Now that we have read Galatians and Ephesians, I thought that it would be good to read a gospel together. The gospels all talk about the life of Jesus but they have clear distinctives from each other. Before we choose one ask yourself the following:
- Do you remember reading any of the gospels from beginning to end?
- If you think of each gospel as a complete book, what would each book be about? What is Matthew about for example?
- What distinctives are there in length, language, and form?
- What was the audience for each gospel?
- When was each one written?
- What do the synoptic gospels have in common?
- How is John different?
- How would each gospel be applied today?
- What do we gain and what do we lose by breaking the gospels down into vignettes and verses?
- What do we gain by reading through a whole gospel?
- Which gospel would you like to read over the next month or two?
Plymothian 
I have read all 4 gospels beginning to end, and particularly am influenced by the writings of Luke (the historian and educator), recounting Jesus’ parables and instruction not found in other Gospels, giving more insight to the person of Jesus. With its emphasis on relationships with people, taking care of each other and prayer, this is a Gospel that I study and access frequently.
I would also be interested in a study of John, written about 30 yrs after the synoptic gospels. John didn’t include any record of Jesus’ birth, His childhood, the appt. of the apostles, or even the Great Commission, but yet included miracles not recorded elsewhere, and he included the Upper Room discourse. He wrote to prove to believers and seekers that Jesus is the Son of God, and to tell us all that, should we believe, we will have eternal life.