Mechanics, artists, doctors, and salespeople, and every other profession have their own set of unique tools, and ministers are no different.  Our tools are books, and it’s never too early to start building your library.

Here are three very important questions about building your library:

1. Why is a library important?
2. What can you do to get started?
3. How you can you get your hands on some of those valuable books?

Some younger ministers underestimate the importance of having their own library.  They mistakenly think that all they need is the inspiration of God, but the apostle Paul would disagree.  In 2 Timothy 4:13, he writes, “When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.”  Of all the things Paul could have asked for, he asked for his books.

“Even an Apostle must read.  He is inspired, and he wants books.  He has seen the Lord, and he wants books.  He has been caught up into the Third Heaven, and yet he wants books.  He has written a major part of the New Testament, and he wants books.” – Charles Spurgeon

Some people think that the internet and modern technology have made libraries obsolete.  Nothing can be further from the truth!  An over-dependence on technology-based study resources has a downside:  program providers, software, computers, and data storage applications change so fast that they could become obsolete in 10 years or less, while books can last a lifetime.  Keeping a balance in your toolbox is important, but there will always be a place for books.

Here are 5 basic things that you can purchase that will quadruple the value you get out of your Bible study:

1. A basic commentary set
   • Commentaries are written by biblical scholars who explain the context and meaning of the Bible in a verse-by-verse format
   • The Expositor’s Bible Commentary ($150 at CBD)
2. A good Bible encyclopedia
   • Bible encyclopedias are a lot like normal encyclopedias, except they are limited to the subjects and topics related to the Bible
   • Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible ($45 at CBD)
3. A good Bible background commentary
   • Bible background commentaries help you understand how the historical and cultural setting sheds light upon a particular verse
   • The Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary ($100 at CBD)
4. A good concordance
   • Concordances let you study how a particular word is used in the Bible
   • The Strong’s NIV Exhaustive Concordance ($30 at CBD)
5. A good word study tool
   • Word study books allow you to easily access the alphabetized English equivalent of a Greek or Hebrew word from which it was translated.
   • Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words ($15 at CBD)

All of these things are available from multiple sources, but the best place to get them is at Christian Book Distributors (CBD) at www.christianbook.com.

CBD has set up an exclusive package price for Explore the Call Subscribers.  Individually, all these books would cost about $350.  However, you can get all of them for a package price of $250.  To get this deal, you must call CBD’s special product line at 1-888-420-3474 and specifically request the Beginner’s Library Package.

Here are 4 great ideas to help you get as many of these books as possible:

1. Download a list of these books from the Equipment Room, then give it to your parents and family members and tell them that you would like them as gifts for any holiday you can think of.
2. Create an online wish list at Christianbook.com for your family members to look at for gift ideas.
3. Spread the word to all your family and friends that you want a CBD gift card.
4. Take your pastor or associate pastor out for coffee and ask him or her if there is anything you can do around the church to earn money to start your library.

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Related posts:

1. Explore the Call Episode 26: What Can I Do in High School?
2. Explore the Call Episode 11: The Call of God and Spiritual Disciplines
3. Explore the Call Episode 30: Why Is My Family Freaking Out?
4. Explore the Call Episode 31: What To Do When My Family Isn’t On Board
5. Explore the Call Episode 2: What is the Ministry?

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 24th, 2010 at 12:57 PM and is filed under Explore the Call Podcasts. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

Tags: Bible encyclopedia, commentary, concordance, library, Ministry, word study