(I don’t recommend books larger than 400 pages, it is simply too easy to get bogged down.) If you’re looking for a place to get started, here are some resources I recommend. If you have more benefits of devotional commentaries or recommendations, contact me on Facebook or Twitter. Surely there are many more reasons to learn from the godly and gifted who have come before us. Filing that helpful illustration away in Evernote and in the back of my mind has come in handy in teaching others (and now you). When asked by his mother what he was doing, the boy said, “My hand is in the cookie jar resisting temptation!” Hughes’ conclusion is that we can’t resist sin with our hands in the cookie jar we must take serious effort to distance ourselves from even opportunities to sin. After a boy heard his mom tell him “No cookies until dinner,” the boy went over to the cookie jar, opened the lid, and put his hand in. In Kent Hughes’ book on Ephesians, he illustrated the need to take sin and temptation seriously in a way I’ll never forget. Toward that end, I’ve made a habit of copying down helpful illustrations from what I read. When you read the words of men and women who love the Lord and are gifted communicators, you can often grow as a communicator yourself. If you are a parent, Sunday school teacher, or preacher, dedicate yourself to God’s Word for the sake of your own soul and the souls of those in your care.
The greater depth at which we understand God’s Word and apply it in our lives, the greater impact we will have in ministering to others. As I grow in my understanding of Scripture, it helps me minister to others. Tozer’s words, “Nothing less than a whole Bible can make a whole Christian.”ģ. Still, these portions of Scripture are God-breathed and profitable (2 Timothy 3:16–17).
FREE ONLINE BIBLE COMMENTARY SERIES
When was the last time you heard a sermon series on Ezekiel or the Minor Prophets? Probably not recently. I can drink deeply from parts of Scripture I am not otherwise engaging. Often the journey to another culture often helps us see our own (and its idols) with greater clarity.Ģ. If the commentator is from a different time or culture you get the bonus value of seeing how they apply Scripture to their context.
The more faithful models we have, the better. We need both models and mentors to see the whole picture of Scripture, understand how all of Scripture points to Christ, and to apply it to our lives. “It seems odd, that certain men who talk so much of what the Holy Spirit reveals to themselves, should think so little of what he has revealed to others…A respectable acquaintance with the opinions of the giants of the past, might have saved many an erratic thinker from wild interpretations and outrageous inferences.” Why not learn from them? If you don’t take my word for it, maybe Spurgeon will convince you:
God has gifted individuals today and throughout history to know and communicate His Word with depth and clarity. If you’ve ever thought, “I wish I could read the Bible with a pastor beside me to explain it,” reading devotional commentaries grants your wish. There are several reasons why I love reading devotional commentaries as part of my study routine: They are books (sometimes published sermons) that are meant to be read cover-to-cover instead of referenced on occasion. When I say ‘devotional Bible commentaries,’ I mean commentaries on Scripture that aren’t primarily academic or technical, but rather explain and apply the text in an accessible way. If you’ve ever wanted to grow in your Bible knowledge but haven’t known how (short of Bible school or seminary), I have a suggestion for you: read devotional Bible commentaries.
0 kommentar(er)
