Mark 3:20

In 100 carefully selected passages from the Bible, you will discover who Jesus is and why he is so significant – even life-transforming. Through both Old and New Testament readings, you will discover why God sent Jesus, what Jesus taught, how he treated people, why he did miracles, the meaning of his death, the significance of his resurrection, and what the Bible says about his second coming.

Starting with God 5: How to Start is a 5‑day plan designed to help you encounter God through the Bible. Reading with confidence and faith. This plan encourages you to start not with self‑improvement, but with God—revealed fully in Jesus and faithfully through Scripture. You’ll explore what it means to be born again, why faith must lead to obedience, how to start reading the Gospels (beginning with Mark), and how to keep going with the whole story. No shortcuts—just a faithful beginning with Jesus.

Pastor Chris Brown recounts some of the extraordinary tragedies and trials he has experienced, including homelessness, violence, abuse, and the loss of loved ones. Reflecting on his story, Chris shares his hard-won countercultural perspective on pain, offering hope to those of us who feel disqualified or discouraged by our circumstances. The messiness of our past stories can craft a new life that points to God and proclaims His glory.

The Lent Project is an initiative of Biola University's Center for Christianity, Culture and the Arts. Each daily devotion includes a portion of Scripture, a devotional, a prayer, a work of visual art or a video, a piece of music, and a poem plus brief commentaries on the artworks and artists. The Seven Last Words of Christ refers to the seven short phrases uttered by Jesus on the cross, as gathered from the four Christian gospels. This devotional project connects word, image, voice and song into daily meditations on these words.