I have often returned to Psalm 119 to remind myself of the gift we have in the Bible. 176 verses of gratitude that God has spoken to humans and that God has revealed to humans instructions for how to live a blessed life. Like these: Psa. 119:1 Blessed are those whose ways are blameless,
I thought the same. Even before in-depth study of whole books, though, I think it's important just to read them through. To that end for the past year and a half I have been facilitating book club styled Bible reading groups using Immerse: The Bible Reading Experience from Tyndale. It has been life changing for all of the regular participants, even more than that for me. Reading scripture in community is amazing.
In university, a professor of mine would run a small book club once a week with a few of his students and he explained that the reason we didn't read the bible in that group was because if we weren't already reading the bible on our own time, we shouldn't be in that group.
I think we often assume that believers are already doing these things on their own time, which of course should be the case, but unfortunately isn't always true.
Purchased James/Galatians and started reading it last week on vacation. I have always appreciated your striving to write with clarity and simplicity for the “layperson” which shows in this volume. There’s plenty of commentaries on Galatians I can look to if I want to get in the weeds of debate over this and that. It’s nice to have one that’s just bottom line yet still with depth.
Scott, thanks for this needed emphasis on Bible reading. You might want to check out the Institute for Bible Reading (instituteforbiblereading.org) for the excellent work they are doing with the same concerns and emphasis and growing success.
Fortunately, just had a pastor preach on this yesterday.
Question, you stated: "...God has revealed to humans instructions for how to live a blessed life." How much of that is related to "wisdom" as an underlying purpose of Scripture?
Many seem to see it just a arbitrary rules, laws, checklist, etc..., and may only chalk up "wisdom" themes to the Old Testament Wisdom works, and maybe James in the NT. Beyond those wisdom is not much discussed, even though it is connected to the Creator and His good design.
Evangelicalism and the world might not be suffering the current crisis of truth if Christians with so high a view of the written Word as evangelicals have were in the habit of seeking our comprehensive (heart, mind, soul, and strength) primary formation — as individuals and as a community — in the Bible. I pray our preachers will exhibit that expectation, modeling faithful exegesis of Word and world, with the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other, toward a truer witness to the gospel of the Kingdom. I will be sure to pray for you as you engage this exciting project.
I ran into one of my former history professors, now in his 39th year, who was lamenting the shift of our university away from its broad education, liberal arts legacy toward professional programs offered at the local land grant university. Much of what he said resonated with my own stirrings as a pastor. Finding the most immediate payoffs with the least resistance seems to be the prevalent decision matrix in many institutions, including the church. Thus the preponderance of short, topical themed sermon series. Let's not even begin talking about the emails I get peddling sermon kits and "services" that provide a sermon for the 'busy' pastor. I am hopeful that fellow geriatric millennials like myself are tiring of the quick and immediate and looking for the slower but more fruit-bearing practices of old. It's not as thrilling, but it has to be more satisfying in the long run. I feel like part of the mantle I bear is to help train imaginations and create a capacity to be patient.
I’m really glad you’re writing this book. “Grace people” love to quote Galatians and “Law and performance people” love to quote James, and they compete with one another for our natural affections. We have to read them in concert with one another! Can’t wait to read it.
It seems there was a fair bit of naïveté that detailed defenses of inerrancy would magically produce diligent readers of the Bible. For all their good, these statements did not produce eager readers of Scripture.
I think it is important to read large portions of scripture regularly. There are times I will stop and meditate on a portion of the scripture. Then there are times I will reward large portions without attempting to understand. I find over time as I have reward and re-read scripture when it comes time to more meditative reading other portions of scripture will come to mind. And if I am reading a book I find myself reflecting on what was said in light of scripture. I have for years now have been regularly reading and re-reading the gospels plus Acts just to Jew the gospel fresh in my mind.
Great emphasis. As I grow older I am more and more convinced of Bible reading being a blessed privilege.
I thought the same. Even before in-depth study of whole books, though, I think it's important just to read them through. To that end for the past year and a half I have been facilitating book club styled Bible reading groups using Immerse: The Bible Reading Experience from Tyndale. It has been life changing for all of the regular participants, even more than that for me. Reading scripture in community is amazing.
In university, a professor of mine would run a small book club once a week with a few of his students and he explained that the reason we didn't read the bible in that group was because if we weren't already reading the bible on our own time, we shouldn't be in that group.
I think we often assume that believers are already doing these things on their own time, which of course should be the case, but unfortunately isn't always true.
Purchased James/Galatians and started reading it last week on vacation. I have always appreciated your striving to write with clarity and simplicity for the “layperson” which shows in this volume. There’s plenty of commentaries on Galatians I can look to if I want to get in the weeds of debate over this and that. It’s nice to have one that’s just bottom line yet still with depth.
Scott, thanks for this needed emphasis on Bible reading. You might want to check out the Institute for Bible Reading (instituteforbiblereading.org) for the excellent work they are doing with the same concerns and emphasis and growing success.
Fortunately, just had a pastor preach on this yesterday.
Question, you stated: "...God has revealed to humans instructions for how to live a blessed life." How much of that is related to "wisdom" as an underlying purpose of Scripture?
Many seem to see it just a arbitrary rules, laws, checklist, etc..., and may only chalk up "wisdom" themes to the Old Testament Wisdom works, and maybe James in the NT. Beyond those wisdom is not much discussed, even though it is connected to the Creator and His good design.
Evangelicalism and the world might not be suffering the current crisis of truth if Christians with so high a view of the written Word as evangelicals have were in the habit of seeking our comprehensive (heart, mind, soul, and strength) primary formation — as individuals and as a community — in the Bible. I pray our preachers will exhibit that expectation, modeling faithful exegesis of Word and world, with the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other, toward a truer witness to the gospel of the Kingdom. I will be sure to pray for you as you engage this exciting project.
This was a refreshing read, Scott. Thank you.
I ran into one of my former history professors, now in his 39th year, who was lamenting the shift of our university away from its broad education, liberal arts legacy toward professional programs offered at the local land grant university. Much of what he said resonated with my own stirrings as a pastor. Finding the most immediate payoffs with the least resistance seems to be the prevalent decision matrix in many institutions, including the church. Thus the preponderance of short, topical themed sermon series. Let's not even begin talking about the emails I get peddling sermon kits and "services" that provide a sermon for the 'busy' pastor. I am hopeful that fellow geriatric millennials like myself are tiring of the quick and immediate and looking for the slower but more fruit-bearing practices of old. It's not as thrilling, but it has to be more satisfying in the long run. I feel like part of the mantle I bear is to help train imaginations and create a capacity to be patient.
I’m really glad you’re writing this book. “Grace people” love to quote Galatians and “Law and performance people” love to quote James, and they compete with one another for our natural affections. We have to read them in concert with one another! Can’t wait to read it.
Well, /wrote the book. I just ordered it.
So important. So needed. May we find your words, consume them, and let them be our joy and delight, dear Lord (Jer. 15:16).
It seems there was a fair bit of naïveté that detailed defenses of inerrancy would magically produce diligent readers of the Bible. For all their good, these statements did not produce eager readers of Scripture.
I think it is important to read large portions of scripture regularly. There are times I will stop and meditate on a portion of the scripture. Then there are times I will reward large portions without attempting to understand. I find over time as I have reward and re-read scripture when it comes time to more meditative reading other portions of scripture will come to mind. And if I am reading a book I find myself reflecting on what was said in light of scripture. I have for years now have been regularly reading and re-reading the gospels plus Acts just to Jew the gospel fresh in my mind.