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Resource: Audible audiobooks (included extras)

1/29/2021

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One of the reasons I can 'read' so many books is because I listen to quite a few books, along with the ones I read in print and a few kindle books.

Audio books are a great option for anyone as you can listen while driving, exercising, and doing chores. Audiobooks can be purchased or borrowed from a library on cd or found through various computers or apps. I use audible. There is a free trial and then it costs $15 a month for one book of your choice each month (higher cost for 2 books a month). You can cancel anytime and keep the audio books even after you cancel.

This post is not to try to talk you into it, but I posted the details above because people always ask.

More specifically, what I want to share is some of the 'included' books that may interest my Christian friends. These are books you can listen to on audible without using credits.

Here are some that I'd recommend taking a listen to, followed by some others that may be of interest but I can't specifically recommend.

Misreading Scripture Through Western Eyes - Richards and O'Brian

Mere Christianity - CS Lewis
(There is a large selection of Lewis's books in this included collections)

God's Smuggler - Brother Andrew

Surprise the World - Frost

In His Steps - Sheldon

An Unhurried Life - Fadling

The Confessions of St. Augustine

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These are the books I haven't read but seem to be of possible interest.

The Practice of the Presence of God - Brother Lawrence
Amish Grace - Kraybill
No Greater Love - Tozer
Jesus Outside the Lines - Sauls
Pursuing God's Will Together - Barton
Know What You Believe - Little
Hidden in Christ - Smith
George Whitefield - Dallimore
God's Secretaries - Nicholson
The End of Religion - Cavey
Luther's Theology of the Cross - McGrath
The Good Shepherd - Bailey
Idols of the Heart - Fitzpatrick
The Question of God - Nicholi
Out of the Depths - Newton
The Pilgrim's Progress - Bunyan
The New Parish - Sparks
No Place for Truth - Wells
Abide in Christ - Murray
The Church History - Eusebius
Theology - McGrath
The God Who Is There - Schaeffer
Not God Enough - Greear
The Lost World of Genesis One - Walton
Love Thy Body - Pearcey
Praying with Paul - Carson
The God Who Is There - Carson
How Long O Lord - Carson
Sacred Rythms - Barton
After Virtue - MacIntyre
The Hiding Place - Corrie Ten Boom
The Imitation of Christ - Thomas a Kempis
The Benedict Option - Dreher
Searching the Scriptures - Swindoll
The Beauty of Intolerance - McDowell
I And Thou - Buber
Grand Central Question - Murray
The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life - Smith
The Most Reluctant Convert - Downing

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Book Resource: How (Not) to Read the Bible

1/29/2021

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How (Not) to Read the Bible is a great potential resource for several people. It would be good for someone who's considering Christian faith but finds the Bible to have too many problems to get past. Also for the Christian who has friends asking you questions about the Bible that you don't have good responses to. For all Christians, the author offers some great general reminders to help us study and interpret the Bible well.

He shares 4 principles for reading the Bible well and then applies them to challenging questions including what the Bible says about violence, slavery, science, women, shrimp, and more!

1. The Bible is a Library not a book. It is 66 books in different languages in different genres written over a huge period of time. We need to understand these factors in order to read the Bible well.

2. The Bible is Written for us but not to us. In order to really understand the Bible well, we need to enter the world (culture, place etc) of the original audience. When we grow in our understanding of how it would have spoken to them, we can grow in our understanding of what it means for us in all times and places.

3. Never Read a Single Bible Verse. Anyone can take a single verse and use it to say something that is not the point of what's being communicated. When we look at context, starting with the paragraph, section, book, etc. we get a fuller picture. Just as important is to see where the verse fits into the big picture story that the Bible is telling.

4. All the Bible Points to Jesus. According to the writers of the New Testament and Jesus himself, He is the clearest picture we have of what God is like. He has come to make the way for us and to both teach and demonstrate God's heart and intentions for us and our world.

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Recomendation: Study Bible

1/27/2021

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There are many study Bibles out there. I'd like to recommend one in particular for those who are interested primarily in digging in for understanding. There are others that are perhaps better for practical life application.

The Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible incorporates some great scholarship from other publications, including one of my favorite resources the IVP Bible Background Commentary (and the Old Testament edition as well as some helpful articles and archeological information.

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Video Resource: Bearing God's Name

1/26/2021

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This is the recording for a lecture event that we did with Dr. Carmen Imes. Her book Bearing God's Name is one that I highly recommend. This video will give you an idea of the core content of the book as well as some material from her forthcoming book on bearing God's image. The teaching begins about 5 minutes in. Find the book HERE.

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Resource: The Bible Project

1/22/2021

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The Bible Project is one of the most consistently helpful resources out there. Their core belief:

"From page one to the final word, we believe the Bible is a unified story that leads to Jesus. This diverse collection of ancient books overflows with wisdom for our modern world. As we let the biblical story speak for itself, we believe the message of Jesus will transform individuals and entire communities."

I'd like to recommend 4 ways you might choose to utilize the resources here, depending on where you are at.

1. Watch the Videos - there have a LOT of short videos on various themes throughout Scripture.

2. Check out the Podcast. This comes out once a week and his about an hour long. In it they take a deeper, but accessible, walk through the larger themes of the Bible. The material from the podcast gets distilled into the short videos I just mentioned.

3. Read through the Bible. There is a Bible reading plan with the YouVersion app that has video intros from the Bible Project along with daily readings.

4. To go Class! They are developing an online classroom function that goes even deeper. This is a great way to really dive in and might be for you especially if you are preparing for teaching ministries or want deeper ongoing education.

I know that I learn something every time I engage with the material from The Bible Project and I think you will as well!

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resource: After class podcast

1/19/2021

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The After Class Podcast is hosted by three Bible professors. Most of their episodes are studies of various topics and themes throughout the Scriptures. They take a fresh look at what the Bible really says and sometimes find things you wouldn't expect.

They take Biblical scholarship seriously and also have a restorationist flavor (getting back to the First Century church).

Let me share a few episodes that I really appreciated. Be aware: the guys spend about 5 minutes or so on banter most episodes before getting to the content.

This is the final episode in a series on women and the Bible. I think you will find it challenging and inspiring.

These are two episodes on what the New Testament teaches about Elders.

Let me know what you think. There are many other subjects covered. Some are better than others, but if I topic interests you, their approach to it is probably worth checking out.

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Resource: Audible audiobooks (included extras)

Book Resource: How (Not) to Read the Bible

Recomendation: Study Bible

Video Resource: Bearing God's Name

Resource: The Bible Project

resource: After class podcast

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