Original Post: “If it has been a while since you have read any articles by Tim Keller or Jerry Bridges, it may be time for you to give them another careful read. God has graciously grown these two men in their understand of the gospel and its implications. So we would do well to read what they have written fairly often. My personal goal is to read each of their articles at least three times a year. Why? I am so quick to functionally forget the objective truth of the gospel and its penetrating implications.

“Over the next 2 weeks I will be posting the links to particular articles they have written. Please receive these posts as encouragements to give your mind to the gospel afresh.”

Today’s Recommendation - Let me encourage you to read the following article by Jerry Bridges:

Gospel-Driven Sanctfication (pdf)

If you do not have time to read it today, please consider finding some time within the next few days.

My year of teaching is almost over. Even though it has been a great year I am eager for its completion. One of the reasons for my eagerness is the books I get to read over the summer months. I can’t remember a time when I looked forward to reading more than I am right now. The prospect of “mastering” a few well-chosen books rather excites me at the moment. I’ve spent quite a few minutes trying to narrow my summer-reading book list down. It is always a painful process, but while I was doing the agonizing work of eliminating prospective reads, I stumbled upon a very helpful article about reading less in order to master. So before you jump into your summer reading list you might want to read it.

Why Settle for Merely Reading a Book When You Can Master It?

How to Read Less More, and Twice as Fast

May/June, 1998

Dear Friend,

If you’re like me, you really want to read more effectively, but you don’t know how and can’t find the time. Solomon wrote, “The writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body.”* I agree. The stacks of unopened volumes in my own library weary me just looking at them.

To make matters worse, even the good books we read teach us nothing. We forget the details almost immediately because our goal is to finish the book, not master the material.

I have a plan to change that. I want to show you how you can read less, more. It’s based on one simple idea: It’s better to thoroughly read one or two good books than “finish” ten or twenty by reading them cover to cover and then moving on.

The idea raises two practical problems. First, how do we know if a book is worth investing time in? Second, what techniques will allow us to read thoroughly, yet quickly, leading to mastery?

Four Pages a Day

Don’t think you’ve got to read 50, 25, or even 10 books a year to stay educated, informed, and equipped. Instead, I want you to think about carefully reading just six books during the next twelve months. Read the rest of this entry »