I have far too much dissertation to blog properly but I couldn't resist plugging this book quickly:
'Dig Deeper! Tools to unearth the Bible's treasure' - Nigel Beynon and Andrew Sach
I've just read the first few chapters so far but it is without doubt one of the most helpful books I've ever read. As I'm sure many of you know I have a bit of a bee in my bonnet about bible handling anyway but I'm absolutely convinced that every Christian student should get a copy of this - it is just full of advice on how to approach reading and understanding a passage of the bible for yourself (for all those times when you don't have a commentary/ sermon tape/ Matt Vosper to tell you the answers).
(Plus it is IVP so if you are a Nottingham student you can probably get this book for less than the price of a Mr. B's kebab - ask an exec member to phone the warehouse)
As if my general excitement isn't enough to convince you I'll include the blurb too:
"This is a toolbox. Sorry if this conjures up painful memories of failed DIY projects, hours spent waiting for the emergency services on the hard shoulder of the motorway, or rusty, forgotten implements decked with cobwebs at the back of your garden shed.
But there are no spanners or trowels here. These tools are rather a means of getting to the bottom of any Bible passage and discovering its true meaning.
Listening to God speak to us through the Bible is like picking up a telephone and hearing your Creator at the other end of the line. It should be exciting, life-changing even. But sometimes it seems more like a long-distance call, with static on the line, and it’s hard to make out what our Father is saying. Maybe our own interpretation is such guesswork that we’re in danger of putting words into God’s mouth.
The passionate aim of this book is that it should help you to ‘correctly handle the word of truth’ (2 Timothy 2:15) so that you will experience God’s clear guidance in your life, come to know him better and grow to love him more. Our prayer is that your Bible reading will never be the same again."