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

How to Study the Bible

Josh challenged us to study our Bibles and get in the Word daily in Sunday's sermon, "True Story." This sparked a lot of conversation, as well as stirred some emotions. Something I realized through talking to several people is that the average person doesn't know how to truly study their Bible. But it's not your fault if no one has ever taught you how, so don't fret. Matt Chandler from Village Church in Texas did a workshop series on "How to Study Your Bible." It is absolutely amazing, relevant, and will change your perspective on studying the Bible. Make sure you download the PDF study guide as well. You can use a search engine to look online for resources as well. PLEASE don't hesitate to talk to your small group leader or another leader at Crew about this - we want to help you grow!

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.

Looking For A Bible Reading Plan?

Happy New Year everyone! I hope everyone had a great night last night. Loud or quiet.

I’m preaching on reading this Sunday and you might guess that I’ll commend the Bible as a book to read. But I would also commend reading the Bible through in a year. There are several plans recommended and described at Justin Taylor's blog. So click over there and select a reading plan and enjoy. Before you pick up any other book to read this year, pick up the Bible and enjoy God.

*Addition by Kim - I really think that we should do this as a church. Most of us make New Year's Resolutions, and rarely does it include anything spiritual. I challenge all of us to pick 1-2 people, or even your small group, and hold each other to reading our Bibles on a consistent basis. It helps you to stick with it and have someone to share how God is teaching you or challenging you. Reading it through in a year is great, but if it takes you longer then fine - just read it! So often do we reflect on the closing year and wish that the coming year would be better and more glorifying to Christ. I promise that if you choose to make a commitment to reading the entire Bible this coming year, God will reveal so much more and your contentment in Jesus Christ will abound. If you forget to read and get off the schedule, don't quit - pick up where you left off!

Here are some additional reading plans from heartlight.org.

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.

A Saturday Night Ritual Begun

This blog is for me…and you. I planned on journaling this tonight for myself, but felt pressed (by the Holy Spirit?) to share it with you via blog.

Saturday nights have started to get away from me. I’m in bed by a decent hour, but not necessarily in a decent frame of soul. I hurry into bed, get up early to pray briefly, run over my sermon and then I’m out the door for a full day. And I mean a full day!

I’m at Crew until 1pm and then it’s connection, counseling, or leadership development until 8 or 9pm.

So, I decided that before what could be easily my most influential day of the week, I better spend some serious time with God on Saturday nights. I prayed and I’m on my way to read the Bible, but in between I felt I needed to be preached to. I thought about listening to a podcast. Piper? Mahaney? It didn’t feel right.

So at 10pm I pulled off my shelf a book by Charles Spurgeon called Lectures to my Students. I first read it in September 2002. It’s been awhile since I’ve read Spurgeon, other than quotes. Probably since 2002.

But this will be my teacher, other than Scripture, on Saturday nights. I just read the first chapter on the need for the pastor to care for his soul if he is to care for others’ souls. How fitting.

Anyway, that’s it. I’d love to hear from you if you’re interested in joining me on this discipline and delight. We’ll quiet our minds, hearts, and souls before coming together for worship on Sundays. It’s an encounter with God I’ve gotten away from and one I’m really looking forward to renewing.