Elementary…My Dear Watson

While I had hoped to give a bit more introduction to the importance of a preacher’s library before jumping into my personal library, time has forced certain things upon me. Friday is (supposedly) the day that book lists come out for pre-registered classes at Bob Jones University. While I am not opposed to purchasing textbooks from the campus store, I believe there are frequently better options.

Today’s post is primarily written to rising Sophomores, however, it is possible to begin with this later on in your academic career. I’ll add a little bit at the end for you older students. Please forgive me in advance if I seem dogmatic on certain points. I have a very good friend in Seminary who has assured me he is quite content with building his “paper” library. I have no argument with that. For several reasons however, I prefer to take another route.

What you want (basic package) is the Christian Home Library at www.logos.com It’s under the Products tab at the top of the page. If you want, use the code “GOINGTOSEMINARY” at check out to save 25%, bringing the total down to 112 plus s&h. If you want to wait and take a chance, the BJ bookstore typically carries it for that price without s&h. You may want to call and make sure.

The first reason this is VERY cost effective because you will need several books for this next semester, many of which you will need throughout your entire degree program at BJ.

1) Moody Handbook of Theology – Included in the Christian Home Library and required for Themes – NT 515, 516
2) Bible Knowledge Commentary – Included in the Christian Home Library and required for most all of your “book” courses – OT 310, 320, 410, 420, etc.
3) New Bible Dictionary – Included in the Christian Home Library and required for most all of your “book” courses – OT 310, 320, 410, 420, etc.

You can get prices from Amazon.com, but these three “New” are well over $100 together. Factoring in s&h from Amazon (although, if they offer you a free Prime Membership, I would take that as well. It gives you free shipping for a month. Just be disciplined and cancel at the end of the month) you come very close to your purchase price.

The second reason this is beneficial is all the “extra” books that come included with the package. Works from Bunyan, Hymn stories, etc. I haven’t even discovered all of them. They are “Free” if you count the cost of the three books mentioned above.

The third reason this is an incredible thing is that now you can “add-on” other books. I recently purchased Young’s Commentary on Isaiah for Logos at a greatly reduced rate. It’s available as a download (no s&h) and came in handy when preaching through Colossians 2. Yes, even in Isaiah, it was prophesied that the Branch (Messiah) would have all knowledge and wisdom, even as claimed by Paul in Colossians 2! Continuity of Scripture is an amazing thing.

Another example of this for students further along is NT475, The Letters. Required text is “Interpreting the Pauline Epistles” by Schreiner. I was able to purchase this text from Logos at a lower price than I could get the book shipped. It was very handy to have this in class, along with BKC and NBD.

The final reason I personally find Logos appealing is that they offer free upgrades to their program. I purchased a much older version of Logos at the BJ Campus Store at a reduced rate and simply downloaded the program upgrades. Similar software such as Pradis does not. (I still own several commentaries on the Pradis system because they are not available in Logos at the Moment)

One final Caveat. If you are looking at spending more money, and think a higher library would do for you, wait. Consider purchasing the Christian Home Library AND Bibleworks. They are completely different animals, and I have found Bibleworks to be incredibly helpful, especially in Greek studies. But that’s a topic for another e-mail. Bob Jones usually has a group pricing on Bibleworks for around $250. E-mail Mark Ward to find out more details.

Just as no Plumber would dream of going into Business without wrenches, his most basic of tools, we should not look to ministry without our books. Commentaries are a source of years of wisdom. These Commentaries are, most often, written by great men of God who have put their lives into studying individual passages with a depth that we can only aspire to. They are sources of explanation in difficult passages and give inspiration in methods of communication. Please don’t misunderstand my intention, they do not replace the Bible in any way whatsoever. Likewise, you cannot replace meditation on the scripture passage in preparation for a sermon with reading commentaries. If we view the Bible as the word of God that shines upon our hearts, Commentaries are perhaps the lens that focuses that light in a direct manner. As such, a Library is the most valuable thing most of us will ever own. But that leads to several questions, listed here are but a few:

What Commentary Series should I buy?
Should I even buy a Series, or should I stick with individual volumes?
Should I go Electronic?
What about free stuff?
I’m a college student, where do I find inexpensive commentaries?

I will try and answer these over the next few days with a look at my personal library. Though I have only been building it for a few years, I believe it has a good depth which I hope to increase as finances allow.

In answering the first question, I’ll tell you some commentaries I personally own.

• Expositor’s Bible Commentary Series (electronic – Pradis 6.0)
• Baker Exegetical Commentary Series (electronic – Libronix)
• NIV Application Commentary Series (electronic – Pradis 5.1)
• Courson’s New Testament Application Commentary Series (electronic – Libronix)
• Thomas Constable’s Study Notes (electronic – free)
• Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Bible In One Volume (print & electronic – free)
• Word Biblical Commentary (select print volumes)
• Stewart Custer (various print volumes)
• G. Campbell Morgan – Gospels (print)
• New American Commentary (select print volumes)

There are more, but I believe these are the best, and most frequently used of my collection.

I believe whole-heartedly in buying Series. Quite often a series is composed of different authors. Even if one author is not particularly adept in one volume of the series, you may still find valuable information within the confines of his pages. However, the primary reason for purchasing a series is the fact that it is simply more cost effective. Which leads me to my next point: Electronic resources are astoundingly less expensive than their print counterparts. Obviously so, the overhead cost of printing is removed! I’ll write more about electronic sources later, but suffice it for now to say, I am definitely in favor of electronic sources.

This is my philosophy of ministry in it’s current form. It is based largely on sessions with Alan Benson, Senior Pastor at Grace Baptist Church, Wilmington, NC where I did my internship last summer. It is currently in a state of revision, but here is the latest version.

The Youth Group of __________ Baptist Church exists for the purpose of making and maturing Christ-Like Disciples through Evangelism, Instruction, Worship, and Fellowship. The following order is used for this reason. True fellowship, relationship with other believers, can only occur when we have a right relation to God. The only true relation to God is Worship which can only occur through a proper understanding of who God is, achieved through Instruction. Instruction is only fully accepted after the point of conversion, following Evangelism.

The Youth Group will exhibit the mandate of Evangelism(Matt.28:18-20) by:

· Having activities specifically geared towards inviting friends. These activities may or may not contain a specific Salvation message during the activity itself. These activities can be relationship building.

· Having outreach nights in which teens will go out into the neighborhoods and invite other teens out to youth group that night (specifically formulated Activities, Gym Nights).

· Participating in a Nursing Home, door to door witnessing, or similar ministries.

· Participating in activities which increase positive testimony of Christ and His Church in the community.

· There will be a yearly teen outreach, either NBT or Minute Men in which local teens will be exposed to the Saving Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Instruction for the Youth Group with come by means of Sunday School in which messages will be preached, geared specifically towards teens who desire a deeper walk with God. These messages will be the meat. Wednesday nights will contain applicable message for more casual attendees, while still instructing them in the Word of God. There is also potential for small group bible studies during the week.

Our Youth Group will worship through our prayer time. Every Wednesday night we will have a prayer time including a specific time of praising God, including His attributes, and the things He has done in our lives. Worship will also be accomplished through our song time. There may or may not be a similar time of prayer for Sunday School, depending on schedule and other factors. Wednesday nights will also include a time of corporate worship through singing. These songs will follow the biblical mandates of Eph. 5:18-19 and Col. 3:16 in all aspects and while encouraging and teaching fellow believers, will ultimately be “to the Lord.”

Fellowship will primarily be accomplished through monthly activities in a church member’s home. These settings while including a time of worship through song and instruction through a short devotional, will primarily be an opportunity for teens to share the testimony of God’s working in their lives with other teens. Whether or not this is done through a set Testimony Time, or through smaller conversations is flexible. Teens will also be strongly encouraged to join church-wide fellowship activities such as church dinners, Sunday Socials, and church work-days.

Comments, suggestions, ideas for improvement?

Here it is. After reading the wonderful, educational blogs of the likes of Phil Gons, Andy Naselli and others for months, I have finally created my own blog. I have no idea what the end result for this will be, but I pray that as I attempt to add another “tool” to my toolbox that the Lord would use it for His glory.

Just for the record, linking to a website does not indicate my endorsement in part or in whole of an author, publisher, and his/her views on any particular topic. I believe that many sites offer a great deal of valuable information which needs to be considered with a discerning mind. Please read carefully.