Going through seminary, students are taught to study the Bible and uphold its doctrines about God while also being encouraged not to neglect their devotional times with God. Yet during my own devotional time I, and probably many others, often ask, “Is this approach the best way to grow spiritually, or is there a better way? What could I do differently? Should I incorporate my studies with my devotions?”
Each week, I ask a different scholar two questions about how he or she spends time with the Lord and continues to love him with all their mind, strength, and heart. While no one method or style is “the only way,” we can draw on one another’s experiences.
This week, I have asked Dr. Joel B. Green if he would share his thoughts with us.
1. How do you spend your devotional time with the Lord?
My devotional time changes regularly. Right now, I am reading and praying through the Psalms, using my colleague John Goldingay’s recently published translation: The First Testament: A New Translation (InterVarsity Press, 2018). At other times, I might be found reading through a Gospel (whether in translation or Greek), or reading sermons from John Chrysostom or John Wesley, or being guided in my reading and prayers with the help of the ancient Celts or some version of the Daily Office. Because I read really fast, I work hard to take this reading more slowly, more contemplatively.
2. How do you practically seek to deepen your love for Christ?
In a number of ways — for example, by spending time with the people God loves, by cultivating my intimacy with the Scriptures, by participating in congregational worship, by receiving God’s grace in the Lord’s Supper, by having a running conversation with Jesus as I go about the day. In short, by attending to what Wesley called “the ordinances of God.”
Joel Green serves as Professor of New Testament Interpretation at Fuller Theological Seminary. He has written commentaries on the Gospel of Luke (NICNT) and on 1 Peter (THNTC), as well as books such as Conversion in Luke-Acts, and was one of the editors of the Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels.
Other Scholars’ Devotions
- Andrew Abernethy
- Michael Bird
- Craig Blomberg
- Darrell Bock
- Denny Burk
- Andrew Das
- Stephen Dempster
- Jason DeRouchie
- Kyle Dunham
- James Edwards
- David Firth
- Stephen Fowl
- Norman Geisler
- Sigurd Grindheim
- Jim Hamilton
- Matthew Harmon
- Charles Lee Irons
- Dru Johnson (a fan favorite)
- Dru Johnson Redux (extended edition)
- Craig Keener
- Edward (Mickey) Klink
- Tremper Longman
- Ernest Lucas
- David Moffitt
- Jonathan Moo
- Amy Peeler
- Nicholas Perrin
- Tom Schreiner
- Brandon Smith
- Douglas Stuart
- Frank Thielman
- Bruce Ware
- Rikk Watts
- Trevin Wax
- Cynthia Long Westfall
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spoiledmilks 
Wow didn’t know what Joel Green looked like!
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