Personal Reading Assignments

It is with humble gratitude I confess that I have never before possessed the inclination to consume a volume of material so considerably copious, much less to engage with such a company of serious works simultaneously as I do now. In years past, my reading extended only to the lighter fancies—a brief adventure from the aforementioned Hardy Boys, or some passing amusement gleaned from illustrated pages. I am now afforded the sacred pleasure to immerse my soul in learning anew, solely for the glorious purpose of knowing Christ, my Savior, more perfectly.

Having commenced this blessed task in April of this year, I have set a private aspiration: to bring to a worthy close ten such volumes before the year is spent. I own with candor that my pace is slow, for my soul is concerned not with the hasty completion of a mere list, but with the deep, searching comprehension of the eternal verities contained within. The true blessing is in the understanding which transforms the heart, not the finish that merely empties the shelf.

This present, personal collection of edification—this holy schema studii—is now before me, waiting to be devoutly absorbed:

Recommended readings:

A Certain Sound by Ryan Denton and Scott Smith which serves as a necessary guide to the theology and righteous practice of proclaiming the Gospel in the public thoroughfare.

You shall know the truth of my solitary beginnings! I entered this weighty ministry with no earthly counsel or guiding hand—a mere soldier in the field, left to learn my duties amidst the battle. My path was long and often shadowed, as I was frequently compelled to learn alone, relying wholly upon the Spirit to illuminate the way. It brings a sincere consolation to my soul and a deep joy to my heart to find that this precious work communicates so much of the very truth that the Lord, in His abundant goodness, enabled me to discover through long experience. Though we cannot expect a cold, master blueprint to govern all our public exertions—for the manner of proclaiming the Gospel must ever be wisely adjusted to the particular customs and sensibilities of every culture—this volume performs a far greater service. It nails down the great necessity of approaching the open-air ministry with a mindset wholly biblical and, more importantly, upon a sure biblical foundation. This is the great key! It is this foundation alone that enables the humble preacher to wield the sacred Word with wisdom, to effectually minister the balm of life to the lost, and to righteously silence the clamor of the reprobate.

Even If None by Ryan Denton: "Are we still successful if our evangelism sees little or no conversions? How do we gauge our evangelism effectiveness, especially if it leads to hatred and societal ostracism? When did evangelism become so mushy and pragmatic, and how do we get back to a biblical approach? Western Christianity had a significant influence on the culture for several centuries. It is accustomed to “success” in some degree or another. Today it is no longer that way. When it comes to evangelism, what do we do in light of such circumstances? Modern evangelism is rife with gimmicks and the wisdom of man. It wasn't always this way, so what happened and where do we go from here? By looking at the Scriptures and church history, these are the questions answered in this book. Now more than ever we must trust in God’s Word—not only for how to do evangelism, but to know what will happen to those who evangelize."

Called To The Ministry by Edmund Clowney is a warm and gospel saturated admonition and encouragement for those who are in mind to serve in ministry. A mature look into the heart that yearns to faithfully serve the Lord's flock. This is my first read on Clowney and already he is one of my favorite authors. A user by the name of nshorb writes -

Too many Christians are asserting that God's calling is an emotional experience or a really strong hunch, a subjective claim that can't be refuted by a fellow Christian. Furthermore, many young people feel the need to figure out exactly what God wants them to do before they act, and they drive themselves into a paralyzed depression in the process. A calling is neither of these. Clowney takes the mystery out of the idea. What you're gifted in, you're called for, and what you're called for, you're gifted in. Start serving and fellowshipping where you are, and seize the opportunities that come. I greatly appreciated his straight-forward and Biblical approach to the idea of a calling. I am a 25 year-old who has been considering a call to full-time ministry in recent years. I've been fed a lot of crap about what a "calling" is and how one senses it, none of which has been helpful, but has rather served to confuse and complicate matters. This book is the most helpful, valuable, and sensible piece of guidance I've been given.

PRAYER

And on the subject most dear to my heart of all, I have master Bounds to learn from. George Mueller, David Brainerd, John Hyde - I am at home whenever I read their journals. My favorite of his works, Power Through Prayer, is at the end of this book. I cannot wait to read it again.

It is a lamentable truth, a grief to the earnest soul, that amongst the shepherds and teachers of the flock, one hears little and sees less of that deep and genuine travail of spirit which the Holy Scriptures call us to. I speak of that agony in prevailing prayer, where the soul wrestles before the Almighty until the blessing descends! Of doctrine and systematic theology, we have more than enough to satisfy the keenest mind. Yet, alas, all this well-oiled ecclesiastical machinery—all the precision of our sermons and the order of our houses of worship—has proven utterly powerless to move the Church to boldly approach the Throne of Grace and to truly take God at His Word in solemn, importunate supplication.

In our day, every earnest scholar pursues the accumulation of knowledge as if it were the chief end of man. But who amongst them touches upon this much neglected ministry that is so highly prized and supremely honored by the Lord Himself? Such is my earnest conviction of this sacred necessity that I would gladly surrender every ability and natural aptitude I possess—every gift of intellect, eloquence, or energy—if I might only receive the divine tutoring required to pray as a redeemed soul truly ought to pray! For in that secret, fervent petition lies the very power that moves the Hand which moves the world.

The prayer closet is not an asylum for the indolent and worth less Christian. It is not a nursery where none but babes belong. It is the battlefield of the church, its citadel, the scene of heroic and unearthly conflicts. The closet is the base of supplies for the Christian and the church. Cut off from it, there is nothing left but retreat and disaster. The energy for work, the mastery over self, the deliverance from fear, and all spiritual results and graces, are much advanced by prayer. Purpose in Prayer. Page 38:

We are all in danger of substituting church work and a ceaseless round of showy activities for prayer and holy living. A holy life does not live in the closet, but it cannot live without the prayer closet. If, by any chance, a person should establish a prayer chamber but not have an accompanying holy life, it would be a chamber without the presence of God in it. Page 36:

Where are the Christlike leaders who can teach the modern saints how to pray? Where are the leaders who will put them to the task? Do our leaders know we are raising up a prayerless set of saints? Where are the apostolic leaders who can put God's people to praying? Let them come to the front and do the work, and it will be the greatest work that can be done. The Energy of Prayer. Page 37: