Book Review: 90 Days in John 14-17, Romans, & James

One of the most important aspects of the Christian life is staying rooted in the Word of God. The Scriptures are the basis of our faith and bring life to those who study and apply it. Yet, many believers would admit that it is a struggle to find the time in our fast paced society. Admittedly it is difficult. But we find the time for food, sleep, relationships, entertainment, etc. Even in our fast paced society we all find time for the things that are most important. If studying and applying God’s Word is a priority for us, we will find the time for it. The Explore by the Book series is a great resource to aide in personal Bible study. This new series published by The Good Book Company takes material from their Explore Quarterly series and adds space for journaling to better aide personal study. The newest volume in the series is 90 Days in John 14-17, Romans, & James by Timothy Keller and Sam Allberry.

Features of this Volume

The portion of the gospel of John chosen for this study is packed with practical truth. Sam Allberry refers to it as “Jesus preparing his disciples for the world we now live in.” This portion of John is centered around the time immediately preceding the crucifixion. It is the last time Jesus will see his disciples before his trial and brutal death. He is preparing them for the time when they will no longer have him, but promises to send the Holy Spirit to empower them to live all that he has taught.

The letter from Paul to the Romans is a deep well of truth based primarily on the church knowing, understanding, and applying the gospel message to their daily lives. Paul opens the letter by calling the gospel “the power of God.” He spends the rest of the letter unpacking the truth of the gospel that no one is good and all are spiritually dead in sin. Yet, the climax of the letter is chapter 8, which is riveted with the joy of the freedom found in Jesus.

The epistle of James is a practical letter written to Jewish believers scattered throughout the Roman Empire. He discusses topics such as true faith, taming the tongue, partiality, guarding against the false idol of money, and taking care of the vulnerable. This letter remains a relevant resource to the church today.

Features in the Series

* Daily Format: This series is set up for daily scripture reading on a quarterly basis. It is important for followers of Jesus to be in the Word daily. Just like we must eat food daily for physical sustenance, believers must feast on the Word daily for spiritual sustenance. The format is set up to allow for thirty minutes each day, which is doable in the midst of busy lives. But daily reading is also a commitment, but one that will prove worth it over time.

* Reading Portion: The series encourages reading significant portions of Scripture directly from one’s personal Bible or Bible app. This is important for two main reasons. (1) It allows the reader to cherish the Word and (2) it allows the reader to study the Bible in context. Many contemporary devotionals provide a small portion of Scripture which is most likely taken out of context. Most of the time is spent reading the devotion and not the Scripture itself. Resources that encourage reading significant portions of Scritpure daily serve the reader well. As the old adage goes, “You can give a person a fish and feed him for a day or you can teach him to fish and feed him for a lifetime.”

* Application and Journaling: The application questions and space for journaling provide an important aspect for daily Bible reading. Many devotions simply tell you what the author thinks about certain verse or topic and may even bring some encouragement, but it does not apply directly to the readers life. The application questions provide the opportunity for the reader to take what they just read and apply it directly to what is going on in their lives at the moment. This fosters growth and feasting on the Word. It causes one to cherish the Word more, when they see that it applies to their lives personally.

* Prayer: A crucial aspect of daily devotional time is prayer. Devotional reading is good, but one must take time and speak to the Lord about how that passage of Scripture is convicting, teaching, and growing them. The guided prayers printed in the book serve as a launching pad for deeper prayer and application.
I would personally reccomend the Explore by the Book series and specially this volume to anyone looking for a resource to guide them in personal study. The guided but flexible format allows the resource to be tailored to everyone’s learning style and schedule. It will take a minimum of thirty minutes each day, but on days that time allows one could spend extended time in study and prayer. This series is formatted for personal study, but it could also be used in a small group or Sunday School setting as well. I am personally thankful for the ministry of The Good Book Company, because they provide excellent resources for churches and individuals.

I received this book in participation with the Cross Focused Reviews blog tour program in exchange for an honest review of the book.