scripture ← Julian Freeman

Don’t Be Okay with Not Reading Your Bible

Jan

2013

I’m a part of a bi-weekly Bible study that I love. Rather than working through a specific text together, we each come ready to talk about what we’ve been reading on our own. It’s nice because each time we meet is very different. Also, it adds accountability. And no matter how many good reasons to ...

Some Guidelines for Reading New Testament Narrative

Nov

2012

Everyone loves a good story, right? And they’re always easy to understand, too… right? Or maybe not so much. When we move into New Testament Narrative as a genre (basically consisting of the Gospels and Acts) we move into some of the most familiar and most beloved portions of Scripture. But we must not mistake ...

Some Guidelines for Reading Prophetic Literature

Oct

2012

Back in the summer I began a series giving some ‘Guidelines for Reading the Bible.’ At that time I covered Old Testament Narrative and Wisdom Literature. Today I’d like to move on and cover the Prophetic Literature. These books may be divided up into their three main redemptive-historical categories of pre-exilic, exilic, and post-exilic (all ...

Some Guidelines for Reading Wisdom Literature

Aug

2012

Who doesn’t want to be wise? Everyone wants to be wise! No one wants to make foolish decisions that they will later regret. And Christians especially want to know how to make decisions that are pleasing to the Lord. That’s why we have the wisdom literature in our Bible (for my purposes here, I’m lumping ...

Some Guidelines for Reading Old Testament Narrative

Aug

2012

If you’ve ever begun to read through the Old Testament and been filled with more questions than answers, you’re not alone. Many of the stories of the OT are hard to understand and hard to apply. We know that narratives are inspired and ‘useful’ for us (2 Tim 3.16-17), but how? Are we really supposed ...

Eight Reasons to Study the Bible

Jul

2012

Most Christians inherently feel the need / desire / drive to study the Bible, but a lot of times we’re not too sure why. And sadly, not too many of us stop to think biblically about why we should study the Bible. So, from the Bible itself, here are seven great reasons, plus one ultimate reason ...

A Cottage Meditation on Psalm 19

Aug

2011

Being at the cottage is good for me. I have found that usually I’m able to meet with God pretty quickly when I feel close to his creation. This week has been special for me. It is the first time that I’ve been at the cottage and studying for a sermon at the same time. ...