13. Essentials of Reformed Systematic Theology and more...

13. Essentials of Reformed Systematic Theology. Joel R. Beeke and Paul M. Smalley. 2025. 1088 pages. [Source: Review copy] [4 stars, theology, Christian nonfiction]

First sentence: In Christian theology, the church explains and applies the Bible's doctrine, or teaching, about God. Theology is human reflection on the knowledge and wisdom revealed in God's Word. The goal of theology is that we may know God and live unto him through Jesus Christ.

Essentials of Reformed Systematic Theology is a condensed adaptation of a four volume systematic theology. The four original titles are: Reformed Systematic Theology Volume 1: Revelation and God, Reformed Systematic Theology Volume 2: Man and Christ, Reformed Systematic Theology Volume 3: Spirit and Salvation, and Reformed Systematic Theology Volume 4: Church and Last Things.

The book is systematic, organized. It is an abridgment of literally THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS of pages into a little over one thousand. So it's concise, but, NOT concise at the same time. Each chapter includes summaries and explanations as well as discussion questions. 

Reading it cover to cover over the course of several months, I feel it was good, but, at the same time it was a LOT to process. And for better or worse my brain can't retain that level of detail for long periods of times. I think this one may be a great RESOURCE or reference book. It might be good for deep diving specific subjects as they come up in your life--through sermons, through Bible reading, through questions asked at Bible studies or small groups. I can think of many reasons why this might be a good reference book or belong in a church library or home library of a pastor or elder or teacher. 

The book literally covers every imaginable subject, topic, doctrine. It would be nearly impossible for you to agree 100% with every single one all the time, every time. The book definitely has strong opinions, but, it also balances those strong opinions with a few other options. It may say the other side thinks this and then comes back with and here is an argument against that. BUT it doesn't exclusively present only one side for every doctrine. It obviously depends on the doctrine. Some doctrines might be more 'simply' presented. But for the more complex, somewhat controversial positions, it is a more complex overview. 

   

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Sunday May 24, 2026

KJV MacLaren

Genesis 43-44; 1 Kings 15-16; Ezra 8-10; Psalms 72-73; Mark 7; 

NKJV MacLaren Study Bible

1 Samuel 1-2; Acts 21-23

NASB 1977 Ryrie

Genesis 34-36; Judges 1-2; Psalms 26-27; Matthew 12

Monday, May 25, 2026

NKJV MacLaren Study Bible

1 Samuel 3-4; Acts 24; 

KJV MacLaren

Genesis 45-50; 1 Kings 17-19; Nehemiah 1-2; Psalms 74-77;

NASB 1977 Ryrie

Genesis 37-40; Judges 3; Psalms 28-30; Matthew 13

Tuesday, May 26, 2026

KJV MacLaren 

1 Kings 20-22; Job 1-2; Nehemiah 3-4; Psalm 78; Proverbs 1-2; Mark 8-9

NKJV MacLaren Study Bible

1 Samuel 5-8; Acts 25-28

NASB 1977 Ryrie

Genesis 41-44; Judges 4-5; Psalms 31-32; Matthew 14-15;

Wednesday, May 27, 2026

KJV MacLaren

Nehemiah 5-13; Job 3-7; Psalm 79-80; Proverbs 3-5; Mark 10

NKJV MacLaren Study Bible

1 Samuel 9-12; Romans 1-3;

NASB 1977 Ryrie 

Genesis 45-50; Judges 6-9; Matthew 16; Psalms 31-34;

Thursday, May 28, 2026 

NASB Ryrie

Exodus 1-4; Judges 10-12, Psalms 35-37; Matthew 17-18

NKJV MacLaren

1 Samuel 13-15; Romans 4-5;

KJV MacLaren

Esther 1-2; Job 8-10; Psalms 81-83; Proverbs 6-7; Mark 11-12;

Friday, May 29, 2026

KJV MacLaren

Esther 3-10; Job 11-17; Psalms 84-89; Proverbs 8-9; Mark 13;

NKJV MacLaren Study Bible

1 Samuel 16-18; Romans 6-8;

NASB 1977 Ryrie

Exodus 5-7; Judges 13-16; Psalms 38-40; Matthew 19

Saturday, May 30, 2026

KJV MacLaren

Job 18-24; Psalms 90-92; Proverbs 10-13; Haggai; Mark 14;

NKJV MacLaren Study Bible

1 Samuel 19-22; Romans 9-11;

NASB 1977 Ryrie

Exodus 8-10; Judges 17-21; Psalms 41-42; Matthew 20-21

   

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12. The Church Mouse. Graham Oakley. 1972. 40 pages. [Source: Bought] [5 stars, picture book, animal fantasy]

First sentence: In a busy little town, not very far away, there is a church and in the church there lived a mouse whose name was Arthur.

Premise/plot: Arthur, the mouse, lives in a church. He is thankful for his situation; it is safe thanks to the church cat, Sampson, being so biblically sound and prone to meekness and loving his neighbor. But he is lonely for other mice. So he becomes a mouse on a mission and recruits other mice to come and join him at the church--with the full blessing of the parson. In exchange for helping out around the church, the parson will pay the mice in cheese. Heaven on earth essentially for these mice. But will his plan succeed? 

My thoughts: I loved, loved, loved this one! I loved the story and the characters and the illustrations! I loved the little details. It is text-heavy. It may be a picture book, but, it is a picture book for older readers. I think it would work as a read aloud in very small groups. BUT I do think you'd need a good amount of attention span since it is a lot of text. Highly recommend.

   

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Sunday, May 17, 2026

KJV MacLaren

Genesis 20-23; 2 Samuel 15-18; Psalms 52-55; Daniel 3-4; Matthew 25;

NKJV MacLaren Study Bible

Joshua 22-24; Acts 9-10

NASB 1977 Ryrie Study Bible

Genesis 6-11; Joshua 5-6; Psalms 6-9; Matthew 5

Monday, May 18, 2026

NASB 1977 Ryrie Study Bible

Genesis 12-16; Joshua 7-8; Psalms 10-12; Matthew 6

NKJV MacLaren Study Bible

Judges 1-2; Acts 11-12;

KJV MacLaren Large Print Reference

Genesis 24-26; 2 Samuel 19-24; Psalms 56-58; Daniel 5-6; Matthew 26-28

Tuesday, May 19, 2026

KJV MacLaren Large Print Reference

Genesis 27-29; 1 Kings 1-4; Psalms 59-62; Daniel 7-8; Mark 1

NKJV MacLaren Study Bible

Judges 3-5; Acts 13;

NASB 1977 Ryrie 

Genesis 17-19; Joshua 9-11; Psalms 13-16; Matthew 7

Wednesday, May 20, 2026

NKJV MacLaren Study Bible 

Judges 6-12; Acts 14-15;

KJV MacLaren Large Print Reference

Genesis 30-31; 1 Kings 5-7; Daniel 9-12; Mark 2-3;

NASB 1977 Ryrie Study Bible

Genesis 20-25; Joshua 12-13; Psalms 17-18; Matthew 8

Thursday, May 21, 2026

NKJV MacLaren Study Bible

Judges 13-16; Acts 17;

KJV MacLaren Large Print Reference

Genesis 32-36; 1 Kings 8; Psalms 63-66; Obadiah; Mark 4

NASB 1977 Ryrie Study Bible

Genesis 26; Joshua 14-15; Psalms 19-21; Matthew 9

Friday, May 22, 2026

NKJV MacLaren Study Bible

Judges 17-21; Acts 18-19;

KJV MacLaren Large Print Reference Bible

Genesis 37-39; 1 Kings 9-11; Ezra 1-4; Psalms 67-69; Mark 5

NASB 1977 Ryrie Study Bible

Genesis 27-30; Joshua 16-19; Psalms 22; Matthew 10

Saturday, May 23, 2026

NASB 1977 Ryrie Study Bible

Genesis 31-33; Joshua 20-24; Psalms 23-25; Matthew 11

KJV MacLaren Large Print Reference

Genesis 40-42; 1 Kings 12-14; Psalms 70-71; Ezra 5-7; Mark 6

NKJV MacLaren Study Bible

Ruth; Acts 20

   

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This is a bizarre week for switching up Bibles. But I think things might settle down for next week.

Sunday, May 10, 2026

KJV Altar Bible

Job 1-9

NKJV Precious Moments

Psalms 6-13

NASB 77 (Moody Press Thinline)

Genesis 12-16

Monday May 11, 2026

KJV Altar Bible

Job 10-26

NASB 77 (Moody Press Thinline)

Genesis 17-21

NKJV Precious Moments

Psalms 14-22

Tuesday, May 12, 2026

KJV Altar Bible 

Job 27-42, Ecclesiastes

NASB 77 Moody Press Thinline

Genesis 22-26

KJV Scourby Audio

Deuteronomy 6-34

Wednesday, May 13, 2026

KJV Altar 

Song of Solomon

NASB 77 Moody Press Thinline

Genesis 27-3

NKJV Precious Moments

Psalms 23-26

Thursday, May 14, 2026

KJV Altar

Matthew 1-4

NASB 77 Moody Press Thinline

Genesis 33-36

NKJV

Psalms 27-32

Friday, May 15, 2026

NASB 1977 Ryrie

Genesis 1-2; Joshua 1-2; Psalms 1-2; Matthew 1

KJV MacLaren Large Print Reference

Genesis 15-17; 2 Samuel 11-12; Psalms 45-48; Matthew 19-21

NKJV MacLaren Study Bible

Joshua 12-16; Acts 5-7;

Saturday, May 16, 2026

NKJV MacLaren Study Bible

Joshua 17-21; Acts 8

KJV MacLaren Large Print Reference

Genesis 18-19; 2 Samuel 13-14; Psalms 49-51; Daniel 1-2; Matthew 22-24; 

NASB 1977 Ryrie

Genesis 3-5; Joshua 3-4; Psalms 3-5; Matthew 2-4

   

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