OK.....how were those sermons from Charles Spurgeon and John Piper? I know how they were. Keep this up. May God have mercy on so many of these pastors today who by the time they ascend their pulpits....or saunter behind their lecterns....are not weary from the intense prayers leading up to their taking the pulpit. These are good men....the majority....but they are no different to us in that they are susceptible to wandering into the quicksand of easy-believism...and dying of thirst in the climate change that spawned an oasis of megachurches.
Today's exercise is in understanding the importance of choosing a bible. You need a study bible. You need the helps that are in them....but you need one of the better study bibles. My top recommendation is the one that I use....the John MacArthur Study Bible. I don't even agree will all of the notes....particularly on his views of a literal coming millennium....but none of us know the answer on that topic with a certainty. As for the gospel itself....MacArthur's notes and the graphic helps will be a great benefit to your studies.
Another study bible that I like would be the Evidence Bible....edited by Ray Comfort. You may remember him from Christian television....and his association with Kirk Cameron. If you are brand new to the faith then this is the bible that I would recommend first. There are also here some interpretations that I do not agree with....but there is a gift in this publication in reaching the young and the inquisitive. If you are the opposite....and now need refined....and are serious....and have good eyes....R. C. Sproul's....The Reformation Study Bible would be a wonderful blessing!
What translation should you choose? MacArthur offers the New American Standard Bible....NASB....and the English Standard Version....ESV....and the New King James Version....NKJV. I would probably choose them in that order but they are all good! The Evidence Bible comes only in the New King James Version.
OK....how much do we spend on the study bible? Through the years I went through a number of leather bound bibles....but over time I found out that....for me....when sitting on a chair and reading my bible....a hardback is better....as the leather bound tends to flop over my leg. Maybe this wouldn't affect you? You would probably pay under $40 for the hardback...and over $70 for the leather.
Whatever bible or study bible that you might buy....it is very important that the type is easy to read! What good is it if you have a bible where your eyes hurt after five minutes of reading. I'll tell you what the result would be....you would read it less! Both MacArthur's and the Evidence Bible have easy to read type!
You are going to need a supply of highlighters....and either an ultra fine pen....Pilot G2s are good....or a .5 or smaller mechanical pencil. Staples sells TRU RED chisel tip highlighters that do not bleed through the paper. I have a system you might consider. I color code my highlighting. All verses that have to do with prophecy....I use the orange highlighter....anything stating a specific doctrine I use green....those verses that speak of our sovereign God....and His Son....and the Holy Spirit....I use red....and anything general interest verses I use yellow. The TRU RED pack comes with a blue....that I never use....because the shade is too dark.
I went a number of years utilizing either label tabs for each of the sixty-six books....or indented tabs....but I would recommend that you take the time to memorize the order of the Old and New Testament books. I do this though....I still use label tabs for the various study bible helps.
There are a number of Internet websites where you can go directly to any bible verse. I started out with biblehub.com....and have been very satisfied with it. I use this all the time on my iPhone. I do not recommend using the computer for your bible reading....nor do I recommend the various....read the bible in a year....programs. Yes....in one year you would have read through every book and every chapter and every verse of God's Word....but I probably read through the book of Daniel a dozen times a year at least....and I am in Revelation almost every week....and the Psalms every single day. Read through the bible in a year programs hinder where the holy Spirit may be leading you.
I don't remember the name of the reading program that my eighth grade catholic school used....this back in 1963....A.D....Anno Domini....but it impressed me enough that I still remember how it worked. This was a daily exercise....we were timed. I think that we had three minutes to read the passage that was provided....and then we were tested on how much we remembered. These were aptitude grades and not class grades....so there was no pressure.
I watched....over the years....our son go through his LSAT testing....and then his bar exam. The LSAT....it is said....tests skills and abilities....while the bar tests knowledge. Essentially....your reading of the bible....God's very Word to you....will be tested....but God doesn't care about your abilities. It is said that William Tyndale once spoke thusly...."If God spare my life, ere many years I will cause a boy that driveth the plough shall know more of the scripture than thou (an academic opponent) doest." You will be tested....in life....in how you have....'put on Christ.'
Whatever study bible you choose....whatever translation....whatever binding....however easy or hard the type may be to read....your testing will be on your comprehension! So read to understand....and reread to understand....and continue to read over years....if the Lord shall tarry....to understand even better. Pray before you read....pray after you read. Pray for the desire to read....pray for the understanding! Pray and read....read and Pray!
