When you hear about my future reading plan you’ll think I’m crazy

2022-2027.

Six years.

This is how long my current structured bible reading program is.

At the moment I’ve just finished reading and studying the gospel of Luke. 

I’m now kicking off a fortnight reading about the theories of atonement.

Anywhere within 2022-2027, I can tell you - with a degree of confidence - which part of the bible I should be reading/studying.

December 2026? Galatians.

July 2027? Zachariah.

July 2022? Jonah.

February 2023? The first 20 chapters of Exodus.

Now, for some, this will seem far too structured.

Perhaps it is.

But, within the plan there has been some flexibility built in.

Originally, it was a five year plan that has expanded into six.

This endeavour to read the entire bible - and then digest at least one commentary on the text - is just the start of my overarching plan.

For, I have mapped out something which may sound borderline insane.

I can tell you what I’d like to read - for every year - until 2055.

Yes… the next quarter century.

But, 2028 onwards has a lot of variety.

2028-mid 2029 is a series of male biblical personality overviews.

2041 is the female equivalent of personally overviews.

Across various methods (which I’ll blog about soon), I’ll aim to read the entire bible across 2029, 2031, 2033, 2037, 2041, 2044 & 2048.

I’ll divide future years across all the books of the bible - usually with three books per year - between 2030 and 2047.

Across the years I’ll aim to read a book or two on leadership, theology, a “classical” text and a selection of modern authors.

Additionally, I’ll also get to drill down on intentionally on apologetics in 2034, 2035, 2036 and church history in 2047.

But, you may have noted, I’ve not yet mentioned anything about the 2050’s.

Simply? I’ll repeat the original reading plan from 2022-2027.

On average, this should result I me reading half a dozen books, studying three biblical books, making notes on two theological topics and plow through a large chuck of the books currently sitting in my library collecting dust.

While it may seem too structured for some, it works for me. For, until I intentionally plotted out what I wanted to do, the vast majority of years prior to 2022 were sporadic at best.

My most controversial opinion as a teacher

As a youth minister I usually disliked every Christian film I was exposed to. Violently disliked.

In fact, I can barely think of a distinctly Christian film that I enjoy. Certainly not one that I’d choose to watch a second time for entertainment or enjoyment.

The same can’t exactly be said now that I’m a history teacher.

I can think of plenty of historical films which I’ve enjoyed.

There’s plenty that I’ll gladly rewatch. 

But, there’s some films that I’m meant to like that I don’t.

And, as a history teacher, it’s my secret shame.

I don’t like Gallipoli.

I don’t like Jojo Rabbit.

I find one slow and boring.

I find the other silly and boring.

Frankly, I’ll do all I can to avoid showing them to my classes.

Despite how much some of my colleagues love the movies…

No matter if this opinion threatens my membership of the History Teachers Association…

I. Don’t. Like. Them.

I may show the trailers. Out of a sense of duty.

I may show a selected clip (because only the final 8 minutes of Gallipoli is worth watching).

But, I’ll quietly seethe if I am forced to rewatch either of these films for “educational purposes.”

Church starts at 9am. What time should a mature Christian arrive?

8:45.

At the latest.

Now, I know, stuff happens.

Kids are hard to organise.

Spouses can be hard to organise.

Yourself can be hard to organise.

Traffic happens.

Mishaps happen.

Nonetheless, you should aim to be on time for church.

Why?

Because it shows that you think that church is important.

Because it encourages those who are leading the service. (I can’t tell you how discouraging it is to begin a church service when there’s few people in attendance, yet they will trundle in during the first ten minutes)

Because it gives you a chance to welcome newcomers to church. (How discouraging must it be to turn up to a new church service and outnumber the regulars?)

Because it gives you a chance to welcome fellow congregants. (How discouraging is it to be in your own church and be on your lonesome)

Mature believers know that their role on a Sunday is beyond just consuming, but that their contributing ministry starts the moment they walk into church.

Arriving at 9:05 and leaving the minute the service concludes makes you a customer.

Mature believers know that more than that is expected.

Why a Christian should read “the Classics”

I just finished reading - again - On the Incarnation by St Athanasius.

In the past I wrote how I can be underwhelmed by “the classics.”

So, why should we read them?

Well my good friend Clive Staples addresses this very question in the preface of my “classical work” by St Athanasius.

First, he states that it’s far better to wrestle with the primary sources of developmental Christian theology.

The reason, he asserts, is that if you read the foundational documents as they were written and interact with the issues they were trying to address (which are not different to the ones we face today) then we will be far better equipped to understand our faith than just digesting the secondhand outcomes.

For, Mr Lewis’ second point, is clear. If we only jump onto the modern writings for our theology, then we are interacting with a conversation which has been well underway. We miss centuries of what has happened previously. There are learnings to be had in the theological journey.

Third, as we read old books, then our modern issues can be put into perspective. As I alluded to above, we see that - indeed - there is nothing new under the Sun. We can learn the familiar arguments and old missteps.

When we spot their “classic” fallacies, we can learn to better spot our own.

When the “classics” wrestle with foundational questions, we can learn how the original thinkers accounted for them.

As C.S. writes, two heads are better than one. 

Modern and old. 

Contemporary and classic.

My biggest problem is working out what “classics” I should read next.

What ecclesiastical groundwork should you lay?

Ideally, you should be able to predict what usually happens at the church service you usually attend.

While I love occasional variety, your run-of-the-mill church service should be predictable.

Welcome. Singing. Announcements. Prayer. Bible reading. Sermon. Singing.

This is the predictable outline for a regular Sunday at my church.

Definitely not groundbreaking.

In fact, this church service blueprint reflects the majority of Protestant churches in Sydney. Probably Australia. Possibly the Western Church.

So, any well-travelled churchgoer should have a decent idea what to expect at my church.

But… a church newbie wouldn’t know what to expect.

And this is where COVID changed everything.

With the pandemic came a flood of online church.

For some churches, they retained the online church experience.

We did.

This creates an evangelistic advantage which previously didn’t really exist.

Now, you can give someone a real-time glimpse into your church service.

They could, if they want, “attend” digitally before they commit to attending physically.

Now, more than ever, you’re able to provide an accurate picture of your church before someone decides to commit further.

This, at an unprecedented level, can demystify the church service and effectively lay the groundwork for a softer landing within the ecclesiastical framework.

Who knew that a COVID hangover could be an evangelistic breakthrough?

What should be on a Spiritual Bucket List?

On occasions I have had a spiritual goal I’ve been working towards. Usually revolving around reading the Bible.

My current reading/study plan is in year five of a six year overview.

But, I’ve got no overarching bucket list items.

So, what could be someone’s hypothetical spiritual life-goals?

Read the entire bible.

Read the apocrypha.

Memorise a chapter of the bible.

Memorise a book of the bible.

Learn biblical Greek/Hebrew.

Read a set number of spiritual classical works.

Read every book of a spiritual hero.

Read a theology textbook.

Do a pilgrimage to Jerusalem or the Vatican.

Walk the Camino.

Meet the Pope.

See your children come to faith.

See your children be baptised.

See your children marry a fellow believer.

See your child’s religious wedding ceremony.

Be a part of a physical healing.

Be a part of an exorcism.

See a miracle.

Receive a miracle.

Speak in tongues.

Hear the audible voice of God.

Keep a prayer journal over the course of decades.

Give in a way that is life-changing. Ideally, anonymously.

Start a church.

Be a part of a church revival/renewal.

Become a pillar of a church community.

Publicly honour your life-changers.

Plan your funeral.

Preach a sermon.

Lead someone to Christ.

Lead singing in a church.

Lead a small group/bible study.

Go on a mission trip overseas.

Obviously, no one can do all 33 things on this list.

I won’t.

In fact, most people wouldn’t want to do everything on the list above.

I sure don’t.

So far, I’d consider that I could already tick off a dozen things - I won’t tell you which.

By the time I’m bucket-kicking, I’d hope to achieve two-dozen things on the list - again, you can guess which ones.