Resources
Read the Bible
Our church uses the English Standard Version of the Bible for services and sermons. The ESV is an excellent translation that adheres well to the original texts of the Scriptures. I highly recommend that individuals and families in our church be reading the Bible daily. If you’ve never engaged in such a practice, don’t let it intimidate you. For an easy start, just commit to reading for 15 minutes a day. At that pace, most people can read through the entire Bible in a year.
One Year Bible Plan
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Get Familiar With the Bible
One excellent resource for getting familiar with the Bible’s story and themes is The Bible Project. On their site, you’ll find numerous videos with excellent visuals that illustrate the books or concepts being explored. Here’s an example of their content that pairs well with our sermon on the first section of Genesis.
Help Build a Christian Culture
Knowing the truths contained in the Bible is an important first step in living the Christian life, but it’s only the beginning. We are called to be people who love God with our hearts, souls, minds, strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves (Mark 12:30-31). What shape should our lives take if we think and act like followers of Jesus? How will we spend our time and money? How will we rear and educate our children? What kind of relationships will we have? How will we spend our leisure?
One resource I highly recommend for thinking about these questions is Mars Hill Audio Journal, produced by Ken Myers. Each issue is filled with interviews of people who are writing and thinking on the subject of Christianity and culture. I’ve been listening to the Journal since the ’90s and have benefitted greatly from the depth of thinking it offers.
Know Your Christian History
One of our goals as a church is to know and understand the works of God through his people who have come before us. Knowing the errors of previous generations can keep us from falling prey to them again. At the same time, knowing where previous generations and Christian cultures have been more faithful than our own are instructive for us.
Christian History Magazine is a helpful resource for bringing you up to speed on the last two thousands years of church history. Many of their issues can be viewed for free online, and print subscriptions are available as well. In addition, they have educational modules online that will educate you on different periods of church history. You’ll also find videos, books, and other resources on a variety of topics.