Book Review: The Gospel-Driven Life

The Gospel-Driven Life: Being Good News People in a Bad News World. Michael Horton. 2009. Baker Books. 272 pages.

I just LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this book. It was such an amazing read!!! And I can't recommend it enough. It's one of those books I could just gush on and on and on about! One of those books about the essentials of the faith, one that everyone should read, one that everyone needs to read!

The book is divided into two sections: "Looking Up, Looking Out: Breaking News," and "Looking Around, Looking Ahead: A Cross-Cultural Community." The first section--the first six chapters--are amazing, outstanding, a must, must read. The second section--the last four chapters--are good, but not as GREAT as the earlier chapters. Overall, the book is a book that NEEDS to be read and reread because it is rich in gospel-truth. The message of The Gospel-Driven Life needs to be heard time and time again.

Here are a few of my favorite quotes. (Granted, the "few" may be a joke.)

To the extent that we remain pilgrims in this life, the gospel will remain strange even to us. Until the day we die, we will struggle to believe the bad news and the Good News that God announces to us. We do not just naturally think that we are born in sin, spiritually dead, helpless, and unable to lift a finger to save  ourselves or impress a holy God. As a result, it does not just occur to us that our greatest need is to be redeemed, justified, regenerated, sanctified, and glorified by God's saving work in his Son and by his Spirit. If the "Good News" that we proclaim is determined by what we already know--or think we know--and experience, it isn't really news. Limited to whatever we already think is relevant, practical, and useful, the message will never be surprising, disorienting, and troubling. It can never throw us off balance or cause us to reevaluate our priorities and interpretations of reality. (19)

Born with a severe case of spiritual scoliosis, our spines are twisted so that all we can see are our own immediate felt needs, desires, wants, and momentary gratifications. But the gospel makes us stand erect, looking up to God in faith and out to the world and our neighbors in love and service. Not every piece of news can do that, but the gospel can. (20)

The Bible is not a collection of timeless principles offering a gentle thought for the day. It is not a resource for our self-improvement. Rather, it is a dramatic story that unfolds from promise to fulfillment, with Christ at the center. Its focus is God and his action. God is not a supporting actor in our drama; it is the other way around. God does not exist to make sure that we are happy and fulfilled. Rather, we exist to glorify God and to enjoy him forever. (26)

Does our worship focus on this unfolding historical drama of the Triune God? Are we being constantly directed outside of our inner experience and our own felt needs to the real newsmaker in history? Are we perpetually drawn outside of ourselves, "looking to Jesus, the founder and perfector of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2)? Is our corporate and private worship centered on "human will or exertion" or on "God, who has mercy" (Romans 9:16)? Is the main point trying to see how God fits into our existing plot or to hear God tell us how we fit into his unfolding drama of redemption? (29-30)

We are not really prepared for life until we are prepared for death. (38)

There is no happiness without holiness. Created in God's image "to glorify God and to enjoy him forever," our fulfillment, meaning, and pleasure are found in friendship with God. As the church father Augustine expressed it in the form of a prayer, "You have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you." (40)

The doctrine of justification--that is, God's act of declaring the wicked righteous by imputing our guilt to Christ and Christ's righteousness to us through faith alone--is only irrelevant or incomprehensible for our society today because God and sin have become irrelevant or incomprehensible for the church. (52)

We need God's Word, standing outside of us, to pass judgment on our lives, calling us out of our optimism and pessimism to hear things as they really are. If our introspection leads us to greater self-confidence, we have only deceived ourselves. (57)

God's law is not a tool that we can use; it is the rod by which God measures us. God's law says, "Be perfect." God's gospel says, "Believe in Christ and you will be reckoned perfect before God." The law tells us what must be done if we are to be saved; the gospel tells us what God has done to save us. (60)

God's love did not overwhelm or overrule his justice, but fulfilled it. Justice and love, righteousness and mercy, wrath and peace embraced at the cross. (62)

The gospel is not a general belief in heaven and hell or hope for a better life beyond; it is not even confidence in a resurrection at the end of the age. It is the announcement that Jesus Christ himself is our life, for he is our peace with God. He does not merely show us the way; he is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). (80)

Nowhere do we find the apostles proclaiming the gospel as an invitation to have a personal relationship with God. After all, they presupposed that everyone has a personal relationship with God already. In fact, our major problem is that we do have a relationship with God: the relationship of a guilty defendant before a just judge. (91)

So the gospel does not offer the possibility of a personal relationship with God, but announces a different relationship with God based on Christ! Instead of enemies, we have been reconciled through Christ's sacrifice (Romans 5:8-11). "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1). (92)

We all want to be and to do something rather than to be made and to receive our identity from above. It is a blow to our spiritual ego to be told that everything has already been done. Yet that is the glory of the gospel! (93)

"Lord and Savior" is simply who God is, not something that we can make him to be for us. In fact, he was reigning and saving us while we were "ungodly," "while we were still sinners," even, "while we were enemies" (Romans 5:6-10) (93)

The hardest thing in the world for us even as believers in Christ is to sit down and receive something. However, that is exactly what we have to do. (108)

To receive the Light, we must have our darkness exposed; to be clothed in Christ's righteousness, we must acknowledge our righteousness is filthy rags; to live in Christ, we must die to our former identity. Only the Spirit can raise those who are "dead in trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1), so that we can accept the news: both the bad and the good of it. (125)

Christ lived the purpose-driven life so that we would inherit his righteousness through faith and be promise-driven people in a purpose-driven world. (141)

Getting the plot of Scripture is crucial to the very existence of the church. Who is Jesus? We don't get to decide. The story tells us who Jesus is! He is not just anything and everything we want him to be in our lives. (236)

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: The Toddler's Bible

The Toddler's Bible. V. Gilbert Beers. 1992/2012. The 2012 edition is illustrated by Claudine Gevry. The 1992 edition is illustrated by Carole Boerke. David C. Cook. 432 pages.

I bought the 1992 edition of The Toddler's Bible. (I didn't even know a new edition was releasing within a few days! I believe the only difference between the two books is the cover art and the illustrations within. I believe the text by V. Gilbert Beers remains the same.)

The Toddler's Bible features 101 Bible stories retold for the very youngest audience. The stories are incredibly simplified and not exactly sophisticated--in terms of theology and doctrine. There are other books for preschoolers and early elementary readers that do a better job of that--such as The Big Picture Story Bible by David Helm; it is published by Crossway. I'd recommend that one even to adults. Read it cover to cover, and within a VERY short period of time, you'll know the story of the Bible, the gospel.

But what The Toddler's Bible lacks in complexity, it perhaps makes up for by diversity. It has a handful of Elijah stories, an Elisha story, a Job story, a story about Nehemiah, a story about Joash. These are stories that don't often get included! This one covers Bible stories other books just don't. Then again, some important events are skipped over completely. And some of what gets presented is incomplete. So how well is the Bible represented?

• 52 stories come from the Old Testament.
• 16 stories come from Genesis.
• 18 stories cover Exodus to Ruth (Israel's Deliverance from Egypt, the Desert Years, the Settling in the Promised Land)
• 18 stories cover 1 Samuel to Malachi (Israel's Establishment as A Kingdom, the Divided Kingdoms of Judah and Israel, the Exile Period, the Restoration of a Remnant)
• 49 stories come from the New Testament
• 39 stories come from the four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John)
• 10 stories come from other New Testament books (Acts, letters or epistles, etc.)

I thought it would be best to give you an example of the writing. After all, it is the text itself that will prove most important in deciding if this is a book you want to share with your children or grandchildren.

Noah Builds a Big Boat
"Build a big boat," God said. Noah loved God. He would obey God. Look at that boat that Noah built! It is bigger than three houses.
"Put animals on the boat," God said. So Noah put many animals on it. Noah and his family went on the boat. That's what God told them to do.  (24-27)

Jacob Meets Rachel
Look! Do you see that beautiful lady? Rachel helps her father with his sheep. Jacob sees Rachel too. He wants to meet her. How do you think he will do it? Now you know. Jacob gives some water to Rachel's sheep. Some day Jacob and Rachel will get married. (60-63)

Baby Moses
Shhhh. Baby Moses is sleeping. His mother hid him here. Please don't wake him. Some bad men want to hurt him. If he cries, they may find him. Look! A princess has found Baby Moses. She will take care of him. Thank You, God. (80-83)

God Promises a New Home
"Go into that land," God said. "I will give it to you."
"We can't," said some men. "The people are too big."
"We can," said other men. "God will help us. He promised!"
But the people would not go in. So they lived in the desert for a long time. They were very sad. (128-131)

David Fights a Giant
Look at that giant! His name is Goliath. He wants to fight David. How can David win? He has only a slingshot. Goliath has a big spear. But David asked God to help him. Goliath did not ask God to help. That's why David won. (156-159)

Baby Jesus
Shhhh. Do you see the baby? This is Baby Jesus. Shhhh. Do you see the animals? Baby Jesus is sleeping in a manger. Shhhh. The people of Bethlehem are asleep now. They do not know that this is God's Son. Shhhh. Whisper a prayer to God now. "Thank you, God, for sending Baby Jesus." (224-227)

Nicodemus Visits Jesus
Do you see that man with Jesus? That's Nicodemus. He is an important teacher. Nicodemus knew many things about God. But he knew that Jesus knew more than he did. "Let God give you a new life!" Jesus said. "It's like being born a second time." Nicodemus listened carefully. Do you think he learned something important that night? (260-263)

Jesus' Wonderful Stories
Everyone wants to hear Jesus. He has wonderful stories to tell. Be careful, people! You don't want to push Jesus into the lake, do you? That's better. Jesus knew what to do. He can preach from that boat now. Now Jesus will tell wonderful stories. The stories will tell us how to live for God. (296-299)

Jesus Dies on the Cross
Some men are nailing Jesus to a big wooden cross. He has not hurt them. But look what they are doing. Jesus died that day on the cross. He came to earth to do this. That's because He loves us so much. Jesus wants to help us live with God in heaven. When we sin, we can't go there. But Jesus died to take away our sin. He wants to be our Saviour. He will if we ask. Will you ask Him? (368-371)

There were some stories in The Toddlers Bible that I just liked, really liked. There were others that just left me unimpressed. Some of the wording just didn't work for me, and there were places it just felt a bit awkward. But there were plenty of stories that did work for me. So it isn't a book that I can easily dismiss. I think there are some stories that do make it worth your time.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

MacArthur System, 1 John: Week of January 28-February 4

This month I'll be reading 1 John thirty to thirty-one times. My main translation will be the New King James, but I'll supplement with other translations throughout the month. This first week I read it five times in the New King James Version, once in the ESV translation (with study notes), once in the New American Standard Bible, once in the American Standard Version, 1901; in total I read it eight times.

From the ESV Student Study Bible,

• Ruth
• 1 Samuel 1-6
• John
• 1 John
• 2 John
• 3 John
• Jude 
• Revelation

From the NKJV Soul Care Bible,

• Psalms 1-50
• Proverbs 1-5
• Mark
• Luke
• John 1-12
• Romans
• Colossians
• Hebrews
• 1 John (5x)

From the New American Standard Bible (text-only)

• 1 John

From the American Standard Version (text-only)

• 1 John

Key Verses:

This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.  If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.  But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. (1 John 5:10, NKJV)

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." (John 8:12, NKJV)

I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. (John 12:46, NKJV)

The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1, NKJV)

For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light. (Psalm 36:9, NKJV)

Teachings from 1 John 1








© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Coming Soon for Young Readers

I have NOT seen any of these books. I have not had access to any review copies of these titles. (Though, of course, if offered a chance, I'd be curious to read and review them!) But I thought I would share these titles of upcoming publications with you so that you could see what was new for your little ones this year.

Adam and Eve by Roger Priddy -- board book -- February 2012

Noah's Ark by Roger Priddy -- board book -- February 2012

The Story of Jesus by Roger Priddy -- board book -- February 2012

The Story of Moses by Roger Priddy -- board book -- February 2012

With simple language, and bright clear pictures, Baby’s First Bible series provides an ideal first introduction to the Bible, its stories and characters for infants and toddlers. The series is published by St. Martin's Press.

My Best Bedtime Bible: With a Bedtime Prayer to Share by Sophie Piper, Illustrated by Claudine Gevry -- board book -- January 2012.

A heartwarming collection of 10 Bible stories that is sure to be a favorite every bedtime. 

Ideal for reassuring and comforting toddlers at the end of the day, each story in this adorable board book Bible is retold across two double pages, leaving room for Claudine Gévry's colorful and enticing pictures as well as a bedtime prayer to share. Stories include Who Made the World?, The First Rainbow, Abraham and the Night Sky, The Baby in the Basket, Jonah and the Great Big Fish, Daniel and the Lions, Baby Jesus, The Boy Jesus, The Scary Storm, and The Lost Sheep.

Little Lion's Bible. January 2012.

Little Lion's Bible is a soft, cuddly Bible that children ages 2 to 5 can call their own. Throughout this plush-covered book, Little Lion learns that he is loved and cared for by God as he hears about God's faithfulness in stories from the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. With sweet, rhyming text and colorful illustrations, this soft and cuddly character storybook Bible is sure to become a classic with preschoolers.

My Little Easter Story by Christina Goodings, Illustrated by Claudine Gevry. January 2012.
            

A gorgeously illustrated small-format retelling of the Easter story, ideal for pre-schoolers

Long ago, in Galilee, lived a man named Jesus. He told people how to live as friends of God. "Do for others what you want them to do for you," he told them. "Love one another—even those who are unkind to you. Forgive others, and God will forgive you."

This simple and sincere retelling of the Easter story is perfect for young children, introducing them to the great story at the heart of the Easter festival and its message of love. Bright illustrations help the story along, telling little children about all the events of the first Easter as told in the gospels. Key points include Jesus' entry into Jerusalem and Palm Sunday, Jesus' clearing of the Temple, the Last Supper and Judas' betrayal, Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection, the appearance of the risen Jesus to the women at the tomb, and the spreading of the good news throughout the world.

Why is there a Cross? Kathleen Bostrom, Illustrated by Elena Kucharik, March 2012

I Can Read! Bible Story Favorites: The Beginner's Bible. 5 Stories plus Audio CD, April 2012



© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: A Suitor for Jenny

A Suitor for Jenny. Margaret Brownley. 2010. Thomas Nelson. 315 pages.

Rocky Creek, Texas
1881
Old man Hank Applegate should have known trouble was brewing the moment the stagecoach thundered into town one week and two days late. 
Not that anyone cared. Actually, no one but Hank so much as noticed the stagecoach, late or otherwise. He might not have noticed either, had it not been for the astounding amount of luggage tied to the roof and back of the coach. Few people of any importance or interest ever came to town on the Wells Fargo stagecoach anymore. Nowadays, most folks preferred to travel by train. And who in tarnation would travel with that much luggage?

This novel has inspired me to write a couple of letters.

Dear Jenny,

I know you're supposed to be the heroine, and I know I'm supposed to pity you after your big reveal, but, your boldness is embarrassing. I mean, am I really, really supposed to believe that there were women in the 1880s that bold, that obvious, that outspoken in their husband hunting? That you were just following the advice and using the tests found in some husband-catching guidebook?! (The Compleat and Authoritative Manual for Attracting and Procuring a Husband, the Potential Husband Aptitude Test [PHAT]. It sounds a little too modern, a little too convenient. And even if such a book existed, even if there were guidebooks to help women 'catch' husbands, would they really point towards such obviously unfeminine behavior? Marching into a new town, posting Wanted posters, declaring yourself ready to accept applications and setting up appointments so you can 'screen' potential husbands. Yes, yes, I know what you're going to say. That you NEVER put yourself on the market. That you weren't trying to sell yourself as a wife to any man in town. But is it really any better that you'd put your sisters on the market? That you'd force them into such a socially awkward, morally questionable position?! I mean. They're human beings. They don't need to be packaged and repackaged and such. And you're not treating the men in the town all that much better. I mean you don't really treat anyone well. I mean you say you're not about this, that, and the other--money, wealth, status, security, etc--but it's obvious that that is what counts most for you. I think the thing that annoyed me most about you was that you JUST DIDN'T LISTEN TO ANYONE EVER. Is that harsh of me to say so? Maybe. But you needed someone to tell you that from the start. LISTEN to your sisters. See your sisters, see the truth that is oh-so-obvious. Your help is not needed, not wanted. Your sisters do NOT enjoy being displayed in such a way. And when they tell you again and again and again and again and again that they don't want to court some guy, LISTEN the first time. Because it's just cruel and heartless to demand that your sisters date who you want them to date because of what the guy looks like on paper. If he was such a great guy, you could have always volunteered yourself for the guy. The guy didn't seem to care which sister he got.
Now I know it wasn't easy for you to listen to your heart, to follow your heart. That you just didn't trust yourself, or maybe you were in denial about even having a heart, of deserving love. But. I wish you'd seen early on that Rhett was for you. Because if you'd just let Rhett open your eyes a little sooner, I wouldn't have gotten so annoyed with you. Your scenes with Rhett, well, they were what kept me reading. I mean he was a guy with swoon-potential, and you were just oh-so-clueless. Did you really, really, really think he was interested in one of your sisters? I mean, really?! When did he ever even have a conversation with one of them? When did he ever show them any kindness or go out of his way to protect them. It was you, it was always only you. Why didn't you just admit that you liked him like that?! I mean after the kiss it was oh-so-obvious. Yes, the big reveal, I suppose was what was keeping you back. But seriously. Just imagine how much worry you cost your sisters by your silliness.

Dear Brenda and Mary Lou,

Oh, how I wish I could have told you two apart. Yes, yes, I know one of you is supposedly larger (plumper) than the other. And I know that your sister, Jenny, worries that that will keep you from finding true love. But honestly I can't remember which sister is which. The good news? I liked you both, for the most part. Maybe like isn't exactly the proper word. I suppose I mean I felt for you both. I wanted your sister Jenny to let you go, to let you both be yourselves. I wanted Jenny to stop interfering in your lives. I wanted you both to gain some independence from her before you got married. Now, I must say this, I am glad that you both met men that were perfect for you. I'm glad that you both fond some romance--and that you did it your way. But I have to just stop a minute and say WHAT WERE YOU THINKING ARRANGING TO MEET THESE GUYS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT?! I know that Jenny was watching you during the day. And I know that Jenny was probably frightening off the guys so that they couldn't approach you during the day. But. Didn't you realize that it wasn't exactly proper to sneak around in the middle of the night? That you were risking oh-so-much for a chance at love. True, these two guys ended up being gentlemen, for the most part, though I don't know that a true gentlemen would have asked for such secret late-night meetings. But they were honorable enough, I suppose, in their intentions, both wanting to ultimately marry you and live happily ever after. But meeting that way--in the night--could have gone so horribly wrong. I'm glad it didn't go badly for you. I'm glad that no one in the town--except for maybe Jenny--thought it was immoral and damaging to your reputation. At least not to the point where they would openly shun you. Maybe the whole town understood where you were coming from. Maybe they thought that Jenny left you no options but to do something so bold, so seemingly immodest. So. I'm glad it all worked out for you. And I'm glad you're going to live happily ever after.

As you can see, A Suitor for Jenny drove me a little crazy at times. This romance novel was supposed to be funny and refreshing. I get the idea it was supposed to be cute. Look at these three husband-catching sisters, look how they're turning the town upside-down! Look at how the men react to them! Isn't it funny how flustered some of these guys are getting?! Isn't it something that the marshal has his hands full trying to keep peace between these husband-hunting sisters and the bachelors in the town! But. For me--and maybe not for you--that joke got old after a few chapters. I wished the sisters had a little bit of restraint and a lot of modesty. More quiet, more sweet, more demure, more gentle, more subtle, more biblically beautiful.

Read A Suitor for Jenny

• If you're a fan of Margaret Brownley
• If you're a fan of romantic comedies
• If you're a fan of romance novels set in the west, set in Texas
• If you're a fan of Christian historical romance novels

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

February 2012 Goals

So I've decided what February's goals are going to be! I am taking a break from Professor Horner's Bible Reading System--the system or plan I followed all January long--and I am going to try John MacArthur's plan for reading the New Testament. I am going to be reading the NT epistle, 1 JOHN, 30 to 31 times in February!!! So far I've been reading it in the New King James every day, but I also plan to add in other translations and other readings in study bibles as the month progresses! I also plan to focus on some of John's other writings this month. Though I will NOT be aiming to match the number of times I read 1 John! I hope to read John and Revelation each week. I'll also probably include 2 John and 3 John a couple of times apiece. But they are not my focus, and they are not where I find the most inspiration.

The Bibles I'll be reading from this month include The Soul Care Bible, New King James. To be honest, I'm not reading the helps in it so much as I'm enjoying the font and layout of it. All the blue is just so soothing. And there is just something so happy-making about the font of this one. I just LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the fact that it is not red-letter. (Words of Christ in red). One goal I have--besides reading 1 John in this one every day--is to read Psalms and Proverbs in this translation. 

The second Bible I'll be reading from is the ESV Student Study Bible published by Crossway. For the past year, I've focused so exclusively on text-only Bibles that I've forgotten how to 'read' or 'study' from a study Bible. And I do LOVE reading text-only Bibles. There is something so satisfying about reading the Bible and only the Bible. They are lighter to hold, and the reading seems to go by quicker. But. I've forgotten how to read things slowly, how to absorb things, how to meditate, how to think about things long enough to ask questions and try to find the answers. A little balance wouldn't be a bad thing. So I'll be trying to read from this Bible--reading the NOTES. My goal is to read the gospel of John, Romans, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and 1 John from this study Bible this month.
These are the books I've chosen for my Operation Deepen Faith challenge.

I don't know that I have any set goals of how many books per Bible, per translation I'm aiming for this month.


© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

January 2012 Bible Reading Records

This month, all books were read in the King James Version of the Bible. My reading plan this month was to use a modified version of Professor Horner's Reading Plan. His plan has readers read ten chapters per day from ten different books in the Bible. With the exception of Acts and Proverbs, I chose to read more than one chapter a day. He also strongly recommends that you choose one Bible and make it your own. One translation, one Bible that you always, always use. That would probably be the most difficult rule for me to follow if I were to use it beyond a one month experiment. I like reading in a variety of translations.

Written by Moses

1. Genesis
2. Exodus
3. Leviticus
4. Numbers
5. Deuteronomy

OT Narratives

6. Joshua
7. Judges
8. Ruth
9. 1 Samuel
10. 2 Samuel
11. 1 Kings
12. 2 Kings
13. 1 Chronicles
14. 2 Chronicles
15. Ezra
16. Nehemiah
17. Esther

Wisdom Literature

18. Job
19. Psalms
20. Proverbs
21. Ecclesiastes
22. Song of Songs

Major Prophets

23. Isaiah
24. Jeremiah
25. Lamentations
26. Ezekiel
27. Daniel

Minor Prophets

28. Hosea
29. Joel
30. Amos
31. Obadiah
32. Jonah
33. Micah
34. Nahum
35. Habakkuk
36. Zephaniah
37. Haggai
38. Zechariah
39. Malachi

NT Narratives

40. Matthew (read this one twice)
41. Mark
42. Luke
43. John
44. Acts

Epistles by Paul

45. Romans (read this one twice)
46. 1 Corinthians (read this one twice)
47. 2 Corinthians (read this one twice)
48. Galatians (read this one twice)
49. Ephesians (read this one twice)
50. Philippians (read this one twice)
51. Colossians
52. 1 Thessalonians (read this one twice)
53. 2 Thessalonians (read this one twice)
54. 1 Timothy (read this one twice)
55. 2 Timothy (read this one twice)
56. Titus (read this one twice)
57. Philemon (read this one twice)

General Epistles

58. Hebrews
59. James (read this one twice)
60. 1 Peter (read this one twice)
61. 2 Peter (read this one twice)
62. 1 John (read this one twice)
63. 2 John (read this one twice)
64. 3 John (read this one twice)
65. Jude (read this one twice)

Apocalyptic Epistle by John

66. Revelation (read this one twice)

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible