DEVOTIONAL READING
If you feel like you are brand new to reading the Bible or having a devotional time we have some good news – you are not alone! We are often asked, “where do I start?”
Some recommendations:
The Bible. I encourage you to read more of the Bible than anything else. Where should you begin? The gospel of John is a great place to start. You meet Jesus here. From there you can move to the book of Ephesians or Colossians. Ephesians lays out Christianity beautifully. Colossians promotes the supremacy of Christ. When you’ve done those then read the whole Bible. At your own pace, try to read the entire Bible. Perhaps a One-Year Bible would be helpful as it offers a good pace and breaks scripture down into manageable portions. As you have questions, write them down. Take them to a source that could help you: a pastor or trusted friend who is a little farther down the road. Psalms and Proverbs are also a great place. Since there are 150 psalms and 31 proverbs, a nice devotional reading may consist of 5 psalms and 1 proverb / day over the course of a month.
It’s ok to get help. Howard Hendricks has written a book called, Living by the Book, that may be helpful to you. Though it is not a devotional book, it will teach you basic Bible study skills that will help you as you read the text. He introduces the method, “Observation, Interpretation, Application".
How do you do it? My devotional life varies. I like variety and mixing things up because it keeps things new and interesting at least for me. I always include Bible reading, prayer and sometimes journaling. I like reading different translations (primarily New American Standard and New International Version) and occasionally The Message (a paraphrase, not a translation). These are fundamental and constant. I try to always have (1) a place I can focus, (2) a time when I am awake and alert and (3) a plan of what I am reading and working through. Presently, I am studying the book of Romans. I pray before starting and ask God to show me truth for my life and His glory. I take small chunks (5-10 verses) and read and re-read them. I ask questions of the text and answer questions along the way. If something spoke to me specifically I write it down. After I’ve spent time with just me and the text and prayer, then I will consult other sources such as commentaries, notes. I often wrap up in focused prayer. I keep that varied as well. Sometimes it’s all praise and I thank God for attributes of His character. Sometimes it’s thanking God for all I can think of. I try to always have a time of speaking / asking and time for listening. Again, if the Holy Spirit whispers something to me, I write it down and date it. My timing varies depending on my day. Sometimes I’m more alert in the morning. Sometimes I’m more alert in the evening. The goal is intimacy with God…Phil. 3:10. Do what works best for your season in life and schedule.
Warning: Don’t replace time of devotional reading with the following. Make sure you are cultivating a LOVE for the Lord as you read Scripture first and not just a bunch of answers
(1 Corinthians 8:1). Please don’t make extra reading a convenient substitute for Bible reading. May these books be a compliment to the Bible, never a substitute. That said, these authors have helped me understand the Lord, His Word and His world. I hope they will encourage you to dig deeper.
THEOLOGY
Demarest, Bruce
The Cross and Salvation – this is a modern work. With salvation emphasis, Demarest unpacks important aspects of this doctrine. Each chapter presents different camps within evangelical circles before presenting his own.
Edwards, Jonathan
His collected works – a pastor/theologian from the First Great Awakening, often regarded as the greatest mind ever produced by America. Begin with his Resolutions.
Piper, John
His collected works – a modern pastor/theologian in the mold of Jonathan Edwards. Unapologetically Calvinist, he certainly challenges your view of God, and does so with great skill.
Zuck, Roy B. and Swindoll, Charles R.
Understanding Christian Theology – One of the best I’ve seen. This is literally 10 books in 1 bound together. Essential Christian doctrine is covered in detail. Subjects include:
Scripture, God, Jesus Christ, The Holy Spirit, Angels, Satan and Demons, Humanity and
Sin, Salvation, Sanctification, The Church and End Times.
SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES
The disciples for the spiritual life, rightly understood, are time-tested activities consciously undertaken by us as new men or women to allow our spirit ever-increasing sway over our embodied selves. They help by assisting the ways of God’s Kingdom to take the place of the habits of sin embedded in our bodies. Excerpt from, The Spirit of the Disciplines, Dallas Willard, p.86.
Full participation in the life of God’s Kingdom and in the vivid companionship of Christ comes to us only through appropriate exercise in the disciplines for life in the spirit. Excerpt from, The Spirit of the Disciplines, Dallas Willard, p.26.
Foster, Richard
Celebration of Discipline – Foster breaks down the disciplines of the Christian life into inward, outward and corporate. This is a great work introducing you to essentials in cultivating your walk with God.
Swindoll, Charles
So, You want to be like Christ – Swindoll captures 8 essentials necessary to grow in relationship with God. He is convicting and practical, making things easy to understand and leaving you hungry to put into practice.
Willard, Dallas
Spirit of the Disciplines – Willard multiplies the disciplines between those of abstinence and those of engagement. He does so in 1 chapter of this book. He takes a global view of the disciplines and digs into their meaning. A Southern Baptist Minister and professor of Philosophy, Willard will appeal to your mind.
DEVOTION
Boa, Kenneth
Face to Face – Praying the Scriptures for Intimate Worship – This is a daily devotion rooted in praying the Scriptures. Each day consists of: adoration, confession, renewal, petition, intercession, affirmation, thanksgiving and a closing prayer.
Giglio, Louie
I Am Not, but I Know I Am
Piper, John
Life as a Vapor – 31 meditations for your faith
Tozer, A.W.
The Pursuit of God – a 31 day experience. Tozer knew God well. He causes me to
think about my relationship with God more than most.
PRAYER
Foster, Richard
Prayer – Foster addresses all types of prayer. This is a good read and encouraging for all who are interested in learning more about communing with God.
CHURCH HISTORY
Bingham, Jeffrey
Pocket History of the Church – this is a VERY brief introduction to the history of the church. A great place to start if you want to get the basics.
Gonzalez, Justo
The Story of Christianity – this is arguably the best out there today. Written in 2 volumes, Gonzalez breaks chapters down into small segments that could be supplementary to devotional reading. I have seen this only and have not studied either of these volumes,
but have heard this mentioned enough times by people I respect.
APOLOGETICS
Lewis, C.S.
His collected works – arguably the most famous apologist, C.S. Lewis is a must read.
Little, Paul
Know what you believe – A Practical Discussion of the Fundamentals of the Christian faith. Little’s audiences consisted of many college students. A very practical overview of essential fundamentals of our faith.
Little, Paul
Know why you believe
Little, Paul
How to give away your faith
Zacharias, Ravi
Anything he’s written. He is a modern apologist and genius. Raised in India, his insider view of Eastern religion combined with his outsider view of American culture provide different perspectives that are refreshing.
BIBLE STUDY METHOD
http://www.biblegateway.com/
Giglio, Louie
Wired
Hendricks, Howard
Living by the Book
MISC
Zondervan Publishing has done a great work with their Counterpoints series. They take issues with multiple interpretations and give each view from a scholar who holds that view. Titles include, but are not limited to:
Three Views on the Rapture
Four Views on the Book of Revelation
Three Views on the Millennium and Beyond
Remarriage after Divorce, Three Views
Hannah, John
To God be the Glory – Hannah helps us understand and define the glory of God and calls us to a God-Centered Vision for life. A 48 page booklet that offers great perspective.
Packer, J.I.
Knowing God – This is a Christian classic. When I read this I was challenged to grow deeper in understanding the difference between knowing about God and knowing God.
Piper, John
Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ
Schaeffer, Francis
True Spirituality – Basic spirituality in accessible terms.
COMMENTARIES
http://www.soniclight.com/ – Dr. Tom Constable has taken 25 years of Bible lecture / study and offered it to us. A great place to deepen and compliment your study of Scripture. I recommend it highly.
http://www.desiringgod.org/ – Has a great commentary list.
D.A. Carson writes reviews of commentaries and he is helpful at selecting which are the most scholarly and thorough.
The Bible Knowledge Commentary covers all 66 books of the Old and New Testaments in an inexpensive, two-volume set.
The New Testament and Old Testament Explorer cover all 66 books and offer general overviews of each book of the Bible.
The Bible Exposition Commentary by Warren Wiersbe. Wiersbe is great. He offers great Scriptural insight and is practical in his approach and summaries.
Not all great commentaries are mentioned, however I would recommend any of these if you are looking to study a book of the Bible at a deeper level.
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