Most of us have probably run into at least one person who says that they don’t enjoy reading the bible.  They will probably tell you that while they would like to, they end up not understanding it or not getting anything out of it.  Most of these people usually follow up this comment with a desire for a resource that will teach them about what the bible says without actually having to read it - something that will break down the truths for them.

I would like to say that this is a new thing, but all the way back to the time of the Exodus, people have wanted someone else to talk to God and just tell them what He said.  I think  a great deal of it has to do with the fact that they are either blinded by unbelief and unable to see God’s truth or that they are convicted by His holiness as presented in the Word and want something that will tone it down a little.

Christian publishers have built an entire industry around this desire to avoid God’s Word and read someone else’s commentary and this is evident from any Christian bookstore.  These books, workbooks, tapes, videos, TV programs, etc. are of varying degrees of worth depending on the author, but ultimately, we should all agree that the real thing that we should be studying is the Bible rather than what someone else tells us it says.

Recently, I noticed that my iPod is only about half full and while I enjoy music during my commute, I decided to redeem that time by listening to sermons or scripture during my drive.  I have found two sermons by Mark Dever of Capital Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. that I would highly recommend if you are  struggling with reading the bible.  The first gives an overview of the Old Testament and puts into context what it is about and why we should read it and the second gives a similar treatment to the New Testament.