Category: Recommended Reading

God’s Big Promises Bible Storybook

I’ve just read a book that has brought me out of blog retirement! Just realised it’s been 18 months since I added any words to macarisms.com. Well, Carl Laferton (author) and Jennifer Davison (illustrator) have published a magnificent children’s storybook Bible. I have eagerly anticipated this children’s storybook Bible for some time, having known the passion of the author for helping children and adults see the Bible as more than a collection of ancient short stories.

The Old Testament section takes you on the journey from creation and fall, through promises to Abraham to bless his people, rescue them from slavery in Egypt, establishing his people in the land, promises to David that his descendant would be the forever king, the demise of Israel, the Exile to Assyria and Babylon, the prophetic hope, the return from Exile, and the wait for God to fulfil his promises. If that sounds heavy and complicated—it’s not! It’s simple and clear. Read this book. You’ll see. This children’s book will assist many adults to also see the trajectory of God’s plan through the Scriptures.

The New Testament chapters focus heavily on Jesus. He is shown to be God’s chosen promise-keeping king. The Gospels reveal Jesus as the fulfilment of all of God’s plans. His life, death, resurrection, and reign over all, are then proclaimed throughout the world and congregations are established. Christians are encouraged, challenged and pointed to God’s plan to restore all things under his Son Jesus.

This book contain keys to tracing five big themes through the Bible. You can discover God’s plans to rescue and save, God’s people growing from one man to people from all nations, God’s promised land finding fulfilment in a new creation, God’s delight in bringing joy to those who trust him, and God’s plan for a forever-king fulfilled in Jesus, his Son. You could read this time and time again, following different threads.

I only picked the book up today. I opened it over lunch and I couldn’t put it down until I’d finished it.

Salt Community Church, where I pastor in Bonny Hills, is currently exploring how the Bible fits together over 10 weeks. We are preaching, studying, and exploring, and following a children’s program, on a 10 stop tour of the Bible:

  • Creation
  • Rebellion
  • Promises to Abraham
  • Promises to David
  • Solomon and the decline of God’s people
  • The exile and hope through the prophets
  • Jesus the fulfilment
  • Jesus’ death
  • Jesus’ resurrection
  • God restoring all things

We are also seeking to fill in some of the gaps with a 70 day guided Bible reading plan. I’d have loved to have God’s Big Promises Bible Storybook for the whole 10 stop journey through the Bible. It would be the perfect complement.

If you have young children, grandchildren, nephews or nieces… if you have next-door neighbours with children… if you’re looking for a wonderful birthday, baptism, Christmas, or just cos I felt like it present… if you’re a teenager or an adult and you’d like a quick intro as to how the Bible hangs together and what God has been doing in human history… then get yourself a copy or 3.

Read the Bible in 2022

Would you like to join me in reading the Bible in 2022? My plan is to read it cover to cover following a plan that gets me reading Mondays to Fridays every week. The beauty of this plan is that I can use weekends to catch up if I get behind. Or I can do something different on Saturdays and Sundays.

Tim Challies recommends this Bible reading program, which enables you to read the entire Bible (or just the New Testament) in one year while only reading five times a week. Reading the whole Bible in a year is doable — even for those who wouldn’t see themselves as good readers. It just takes stickability. If you’re like me, and have failed repeatedly to read the Bible every day for 12 months, then this plan might well be the answer.

The Old Testament readings follow an approximate chronological order. The New Testament readings spread the Gospels out throughout the year to keep you regularly coming back to the life and teachings of Jesus.

Challies recommends doing the readings in the order they appear on the Schedule. You can check off each day’s reading, and then check off each week in the Weekly Progress Register. If you really want, you can get ahead by continuing the plan on weekends. It’s encouraging to see how systematically you progress through the Bible and how rewarding this can be.

Before you start each reading, ask God to help you get to know him better, that you might trust him more completely and follow him more closely.

I will be kicking off my plan on 1 January 2022. If you’d like to join me, then I’d love to hear from you. Click below to download Bible Reading Program.

Bible-Reading-Schedule-2022

My other tip for reading the Bible in a year is to write a few notes as you go. Get yourself a cheap exercise book, spend a little more for a fancy notebook, or find a diary with enough room to write some notes. Jot down what you learn, any questions to follow up, and what you plan to do in response to God’s Word. This can also give you things to pray each day, as you talk to God about what you are learning. 

 

 

Recommended reading (30 July)

readingFirst there was road rage and now there’s internet rage. Does “gentle” describe your tone when disagreeing online?

For the dissatisfied pastor/teacher. No platform high enough

If your pastor seems discouraged. One simple way to encourage your pastor

Liberating us to become more hospitable. The point of hospitality

When your best friend is struggling with depression. Serving your spouse during their dark sessions

We all know someone. What to say to a friend with cancer

Recommended reading (16 June)

readingNext week the church I pastor is looking at what we believe about church. What we truly believe will be shown in how we speak and act. Here’s some helpful food for thought on how we approach church.

Brian Borgman The Danger of Seeking your Dream Church

Carey Nieuwhof A Response to Christians who are done with Church

Check out this infographic of the ‘one another’ verses in the New Testament

Keller, Piper and Carson on Thriving Churches in a Hostile Culture

 

 

Recommended reading (14 June)

readingThe following articles are helpful food for thought if considering how to encourage people, especially atheists, to consider Christian faith.

Sandy Grant On Good and Bad Evangelism

Stephen McAlpine Christian: Are you Ready for Exile Stage Two?

Nathan Campbell When in Rome: Reframing our Expectations as the Post-Christendom Church

John Gray What scares the New Atheists?

And an old post by Nathan Campbell How to talk to atheists about Christianity

Recommended reading (4 June)

readingWhen it comes to pastoral care, it’s not one size fits all. Nicholas Batzig has written a helpful article on The Complexity of Pastoral Care.

Given the ubiquity of pornography and the many temptations on the internet, buying your child a smart phone is a major decision and needs appropriate guidance. Tim Challies offers helpful advice in his article Letter to teens unboxing their first smartphone.

Having attended three funerals in the past month of friends who’ve died from cancer, I appreciate the gravitas of this article by Marcus Brotherton reflecting on his friend’s life: Five wise principles gleaned from a too-short life of excellence.

Nancie Guthrie shares some insights from experience on What not to ask someone who’s suffering.

I’ve recently read  and reviewed a superb book about Wisdom in Leadership by Craig Hamilton. I expect to repost the review on this site in the future.

Recommended reading (21 May)

reading3 Reasons Why You Aren’t Allowed to Be Theologically Dumb by Chris Martin (no, not from Coldplay). Of course, there are many more reasons but this is a good start.

One of the biggest factors in deciding whether to stay at a particular church is friendliness. Thom Rainer’s post Seven things church members should say to guests in a worship service is so simple, yet so very helpful.

Unlike many of my friends who ride bikes, I’m not that experienced in the world of lycra. However, this article gave me some things to consider. What Wearing Lycra Taught Me About Christian Ministry by Peter Ko.

As a preacher, this is an issue I need to come back to again and again. The missing ingredient in many sermons by Erik Raymond is flavour for our spiritual food.

Recommended reading (19 May)

readingLearning to see by Jean Williams is a beautiful reflection on the way we are, as observed in an everyday glimpse of the creation.

Tim Challies reflects on five lessons he learned from William Zinnser on the art of writing non-fiction. I found much to learn in On Writing Well (5 Big Tips).

Andrew Errington, the author of Can we trust what the Gospels say about Jesus?, has written a helpful article on an important struggle we all face: On Doubt: Ten Thoughts.

If-only discipleship by Brian Rosner reminds us from God’s Word that we don’t need to wait for our circumstances to get ‘better’ before we can grow and serve God.

More practical, good advice from Craig Schafer on Making Meetings Effective: Facilitation Techniques.

Recommended reading (May 13)

readingWhy these 66 books? by Nathan Busenitz is a simple and clear introduction to understanding the canon of Scripture. This article helpfully anchors the basis of defining the biblical canon, not in church councils or decisions, but in Jesus Christ himself.

On the path to the cancer ward by Jean Williams instantly grabbed my attention. Not simply because I know this scenario well, but because I am always encouraged and occasionally rebuked as I read Jean’s sympathetic reflections on suffering in the light of God’s Word.

How to shut down gossip by Erik Raymond tackles the perennial problem of gossip among God’s people. I suspect gossip is one of the respectable sins that we either consider to awkward to address, or don’t want to tackle because we enjoy it too much. If you are wondering, I think ‘RPG’ stands for rocket propelled grenade!

Making Meetings Effective is something we all want to do. I keep hearing people in all walks of life, including and especially churches, lamenting the frustrations of unproductive meetings. Craig Schafer reminds us of the importance of two often neglected tools.

Recommended reading (April 28)

readingFrom time to time I plan to link to some helpful articles and ideas that I’ve been reading, This is my first instalment…

Contentment (1) At a time like this by Jean Williams is the first in a 10 part series on Christian contentment. Jean writes will clarity and a deep understanding of the implications and joys found in trusting Jesus.

Five pieces of advice for young men by Con Campbell is sage advice for men of all ages who are seeking to grow in the likeness of Jesus.

Six myths of discipleship by Col Marshall helps us to see that discipleship is the essence of being Christian, rather than a particular process for a select few.

Seven Basics for Better Staff Meetings by Eric Geiger offers helpful tips for improving those meetings we all love to hate.