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First Cup Daily Bible Reading
Sandy Sturch
Mar 1, 2025
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.
2025 Daily Readings
Click below to download the full 12 months of readings and a prayer list.
Download 2025 Readings (PDF) Prayer List (PDF)
1 John 3; 5:24; 1 John 5:1-12 2 John 4:1-42; Luke 19:10; Matt. 11:28-30; Psalm 25; 1 John 1:8-10 3 John 4:43-5:15; Psalm 103 4 John 5:16-47; Rom. 10 5 John 6; Isaiah 55 Come gracious Spirit, heavenly Dove, with light and comfort from above; be Thou our Guardian, Thou our Guide o’er every thought and step preside. To us the light of truth display, and make us know and choose Thy way. Plant holy fear in every heart that we from God may ne’er depart. Lead us to holiness, the road which we must take to dwell with God; lead us to Christ, the Living Way, nor let us from His pastures stray. (Simone Browne, Hymn writer 1680-1732) 6 John 7; 3:31-36 7 John 8; 1 Pet. 5:8; Eph. 6:10-18 8 John 9; 2 Cor. 4:1-6 9 Isaiah 40:10-11; John 10; Psalm 23 10 John 11; 1 Cor. 15:35-58 11 Isaiah 6:1-10; John 12 12 John 13:1-17; Gal. 5:13-15; Eph. 6:5-8; 1 Pet. 4:10; 5:2 Beneath the cross of Jesus I fain would take my stand. The shadow of a mighty Rock within a weary land; A home within the wilderness, a rest upon the way, from the burning of the noontide heat, and the burden of the day. Upon the cross of Jesus mine eye at times can see the very dying form of One Who suffered there for me: And from my stricken heart with tears two wonders I confess—the wonders of redeeming love and my unworthiness. (The Hymnbook, No. 190) 13 John 13:18-38; Prov. 16:18; 11:2; Titus 1:10-16 14 John 14; Rom. 8:1-17 15 John 15-16:4; 1 John 3 16 John 16:5-33; Rom. 8:28-39 17 John 17; 1 John 4 18 John 18:1-27; Matt. 10:17-42 19 John 18:28-19:42 Face to face with Christ, my Savior, face to face what will it be, when with rapture I behold Him, Jesus Christ, who died for me? What rejoicing in His presence, when are banished grief and pain; when the crooked ways are straightened and the dark things shall be plain. Face to face oh, blissful moment! Face to face to see and know; face to face with my Redeemer, Jesus Christ who loves me so. Face to face I shall behold Him, far beyond the starry sky; face to face in all His glory, I shall see him by and by. (The Baptist Hymnal, #212) 20 John 20; 1 Cor. 15:1-28 21 John 21; Matt. 28:16-20; Luke 24:50-53; Acts 1 22 Joel 2:28-32; Jer. 31:31-34; John 7:37-39; Acts 2; Rom. 8:5-17 23 Acts 3; Rom. 1:16-32; Rev. 3:14-22 24 Acts 4:1-22; Phil. 2:5-11; Matt. 18:19-20; Mark 9:35-41; John 14:1-14 25 Psalm 2; Acts 4:23-31; Rom. 8:26-28; Psalm 4; 17:6-7; Eph. 6:18-20 26 Acts 4:32-37; 2:44-45; Deut. 15:1-18; Prov. 3:27-28; Psalm 145 O Breath of life, come sweeping through us; Revive Thy Church with life and power. O Breath of life, come, cleanse, renew us, and fit Thy Church to meet this hour. O Wind of God, come bend us, break us, till humbly we confess our need. Then in Thy tenderness remake us, revive, restore; for this we plead. O Breath of love, come breathe within us, renewing thought and will and heart: Come, Love of Christ, afresh to win us, revive Thy Church in every part. (The Church Hymnary, #339) 27 Acts 5:1-11; Prov. 25:14; 2 Cor. 9:6-11; Eccles. 5-6; Psalm 15 28 Acts 5:12-42; Psalm 40; Rom. 8:31-39 29 Acts 6:1-8:3; Mark 8:34-38; Rev. 6:9-11; 14:13 30 1 Kings 16:23-33; John 4:1-42; Acts 8:4-25; Matt. 10:7-8 1 Lam. 1; Isaiah 1; 2 Chron. 7:13-14 Great is Thy faithfulness, O God, my Father; There is no shadow of turning with Thee. Thou changest not; Thy compassions they fail not; As thou has been Thou forever will be. Summer and winter, springtime and harvest, sun, moon and stars in their courses above, Join with all nature in manifold witness to Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love. Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide; Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow - Blessings all mine and ten thousand beside! (Worship in Song, # 86) 2 Lam. 2; Matt. 23; 2 Tim. 4:1-5 3 Lam. 3:1-36; Matt. 5:39; 2 Cor. 6:1-10; Psalm 123 4 Lam. 3:37-66; Job 30; Psalm 37 5 Gen. 19:1-29; Lam. 4; Jer. 19:9; Matt. 24:1-35 6 Lam. 5; Isaiah 49; 1 Thess. 4:13-5:11 7 Heb. 1; John 1:1-14; Gal. 3:26-4:7; Psalm 103 8 Heb. 2; Phil. 2:1-11; 2 Tim. 1:8-12 Jesus is coming to earth again, What if it were today? Coming in power and love to reign, What if it were today? Coming to claim His chosen bride, all the redeemed and purified, over this whole earth scattered wide. What if it were today? Faithful and true would He find us here, if He should come today? Watching in gladness, not in fear, If He should come today? Signs of His coming multiply; Morning light breaks in eastern skies. Watch for the time is drawing nigh. What if it were today? (Worship in Song, # 189) 9 Heb. 3; 1 Cor. 3:16-17; John 3:35-36 10 Heb. 4:1-13; Ex. 20:8-11; Eph. 2:8-10; Rom. 4:1-8 11 Heb. 4:14-5:10; 1 Cor. 10:13; Rom. 6 12 Heb. 5:11-6:6; 1 Pet. 2:2; 1 Cor. 3:1-4; Matt. 7:21-23; 26:47-49 13 Heb. 6:7-20; Isaiah 5:1-7; 44; 55:10-13; Matt. 13:1-30 14 Gen. 14:17-20; Psalm 110; Heb. 7; Rom. 8:26-27 15 1 Pet. 2; Rev. 1:4-6; 5:6-10; 20:4-6 Faith of our fathers! Living still in spite of dungeon, fire and sword, O how our hearts beat high with joy when-e’er we hear that glorious word: Faith of our fathers, holy faith! We will be true to thee till death. Faith of our fathers! We will love both friend and foe in all our strife, and preach Thee, too, as love knows how by kindly words and virtuous life: Faith of our fathers, holy faith! We will be true to thee till death. (The Hymnbook, # 348) 16 Heb. 8 (see Ex. 25-31); Jer. 31; 2 Cor. 5:17 17 Heb. 9:1-10; Ex. 40; Lev. 16; Rom. 3:21-26 18 Lev. 8, 17; Heb. 9:11-28; Matt. 5:17; Rom. 8:1-17 19 Heb. 10:1-25; 7:26-28; 9:11-14; Matt. 26:26-29; 1 Cor. 11:23-26 20 Heb. 10:26-39; 2 Pet. 2; Matt. 12:31-32; Eph. 4:30-32 21 Heb. 11; Isaiah 7:9b; Rev. 6:9-11; 1 Pet. 1:1-12 22 Heb. 12:1-3; 1 Cor. 9:24-27; Phil. 2; Gal. 6:9 Oh soul, are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness you see? Here’s light for a look at the Savior, and life more abundant and free! Thro’ death into life everlasting He passed and we follow Him there. Over us sin no more hath dominion. For more than conquerors are we. His word will not fail you—He promised; believe Him and all will be well. Then go to a world that is dying, His perfect salvation to tell. Turn your eyes upon Jesus; Look full in His wonderful face; And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace. (Worship in Song, # 207) 23 Heb. 12:4-13; 2 Cor. 4-5:10; Psalm 94 24 Heb. 12:14-17; Eph. 4:17-5:20 25 Heb. 12:18-29 (see Ex. 19-20); Phil. 3:7-4:1; 2 Pet. 3:10-18 26 Heb. 13:1-6; Rom. 12:9-21; 1 Cor. 5:1-12; 6:9-11; Matt. 6:24 27 Heb. 13:7-25; 1 Thess. 4-5 28 Gen. 1-2:3; John 1:1-18; Rev. 1:8; 22:12-13 29 Isaiah 40; John 1:19-34; 1 John 5:11-13 The love of God is greater far than tongue or pen can tell. It goes beyond the highest star and reaches to the lowest hell. The guilty pair, bowed down with care, God gave His son to win; His erring child He reconciled and pardoned from his sin. Could we with ink the ocean fill and were the skies of parchment made; were every stalk on earth a quill, and every man a scribe by trade; to write the love of God above would drain the ocean dry; nor could the scroll contain the whole if stretched from sky to sky. (Frederick M. Lehman, 1917) 30 John 1:35-51; Matt. 4:18-22; Luke 9:23-27; Luke 14:25-35 31 John 2; Isaiah 56:1-57:2 1 James 4:13-17; Matt. 6:34; Prov. 3:27-28; 16:9; 19:21; 27:1; Psalm 139 2 James 5:1-6; Lev. 19:9-13; 24:14-15; Matt. 6:19-21; Heb. 11:24-26 3 James 5:7-12; Job 1:1-2:10; 42; Rom. 12:6-21 4 James 5:13-20; 1 Kings 17; 2 Kings 4:1-37; Acts 9:36-43; Rom. 8:26-28 5 1 Pet. 1; 1 Chron. 29:15; Psalm 39:12; Heb. 13:13-16; Eph. 2:1-13 6 1 Pet. 2:1-12; 1 Cor. 3:16-17; 6:19; Psalm 65:1-4 7 1 Pet. 2:13-3:22; Eph. 5:22-6:9; Rom. 13 The whole world was lost in the darkness of sin; The Light of the world is Jesus. Like sunshine at noonday His glory shone in; The Light of the world is Jesus. No darkness have we who in Jesus abide; The Light of the world is Jesus. We walk in the Light when we follow our Guide; the Light of the world is Jesus. Come to the Light; ‘tis shining for thee. Sweetly the Light has dawned upon me. Once I was blind, but now I can see. The Light of the world is Jesus. (Worship in Song, #96) 8 1 Pet. 4; Phil. 1:27-30; Rev. 2:10 9 Jer. 10:21; 23:1-4; Matt. 9:36; John 10:1-18; 1 Pet. 5 10 Matt. 17:1-8; 2 Pet. 1; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; Psalm 119:105; 2 Cor. 4:6 11 2 Pet. 2; Heb. 6:4-6 12 Ezek. 12:21-28; 2 Pet. 3; 2 Cor. 6:1-2 13 1 John 1-2:14; Matt. 5:14-16; John 3:19-21; 8:12; 12:35-50 14 1 John 2:15-27; John 15:1-17; Titus 2:11-14 My Father is rich in houses and lands; He holdeth the wealth of the world in His hands! Of rubies and diamonds, of silver and gold, His coffers are full- He has riches untold. I once was an outcast stranger on earth, A sinner by choice, an alien by birth! But I’ve been adopted; my name’s written down. I’m heir to a mansion, a robe, and a crown! I’m a child of the King! A child of the King! With Jesus, my Saviour, I’m a child of the King! (Worship in Song, #377) 15 1 John 2:28-3:24; Psalm 119:1-16; 66:16-20; Rom. 8:1-17 16 1 John 4:1- 6; 1 Cor. 1:18-25; Matt. 7:15-20; 2 Pet. 2:1-3 17 1 John 4:7-21; Rom. 12:9-21; 1 Cor. 13 18 1 John 5; Jer. 7:1-29; 1 Cor. 11:23-32; James 5:13-20 19 2 John; Rom. 16:17-20; Col. 1:21-23; 2:6-8; Heb.10:35-38 20 3 John; Rom. 12:13; 1 Tim. 5:9-10; 1 Pet. 4:8-10; Philem. 8-22 21 Jude; John 10:1-18; Psalm 23 Tell me the story of Jesus, Write on my heart every Word; Tell me the story most precious, sweetest that ever was heard. Tell how the angels in chorus, Sang as they welcomed His birth, “Glory to God in the highest! Peace and good tidings to earth.” Fasting alone in the desert, Tell of the days that are past; How for our sins He was tempted, Yet was triumphant at last. Tell of the years of His labor, tell of the sorrow He bore, He was despised and afflicted, homeless, rejected and poor. Tell me the story of Jesus, Write on my heart every Word. Tell me the story most precious, Sweetest that ever was heard. (Baptist Hymnal, #211) 22 Mark 1:1-13; Matt. 4:1-11; 2 Cor. 11:13-15; 1 Pet. 5:8; Rom. 16:20 23 Mark 1:14-20; Luke 4:43; 17:20-21; Luke 5:1-11; John 1:35-51; Matt. 10:37-39 24 Mark 1:21-45; Luke 4:14-44; John 20:29-31; 1 Pet. 1:3-16 25 Mark 2:1-17; Jer. 29:13; Matt. 11:28-30; 1 Tim. 1:12-17; Psalm 91 26 Mark 2:18-3:6; Ex. 20:8-10; Jer. 17:19-27; Matt. 5:17-20 27 Mark 3:7-34; Matt. 12:22-37; Rom. 8:12-17; Gal. 3:26-29 28 Mark 4:1-34; Matt. 13:24-30 1 Eccles. 3:1-17; Psalm 119:81-112; 103 2 Heb. 1; John 1:1-14; Gal. 3:26-4:4 3 Heb. 2: Phil. 2:1-11; 2 Tim. 1:8-12 Mighty God, while angels bless Thee, May a mortal sing Thy name? Lord of men as well as angels, Thou art every creature’s theme. Lord of every land and nation, Ancient of eternal days, sounded thru the wide creation be Thy just and endless praise. Brightness of the Father’s glory, shall Thy praise unuttered lie? Break, my tongue, such guilty silence! Sing the Lord who came to die. From the highest throne of glory to the cross of deepest woe, all to ransom guilty captives; Flow my praise, forever flow! (The Hymnbook, #10) 4 Heb. 3; 1 Cor. 3:16-17; John 3:35-36 5 Heb. 4:1-13; Ex. 20:8-11; Eph. 2:8-10; Rom. 4:1-8 6 Heb. 4:14-5:10; 1 Cor. 10:13; Rom. 6 7 Heb. 5:11-6:6; 1 Pet. 2:2; 1 Cor. 3:1-4; Matt. 7:21-23; 26:4 8 Heb. 6:7-20; Isaiah 5:1-7; 44; 55:10-13; Matt. 13:1-30 9 Gen. 14:17-20; Psalm 110; Heb. 7; Rom. 8:26-27 10 1 Pet. 2; Rev. 1:4-6; 5:6-10; 20:4-6 Tis the grandest theme thro’ the ages rung; tis the grandest theme for a mortal tongue; Tis the grandest theme that the world e’er sung: Our God is able to deliver thee. Tis the grandest theme in the earth or main; Tis the grandest theme for a mortal strain; Tis the grandest theme, tell the world again; Our God is able to deliver thee. (The Baptist Hymnal, #198) 11 Heb. 8 (see Ex. 25-31); Jer. 31; 2 Cor. 5:17 12 Heb. 9:1-10; Ex. 40; Lev. 16; Rom. 3:21-26 13 Lev. 8, 17; Heb. 9:11-28; Matt. 5:17; Rom. 8:1-17 14 Heb. 10:1-25; 7:26-28; Matt. 26:26-29; 1 Cor. 11:23-26 15 Heb. 10:26-39; 2 Pet. 2; Matt. 12:31-32; Eph. 4:30-32 16 Heb. 11; Isaiah 7:9b; Rev. 6:9-11; 1 Pet. 1:1-12 17 Heb. 12:1-3; 1 Cor. 9:24-27; Phil. 2; Gal. 6:9 Oh soul, are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness you see? There’s light for a look at the Savior, and life more abundant and free! Thro’ death into life everlasting He passed, and we follow Him there. Over us sin no more hath dominion- for more than conqu’rors we are! His Word shall not fail you – He promised; believe Him, and all will be well. Then go to a world that is dying, His perfect salvation to tell! Turn your eyes upon Jesus; Look full in His wonderful face; And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace. (Worship in Song, #207) 18 Heb. 12:4-13; 2 Cor. 4-5:10; Psalm 94 19 Heb. 12:14-17; Eph. 4:17-5:20 20 Heb. 12:18-29 (see Ex. 19-20); Phil. 3:7-4:1; 2 Pet. 3:10-18 21 Heb. 13:1-6; Rom. 12:9-21; 1 Cor. 5:1-13; 6:9-11; Matt. 6:24 22 Heb. 13:7-25; 1 Thess. 4-5 23 James 1:1-8; Rom. 5:1-5; Job 28:20-28; Psalm 90:12; Prov. 1:7; 8; 21:30 24 James 1:9-11; Psalm 49; Mark 4:1-20; Luke 18:18-30; 1 Tim. 6:6-10; 17-19 While passing through this world of sin, and others your life shall view, Be clean and pure without, within, Let others see Jesus in you. Your life’s a book before their eyes, They’re reading it through and through; Say, does it point them to the skies, Do others see Jesus in you? Let others see Jesus in you, Let others see Jesus in you; Keep telling the story, be faithful and true, Let others see Jesus in you. (The Baptist Hymnal, #348) 25 James 1:12-18; Matt. 6:9-13; 1 Cor. 9:24-27; 10:12-13; Gal. 6:1-16 26 James 1:19-27; Psalm 4:4; Eph. 4:17-32; Prov. 15:1; 29:11 27 James 2:1-13; Lev. 19:15; Prov. 3; 14:21; Luke 10:25-37 28 James 2:14-26; Eph. 2:8-10; Matt. 7:21-27; 25 29 James 3:1-12; Prov. 4; 12:19; 16:23-30; 18:6-8; 26:20-28; 27:2; Psalm 12; 141 30 James 3:13-18; Prov. 29:23; Matt. 20:20-28; 23:1-12; Luke 22:24-30 31 James 4:1-12; Prov. 10:18-21; Matt. 15:10-20; Titus 2:11-15; 1 John 2:1-17
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