Missio Dei Suburbia

ESV Study Bible - Article Reading Plan

One of the best single-volume resources for biblical-theological learning is the ESV Study Bible. Filled with articles, overviews of every biblical book, charts, maps graphs - the whole experience can be overwhelming.

But it doesn't have to be - here's a plan to work your way through all of the articles and resources in the ESV Study Bible in a year.

If you don't have a copy of the ESVSB, I'd encourage you to consider getting one and using this plan to help deepen your affections for God.

Download ESVSBArticleReadingPlan

Welcome to 2010 - Don't Turn Your Resolution into Religion

This morning on Twitter, Steve Timmis (who co-wrote the best book I know of on the topic of the local church) asked: 'It seems to be trendy to despise and ridicule NY Resolutions, regarding them as somehow unspiritual. But what exactly is wrong with them?'

Here's my take - there's absolutely nothing wrong with making resolutions as 2010 begins...just don't turn your resolution into religion. Nothing you do this year will make God love you more of less than he does right now.

But if you can become more intentional about life so that God grows as your great treasure...then resolve away!

Here are four of my favorite resolution blog posts from the past few days:

• David Powlison considers the question of resolutions
• JD Greear lays out the difference between 'resolved' and 'resolutions'
• JR Vassar talks about the opportunity to be more intentional in 2010 with your devotional plan.
• Luke Simmons opens up his closet and pulls out all kinds of ideas for following Jesus in the year ahead.

Driscoll on Building A Theological Library

From The Resurgence:

Building a Theological Library

• Glynn, John. Commentary and Reference Survey: A Comprehensive Guide to Biblical and Theological Resources
• Longman, Tremper, III. Old Testament Commentary Survey

Reading through the Entire Bible

• Mears, Henrietta C. What the Bible Is All About
• Fee, Gordon D, and Douglas Stuart. How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth

How to Study the Bible

• Doriani, Daniel M. Getting the Message: A Plan for Interpreting and Applying the Bible
• Duvall, J. Scott and John Daniel Hays. Grasping God's Word: A Hands-On Approach to Reading, Interpreting, and Applying the Bible
• Longman, Tremper, III. Reading the Bible with Heart and Mind

Bible Dictionaries

• Marshall, I. Howard. New Bible Dictionary
• Unger, Merrill. The New Unger's Bible Dictionary
• Tenney, Merrill. Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible

Topical Bible

• Nave, Orville J. Nave's Compact Topical Bible

Cross-Reference

• Torrey, R.A. The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Bible Atlas

• Brisco, Thomas C. Holman Bible Atlas: A Complete Guide to the Expansive Geography of Biblical History
• Pfeiffer, Charles F. Baker's Bible Atlas

You Say Goodbye, I Say Hello

So 2008 has about thirteen hours left before it becomes history and the blogosphere is rife with posts on resolutions and reflections. Here are a few worth your time:

Bible Reading Plans: JT and Tim Chester (this is the one we'll be plugging at Christ Church for '09)

Becoming a Better Man in 2009A New Year's Prayer for 2009

The Top Lists - Jonathan Dodson

What Should We Pray For? - John Piper

Gospel-Centered Praying

The Resolution Solution

Tim Brister's Top 25 Christian Books of 2008

NT Wright on Human Flourishing

Books of 2008 (Leadership) - Todd Hiestand

.design Instructions

Tomorrow night, we're hosting our next .design event. For those of you who are coming, you'll need to download the three documents below - start with the '.design instructions' file and go from there.

Download design_instructions.doc

Download designed.for.the.church.xls

Download designed.for.the.world.xls

If you have any questions, leave a comment or drop me an email or a Facebook message.

Ephesians Study Guide

We're starting a new teaching series through the New Testament letter of Ephesians. As a help to everyone, we've created a study guide to go with the series that includes:

• Why we chose Ephesians
• Introductory material on Ephesians
• Several articles on how to read the Bible
• A method for memorizing Ephesians
• Introductions to each week of our study
• Links to additional print and audio resources in Ephesians.

You can download the study guide here:

Download eph_final2.pdf

Learning the Gospel

Here are some resources that will go a long way in helping you learn the gospel:

• The Centrality of the Gospel (.pdf) - Tim Keller
• The Gospel in All Its Forms - Tim Keller
• Living the Cross-Centered Life - CJ Mahaney
• God is the Gospel - John Piper
• The Gospel for Real Life - Jerry Bridges
• A Gospel Primer for Christians - Milton Vincent
• Gospel Transformation (Small Group Material) - World Harvest Mission
• Of First Importance - Blog updated daily with reminders about the gospel