I’m not the first Christian in history.
Brothers and sisters throughout church history have walked with Christ, struggled with the Scriptures and engaged every kind of culture imaginable.
I’m not the only Christian alive today.
Brothers and sisters around the world are walking with Christ, struggling with the Scriptures and engaging every kind of culture imaginable.
The wonderful thing is, those brothers and sisters of the past wrote about what they learned. They shared their experiences in books. When we open the pages of those books and read, amazing things happen. We can benefit and learn and grow from those lessons they learned and those experiences they lived. Isn’t that wonderful?!
This is also true of those brothers and sisters who are alive today. Their words aren’t the word of God. Their books should never be mentioned in the same breath as Scripture. But, like a good sermon, books can help us know God more deeply. Like the words of a wise teacher who has studied the Scriptures for decades, books can help us grow in our understanding of the Bible.
I know this, because I have experienced it. I was not a “reader” when I became a Christian. But I desired to grow and I found that books helped me. Challenged me. Encouraged me.
Here’s my point: I want to invite you to read with me in 2011.
If you’re not a “reader” I hope you’ll pick one or two or three of these and work your way through. I hope you’ll find the audio books and listen on your way to work. Then, I invite you to read my posts about what I’m reading and then add your comments.
Here’s my reading plan thus far. I reserve the right to tweak later:
Books of the Bible I’m reading:
Romans – Philemon. I’m currently reading and listening to the epistles of Paul as I prepare to continue my message series His Story—From Genesis to Revelation. I’ve preached one-sermon messages for every book from Genesis to Acts—you can listen to those on the CBC podcast. I’m very excited to begin preaching Paul’s letters because they are so crucial to being a “spiritual” and mature believer as well as having a well-established church. I can’t encourage you enough to read these treasures with me.
Books I encourage you to read with me this year—compiling the Big Twelve:
I’m hoping to compile a list of about a dozen books I’d like every member of our church to read as a way of encouraging one-mindedness, so your input will be very helpful. I don’t have plans at this time to start a book club, but again, I will be posting reviews as I read and I’d love to get your comments. Several books I’ve already read are on my list of possibilities for the Big Twelve, but the list below includes books I haven’t yet read entirely:
- January: Keep in Step with the Spirit by J. I. Packer. I have never read this book from cover to cover even though it is a modern classic. For several reasons, I feel as though it is time. In the preface, Packer wrote about this book: “A widely traveled leader has said that Christianity in North America is 3,000 miles wide and half an inch deep, and suspicions of shallowness have been voiced elsewhere, too. But however that may be, it is out of the sense that the Spirit is stirring us that this book has emerged…It has been put together to help Christians who mean business with God and are prepared to be dealt with by him.”
- February: Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave—Finding Hope in the Power of the Gospel by Edward T. Welch. This book comes highly recommended by some of the Christian counselors I’ve read in the past. If you’re thinking this book is not for you because you’re not an “addict,” read what the author wrote in the preface: “You will probably come to this book with a particular role in mind. For example, I came with the idea of helping others. Bug as I dug into Scripture’s teaching on the reckless nature of the human heart and its rich teaching on self-control, it made me see that I needed help as well.” Here’s a video of the author discussing this important subject and a curriculum he developed after writing this book:
- March: Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper. This book is available for free on-line (click here). I listened to a message by Piper in 2010 by this same name and was really touched. If the book is half as good it should have no problem making the Big 12. To give you some idea of the intensity of this book, read what the author wrote in the preface: “This is not a book about how to avoid a wounded life, but how to avoid a wasted life. Some of you will die in the service of Christ. That will not be a tragedy. Treasuring life above Christ is a tragedy.”
- April: Why Men Hate Going to Church by David Murrow. The title of this one makes it kind of irresistible. Here’s a snippet from the back: “David Murrow’s groundbreaking new book reveals why men are the world’s largest unreached people group. With eye-opening research and a persuasive grasp on the facts, Murrow explains the problem and offers hope and encouragement to women, pastors and men. Why Men Hate Going to Church does not call men back to the church—it calls the church back to men.” Come on, CBC! You need to read this one with me!
- April: Body Life by Ray Stedman. I’ve read some of this book, but it has had too much impact on the Bible Church movement for me to neglect it any longer. It too is available for free on-line (click here).
- June: Reformation in Foreign Missions by Bob Finlay. Finlay has already had a big impact on my thinking regarding Foreign Missions. He started Christian Aid Ministries and I’ve read some of the things he’s written including chapter 21 of Reformation, which is an overview of all of Finlay’s key ideas. That chapter convinced me that I—and every Christian who cares about missions and has ever participated in missions—should read this book. I feel compelled to read the entire thing soon to confirm my thinking that this is as earth-shaking as I think it is. It is available for free on-line (click here).
- July-December…coming soon
Books I’m reading for my own edification or enjoyment:
- The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare. This award-winning historical fiction book is set in the time of Christ. I’m reading it to my three oldest children as part of our home education curriculum.
- Band of Brothers by Stephen Ambrose. This book is about the American soldiers who took down Hitler. I’ve made something of a personal commitment to read periodically about the Americans who have fought for the United States of America. I want to remember those who put their lives on the line—or gave their lives—to protect and preserve the freedom I enjoy. It’s my way of honoring them—simply to remember what they did.
