Two-Year Bible Reading Plan

Several years ago I came up with a two-year Bible reading plan. There are two reasons I did this. First, I always seemed to drop the ball on the one year plans, usually around Deuteronomy. A two-year plan is more manageable for me in my busyness, because I have smaller daily readings. Second, because a two-year allows me to read through the Bible a little more slowly, it also allows me more time to meditate and reflect on what I'm reading rather than rushing to get my chapters done.

The plan basically, with a few exceptions, has you read two Old Testament chapters a day for the first year and about three months; the final 9 months or so have you read one New Testament chapter a day. There are also some make-up days built into the last part of December. I thought I'd share this with the Crew family, in case anyone else finds it helpful. Go here to download the whole TWO-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN. Print it off and keep it with you in your Bible.

Whether it's this plan or another, I hope we all commit to regularly reading through the Word. Reading through the whole Bible gives us a "big picture" view of God's message to us. Especially in light of Josh's message Sunday, I encourage you to look for how God unfolds His plan to redeem fallen mankind through the Savior Jesus Christ. This is the main storyline of the Bible, and if you look for it you'll see it everywhere. Whether it's through God's slaughtering of an animal to cover Adam and Eve's shame, or Abraham's willingness to not spare His own Son, or the Messianic Psalms, or prophecies of men like Isaiah (see chapter 53)-- the whole book is this: God saving undeserving people by sending His Son to die in their place. May we all be caused to worship the Savior with greater fervor as we read through the Scriptures!

-phil

The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name

Josh read from the Jesus Storybook Bible in his sermon yesterday. Buy it online buy it local and online from Empire Books.

Websites Mentioned in Father's Day Sermon

Josh mentioned some websites for struggles with porn, addictions, etc.

• http://xxxchurch.com/
• Mark Driscoll's free eBook - Porn Again Christian.

Again, like Josh said, if you are struggling with these issues, see him asap or e-mail him at josh@crewcommunity.org. It is vital to your marriage, whether you are currently married or will be in the future.

Another Helpful Tool?

This is kind of a part 2 to the previous post. I ran across this book: Big Truths for Young Hearts by Bruce Ware. It’s a chapter of theology a day for parents and kids to read together. I haven’t read it yet, but it looks promising. I’d love to hear from anyone who has.

Book Suggestions For A Growing Christian

I just had the opportunity to talk to a person who was returning to Christ and the church after a hiatus. Great news and it was excited to talk to them about their revived love for Jesus. They asked for some books to read. Asking me for books to read is liking asking a bulldog to bark. Here’s what I sent them:

The ESV Study Bible

Don't read any of those other books without reading this one at the same time. This particular study bible is full of notes and articles and maps, etc to help you understand as you read. In my opinion and I don't say this lightly. The best English bible ever written. Very literal and accurate with the original languages, but easily read and understandable. There is a bible reading plan in the back and articles on how to read and interpret the bible. Get this book first.

Vintage Jesus by Mark Driscoll This is a book about what Jesus has provided for us by dying on the cross. Very good.

Living the Christ Centered Life by C.J. Mahaney. This is a very short easy book on how to make sure that our whole lives are about Jesus and His death. Highly suggested.

Stop Dating the Church. Since we talked about plugging into a church, I thought I'd add this quick simple read. It takes on why a local church is so important and how to pick a good one.

When I Don't Desire God by John Piper. This is a little more dense, but very helpful. It takes on the issue. How do I fight for a joy in God? What if I don't want to love God and live for him? How do I stir up that desire? Good stuff.

God As He Longs For You to See Him by Chip Ingram. This is a book on the characteristics of God. God is love. God is holy. God is sovereign, etc. Very readable and basic.

Why Read the Puritans?

On Sunday, Josh recommended several books from a variety of categories. One of these categories was books written by the Puritans. Specifically, he mentioned

• Pilgrims Progress by John Bunyan
• Mortification of Sin and Death of Death by John Owen
• The Religious Affections
• Freedom of the Will, On Charity and It’s Fruits and Original Sin by Jonathan Edwards.

Interest in reading the Puritans has been steadily growing since the mid-twentieth century, and continues to grow into this century. But who are these guys? And why should we read them?

The Puritans were a group of seventeenth-century ministers from England and New England who wanted the church purified. They wanted to make the church more Scriptural, and less dependent on meaningless rituals and unscriptural ceremonies. Because of these views, they were often persecuted by the king and other officers of the national church. (Jonathan Edwards lived in the eighteenth century, but he’s usually called a Puritan because he thought like one).

Books by the Puritans have had a significant impact on my life. So what makes their writings worth reading?

1. They were deeply God centered. All of their works lead you to think more deeply about God, and to leave you in awe of His greatness.
2. They were first-rate thinkers. They could take a truth from Scripture, and meditate on the implications and ramifications of that truth, and come back with a veritable treasure trove of jewels, which they then shared with their readers.
3. They were very practical. Their words were not, as they are often mischaracterized, “stale intellect”. Rather, the Puritans were preachers of the highest rank. They presented truth, and then applied it practically to the life. In fact, at least a third of their sermons usually contained a "use", or what we would call an "application".
4. The Puritans are helpful for stirring up one's affection, love, and passion for God. When they preached, they exhorted and encouraged their listeners with passion and conviction. It is said of the Puritans that they preached with “light and heat”; that is, they would illuminate the head, then preach warmly to the heart.

Here is my list of top ten Puritan books worth reading:

1. The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment, by Jeremiah Burroughs (who is incidentally my favorite Puritan author)
2. Overcoming Sin and Temptation, by John Owen, edited by Kelly M. Kapic and Justin Taylor (Note: Owen is very hard to read; you’ve got to think about every sentence. For those willing to put in the work, though, this is probably the best book written on this topic. An easier-to-read book which gleans from Owen is Kris Lundgaard’s The Enemy Within.)
3. The Bruised Reed, by Richard Sibbes
4. The Mystery of Providence , by John Flavel
5. The Existence and Attributes of God, by Stephen Charnock
6. The Glory of Christ, by John Owen
7. A Lifting Up for the Downcast, by William Bridge
8. The Christian in Complete Armor, by William Gurnall (This book is actually 3 Volumes, but they are in short paperback form)
9. Gospel Worship, by Jeremiah Burroughs
10. All Things for Good, by Thomas Watson (Watson is called "the readable Puritan"; books by him are a good place to start if you haven't read the Puritans yet.)

Does anybody else have other Puritan books they like besides these?

Phil Simpson

Books That Help Me Live and Love the Gospel

This past week we talked about building libraries at Crew. Not literal libraries buildings, but each of us beginning/continuing to read books that deeply shape us.

I wanted to list some books that fit into the most important category I mentioned: Books that remind me of the cross. So, spend the rest of your life reading and rereading books about the gospel. I’d read at least 2 of these a year. It’s a mix of old and new.

Romans

Galatians

The Cross of Christ by John Stott

The Cross Centered Life by C.J. Mahaney

The Gospel Primer by Milton Vincent

The Cross and Christian Ministry by D. A. Carson

The Atonement by Leon Morris

Death by Love by Mark Driscoll

Pierced For Our Transgressions by Michael Ovey, Andrew Sach, and Steve Jeffrey

The Death of Death in the Death of Christ by John Owen

I’ll think of more I’m sure, but when you get done with those, reread them, let me know and I’ll recommend something else.

Essential Christian Books - As Mentioned in Jan. 4 Sermon

Josh made a challenge at Crew to become a church of avid readers. First and foremost we should be reading the Bible, but other books help to grow and stretch our minds and walk with Christ, so here’s the exhaustive list of books mentioned during the service (all links open in a new window):

Books About Great People:

• Through Gates of Splendor by Elisabeth Elliot
• Jonathan Edwards: A Life by Ian Murray
• Spurgeon: Prince of Preachers by Lewis Drummond
• Books like Abraham Lincoln by Carl Sandburg or John Adams by David McCullough

Books that Stretch Your Mind:

• Knowing God by J.I Packer
• Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
• Evidence that Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell
• What’s So Amazing about Grace? by Philip Yancey
• Books by Francis Shaeffer, G.K. Chesterton, or Philip Yancey

Books that Broaden Your Scope:

• Books like Moby Dick or War and Peace - classic books make us interesting.
• Books that improve our vocabulary and allow us to join the rest of the literary world.
  
• Harry Potter and Da Vinci Code - It allows us to talk and build bridges with people in our culture. “ It kills me when I hear people start ranting on Da Vinci Code when they haven’t read it. They have n credibility. Although Da Vinci Code was a fun read it is full of heresy and bad history. And when I start talking about it with folks the first thing people ask is “Have you read it?” And I say yes and I am now legit.)" - Josh Perry, Sermon 1-4-09.
• Culturally relevant issues- It’s naive not to. This includes reading the newspaper and magazines that discuss economy, the arts, music, movies, politics, etc.

Books That Soften Your Heart:
You should read these books and keep a journal while you do, read and pray through them with other Christians, challenge each other.

• Grace Awakening by Chuck Swindoll
• Desiring God by John Piper
• Holy Ambition by Chip Ingram

Books That Improve Your Skills
Great books on leadership, marriage, and teaching and small groups and on and on. These are skills books.

• Instruments in the Redeemers Hands by Paul Tripp
• I Kissed Dating Goodbye and followup book Boy Meets Girl by Joshua Harris
• Dare to Discipline by James Dobson
• Shepherding a Child Heart by Tedd Tripp - must read for every parent.
• When Sinners Say I Do by Dave Harvey
• Books related to your field (business, ministry, parenting, computers, etc.)
  

Books that Deepen Your Soul:

• Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem – Read a chapter here and there
• Read great pastor-theologians. Particularly ones who have lasted through time and have served every generation of Christian after they were written. If a book has been serving the church for hundreds or thousand of years or more, it’s probably got something to say. All of those books will take you a long time tread and will be work, but the results are as good as anything out there you and I can read.
• The Reformers: Confessions and City of God by Augustine, Bondage of the Will by Martin Luther, Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin
• The Puritans: Pilgrims Progress by John Bunyan, Mortification of Sin, and the Death of Death by John Owen; The Religious Affections, Freedom of the Will, On Charity and It’s Fruits, and Original Sin by Jonathan Edwards
  

Books that Remind You of The Cross

• The Cross Centered Life by C. J. Mahaney
• Romans
• Galatians
• John Stott commentaries
• The Cross of Christ by John Stott
• Discipline of Grace by Jerry Bridges
• Discovering the Power of the Cross of Christ by Charles Spurgeon
  

Read Your Bible

• Get a reading plan (see previous {{real}} post)
• Google it.
  

A few practical tips:

1. Begin with a regular time in the Bible using a version you can understand. (ESV Study Bible)
2. Use a resource that will add valuable insight, structure, and guide you. (Reading Plan Through the Year)
3. Develop a plan tread a book or two a month. Alternating between the different types of books we talked about in order to stay balanced.
4. It’s ok to give up on books.
5. Don’t get overwhelmed. Have fun! Don’t worry about reading a bunch of books. Just always be reading a book, growing and being changed by the ones you read.
6. Go to www.bestbookbuys.com for price comparison on books.
   

We’d love to develop a culture in this church where we are all reading. We’re regularly being changed by great books and we’re asking each other. What are you reading? And we always have an answer.

Recommended Reading

In last weeks sermon I mentioned getting a book by Dave Ramsey to help with budgeting, spending, investing, etc. Well, they're on sale.

Help For Those Struggling With Porn

It was only a few months into ministry that I had my first opportunity to talk with, pray for, and hold accountable a man caught up in pornography. Since then I’ve had literally dozens of such opportunities. I’ve sorted through the mess with husbands and their wives. Maybe you have too and would like equipped to help others. Maybe you’re struggling and looking for the right time to bring it up to me for assistance. Now is that time. Please let me know ASAP. You can’t defeat this enemy on your own.

I wanted to post these tools for all of us to read and think through. Hope they help. Please let me know of any others I could add.

Breaking Pornography Addiction (Article by David Powlison, CCEF Faculty)

Porn Again Christian (ebook by Mark Driscoll, Mars Hill Church)

X3 Church (Accountability Software, Free Download)

Sex Is Not The Problem Lust Is (Book by Joshua Harris, Covenant Life Church)

Again, don’t hesitate to contact me for help or questions.

Buy a Bible and Read It!

Hey guys. Last week at our state of the church I mentioned that I have been flirting for the past 2 years with switching from a New American Standard Bible (NASB) to an English Standard Version (ESV). I made the switch personally this past Spring and we're making it what we teach from at Crew this Fall. The major reason I switched is that I want the most literal translation of the Bible into English from the original languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek). The NASB has been this for years and still is as accurate, but it's reading, especially in the poetic sections, is a little stiff and rough. The ESV captures all of the accuracy of the NASB translation but is much more fluid and readable.



I've been asked what Bible people should buy and many of the current Bible teachers and authors that I respect these days are really pushing the new ESV Study Bible coming out Oct. 13th. It looks very good and I'm planning on buying it and I urge you to as well. Especially if you don't own an ESV to study and read from.

Ok, now that you're going to buy it. Read it! Everyday. I'm asked a lot what books I think people should read. I'll elaborate more if you ask me in the comment section. But here's the first answer I always give: if you haven't read the Bible (all of it) then do that first. Read no other book, until you've read the Bible. It will change how we read every other book and it is the best book.

Hope this helps get you rollin'.