23. The Second Finger: Reading

Purpose: The purpose of this session is to give guidance in the development of a year’s reading program.

Objectives

1. The disciple will begin or confirm his annual Bible reading program.

2. The disciple will lay out a program for Bible-related reading.

Scripture Memory

The person who has my commandments and obeys them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and will reveal myself to him.

John 14:21

Agenda

1. Mutual prayer and sharing.

2. Discuss the worksheet.

3. Review Scripture memory.

Introduction

There are three different basic types of reading material shown below, that a Christian should be involved with regularly.

The first, of course is the Bible. There is a reference found in many Bibles: a calendar for reading through the Bible in one year. Your first objective is to conclude a reading calendar and begin reading according to the calendar for this week.

The second set contains Biblical dictionaries, handbooks and the like. If you have not already purchased these, you should consider purchasing them all at this time.

Finally, the last sets consists of books on discipleship, the Christian life and Biblical doctrine.

Bible Reading in One Year

Your Bible or a calendar available at the church will guide you through the Bible on an annual basis.

Bible Dictionaries and Handbooks

1. Baker's Dictionary of Theology, Everett Harrison, Baker Book House.

2. Eerdmans' Handbook to the Bible, David Alexander, and Pat Alexander, Eerdmans Publishers.

3. Eerdmans' Handbook to the History of Christianity, Tim Dowley, Eerdmans Publishers.

Eerdmans' Handbook to the World's Religions, R. Pierce Beaver Eerdmans Publishers.

5. Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, Walter Elwell, Baker Book House.

6. The New Topical Textbook, R. A. Torrey, Revell.

7. PC Study Bible

Books on Discipleship

1. Call to Discipleship, Juan Carlos Ortiz, Logos International.

2. Disciples Are Made, Not Born, Walter Henrichsen, Victor Books.

3. Disciples in Action, Leroy Eims, NavPress.

4. Discipleship, Billy Banks, Jr. and William Shell, Zondervan.

5. Jesus Christ Disciple Maker, Bill Hull, NavPress

6. The Cost of Commitment, John White, IVP.

7. The Cost of Discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Collier Books.

8. The Essentials of Discipleship, Francis M. Crosgrove, NavPress.

9. The Lost Art of Disciplemaking, Leroy Eims, NavPress.

10. The Master's Plan for Making Disciples, Win and Charles Arn, Baker Book House.

11. The Navigator, by Richard Foster, NavPress.

Books on the Christian Life

1. Assurance, R. Gene Reynolds, Tyndale.

2. Balancing Life's Demands, J. Grant Howard, Multnomah Press.

3. Beyond Easy Believism, Gary Collins, Word.

4. Decision Making and the Will of God, Gary Friesen, Multnomah Press.

5. From Here to Maturity, David Augsburger, Tyndale.

6. Forgive and Forget, Lewis B. Smedes, Harper, San Francisco.

7. How to Grow, Kenneth Taylor, Oliver Nelson Press.

8. Keeping in Step with the Spirit, J. I. Packer, Revell.

9. Lifestyle Evangelism, Joe Aldrich, Multnomah Press.

10. Living at High Noon, Gordon McDonald, Revell.

11. Mere Morality, Lewis B. Smedes, Eerdmans.

12. Money, Sex, and Power, Richard Foster, Harper and Row.

13. The God Who Hears, W. Bingham Hunter, IVP.

14. The Practice of Godliness, Jerry Bridges, NavPress.

15. The Simple Life, Vernard Eller, Eerdmans.

16. The Spirit of the Disciplines, Dallas Willard, Harper San Francisco

17. Today's Tentmakers, J. Christie Wilson, Tyndale.

18. Designed to Be Like Him, J. Dwight Pentecost, Moody Press.

19. Run with the Horses, Eugene Peterson, IVP.

Books on Biblical Doctrine

1. Basic Christian Doctrine, Henry, Baker Book House.

2. Beauty Care for the Tongue, Leroy Koopman, Zondervan.

3. Beyond the Battle for the Bible, J.I. Packer, Cornerstone Books.

4. Chosen by God, R.C. Sproul, Tyndale Publishers.

5. Demons in the World Today, M. Unger, Tyndale.

6. Evangelism and Sovereignty, J.I. Packer, IVP.

7. Inerrancy, Norman L. Geisler, Zondervan.

8. In Understanding Be Men, Hammond and Wright, IVP.

9. Knowing God, J.I. Packer, IVP.

10. Predestination and Free Will, Feinberg, Geisler, Reichenbach and Pinnock, IVP.

11. The Attributes of God, A. W. Pink, Baker.

12. The Battle for the Bible, Harold Lindsell, Zondervan.

13. The Rapture, Archer, Reiter, Moo, et. al., Academie Books.

14. The Rapture Question, John F. Walvoord, Zondervan.

15. The Sovereign Spirit, Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Shaw Publishers.

16. Those Controversial Gifts, George Mallone, IVP.

17. Union with Christ, Lewis B. Smedes, Eerdmans.

18. Gospel and Law, Daniel Fuller, Eerdmans.

19. The Second Coming, David Hubbard, IVP.

This is a partial list of books you can read or tools you may use in helping you become a discipler and one who walks effectively in your life. There will be many books you will read during your lifetime, and by the time you exhaust these, you will have a better knowledge of Christian literature.

Worksheet

1. Identify the program you have chosen for yourself for reading through the Bible in one year:

2. Put together a reading list for yourself for the next twelve months. This should include four significant paperback or hardback books dealing with essential aspects of the Christian life. List those here:

3. Other choices may be made which are optional, i.e. biographies of missionaries, martyrs, pastors, or for some, perhaps Christian novels. Tapes of readings are also available in selected cases. List your selections here:

Life Application

If it isn’t your practice already, begin reading the Bible and classics to your children.

“Children and books go together in a special way. I can’t imagine any pleasure greater than bringing to the uncluttered, supple mind of a child the delight of knowing God and the many rich things He has given us to enjoy. This is every parents privilege, and books are his keenest tools. Children don’t stumble onto good books by themselves; they must be introduced to the wonder of words put together in such a way that they spin out pure joy and magic.”

Gladys Hunt, Honey For A Child’s Heart.
Zondervan

(This book is a good resource for choosing books for children)