to you, filling us with surprising joy that we might follow Jesus Christ and join him in sharing the love that is the heart of everything.
Consider these observations and questions:
- The Gospel of Luke begins with the parallel stories of John and Jesus’ conceptions and births. What can we learn from reading these stories together? How are they similar? How are they different?
- Mary’s song (1:46-55) is an echo of Hannah’s song in 1 Samuel 2:1-10. Both women sing in celebration about God enacting a significant reversal, when the powerful and haughty are brought down, and the weak and lowly are exalted. How do Mary and Hannah’s song challenge the power structures of our world? How can we join them in song and solidarity?
- Why do you think Luke shares so many details about the government leaders who were appointed when Jesus was born (2:1-4) and began his ministry (3:1-3)? What do you think Luke wants us to recognize here beyond a mere historical record?
- Jesus’ first sermon (4:14-28) sets the scope of God’s mission. Mark or highlight 4:18-19 and return to it throughout your reading of Luke to witness how Jesus enacts the sermon and fulfills God’s promises.
Week II (February 22-28)
Ground your reading in this prayer: Merciful God, may the stories of your great faithfulness turn our hearts to you, filling us with surprising joy that we might follow Jesus Christ and join him in sharing the love that is the heart of everything.
Consider these observations and questions:
- Jesus’ table company (5:27-39) embraces tension and challenges the rigid social and religious boundaries of the time. How does Jesus justify his table to the Pharisees and legal experts? Reflect on whom you might invite to your tables so that they reflect the table of Jesus.
- Luke imagines the core of Jesus’ teaching in “The Sermon on the Mount” (Matt. 5:1-7:27) as taking place among the people on a “large area of level ground” (6:17). Beyond the setting, how does Luke narrate Jesus’ teachings differently from Matthew? What can we learn from the differences? [Hint: Return to Jesus’ first sermon in Luke 4:14-18.]
- Jesus, a devout Jew, exalts a Centurion, a non-Jewish Roman soldier, as the model of faithfulness (7:1-10). Why? What can we learn about the nature of faith and loving trust through the Centurion’s appeal and Jesus’ response?
- When exploring the depths of God’s forgiving love at a dinner party, Jesus tells a parable to the guests (7:36-50). How does Jesus differentiate between true righteousness and self-righteousness in his parable? How do we avoid falling into the same traps of self-righteousness?
Week III (March 1-7)
Ground your reading in this prayer: Merciful God, may the stories of your great faithfulness turn our hearts to you, filling us with surprising joy that we might follow Jesus Christ and join him in sharing the love that is the heart of everything.
Consider these observations and questions:
- Several of Jesus’ key followers were women who championed and funded his ministry (8:1-3). Jesus empowers women in a patriarchal society. How can we continue Jesus’ work of empowering those on the margins? How can we cultivate open hands and humble hearts to receive the gifts of those on the margins?
- Jesus’ heart is overflowing with joy upon the return of the seventy-two disciples he sent out to do his work. Indeed, he burst into extemporaneous thanksgiving to God (10:21-24). Do you typically associate God with joy? How can the image of Jesus’ joyous heart encourage us in our adventure as his disciples?
- Mary and Martha’s story is preceded by the parable of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). When read together, how does Jesus subvert our ideas of hospitality and neighborliness?
Week IV (March 8-14)
Ground your reading in this prayer: Merciful God, may the stories of your great faithfulness turn our hearts to you, filling us with surprising joy that we might follow Jesus Christ and join him in sharing the love that is the heart of everything.
Consider these observations and questions:
- After countless experiences witnessing the power of Jesus’ sermons, the wonder of his healing miracles, and the depths of his compassion, it is Jesus’ praying life that led one of the disciples to make this bold request: “Lord, teach us to pray” (Lk. 11:1). Reread Luke 11:1-13. How is God calling to make bold requests a focus of your prayer life?
- Throughout Luke’s Gospel, Jesus warns us about our attachment to possessions. In Luke 12:13-34, Jesus invites us into a life of non-anxious presence grounded in our utter dependence on God and God’s people for provision. How does Jesus’ invitation counter the world’s narrative of scarcity? In what ways is Jesus inviting our community to abide in his non-anxious presence?
Week V (March 15-21)
Ground your reading in this prayer: Merciful God, may the stories of your great faithfulness turn our hearts to you, filling us with surprising joy that we might follow Jesus Christ and join him in sharing the love that is the heart of everything.
Consider these observations and questions:
- When one of Jesus’ disciples seeks to explain a tragedy of political oppression as an act of divine retribution, Jesus breaks open the moment to reflect on God’s universal love and our universal human need for repentance and transformation (13:1-9). There is no “us” vs. “them” in God’s economy of grace; there is only “us.” What do you think of Jesus’ teaching in the exchange? How is Jesus calling us to look at our own hearts when we are quick to ascribe blame to others? What is Jesus revealing to us about the nature of tragedy and suffering in the world?
- In Jesus’ parable of the great feast” (14:15-24), we hear a litany of excuses for not attending the wedding banquet. What inconsequential items are keeping you from fully embracing the invitation Jesus sets before you?
- What do Jesus’ parables in chapter 15 reveal to us about the heart of God and the nature of Jesus’ continuing work in our world? How is Jesus calling you to join him in the seeking and celebration?
Week VI (March 22-28)
Ground your reading in this prayer: Merciful God, may the stories of your great faithfulness turn our hearts to you, filling us with surprising joy that we might follow Jesus Christ and join him in sharing the love that is the heart of everything.
Consider these observations and questions:
- Jesus tells the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (16:14-31) to a specific audience of Pharisees, who were lovers of money. What is Jesus revealing to us about the dangers of avarice? How can we remain open and receptive to the Spirit’s conviction regarding money and other possessions as Christians living in the wealthiest country in the world?
- Jesus tells the parable of the persistent widow (18:1-8) as a word of encouragement. How is God calling us to persistence in the pursuit of justice for the oppressed? Who is the one who ultimately brings justice?
- Zacchaeus is a wealthy person who faithfully responds to Jesus’ invitation to welcome the Lord into his life and to share his possessions with the poor (19:1-9). What can we learn from this encounter? How might we imitate Zacchaeus in our own lives and communities?
Week VII (March 29-April 4)
Ground your reading in this prayer: Merciful God, may the stories of your great faithfulness turn our hearts to you, filling us with surprising joy that we might follow Jesus Christ and join him in sharing the love that is the heart of everything.
Consider these observations and questions:
- Throughout the different Gospel accounts, Jesus chooses to make a final gathering with all the disciples around a table. What does it mean for Jesus to dine with the one who will betray him? How are we being called to invite those with whom we disagree theologically and politically to Christ’s Table?
- In Luke, Jesus’ last words on the cross (23:32-46) are different from those in Matthew and Mark. How can we hold the three Gospel accounts side by side to explore the depths of God’s love revealed by Jesus on the cross?
- Along the road to Emmaus, dramatic irony gives way to joyous surprise as the disciples recognize Jesus (24:13-35). Surprise is at the heart of the Gospel. How has God surprised you in reading the Synoptic Gospels? Remembering the narrator’s purpose statement in Luke 1:3-4, what great news about God (or the nature of life itself) are you still coming to believe as sound and true?