Leading on Empty
This past year has been one of the most difficult for me in ministry. Many circumstances collided into the “perfect storm” of being over committed, over worked, over eating, under rested, and generally operating beyond healthy boundaries in most areas of my life. In the back of my mind, I knew that June was coming. Every five years, the ministers on staff at HCC are blessed to take a one month sabbatical from ministry at the church. I knew that I needed something to guide my time off.
As I began preparations for my sabbatical, this book came highly recommended. In this brutally honest account of his own journey through severe ministry burnout, Wayne Cordeiro details his descent into depression and the steps he took to ascend out of it. Sometimes meandering narrative and sometimes self help manual, the book is a very engaging read and very insightful. I’m not sure that I could have written such brutally honest things about myself, but I’m thankful that Cordeiro did and shared it with the rest of us.
While I’ve not hit the lows that the author describes, I’ve had periods of tremendous challenges to my mental, spiritual, emotional, and physical state. Some of the book, therefore, was more theoretical to me personally, but I imagine to others it would be like reading their own personal diary. While the books tries not to be a “takes these 7 easy steps and you’ll be fine” kind of self-help guide, the final several chapters do provide some very useful and insighful lessons.
For those who are not in full-time church ministry, you probably won’t understand the difficulties that Cordeiro describes. He makes a great point that ministry is just simply different from any other occupation. Because of that difference, the toll that it takes on the person and family of the minister is unique. Without the proper boundaries in life, the longevity of the ministry and quality of life will be greatly diminished. For those in ministry, you will completely identify with the situation and shake your head in agreement.
This is a must read for anyone in ministry–if not as a path through the storm as a map around it.
Keeping Your Devotional Life Fresh
February 27, 2009
Filed under Bible Study, Discipleship, Reading, Spiritual Disciplines
Ten Ways to Keep Your Devotional Life Fresh
1. Keep the purpose of devotions in mind.
Look up Psalm 119:11; Matthew 28:18-20; Ezra 7:10; Hebrews 4:12. These verse talk about the importance of not just reading or knowing God’s word, but actually DOING it. If there is some area of your life that you’re shielding from the truth of God’s word, then your devotional life may sag. If you’re reading the Bible just to check it off your “To Do” list, then I can virtually guarantee that it won’t seem fun or even useful. Don’t just read the Bible, put it into practice.
2. Write down your thoughts.
I’m not a big journaler (probably because I think it resembles keeping a diary, that is too feminine for me.) However, I do like to keep a record of what I’m studying. It doesn’t have to be long or even organized. I find that writing down questions, ideas, or even things I don’t understand keeps me from mindless reading (which is probably what you’re doing as your read this blog!) Also, how great would it be to pass down your spiritual journey to your children and grandchildren.
3. Find your rhythm.
Are you an early or late person? Are you a grazer or feaster? Regular Bible study is the key to spiritual growth, but your personal Bible study doesn’t have to be identical to anyone. Find the time and method that works for you right now and go with it. Give God the best part of your day, not just a time that someone else says you should.
4. Share your discoveries with someone else.
Now the key here is a willing listener. If you are constantly unloading all your brilliant spiritual insights on someone, they’re probably going to get tired of it. Study though a book of the Bible and then get together with a discussion group. Also, ask God to put people in your path who need to hear what you’ve been reading.
5. Use a good study Bible.
It is really frustrating to read about things you don’t understand. Study Bibles today come with commentary, maps, concordances, and all kinds of bells and whistles. If you read the helps along with the text, it will really bring the text to life. I highly recommend the ESV Study Bible, the Archaeological Study Bible, the Quest Study Bible, the Literary Study Bible, and the NIV Study Bible.
6. Ask the right questions.
Do everything to avoid mindless reading. Ask the following questions…what should I know from this text? How should I think? What should I do? Also, you could write down the answers to the questions. If you jump into the text with some questions in mind, it will definitely help your reading.
7. Challenge your thinking.
Sometimes our thinking becomes stale or out of date. Reading what others think about God and spiritual growth can help our own thinking grow. Now this should never replace your Bible reading. However, interacting with others can generate new ideas, challeng our thinking, or even change our mind on something. Ask your minister for suggestions on great books on spiritual growth.
8. Add variety.
Sometimes we get stuck in a rut in our devotions. While there is something to be said for familiarity and routine, changing some things up can also change our perspective. You could change the time of day, the place, or the Bible version you use. Try listening to the text rather than reading.
9. Take your Bible everywhere.
You’ll be surprised how many opportunities come up to read if you have your Bible with you. Also, you’ll be surprised how many people ask why you’re carrying it. You might have the opportunity to share with someone. Also, maybe someone will steal it and read it!
10. Follow a plan.
Develop some kind of plan for reading. Not having a reading plan is like leaving for vacation without knowing where you’re going. Chances are you’ll end up going in circles. Try reading the Bible chronologically or through in a year. If you search on the internet, you’ll find countless resources for this (also, look in the back of your study Bible.)
The One Year “Book Study” Bible Reading Plan
November 17, 2008 
(You can download this file in the blogroll list on the right)
What Is It?
There are many ways to study the Bible. One method is to cover as much ground as possible. This would be like walking a trail that is 1189 miles long (the number of chapters in the entire Bible). The advantage of this method of Bible reading is that you get to see the whole trail, appreciating the varying terrain, knowing where the trail begins, and where it ends. Also, you probably won’t get bored as the scenery changes frequently.
Another way to read the Bible is to focus on one book for an extended period of time. With this method, you travel the same section of trail (maybe 10-20 miles) over and over again. You begin to notice things as you walk by them every week. Eventually, you begin to know instinctively where the trail leads as it feels more familiar with every walk.
Studying the same book throughout the course of a year has tremendous benefits. You will discover things that you never knew lay beneath the words of the text itself. As you repeatedly read, you’ll become incredibly familiar with the author, the audience, the text, and the message of the book. Passages will come to your mind naturally and it will become ingrained into your thinking.
What’s The Method?
The One Year Book Study approaches Bible study and reading from a number of angles and perspectives. The idea is to read and study through a book (or natural grouping of books) throughout the course of a single year, but changing the purpose each month. Whether a different translation, a different purpose, or even a different medium (listening as opposed to reading), you’ll see how the Holy Spirit works to bring the message of the Bible to you in fresh ways.
Below is a list of resources that you can use throughout the year. One invaluable tool is a notebook to record the things that you’ve learned. As you go through the year, be sure to keep track of your questions, insights, thoughts, and discoveries. You’ll be amazed at how much you’ve learned when you go back and read previous entries.
One of the best ways to study a book of the Bible is to read it through in one session. That may not be practical for long books, but for shorter books it is incredibly helpful in understanding the message of the author.
Also, take this outline as a suggestion. If you think of something to add in your study, do it! Take six months or 18 months as opposed to a year. Make the path you travel your own path.
What Resources Will I Need?
- A literal translation of the Bible (King James, New American Standard, English Standard, Revised Standard, Holman Christian Standard)
- A dynamic equivalent translation of the Bible (New International Version, New Living Translation, New English Bible, New Century Version)
- A paraphrase of the Bible (The Message, The Living Bible)
- Two study Bibles (ESV Study Bible, NIV Study Bible, Literary Study Bible, Quest Study Bible, Archaeological Study Bible, etc.)
- An audio version of the Bible
- An empty notebook and a good pen
Looking for some of these resources for free? Try the following…
-
Your church library
-
Your local public library
How to Choose a Book
Obviously, with this method of Bible reading, repetition is the key. Some months you may want to read the book through more than one time. For very short books, you may want to group several of them together into logical sections.
Need some suggestions of book groupings? Try these…
-
Paul’s Letters from Prison (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon)
-
Paul’s Letters to Young Ministers (1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus)
-
John’s Letters (1, 2, 3 John)
-
Women of the Old Testament (Ruth, Esther)
-
General Letters (James, 1 & 2 Peter, Jude)
-
Return from Captivity (Ezra & Nehemiah)
-
Prophecies to Nineveh (Jonah & Nahum)
Don’t Go It Alone
One of the greatest ways to study the Bible is in community with others. Ask two or three others to go through the study with you and get together once a month to share what you’ve learned. You’ll be surprised what you missed that others picked up. A sponge can only take so much in before it needs to release, so find an outlet for sharing what you’ve learned so you can take more in.
Suggested Schedule
January
Read through the book to find background information about the author, audience, and purpose of the book. Approach this month as an investigator looking for the motive of the book. You may need to read through several times to pick up on all the details.
February
Read through the book in a study Bible. This may include an introduction to the book, which will expand your discoveries of the previous month. Be sure to read any explanatory foot notes as well as the study notes in the text itself.
March
Read through the book in a literal translation. If you used a literal translation for your January reading, you may find it interesting to try a different one. A literal translation will stay as close to the form of the original language as possible. Remember to keep notes of what you discover.
April
Read through to find things you should know and remember. Primarily, your goal this month is to look for pieces of knowledge that are essential for a Christian to know. You’ll definitely want to write these down. Also, you might want to make a list of verses that would be good to memorize.
May
Read through to find connections with other Bible books. If you’re reading an OT book, where is your book quoted in the NT? If you’re reading a NT, are there any references to the OT? Once you find these connections, read the other end of the connection. You can find these connections in your foot notes, references, or in your study Bible.
June
Listen to the book on tape or CD. Some of the books of the Bible were originally meant to be listened to rather than read. You will pick up things that you’ve never noticed before. Make sure to take notes!
July
Read through the book in a dynamic translation. The point of these translations is to convey the thoughts of the author and meaning of the text rather than give a literal word for word translation. If you’ve been using a dynamic translation already, try using a different one.
August
Read through the book to find attitudes you should hold. By this time you should be very familiar with the book. It’s time to start thinking about how you need to apply the truth in it. Look for attitudes that are essential for the Christian. And, you guessed it, take notes!
September
Read through the book to find the connection to Jesus. If you’re reading an OT book, how does it prepare the way for Jesus? If you’re reading a gospel, what kind of picture does it paint of Jesus? If you’re reading a NT book, what references about Jesus are in the book?
October
Read through the book with a different study Bible. Just like before, read all the information about your book and write down what you think is important.
November
Read through the book in a paraphrase. The purpose of this type of translation is to really bring the message of the book into modern language. You may be surprised at some of the phrases and words used. Note how it may change your ideas about how the original audience may have understood the text.
December
To finish out your year of study, read through the book to find specific actions that you need to change or add to your life. Also, you may want to write down your thoughts about the whole year of study. Perhaps you will want to read over the notes that you’ve taken during the year. How should studying this book change your life? How has it changed your life?
Water from a Deep Well
August 26, 2008
Filed under Books, Discipleship, Reading, Resource Review, Spirituality
by Gerald L. Sittser
For the past four years I’ve led a book discussion group for my church. I usually pick books about spiritual development (with the exception of year two, when we read classic American fiction.) Our final meeting of the summer was yesterday and this was the book we discussed. While the previous three books we read this summer were good, we saved the best for last.
Water from a Deep Well is part church history, part biography, and part spiritual development. Sittser basically takes every era in church history and show what it meant to be “spiritual” during that time. He covers the early martyrs, the early Christian community, the desert saints, monasticism, medieval laity, the mystics, the Reformers, the Evangelicals, and finally pioneer missionaries. In each chapter he shows how that particular age connects to the previous one and discusses the particular challenges that Christians during that time faced.
Two aspects of this book particularly intrigued me. First, the author only spoke about what was positive. For instance, the chapter on icons and saints could easily been very critical from a protestant point of view. However, he takes the time to explain how the practices developed and the positive impact it can have on even protestants. Second, he covers areas that I probably would have never thought about. I learned a lot from the chapters that covered the most unfamiliar topics.
Overall, this book is one of the best that I have read in recent years. It shows that Christians in every age can certainly learn from those who have gone before us. Also, it certainly helped me understand why Christians of other traditions do what they do. In the end, I still may not agree with their practices, but I certainly do understand them better. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about their own spiritual heritage, brush up on their church history, or be encouraged by the saints who have gone before us.
Monk Habits for Everyday People
July 8, 2008
Filed under Books, Discipleship, Reading, Resource Review, Spirituality
by Dennis Okholm
I’ve been leading a summer reading group for the past four years. Every summer we focus on a particular topic, and this year we’re reading books on spirituality. This is the third (and shortest) book in our series. Honestly, I was just kind of planning on zipping through this one (barely over 100 pages) because the next one is really long. Boy, was I ever floored.
The author is a Presbyterian theology professor who has spent considerable time in monasteries, especially ones of the Benedictine variety. He writes this book hoping to enlighten protestants on the virtues that guide the lives of monks. And much to my surprise, he’s done just what he set out to do.
Okholm goes through virtures such as listening, poverty, obedience, humility, hospitality, stability and balance. He describes how these virtures are taught by Benedict and then how they are practiced in the abbey. Best of all, he then shows how these virtures can be incorporated into the lives of every Christian. He does this is a masterful way without being too negative or preachy. I was especially convicted by the chapters on hospitality and stability. He brought out some insights that I had never thought of. I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time.
Overall, this is a fantastic read that is both easy and difficult at the same time. Easy to read; hard to do. I highly recommend it.
A python or gazelle?
One of the central truths about spiritual growth is that each person is created uniquely. No two people are alike physically (yeah, I know you’re thinking, “Identical twins”, but don’t blow my analogy). The same it true of people spiritually: no two are the same. I believe this truth is usually overlooked when a church tries to program or help people in spiritual growth.
One facet of spirituality that reflects this truth is Bible reading. Ever since I can remember, it has been pounded into my head that in order to be spiritual, a person has to get up early and read their Bible first thing in the morning. Every day. As I’ve thought about this (and my own lack of enthusiasm toward getting up at 4:00am), I’ve come to the conclusion that everyone has a different spiritual metabolism just as everyone has a different physical metabolism. Allow me to explain…
A gazelle grazes continually. A python eats like once every six months. Since they both have different physiological metabolisms, they digest food at vastly different rates and speeds. My daughter is like a gazelle. She can eat a little bit of food constantly. I’m more like a python. I could probably eat one large meal a day and be satisfied. I believe that the same is true about how we digest God’s word. Some people can eat a little bit every day and be ready for a little more the next day. These gazelles seem to digest good really fast. Others are more like the python: eat one huge meal and let it digest for weeks.
Now, I don’t think this analogy can be taken to the extreme. I don’t think that it is good for a person to go for six months without a meal from God’s word. However, I’ve noticed that when I study the Bible, it takes several days of continuous thinking before I feel like I’m ready to move on to the next passage. This year I’m reading through the Bible in a year, and it is really difficult for me. Every day I read something new, but I haven’t finsihed digesting the previous days reading. I’m sure that other people would feel just the opposite: they need something new every day.
I’ve also found that I much prefer doing my Bible reading at night before I go to bed. Just a side note: all those who say that real spiritual Bible reading must be done first thing in the morning don’t take into account that the Hebrew day began at sundown. (Just thought I’d throw that in to make you think.) I simply am not a morning person. I do my best thinking between 10:00pm and 1:00am. Others certainly are morning people (by the way, you people are really annoying.) Perhaps we should give God the best time of our day rather than slavishly adhere to an artificial “spiritual” schedule.
So, are you more like a gazelle or a python? Leave a comment and let me know.
Top Ten Most Influential Books
People always ask me what I’m reading. I usually have a couple of books that are on my desk or on my nightstand. Lately I’ve been thinking about the books that have influenced my life the most (beyond the Bible.) So I’ll give you my list of the most influential books in my life. This is not a definitive list for everyone, but only reflects my own personal walk with Christ. I’ve listed them in order of most influential, along with the publisher. Here we go…
- The Universe Next Door by James Sire (InterVarsity Press). A catalogue of world views. This book has helped me understand the world and culture more than any other book.
- Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis (Harper Collins). This is the classic “modern” description of Christianity. For logical thinkers, this is the pinnacle of Christian thought.
- How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart (Zondervan). Fantastic book on how to understand the Bible.
- How We Got the Bible by Neil R. Lightfoot (Baker). This book answers all the questions about the reliability, transmission, and content of the Bible.
- Finding the Will of God by Bruce Waltke (Eerdmans). This book takes and incredibly complex topic and give tremendous biblical insight.
- Serious Times by James Emory White (InterVarsity Press). A book about how our culture has changed and how Christians need to change in order to change the world.
- The Search to Belong by Joseph R. Meyers (Zondervan). This is the book about small group ministry that has tremendous insight into human relationships.
- Sacred Pathways by Gary Thomas (Nelson). This book helped me understand how God has uniquely created me. A simple concept with profound implications.
- Who Needs Theology? by StanleyGrenz and Roger Olson (InterVarsity Press). Deceptively simple book about why we should care about understanding who God is.
- The Word of God in English by Leland Ryken (Crossway). This book has shaped the way I look at the Bible. I don’t agree with everything presented, but it made me think more than any other book I’ve read lately.
So there you have it. Hopefully you can be equally influenced for Christ if you decide to read these books.
Why Read?
“I hate reading!”
Those words actually came out of my mouth one time. It was my first semester in college and I was talking with a friend who was an upper classman. She was inquiring how my studies were going. “Great!” I replied, “except for reading.” Until that point in my life, the most I had read was the baseball box scores in the newspaper every day. I had been subjected to the mandatory reading in high school literature class that everyone must endure, but it didn’t take. I hated to read. It was simply torture.
My friend gave me two great pieces of advice. First, I was probably going to flunk out of college if I didn’t start reading. Second, I should pray that God would give me the desire to read. If I didn’t like to read in general, I probably wasn’t going to enjoy reading the Bible very much either. If I didnt’ read the Bible very much, I wasn’t going to be a very good minister (at least not in the Christian Church!)
She convinced me. I prayer that God would give me the desire to read. Guess what? He actually answered my prayer in a big way. Anyone who has been in my office can attest to the fact that I have a lot of books (not typical of a non-reader!) Over the years, my reading habits and consumption has evolved and changed, but one thing hasn’t: my love of reading.
I talk to so many people who not only don’t read but are almost proud of their avoidance of books. What an absolute shame! Like the old commercial says, “A mind is a terrible thing to waste!” As Christians, reading should be at the top of our list of things to do. Reading is the foundation of developing our God-given intellects. The Apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 10:5, “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ…” The first line of defense against false teaching and the first weapon of offense is reading. Simply put, reading is for the mind what exercise is for the body. If we want strong minds, we must read.
So, if you’re not a reader, you should pray that God will create in you the desire to read. Reading is absolutely essential to developing your mind for God.
