Welcome to First Line Fridays! First Line Fridays is a fun meme hosted by Hoarding Books! The aim of the game? Grab the book closest to you and share the first line!
Title: The Redemption of Scrooge
Authors: Matt Rawle
Publisher: Abingdon Press
Genre: Christian nonfiction/ Small Group Study/ Devotional/ Advent Study
“What comes to mind when you think of Christmas? Maybe it’s a tree decorated with ornaments, or oversized socks hanging from the mantle? Maybe you’ve recently come from Bible study, so you picture a child wrapping swaddling clothes, lying in a manger?
-Matt Rawle, The Redemption of Scrooge, Chapter 1
My Thoughts: I am constantly reading theological books in an effort to improve and enhance my preaching. During the time surrounding advent, I try to read at least three books (preferably more) that relate directly to this season in the liturgical year.
I love preaching. I view it as one of the most important aspects of my job (Check out this post for more information about my views on the importance of sermon preparation or click here for tips on sermon writing).
In order to be a good preacher, one must be constantly reading and studying God’s holy Word. Just like i want my doctor to stay up to date on the latest medical practices, I expect my minister to remain steeped in theological study.
I selected this book as a lighter read to balance out the heavier texts on systematic theology and biblical exegesis that I read for my job. One of my colleagues, who I highly admire, recommended another one of Rawlins’s books, Hollywood Jesus to me earlier this year. I usually trust her recommendations.
If I enjoy the study, I might purchase some of the small group resources to use at my own church next year. I always like to work through a study myself before I teach it.
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Dear Reader, now it’s your turn! What are you reading? Grab the book closest to you and share the first few lines with me in the comments below! After that, click the link below to visit more FLF sites!
Rev. Rebecca Writes 
Merry Christmas! Here’s the first line from Secrets at Cedar Cabin by Colleen Coble — “Bailey Fleming glanced out her patient’s window into the parking lot, but the swirling snow obscured all but the dim glow of the streetlamp.”
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I love the cover for that book! Stunning!
Happy Friday!
Today on my blog, I am sharing the first line from Jenny B. Jones’s novel His Mistletoe Miracle. It sounds like an amazing book that I am really excited to get to. Currently, I am right in the middle of In the Shadow of Croft Towers by Abigail Wilson, so I will share a line from that book.
Chapter 10: “It was the following day before I was able to deliver the message I’d received from the milliner.”
Hope you have a great weekend filled with lovely reading time, and Happy Holidays to you and your family! 😊❤️📚 + 🤶 🎅🎄
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On my blog, I am featuring Lady Jayne Disappears by Joanna Davidson Politano. Since it’s also my current read, I will share the first line from the 28th chapter: “I watched the moon from my window that night, knees tucked to my chest as I curled into the wingback chair.” I wish you a joy-filled Merry Christmas!
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Happy Friday!
This week I’m sharing from Castle on the Rise by Kristy Cambron (I have an ARC… doesn’t release until Feb 2019), but it’s also the book I’m currently reading so I’ll share the first line from my current chapter (18) here: “Maeve had just put down her quill to close the estate ledger when the alarm bell clanged outside.” Hope you have the chance to get some reading in this weekend and have a very Merry Christmas! 🙂
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Thanks so much! That’s a fun first line 🙂 Happy holidays!
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I love when my pastor incorporates the works and words of other Christian theologians and writers in his sermons! I’m hoping to start the Circle Maker by Mark Batterson this January! ❤️
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