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Table of Contents
Read Books
First and Foremost: More than a quarter–26 percent–of American adults admit to not having read even part of a book within the last year.
- Reading fiction can help you be more open-minded and creative.
- People who read books live longer.
- Reading 50 books a year is something you can actually accomplish.
Read the Bible
J. Sidlow Baxter (1903-1999) said:
What is our right approach to [the Gospel according to Matthew]? Ought we first to browse over the latest discussions on its authorship, or gather the available data concerning Matthew himself?
No; the first thing, as with all the other New Testament oracles, is to read it just as it lies before us, and read it until we are thoroughly familiar with its contents. Even at first reading, especially if read right through at one sitting, it will yield much; but if we read it three or four, or seven or eight, or a dozen times, it becomes more revealing and rewarding each time.
So is it with all parts of the Holy Writ, for behind the human penmen is the directive activity of the Divine Spirit.
After reading so many books and articles written by unbelieving “Christian” scholars, it's refreshing to go back to a solid, classic: J. Sidlow Baxter's Explore the Book.
The Christian who wants a solid grasp on the content of the Bible would do well to buy a good, wide-margin (or note-takers) Bible, a set of good pens, and Baxter's Explore the Book.
- Work through Baxter's book while following his teaching and doing the “homework.”
- Transfer everything into the margins of your Bible.
I guarantee you'll learn more Bible from him than you ever would in seminary (and I've been to seminary… three of them, as a matter of fact…).
Marginalia
Reading books is great. Reading and MARKING your books is even better. Like Mom always said, “Practice makes okay.” So, grab a pencil and a book worth reading (not a brain-candy novel) and start working out a system of marginalia.
Notes
Notes and quotes from books I'm reading… maybe. Might not… I might just ditch this and focus on notecards… dunno. But here it is if we want it.