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| Reading Digest: June 10, 2009Hopefully this will be useful to anyone interested...
This is basically a summary of what I'm currently reading, with some comments and evaluation of the books
Personal Devotions
- Reading through Deuteronomy, Proverbs, and Matthew
- I'm reading Deuteronomy together with Victor Hamilton's Handbook on the Pentateuch, which is a good overview that points out key ideas in each section. Thank you, seniors, for buying this for me!
- I'm reading Proverbs together with Derek Kidner's commentary, which is devotional and brief. I'm on the subject studies, which are really good (he covers things like the wise man, the fool, the sluggard, etc.)
Personal Reading / Study
- Discovering God's Will by Sinclair Ferguson. Lately, I've been really interested in decision-making, and learning to make better decisions, because I've been so indecisive, anxious, and wavering back and forth this last year. This book lays out more of the attitudes/principles we need in making decisions, but it also has sections on marriage and occupation/career. I plan on doing a study on decision-making, and have a few other books picked out to read through.
- How to Read Proverbs by Tremper Longman. As you can tell, I'm reading a lot on Proverbs, to gain wisdom because I'm a young fool who is often 'wise in his own eyes.' I just started it--it's kind of an overview of the book, but later on gives principles for interpreting Proverbs, and does some subject studies as well.
- The Doctrine of Repentance by Thomas Watson. Always reading a Purtian book is good for the soul. This book is really good, but I've not really been soaking it in (i.e. reading it too fast). It's convicting and gets into your heart, and sometimes I don't like that!
Seminary Reading
I'm taking Theology IV which covers ecclesiology and eschatology.
- Biblical Eldership by Alexander Strauch. I read this last semester, but I'll read it again. It's just a thorough, biblical / exegetical survey of the Bible's teaching on eldership and leadership in the church. It makes a very good argument for elder-rule, and lays out the Bible's "job description" for elders.
- The reading list for this class is massive--we'll cover things like the millennium, covenant theology, church and Israel, etc.
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| ephesians 5:18Do not be drunk with wine,
But be filled with coffee.
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| almost done with first year of seminary...Not quite, but almost...four more weeks!
What have I learned?
(1) Seminary is hard
(2) Seminary is tiring
(3) Seminary is greatly rewarding
(4) Seminary is an immense privilege
Strangely, what I value more than anything else now is not books (haha), but my personal relationship with God and my relationships with others. Seminary makes you realize that you NEED the Lord and you NEED other people!
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| My expanded translation of 1 Corinthians 13:4-7When hurt by others,
love endures without retaliating
and shows kindness in return.
When others are successful,
love does not envy them;
when it is successful,
love does not brag before others.
In the presence of others,
love is not puffed up with its own importance,
it does not act disrespectfully,
and it does not insist on its own rights.
When hurt by others,
love is not easily provoked to anger or bitterness,
nor does it keep a record of those hurts.
When others are found to be wrong or in sin,
love does not enjoy speaking about it.
Rather, love joins with others in rejoicing over truth.
Love never stops supporting others,
it always trusts,
it always hopes for the best,
and it never gives up.
* In this passage, the word “love” translates the Greek word agape in all instances. Perhaps the old English translation "charity" is a better term. We use the word love so flippantly today that it has lost its meaning. Three other Greek words can also be translated love: (1) storge which refers to affection for family, (2) eros which refers to sexual attraction, and (3) philos which refers to friendship. For a careful study of these four kinds of loves, see C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves.
In producing this translation, I was greatly helped by Anthony Thiselton's shorter commentary and Gordon Fee's commentary in the NICNT.
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| My favorite books, sermons, blog of 2008FAVORITE BOOKS
Favorite Books on Marriage & Dating:
I admit it, there's nothing for me to hide. I have done way too much reading on marriage & dating in 2008. I read a lot of books that weren't too helpful or were just so obvious to be useless. As I've read, I have learned that it is more important to read about marriage than to read about dating, since dating is so temporal. We need clarity on what marriage is (its purpose, nature, sacredness, etc.) and we especially need clarity on gender roles.
I've had a couple of guys ask me what some good books are, so I will list three...
(#1) Relationships: A Mess Worth Making by Tim Lane & Paul Tripp. This is not just about guy-girl relationships, but about relationships in general (though certainly applicable to marriage and dating). It is an awesomely realistic, yet hopeful and gospel-applying book. I read it the second time this summer. It gave me very realistic expectations for when Susan and I started dating. I am thankful for its perspective and its hope-giving.
(#2) Sex for Christians by Lewis Smedes. We don't talk/think/teach about sex enough in the church (I think we're scared and too hush-hush about it), even though Christians desperately need solid teaching about it and our culture desperately needs us to be salt and light to them. Smedes is a Christian ethicist at Talbot Seminary, who writes very frankly, Biblically, and compassionately on sex. He emphasizes that sex is about relational intimacy (not primarily about pleasure) and thus "sexual fulfillment is achieved [not through orgasm but] when a personal relationship underpins the genital experience, supports it, and sustains a human sexual relationship after it." (p. 25-26) You can't have a strong, commited personal relationship in pre-marital sex or casual sex or even adultery! Chapter 8 on "Creative Fidelty" was eye-opening and very thought-provoking; I think it was the best chapter in the book.
I have to throw this in, but Lauren Winner's Real Sex: The Naked Truth About Chastity was also very good, though I think Smedes is better if I only could choose one book on a theology of sex. Both books were great encouragements to me, to remain sexually pure until marriage. Truly, it is right theology/belief concerning sex that will spur us on to purity, not practical tips and harsh rebukes.
(#3) Pre-Engagement: Five Questions to Ask Yourselves by David Powlison & John Yenchko. Very good little pamphlet by two Biblical counselors on questions to consider when you are more serious and thinking about marriage. Questions 2 & 3 on working through problems and leaving-cleaving were very helpful.
Favorite Book on Christian Living/Biblical Counseling:
Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave by Edward T. Welch. This is very good practical theology. It's mainly about fighting addictions (such as alcoholism, over-eating, etc.) but all of us have addictions and lack self-control, so it is applicable to all. Chapters 7-8 were very good on Knowing and Fearing the Lord--in the end, that is the answer to all of our problems! Chapters 9-10 on turning from lies and on self-control very also quite good. I was at a Starbucks on SF when I was reading this book, and I remember looking around and thinking to myself--we are so jacked up. Praise God for Christ.
Favorite Book on Theology:
This year I read a lot about the cross/the atonement, as well as on justification (for teaching Romans), and I also broke into the doctrine of assurance/perseverance. The best books I read were all on the cross, and I would have to say that hands down the best book was...
The Cross of Christ by John Stott. I think the two biggest lessons I learned were:
(1) The cross is the "greatest and most glorious of all subjects" (p. 13). It deserves our constant attention, careful study, and all of our intellect and emotions. When the cross fades, devotion and love to the Lord fades. "I determined to know nothing among you except Christ and Him crucified!" (1 Corinthians 2:2)
(2) We must recover an understanding of the gospel as objective--that is, it was something that God achieved completely outside of us and apart from us. Too often we focus on the subjective effects of the gospel--faith, assurance, regeneration, etc. But we must never forgot that the gospel is good news, not good advice. It is good news about what has already objectively been achieved for us, regardless of how we respond to it. In other words, our thinking needs to be less 'do this, do that!' and more 'This is what Christ has done/will do for you, now respond to him in faith, love, and devotion!'
Stott is very thorough, devotional, Biblical, and reverent. Take your time reading this one, and read it over and over in your lifetime. We should not so much try to master the gospel, as to be mastered by it--so that we are enraptured by Christ's love for us, and respond to him by giving him all our lives.
Favorite Book on Pastoral Ministry/Preaching:
I took a class on church ministry this semester at TMS, and the books were pretty good, but I would have to say that the most helpful book I read on ministry this year was...
Going the Distance: How to Stay Fit for a Lifetime of Ministry by Peter Brain. My brother Jason gave me this as a gift, and it has been thought-provoking. He talks about burn-out, stress, and the strains of ministry (which I certainly felt in my first semester in seminary and as an intern at EBCB). He is very practical, he speaks from experience. The thing I need to do is put more of it into practice!!!
Favorite Commentary:
This year I taught/preached significantly through 1 John, Romans, 1 Corinthians 13, and Matthew. I would have to say that my favorite commentary to work with this year has been John Murray's The Epistle to the Romans. He is weighty, theological, and there is much of God in his writing. He doesn't waste words, and his is one of the few commentaries that deserves to be meditated upon.
FAVORITE SERMONS
Favorite Personal Sermons:
I could not decide between these two sermons, they both were favorites of mine...
Favorite Pastor John Sermon: "Marks of Genuine Salvation, Part 1" (1 Thessalonians 1:1-4)
Favorite D.A. Carson Sermon: "Ironies of the Cross" (Matthew 27:27-50)
Favorite Tim Keller Sermon: "Inside-Out Living" (Luke 18:9-14)
FAVORITE BLOG
Again, I have generally tried to focus on reading books, writing, and meditating, but occasional blog reading is less straining on the mind and certainly better than playing computer games! I have mosted enjoyed C.J. Mahaney's blog on Sovereign Grace; it is thoughtful, edifying, and theological. I like it a lot. I especially enjoyed his interview series with Sinclair Ferguson, and his recent posts on busyness and laziness.
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Related: My favorite books, sermons, blog of 2007.
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