The Essentials — Bible study

Countryside Bible Church has hosted a conference each February for the past five years addressing the five solas of the Reformation. This year, they are beginning a new 6-year series called “The Essentials.” In the coming years they will address six essentials to the spiritual life: Bible study, evangelism, fellowship, prayer, service, and worship. The […]

2012 Bible Reading Plan

Every year many people make plans on reading through the Bible in a year. It’s a worthy goal. But too many get bogged down somewhere in the middle of Numbers or one of the prophets, and never make it through the Bible. What is more important than reading through the Bible in a year, is […]

Grab bag

Some helpful articles from the last week: Lately I’ve been preaching and writing quite a bit about the gospel for believers. Here is a prayer from Scotty Smith to preach the gospel to ourselves. Alan Jacobs is an excellent essayist. I have read one of his collections of writings and another awaits reading on my […]

For the Love of God – a free book

Several years ago I read through the Bible using Robert Murray M’Cheyne’s Bible reading plan — a plan that leads the reader through the OT once and the NT and Psalms twice in one year. Somewhere during that time, I was made aware of D. A. Carson’s two-volume set For the Love of God, in […]

Read 2 Thessalonians

While very similar to 1 Thessalonians, Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians was written by Paul to correct the misconceptions about the Lord’s coming and their behavior in relationship to His coming and to encourage them to live in the peace of God despite their suffering circumstances. Read more about 2 Thessalonians here. Download a […]

Grab bag

A few sites worth reading in-between bites of leftover turkey sandwiches or trips to the store(s): If you are doing some internet shopping this weekend, check out the collection of deals for Christian books and resources amassed by Tim Challies. Desiring God has a 3-part series of questions and answers with writer Jerry Bridges. Dave […]

Reading Micah

The book of Micah bears a strong resemblance to the other prophets of his time: Amos, Hosea, and Isaiah. Yet, while they all prophesied at approximately the same time, they each complimented each other in both their messages and their audiences. Read more here.

Reading Joel

The book of Joel is a warning to the Israelites that they are facing a coming judgment unless they fulfill their part of the covenant with God. There are similarities in this book to the other prophets as well as the book of Revelation 9. And like those other books, it concludes with a positive […]

Reading 1 Thessalonians

After founding the Thessalonian church, Paul was able to stay there only a short time — perhaps as little as three weeks. And the persecution that drove him from that region was a continuing burden to the Thessalonians. This letter serves as an encouragement to the persecuted church and a call to stand ready to […]

Reading Daniel

The book of Daniel is one of the more popular Old Testament books — it is filled with historical drama, interesting characters (where else can you read of the king who became like a beast who became a king again!), exciting visions, and fast action. In short, Daniel is a book of history. It looks […]

Grab bag

A few things I’ve spotted around the internet lately: Can six seconds a day protect your marriage? Jani Ortlund says it can — if it’s a six-second kiss. Unbelieving pastors? Say it ain’t so. And yet there are some. Perhaps (probably?) the report by new-atheist proponent Daniel Dennett is biased, but if he could find […]

Free Kindle ESV

For a limited time (not sure how long), the English Standard Version Bible is free as a Kindle version. Download it here.

Looking for a commentary?

A few days ago someone asked me for a recommendation of a commentary on the book of Deuteronomy. I have not preached through Deuteronomy so my stack of books was somewhat thin to pick from to begin with. Additionally, the theological persuasion of the interpreter is particularly important in this book — i.e., is the […]

Reading Isaiah

Isaiah was written to the people of Judah in a time when they had again turned away from God. It was to serve as a warning to the people that if they would not repent they would have to suffer punishment. And while the punishment was immanent, they still were promised blessings in the future. […]

Reading Jeremiah

It is for good reason that Jeremiah is called “the weeping prophet.” Not only is he the author of the book of Lamentations, but his ministry is also one of continued rejection. And not only did the people reject his warnings from the Lord, but God Himself promised Jeremiah that they would reject these admonitions […]