Here is a collection of good reads gathered from across the internet this past week. Enjoy!
On Bible reading and confusing passages: The Bible Is So Confusing by Mike Leake
Are you using the difficulty of the Scriptures as a dodge for reading and obeying the parts which are clear? This is a word not only to the person who has a dusty Bible on his shelf but also the seminary student or pastor who spends his time trying to untangle difficult passages while neglecting to be captivated by the ones which any simple person could understand. Yep, the Bible is difficult in spots. But it’s clear enough for us to give our lives in obedience to the Lord. (click here to read more)
On scripture memory and Christian growth: The First 15 Bible Verses a Christian Needs to Memorize by Scott Slayton
I put together a list of passages for young or new Christians to memorize so they would grow in their understanding of the character of God, the work of Jesus, salvation by faith alone, and the basics of the Christian life. We need to focus on these issues early in the Christian life because if we just start learning Scripture’s commands without understanding who God has revealed himself to be and the heart of the Christian message we will develop an unhealthy view of what it means to live as a Christian. (click here to read more)
On God’s work in your life story: God Wrote Every Chapter in Your Story by Katrina Reyes
By God’s grace, I am learning that in these in-between chapters, character development takes place. He’s teaching me trust, patience, and how to wait on him through the unknown. Just like with fictional characters, unexpected twists and turns and trials come into our lives, many of them being entirely out of our control. But the author always knows how the story is going to end before the characters do. (click here to read more)
A book review on Jerry Bridges’ last book: The Blessing of Humility by Tim Challies
Bridges insists “A life of humility is not an option for a believer to choose or reject. It is a command of God.” To teach the beauty and value of humility as well as to start on down the path toward humility he turns to the Beatitudes saying, “these expressions of Christian character are a description of humility in action.” In other words, when Jesus taught how to live before God and before man, he was teaching how to live with humility. (click here to read more)
First Baptist Church 