Many bloggers take advantage of this time of the year to reflect on their most popular posts. Now we know there is a time to follow the crowd (Zech 8:23), and a time not to follow the crowd (Ex 23:2). And I believe the present time to be akin to the former and not the latter. So here we go.

This post lists the top 10 viewed posts this year, from among the posts we wrote this year. Next week, we’ll list the top 10 viewed posts from the full KW archive. May these lists enable you to be warm and well fed while you celebrate the season with joy and delight.

10. The Complexity of Applying the Speeches of Job’s Friends

It is somewhat common to consider the three friends of Job to be categorically wrong, and their speeches to be discarded. But the Apostle Paul never got that memo. The truth is far more complex and nuanced.

9. The Reckoning of the Minas

Because context matters, we must be careful not to hastily harmonize parallel passages. One key example of this is the parable of the ten minas in Luke 10. It sounds very similar to the parable of the talents in Matthew 25, but it is not the same, nor was it spoken in the same circumstances. This post, that had the eighth highest number of views this year, was simply a set up for the following post where I dove further into the details.

8. The Dangerous Consequences of Ignoring Context

Just as the title says, ignoring context has dangerous consequences. We miss the truth. We disrespect God. We mislead our neighbors. It’s just not worth it.

7. Quoting Scripture Contrary to Its Purpose is Devilish

This companion piece to the previous one reveals the staggering truth that those who ignore context are reading the Bible more like Satan than like Jesus. Let’s not do that.

6. Context Matters: Leave the Dead to Bury Their Own Dead

The first of many “context matters” posts to show up on both this week’s list and next week’s, this post examines Jesus’ cryptic statement in Luke 9:60. With help from the context, the instruction doesn’t need to be as cryptic as many typically presume.

5. Context Matters: Always Prepared to Make a Defense

1 Peter 3:15 this time. Though it can apply to apologetics (reasoned defenses for Christianity), that is not the only, nor even the main, thing Peter had in mind. Not all Christians can succeed at philosophical argumentation. But all must succeed at living righteous and respectful lives, thereby generating opportunities to bear witness to the suffering and kingship of the Lord Jesus.

4. Context Matters: The Weaker Vessel

Just a few verses before the previous one, 1 Peter provides one of the most uncomfortable, politically incorrect statements in the Bible. But it ought to be proclaimed in skywriting over every wedding and every marriage. You, husband, can win your wife to the glory of God by understanding her. By showing her the same honor you would show an empress. By praying together with her.

3. Why We Should be More Familiar with OT Sacrifices

We move on (momentarily) from an example of why context matters to an example of how drastically the early parts of the Bible inform the later parts of the Bible. The sacrificial system, and especially the burnt offering, is everywhere. Whenever you lay hands on someone, wash with water, speak of atonement, or offer acceptable worship, you call upon these ancient rituals. Are you aware of how they were done or what they meant at the time?

2. Why You Can Trust the Bible

The most important reason is simply that Jesus trusted it. This post shows him in action.

1. Context Matters: Apart From Me You Can Do Nothing

In our most-read post, from those written this year, Ryan dives into John 15-4-5 to show that the popular understanding of this phrase is not necessarily incorrect, but is much enriched by a grasp of Jesus’ argument in the context.

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Previous years’ top tens: 2019, 2018, 2017

It’s hip and cool for bloggers to post their top 10 posts of the year. And we want to be hip and cool. Our hearts tell us to do it, and the Bible says to “walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes” (Eccl 11:9). So here goes.

Last week, we gave you the top 10 posts from those written in 2019. Now, we list the top 10 posts from the full KW archive. If lots of other people are reading these posts, you probably should be, too.

This year’s Top 10 has 3 new posts that haven’t been “top 10” before. Only one of those was written this year; the other two from the archive saw a surge in pageviews.

10. Context Matters: God Will Give You the Desires of Your Heart

This post was #1 on last week’s list (most viewed posts that were published in 2019), but comes in at #10 overall. Yet it was only the second most-viewed “context matters” post (see slot #7 below).

9. 4 Bible Studies for Advent

Last year, the big hit was Ryan’s 4 Bible studies for Lent. But this year, folks seemed more interested in his Bible studies for advent. Advent is a great time to study the Bible, and here are four 4-week studies you could consider for that season.

8. 10 OT Books Never Quoted in the NT

This post was #7 on last year’s list, and #4 the year before that. It’s only one part of a six-part series analyzing every NT citation of an OT text. It’s interesting that one of the most popular posts in that series is about the OT books that never get a direct quotation.

7. Context Matters: A Bruised Reed

This was the most-viewed “context matters” post on the blog this year. It didn’t see much traffic in 2018 (it did not make the top 10 list) but seemed to pick up more interest this year. This is one of my most controversial posts, as I challenge an interpretation as common as oxygen. Yet it is incredibly difficult to find an argument for the traditional interpretation. Instead it is universally assumed and asserted. Check it out, and study the text for yourself.

6. Top 10 OT Books Quoted in NT

This post moves up from #8 last year, but was #5 in 2017. So it’s still hovering in about the same place. Even though my series analyzes not only books but also chapters and verses, this list of most-quoted books always seems to be the most popular.

5. How to Recognize Sowers of Discord

Moving up from the #9 slot last year, this post outlines from Proverbs 6:12-15 a few signs to help recognize divisive people. This post comes from my 2013 series of studies through the first 9 chapters of Proverbs.

4. Details of the OIA Method

The top 4 slots remain unchanged from last year and are still going strong. We put this one into the top menu so people could find it easily. It pretty much explains why this blog exists, so we’re glad it gets a lot of pageviews.

3. Summary of the OIA Method

See the previous post, unless you want less of a detailed explanation and more of a summary. Then see this post instead.

2. 10 Reasons to Avoid Sexual Immorality

This was the most-viewed post in 2014, but then dropped off the list until resurfacing as #8 in 2017 and #2 last year. I’m delighted to see a continued resurgence in appeal for such an important topic. Find whatever motivates you to avoid sexual immorality, and glum onto God’s grace in providing that motivation!

1. Why Elihu is So Mysterious

The popularity of this 2015 post continues to surprise us. We really cannot explain why it has been so popular, but if you haven’t read it, you must really be missing out! Elihu is that mysterious 4th friend in the book of Job. If you even knew he existed, chances are you’ve skipped his speeches entirely. This post is my attempt to explain Elihu’s role in the drama of the play of Job. This post was #3 in 2017, but it has held the #1 slot for two years running. And the competition is not even close. The #2 post was viewed about 16,000 times, and this one was viewed more than 24,000 times.

Many bloggers take advantage of this time of the year to reflect on their most popular posts. Now we know there is a time to follow the crowd (Zech 8:23), and a time not to follow the crowd (Ex 23:2). And I believe the present time to be akin to the former and not the latter. So here we go.

This post lists the top 10 viewed posts this year, from among the posts we wrote this year. Next week, we’ll list the top 10 viewed posts from the full KW archive. May these lists enable you to be warm and well fed while you celebrate the season with joy and delight.

10. Did Jesus’ Ministry Last 3 Years?

This post asks the question posed in the title. And while Jesus’ ministry could have had a duration of 3 years, it is far from certain in light of the biblical data. “The Bible doesn’t tell us exactly how many years Jesus spent with his disciples, going about doing good and healing. So we ought not to casually assert a three-year timeline as though it were self-evident.”

9. Bible Study Leaders Should Not Have All the Answers

Claiming to have (or attempting to have) all the answers is bad for both the group and the leader. Beware the guru. Resist becoming a crutch to your people. Let them learn to ride this bike of Bible study.

8. Context Matters: I Never Knew You; Depart from Me

When we learn to read the Bible properly—and not merely as a collection of isolated quotes or arbitrary threats—we’ll find that some of our most familiar sayings have more nuance or qualification than we typically assume. This year, we sought to address many Bible verses that are often used or quoted in isolation from their context. The results of careful, contextual study often astound. See here for many more examples.

7. New and Old Garments

All three synoptic gospels mention Jesus’ parable of the new and old garments. This year was the first time, however, that I noticed that Luke’s version says something quite different than Matthew’s or Mark’s. I wrote this post to give an example of the necessity and difficulty of overcoming ignorant familiarity to really observe what’s there.

6. Three Approaches to Ecclesiastes

Just as you’d expect, this post describes three quite different approaches to the book of Ecclesiastes. Your approach might depend on how you’ve heard others teach the book. But which approach (if any) seems most likely when you observe the text itself?

5. What does “Meaningless / Vanity / Futility” Mean in Ecclesiastes?

This post followed up on #4, and ended up being viewed just a shade more times. The approach you take toward the book of Ecclesiastes is closely connected to how you understand the word translated as “meaningless,” “vanity,” or “futility.”

4. Did Jesus Walk Through Walls?

He certainly could have. But the Scripture nowhere says he did. Why does it matter? “Simply the fact that traditions snowball over time, with the end result of making void the Word of God (Mark 7:13). In this case, the tradition has led many to speculate on the physical properties of either the resurrection body or the new heavens and the new earth. This can lead many to make too sharp a division between the “natural” and the “spiritual”—and then we use those adjectives more like Plato than like Paul, which promotes unbiblical asceticism (Col 2:20-23), among other things.” You can see more on the topic, including what some ancient commentators had to say, here.

3. Why was Baby Jesus Laid in a Manger?

Though published only a week ago, this post skyrocketed to the #3 slot on this list. Maybe for some reason, people are thinking about the Christmas story this time of year? Of course, an a la carte link from Tim Challies really helps as well. Just keep in mind that the way Luke would answer this question might not be the same way you and I would want to answer it.

2. A Sermon Notes Sheet for Young Children

There is a huge jump in traffic from post #3 to this post (from about 5,000 views to 10,000 views). And for good reason. This sermon notes sheet created by my co-blogger Ryan is fantastic. My own children use it every week, to great profit. Perhaps yours would benefit from it as well. And here is Ryan’s sermon notes sheet for older children. Please take them and revise them to make them work for you and your kids! It’s a noble task to train your children to listen to the sermon.

1. Context Matters: God Will Give You the Desires of Your Heart

And just eking past the children’s sermon notes sheet for the #1 slot is our most popular “context matters” post of the year. Yes, God promises to give you the desires of your heart. But only when your heart is delighting in Him. The promise is a promise of more of Himself. The best thing He could possibly offer.

It’s hip and cool for bloggers to post their top 10 posts of the year. And we want to be hip and cool. Our hearts tell us to do it, and the Bible says to “walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes” (Eccl 11:9). So here goes.

Last week, we gave you the top 10 posts from those written in 2018. Now, we list the top 10 posts from the full KW archive. If lots of other people are reading these posts, you probably should be, too.

This year’s Top 10 has 3 new posts that haven’t been “top 10” before. Only one of those was written this year; the other two from the archive saw a surge in pageviews.

10. The Best Ways to Listen to the Bible

This 2016 post made its way onto the Top 10 list for the first time this year. In the post, Ryan gives a few recommendations for audio Bibles. And though Ryan doesn’t prefer dramatized audio Bibles, Peter has been delighted with, and cheerfully recommends, NIV Live.

9. How to Recognize Sowers of Discord

Making it onto the Top 10 list for the first time, this post outlines from Proverbs 6:12-15 a few signs to help recognize divisive people. This post comes from Peter’s 2013 series of studies through the first 9 chapters of Proverbs.

8. Top 10 OT Books Quoted in the NT

This post was part of Peter’s 2013 series analyzing every Old Testament quotation in the New Testament. Other posts listed the most quoted chapters and most quoted verses. But this one on the most quoted books got a lot of pageviews in 2018.. This post was #5 on this list last year.

7. 4 Bible Studies for Lent

This is the only post written in 2018 to be among the Top 10 of all posts. These Bible studies from Ryan will help you to make the most of the season of Lent by walking through one of the gospel accounts of Christ’s passion week.

6. 10 Old Testament Books Never Quoted in the New Testament

This post was also part of Peter’s 2013 series analyzing every Old Testament quotation in the New Testament. Good to know not only what’s said, but also what’s not said. This post was #4 on this list last year.

5. How I Prepare a Bible Study

In another post I explain, in the abstract, 5 practices for preparing effective Bible studies. In this post, I describe what it looks like for me to employ those practices. This post is up from the #9 slot last year.

4. Details of the OIA Method

We put this one into the top menu so people could find it easily. It pretty much explains why this blog exists, so we’re glad it gets a lot of pageviews. This one is down from #2 last year.

3. Summary of the OIA Method

See the previous post, unless you want less of a detailed explanation and more of a summary. Then see this post instead. This post was #1 last year before being supplanted by a young, angry man.

2. 10 Reasons to Avoid Sexual Immorality

This was the most-viewed post in 2014, but then dropped off the list until resurfacing as #8 last year. I’m delighted to see a continued resurgence in appeal for such an important topic.

1. Why Elihu is So Mysterious

The popularity of this 2015 post continues to surprise. Elihu is that mysterious 4th friend in the book of Job. If you even knew he existed, chances are you’ve skipped his speeches entirely. This post is Peter’s attempt to explain his role in the drama of the play of Job. This post was #3 most viewed in 2017, but in 2018 it had almost twice as many views as #2.

It’s that time of the year again, when all the coolest bloggers bring their Top 10 lists out of the woodwork. “Is there a thing of which it is said, ‘See, this is new’? It has been already in the ages before us. There is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be any remembrance of later things yet to be among those who come after” (Eccl 1:10-11).

This post lists the top 10 viewed posts this year, from among the posts we wrote this year. Next week, we’ll list the top 10 viewed posts from the full KW archive. May these lists give you much to consider and delight in as the holidays fill you with peace on earth and good will toward men.

10. No Good Tree Bears Bad Fruit

Six of the ten posts on this year’s list come from Ryan’s keyboard. This first entry looks at a quotable quote from two of Jesus’ sermons to show that he sometimes used the same phrases to mean different things. “Words and phrases have little to no meaning when lifted from their context.”

9. Context Matters: The Ten Commandments

We spent much time this year seeking to persuade readers that context matters. This is not the only such post to have landed with readers (if the pageview statistics can be interpreted as interest), and if we made the list longer, entries 11 through 15 would also be of the same ilk. This post shows that what is brief in Exodus is expanded in Deuteronomy: God Almighty gave these commands to his children out of love.

8. What to Do When the New Testament Quotes the Old

This is the first entry on the list from Peter, in which he argues that the New Testament authors are quoting not sentences but passages. Therefore, we ought to look up the Old Testament quotes and understand their context before we’ll understand how the New Testament author uses that text to make or illustrate his point.

7. What We Miss When We Skip the Prophets

Ryan laments the fact that 21% of the Bible typically doesn’t get 21% of our attention. And as a result, 79% of the Bible is at least 21% misunderstood because the prophetic background is too unfamiliar and thus goes unconsidered. But there is hope. And to find the hope, you have to read the prophets.

6. Reading the Bible for the Ten Thousandth Time

This conclusion to Ryan’s duology (see the next entry) rounds out the lower half of the list. There is a significant jump in pageviews between this and the next most viewed post. This post seeks to help you combat your Bible weariness and pursue continued intimacy with your compassionate Father. Remember: The problem lies not with the book but with us.

5. Reading the Bible for the First Time

This and the next three posts on this list were very close to one another in pageviews. “Imagine that a friend of yours has just become a Christian. She knows of your faith and asks to meet with you. Your friend knows the Bible is an important book for Christians, and she wants to read it. But she has no familiarity with the Bible at all. What would you say to her?”

4. Context Matters: Your Body is a Temple of the Holy Spirit

No, Peter isn’t planning to get a “Mom” tattoo. But he does believe that, were he to debate the issue, “your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit” would be out of bounds. This post explains why.

3. What Should We Make of the Massive Repetition of Tabernacle Details in Exodus?

Sometimes people fear studying or teaching through the book of Exodus because they fear they won’t know what to do with all the tabernacle details. And then what do you do when nearly every detail is repeated? What a marvelous opportunity to strengthen our observation skills!

2. Context Matters: Valley of Dry Bones

“The Lord himself makes the interpretation clear to Ezekiel. There is no reason for us to be unclear on this ourselves. The dead bones coming back to life are a picture of the exiled people being brought back into the land of Israel, placed in their own land. A people without hope are resurrected to new hope.”

1. 4 Bible Studies for Lent

Last year, Ryan proposed a set of sample Bible studies for Advent. This year, he took on Lent. These studies each focus on one gospel’s account of Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection. These studies take you right to the text, building your confidence that you can study God’s word for yourself.

It’s hip and cool for bloggers to post their top 10 posts of the year. And we want to be hip and cool. Our hearts tell us to do it, and the Bible says to “walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes” (Eccl 11:9). So here goes.

Last week, we gave you the top 10 posts from those written in 2017. Now, we list the top 10 posts from the full KW archive. If lots of other people are reading these posts, you probably should be, too.

10. Teach Bible Study to a 12-Year-Old

Many people care about their pre-teens.

9. How I Prepare a Bible Study

In another post I explain, in the abstract, 5 practices for preparing effective Bible studies. In this post, I describe what it looks like for me to employ those practices.

8. 10 Reasons to Avoid Sexual Immorality

This was the most-viewed post in 2014, but it hasn’t been on the list since then. I’m delighted to see a resurgence in its appeal.

7. Top 11 OT Verses Quoted in NT

This post was part of my 2013 series analyzing every Old Testament quotation in the New Testament. This one focusing on verses seems to be the one people first stumble on to. This post was #3 on this list last year.

6. Teach Bible Study to a 4-Year-Old

Many people care about teaching their kids when they’re getting close to school age. This post was #4 on this list last year.

5. Top 10 OT Books Quoted in the NT

From the most quoted verses (#7 above), people usually find this list of the most quoted books.

4. 10 Old Testament Books Never Quoted in the New Testament

This post was also part of my 2013 series analyzing every Old Testament quotation in the New Testament. Good to know not only what’s said, but also what’s not said. This post was #7 on this list last year.

3. Why Elihu is So Mysterious

This 2015 post had an unexpected popularity this year. Elihu is that mysterious 4th friend in the book of Job. If you even knew he existed, chances are you’ve skipped his speeches entirely. This post is my attempt to explain his role in the drama of the play of Job.

2. Details of the OIA Method

We put this one into the top menu so people could find it easily. It pretty much explains why this blog exists, so we’re glad it gets a lot of pageviews.

1. Summary of the OIA Method

See the previous post, unless you want less of a detailed explanation and more of a summary. Then see this post instead.

 

It’s that time of the year again, when all the coolest bloggers bring their Top 10 lists out of the woodwork. “Is there a thing of which it is said, ‘See, this is new’? It has been already in the ages before us. There is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be any remembrance of later things yet to be among those who come after” (Eccl 1:10-11).

This post lists the top 10 viewed posts this year, from among the posts we wrote this year. Next week, we’ll list the top 10 viewed posts from the full KW archive. May these lists give you much to consider and delight in as the new year rolls off the horizon into your chosen time zone.

10. Exodus 15:1-21: I Will Sing to the Lord

Exodus 15 is the first major climax in the book, and this post represents my climactic attempt to explain what’s happening in the text. We must sing to Yahweh, for there is no other god who can cast down his enemies and raise up his people.

9. The Resurrection of Jesus According to Mark

We celebrated Easter this year with a short series explaining the unique main points of the gospel’s resurrection narratives. You did know each gospel has a unique point to make, right? According to Mark, the King has come, but he is not here; so everything must change.

8. You Can Read the Bible to Your Kids

I can’t believe I never realized before this year that I had permission to simply read the Bible to my kids. Family devotionals, children’s Bibles, workbooks, and curricula are all fine and good, but just not necessary. Only one thing is necessary: living bread for hungry souls. About an hour, once per week, isn’t so bad. It’s become a delightful part of our family’s routine. And I have to keep a promise to my daughter.

7. Exodus 3:1-4:17: The Making of a Mediator

The most viewed post thus far from my Exodus walk through. Perhaps we can all relate to Moses in his hesitation and excuses. And praise God for a better Moses who never hesitated.

6. Leading Women’s Bible Studies: Not Just for Women

It’s rare for one of my “check it out” posts to garner this much attention. But for good reason: When it comes to Bible study, Jen Wilkin knows what she’s talking about. And her wisdom is not just for women. Don’t discount it just because she works primarily with ladies.

5. The Resurrection of Jesus According to Matthew

Ryan Higginbottom kicked off our resurrection series with this gem. According to Matthew, the risen Jesus is the gracious king of the Jews, the Messiah. Great news!

4. The Resurrection of Jesus According to John

For John, the resurrection is not only the climax, but also the full substance, of his message. Jesus truly is the Son of God, the Messiah who makes all things new, the source and essence of life. You can trust him with your life

3. E-Sword: Bible Study Software for Everyone

This year was a year of many reviews, and two of them were among the top 3 viewed posts of the year. Ryan wrote this review of a free Bible software program to assist you in your handling of the Scripture.

2. CSB Study Bible: Great Translation, Fine Study Resource

This review was my first exposure to the new Christian Standard Bible published this year. And while I didn’t like the study Bible nearly as much as the reader’s Bible, I happily recommend the translation in any edition you find most helpful.

1. 4 Bible Studies for Advent

Views of this post were almost 3 times higher than the second-place post, even though this post published later in the year than any other on this list. I urge you to consider Ryan’s advice to offer your families Bible studies and not mere devotionals. Feed them God’s word, and not just what some author had to say about portions of God’s word.

 

 

 

It’s hip and cool for bloggers to post their top 10 posts of the year. And we want to be hip and cool. Our hearts tell us to do it, and the Bible says to “walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes” (Eccl 11:9). So here goes.

10. Buying a Markup Bible

This post from Ryan Higginbottom in early 2015 saw a resurgence of interest in 2016. Do you have a decent markup Bible for study?

9. Free OIA Summary Booklet

We’re tickled by how this one took off. We wanted to offer a free resource that summarizes all the key ideas in one place. It’s not the best place to start, as it has no examples or illustrations. But it makes a decent reference.

8. You Have Enough Time to Study the Bible

This post, along with #6, was part of Ryan’s series answering common objections people have to studying the Bible.

7. 10 Old Testament Books Never Quoted in the New Testament

This post was part of my 2013 series analyzing every Old Testament quotation in the New Testament. This one seemed to connect with people this year. Good to know not only what’s said, but also what’s not said.

6. You Are Smart Enough to Study the Bible

This post, along with #8, was part of Ryan’s series answering common objections people have to studying the Bible.

5. Teach Bible Study to a 2-Year-Old

Many people really care about their kids! Just like Jesus (Matt 19:14).

4. Teach Bible Study to a 4-Year-Old

Many people care even more about their kids when they’re getting close to school age.

3. Top 11 OT Verses Quoted in NT

This post was part of my 2013 series analyzing every Old Testament quotation in the New Testament. This one focusing on verses seems to be the one people first stumble on to.

2. Summary of the OIA Method

We put this one into the top menu so people could find it easily. It pretty much explains why this blog exists, so we’re glad it gets a lot of pageviews.

1. Details of the OIA Method

See the previous post, unless you want less of a summary and more of a detailed explanation. Then see this post instead.

Last week we shared the 10 most popular posts on Knowable Word from 2015. Today, we’re sharing the 10 posts of 2015 that were the most fun for us to write.

Ryan

5. How to Ruin a Small Group Discussion in 4 Easy Steps

I wrote this post tongue-in-cheek, which was a lot of fun. This post was part of my series on attending small group Bible studies, and I wrote most of it using examples from years of witnessing (and leading!) mediocre-to-bad discussions.

4. When Bible Study Meets Real Life

Who has the time to do all of this OIA Bible study? In this post I suggest looking at your devotional life through the lens of Bible intake, making sure not to neglect Bible study entirely.

3. How to Apply the Bible in Community

I taught a Sunday school class at my church this past year on how to study the Bible. While teaching, I was struck with how much Christians need each other to apply the Bible. This post offered the “how” portion of my answer.

2. Why We Need Community to Apply the Bible

See above. In this post, I tried to put my finger on why Christianity is not a solo venture. I love it when I can draw directly on the lessons God is teaching me for my posts.

1. Don’t Forget the Gospel During Bible Study

This was a post where I was preaching to myself. Whether I feel like a success or a failure after personal or group Bible study, I need to return again and again to the central message of the Bible—the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Peter

5. 50 Observations of John 3:16

I could hardly contain my excitement when students from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania took my challenge (from page 42 of Knowable Word) to make 50 observations of John 3:16. They sent me a photo of an autographed white board as the fruit of their labor.

4. Top 10 Curses of Study Bibles

Study Bibles are like guns. They are dangerous and require extreme caution. We should have rules about how to use them safely.

3. (Almost) How the Bible was Meant to be Read

To date, my favorite book to review has been the ESV Reader’s Bible. This thing will change the way you read the Bible. Check it out.

2. Don’t Neglect the Lesser-Known Commands of God

My April Fool’s post for this year was full of fun and good cheer. To both celebrate April Fool’s Day and teach the importance of context, I could think of nothing better than ridiculously to rip Scripture from its context.

1. Why God Speaks to Job Twice

I really enjoyed all the posts I wrote on the book of Job this year. These posts came out of a sermon series at my church, and this one was my favorite of the bunch.

In severe suffering, Job has accused God of doing wrong and of remaining silent. But God arrives, speaking out of the whirlwind, to put Job in his place. Job 38:1-39:30 records God’s first speech, recounting the wildness, inscrutability, and uncontrollable power of God’s creation. Duly humbled, Job tries to slink away like an amateur diver whose loosely tied trunks slipped off at surface impact.

But God will have nothing of the sort. “Oh no, you don’t. I’m not done with you yet.”

It’s hip and cool for bloggers to post their top 10 posts of the year. And we want to be hip and cool. Our hearts tell us to do it, and the Bible says to “walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes” (Eccl 11:9). So here goes.

10. A Bible Reading Plan for Readers

I posted this one last year, and then just re-posted it last week. That helps to encourage people to read it more, which encourages them to read the Bible more. I think.

9. Top 11 OT Verses Quoted in NT

This post was part of my 2013 series analyzing every Old Testament quotation in the New Testament. This one focusing on verses seems to be the one people first stumble on to.

8. How to Encourage Heart-Oriented Application

This post does just what you might expect it to do from the title.

7. Don’t Be a Commentary Junkie

Just don’t do it, okay? Your Bible study will be so much better for it.

6. Teach Bible Study to a 2-Year-Old

Many people really care about their kids! Just like Jesus (Matt 19:14).

5. Summary of the OIA Method

We put this one into the top menu so people could find it easily. It pretty much explains why this blog exists, so we’re glad it gets a lot of pageviews.

4. Details of the OIA Method

See the previous post, unless you want less of a summary and more of a detailed explanation. Then see this post instead.

3. Teach Bible Study to a 4-Year-Old

Many people care even more about their kids when they’re getting close to school age.

2. Main Points for All 66 Books of the Bible

This just isn’t fair. This, my most read post of 2015, barely contains any original content! I copied it all out of the NIV Proclamation Bible. I suppose there’s something deliciously humbling about this post’s popularity.

1. Teach Your Child to Have Devotions

And what’s even more delicious is that the #1 post belongs to Ryan, not me. This post was not only the most popular of 2015; its publication spawned the most heavily trafficked day in this blog’s history. I praise God for Ryan’s partnership! Best line: “When your child is old enough to read, give him a Bible and train him to use it.”