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Dear Family in Christ,

First Cup is designed to assist you in the habit of daily Bible reading and prayer. The name is to remind you that as you reach for your first cup of morning coffee or tea, reach also for your Bible and prayer list. The prayers at the beginning of each week are taken from hymns, sometimes found in obscure hymnals in my library. They are intended to be read as your beginning prayer, to focus your mind on the daily readings that follow. May this spiritual discipline strengthen you as you face each day.

August 2024
Click below to download this month's readings and prayer list. 

August Readings (PDF) Prayer List (PDF)

1. Luke 8:22-25; 2 Samuel 22:1-61; Jonah 2:1-9; Psalm 3:5; Psalm 4:8; Psalm 73:23-26
2. Deuteronomy 18:9-13; Psalm 106:1-48; Luke 8:26-39; James 4:7 
3. Luke 8:40-48; Leviticus 15:25-27; Mark 3:10; 6:56; Luke 8:49-55; Hebrews 11:6
4. Luke 9:1-9; Matthew 14:1-12; 17:9-13; Matthew 10:17-31

“Take up thy cross” the Savior said, “If thou wouldst My disciple be; Take up thy cross with willing heart and humbly follow after Me.” Take up thy cross; let not its weight fill thy weak spirit with alarm; His strength shall bear thy spirit up, and brace thy heart, and nerve thine arm.  Take up thy cross, nor heed the shame; nor let thy foolish pride rebel; Thy Lord for thee the cross endured, to save thy soul from death and hell. Take up thy cross and follow Christ, nor think till death to lay it down; For only he who bears the cross may hope to wear the glorious crown. (The Hymnbook, No. 293)

5. Exodus 16:1-36; Luke 9:10-17; Mark 11:22-25; Proverbs 30:7-9; John 6:48-51
6. Luke 9:18-27; Matthew 10:32-33; Matthew 16:24-28; Philippians 1:1-30
7. Luke 9:28-36; Isaiah 42:1-9; Matthew 3:16-17; Matthew 5:17; 2 Peter 1; Psalm 119:105
8. Luke 9:37-45; Mark 9:14-29; Matthew 21:21-22; James 5:15-16
9. 1 Kings 19:19-21; Luke 9:46-62; Matthew 4:18-22; Mark 10:17-31; Matthew 6:33
10. Luke 10:1-24; Matthew 4:10; Revelation 9:1-11; Revelation 12:7-12; Revelation 13:5-10; Daniel 12:1-4    
11.  Luke 10:25-37; Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 19:16-30

Our Father in heaven, we hallow Thy name; May Thy kingdom holy on earth be the same; O give to us daily our portion of bread; It is from Thy bounty that all must be fed. Forgive our transgressions, and teach us to know that humble compassion which pardons each foe; Keep us from temptation, from evil and sin, And Thine be the glory forever! Amen

12. Luke 10:38-42; Matthew 6:25-34; Romans 12:1-13; Psalm 27:4; Psalm 119:97-112
13. Luke 11:1-13; Matthew 26:31-46; Matthew 26:69-75; 1 Corinthians 10:1-13
14. Luke 11:14-28; 2 Peter 2:1-22; Hebrews 6:4-6
15. Luke 11:29-32; Jonah 3:1-10; 2 Chronicles 9:1-12; Matthew 12:38-45; John 3:18-21
16. Luke 11:33-36; Psalm 101:1-8; Psalm 18:25-29; Titus 1:15-16
17. Luke 11:37-54; Genesis 4:1-16; 2 Chronicles 24:17-22; Acts 13:1-52; Romans 2:1-29
18. Luke 12:1-12; Acts 6:8-7:60 

Oh, the unsearchable riches of Christ, wealth that can never be told! Riches exhaustless of mercy and grace, precious, more precious than gold! Oh, the unsearchable riches of Christ!  Who shall their greatness declare? Jewels whose luster our lives may adorn, pearls that the poorest may wear! Oh, the unsearchable riches of Christ! Who would not gladly endure Trials, afflictions, and crosses on earth, riches like these to secure! Precious, more precious, Wealth that can never be told! Oh, the unsearchable riches of Christ! Precious, more precious than gold. (Worship in Song, No. 52)

19. Luke 12:13-34; Ecclesiastes 5:10; Isaiah 57:14-21; Ephesians 5:1-20
20. Luke 12:35-48; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-16
21. Luke 12:49-53; Mark 10:28-31; Mark 13:3-13; Matthew 10:17-42   
22. Luke 12:54-59; Matthew 16:1-4; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; 2 Peter 3:1-18; 1 John 2:18-27
23. Luke 13:1-9; Isaiah 5:1-10; John 15:1-17
24. Exodus 20:8-11; Matthew 4:23-25; 12:1-14; Luke 13:10-35
25. Luke 14:1-24; Matthew 22:1-14; Zachariah 3:1-10

There were ninety and nine that safely lay in the shelter of the fold; but one was out on the hills away, far off from the gates of gold. Away on the mountains, wild and bare; Away from the tender Shepherd’s care. “Lord, Thou hast here Thy ninety and nine; are they not enough for Thee?” But the Shepherd made answer: “This of mine has wandered away from Me. And although the road be rough and steep, I go to the desert to find My sheep.” And all through the mountains, thunder-riven, and up from the rocky steep, there arose a glad cry up to the gate of heaven, “Rejoice! I have found My sheep!” And the angels echoed around the throne, “Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own!” 

26. Luke 14:25-35; Philippians 3:7-4:1
27. Luke 15:1-32; Proverbs 20:9; Proverbs 21:17, Proverbs 25:1-28, Proverbs 26:1-28; Proverbs 22:6; Psalm 51:1-19; Hebrews 12:4-13
28. Luke 16:1-18; Luke 12:33-34; Matthew 6:19-34
29. Luke 16:19-31; Luke 6:17-26; Matthew 25:31-46
30. Luke 17:1-10; Matthew 6:9-15; Matthew 18:21-35
31. Luke 17:11-19; Leviticus 13:29-37; Acts 14:8-10; James 5:13-16

Download Previous First Cup Readings 

Download August 2024 (PDF)

Download July 2024 (PDF)

Download June 2024 (PDF)

Download May 2024 (PDF)

Download April 2024 (PDF)

Download March 2024 (PDF)

Download February 2024 (PDF)

Download January 2024 (PDF)

Download 2023 Readings (PDF)