Godly Man's Reading Plan

Driving home: The Place of a Disciplined Reading Program in the Life of a Fruitful Man of God.

Martin shares that the sermon date marks 60 years since his conversion, using Psalm 23 to describe Christ's shepherding throughout his life, illustrating God's faithfulness.

Fruit. And the reason for choosing Psalm 23 as a platform of introduction is because this time of the year, and this particular year, has special significance for this old man, almost 78 in April, I'll turn 78, God willing. It was about this time, 60 years ago, when the Lord Jesus determined that his prophecy, his prophecy, his prophecy, his prophecy, his prophecy, his prophecy, his prophecy, his prophecy, his prophecy, his prophecy, his prophecy, his prophecy, his prophecy, his prophecy, his prophecy, his prophecy, his prophecy, his prophecy, his prophecy, his prophecy, his prophecy, his prop...

4:50 - 6:08 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: He advises reading authors who warm the heart, expose sin, and set Christ forth in His glory, specifically recommending John Owen and John Flavel, and sharing personal experiences…

He uses the analogy of priming an old water pump to describe how reading short selections from Puritan authors can 'prime the pump' of one's affections and focus the mind for deeper spiritual engagement.

And I came up with the concept. Some of you don't even remember what you had to do to the old way of getting water when you had a pump and you had to prime it. You had to pour some water in and pump, pump, pump. And then it took hold.

17:06 - 17:20 Read in full sermon

The point: Find those authors and read them wisely and judiciously, that they might aid your communion with the Lord Jesus, the Father, and the Holy Spirit.

Martin recounts Ian Murray's horror at his use of ballpoint pens for underlining books, leading to a charge to use a mechanical pencil, illustrating the reverence for books and the personal discipline in his reading.

It's this kind of reading that I'm suggesting would, perhaps with God's blessing, be a means of grace to put you in a praying frame. To put you in a frame where the other elements of your reading of the Scriptures and seeking the face of God will be more warm, more passionate, more earnest as you seek to meet with God. I have to say, this was my experience. In fact, I'm a little bit sad this morning because when I complete my reading, years ago, Ian Murray saw some of my books and I had underlined them with ballpoint pens.

17:48 - 18:29 Read in full sermon

The point: Find those authors and read them wisely and judiciously, that they might aid your communion with the Lord Jesus, the Father, and the Holy Spirit.

He shares a profound insight from John Owen about the primary reason for glorified eyes in the resurrection body being to see Christ, which deeply moved him and illustrates the transformative power of such reading.

And so he solemnly charged me from here on to use a mechanical pencil. And I do that. And whenever I've read a chapter or section of it, I put the date. And just yesterday, I finished for the fifth or sixth time, O in Volume 1, and I felt a sadness.

18:49 - 19:08 Read in full sermon

The point: If you want to have people who relish your preaching, you need to be patently clear as you preach, indicating when you move from one point to the next.

Martin reads an email from a friend who, inspired by Whitfield, is reading Matthew Henry's commentary on his knees, testifying to its singular excellence and its role in learning theology, illustrating the enduring value of Henry's work.

In many circles of contemporary. Academia. Is old Matthew Henry. Let me read.

27:33 - 27:41 Read in full sermon

The point: Seek to select your readings so that for a period of weeks or months, you draw close to one great mind until their approach to Scripture and truth is absorbed into your soul and mind.

He describes his wife's observation that he was 'on his Warfield kick' when deeply immersed in Warfield's writings, illustrating the benefit of focusing on one great mind to absorb their approach to truth.

Of your own soul. And of your own mind. And I used to say to my wife. She'd seen me going around.

36:16 - 36:24 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Once settled in ministry, pastors should establish a broad reading program covering theology, history, and practical issues to avoid gaps in their knowledge, encouraging deep…

Martin recounts how Warfield's essay on the emotional life of Christ 'blew him to pieces,' revealing Christ's humanity in a new way, demonstrating the profound impact of deep engagement with theological writers.

Was not just. This Princetonian theologian. Floating by up here. When I read for the first time.

36:48 - 36:56 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Before I die. I want to master my three Johns. You know who they are? John Calvin. John Owen. And John Murray.

He quotes Sinclair Ferguson's desire to master his 'three Johns' (Calvin, Owen, Murray) before he dies, illustrating a discerning approach to theological reading and a preference for depth over breadth in contemporary works.

Or at a restaurant nearby. That Sinclair Ferguson said. Before I die. I want to master my three Johns.

37:28 - 37:37 Read in full sermon

The point: Try to have a time when you have some reading that relaxes your mind and yet enriches your understanding of humanity, God's common grace, and special grace.

Martin shares how reading four biographies of Wilberforce for several months led his wife to jokingly call Wilberforce his 'boyfriend,' illustrating the enriching and relaxing nature of biographical reading.

I believe it was several years ago. Someone gave me four biographies. Of Wilberforce. So for night after night.

38:27 - 38:35 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin suggests including reading that relaxes the mind while enriching understanding of humanity and God's common grace, such as biographies (Wilberforce, Bonhoeffer) and…

He mentions Eric Metaxas's biography of Bonhoeffer and World War II books as examples of reading that relaxes the mind while providing insight into humanity and the real world, illustrating the value of diverse reading.

Of that marvelous biography of Bonhoeffer. By Eric Metaxas. He takes an approach. That only a man.

38:51 - 38:59 Read in full sermon