Tolle Lege
May 27, 2007 7:31 pmLast night I announced the Summer Reading Challenge. Here are some important questions and answers about it:
Why do we have a Summer Reading Challenge?
It’s painfully easy for a student (or a parent) to waste the summer watching TV, playing video games, and goofing off. I think most young people actually like a challenge, so here it is. I want to challenge you to use your time wisely (see Ephesians 5:15-16) by spending part of your summer reading. I suppose there are a lot of things I could challenge you to, but perhaps none better than this. Spend your summer reading your Bible and reading good books. It has been said that the person who does not read does not grow. That’s a curse I wouldn’t wish on anyone.
What are the books?
So glad you asked. The main book is The Gospel for Real Life by Jerry Bridges. I’m also offering a bonus book this summer: The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God, by D. A. Carson.
Why these books for this summer?
I chose The Gospel for Real Life because the teaching at the five15 Retreat is going to focus on the key elements of the gospel: God, sin, and the Cross. This book will help prepare us. I think you’ll find it an easy, winsome, enjoyable read. We will all learn from this book.
Mark suggested that I offer Carson’s Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God, because it is a real challenge (it will take most of us longer to read Carson’s 84 pages than Bridges’ 190) and because this is an often misunderstood topic. Read Bridges first, and if you are able to, read this book, too.
I know we sold out of them last night, but we’ll have more in the bookstore on Sunday.
What if I take up the challenge?
Great! Bring it on. Simply get a copy of Bridges and make your way through it this summer. I provided a basic reading schedule at the five15 BIG MEETING last night. I’ll be posting here regularly over the summer so that you can discuss what you’re reading with your peers. If you make it to the end, I’ll reward you with a $15 gift certificate to the bookstore. I’m also offering a bonus book this year: read Carson, too, and you’ll get another gift certificate to the bookstore.
How do I get my reward?
Easy. Finish the book by the five15 Retreat and write a 1-page report about what you learned from the book. Give it to me before or at the Retreat, and I’ll hand you a trip to the candystore—I mean, bookstore.
SPECIAL BONUS: First student to comment who can explain what tolle lege means, how it was used in church history, and why it is relevant to this post will receive a free copy of the new Sovereign Grace CD, Asleep In A Storm.
3 Responses to “Tolle Lege”
It’s totally off topic, but what does tolle lege mean?!
I’ll take the challenge and explain what it is–
In his early 30s, Augustine was convinced that the Bible was true. However, he struggled with the temptations of the flesh, and knew he was udderly incapable of meeting the demands of the Christian faith. One day, while sitting in a garden in Milan, crying out to God for release from his sins, God responded to him. Later in life, he wrote these words: ‘Suddenly I heard a voice coming from a nearby house - I don’t know whether it was a boy or a girl - singing over and over, Tolle lege, tolle lege, “Take it and read, take it and read!”‘ He immediatly picked up the bible in front of him. ‘I seized it, opened it, and in silence read the passage on which my eyes first fell: “Not in revelling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarrelling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires [Romans 13.13-14].” I had no wish to read further, nor was there any need. All at once, as the sentence ended, the light of certainty flooded into my heart, and all the darkness of doubt vanished away.”
So, I’m guessing that it’s relevant to the post in this way– we should not only take the bible and read, but we should read spiritual books too.
Great job, Sara. That’s exactly right. Of course I want you to “take up and read” your Bible, but I’m also inviting everyone in five15 to “take up and read” these books.
Your CD is on the way…
Care to comment?