Trevor Hudson shares a story in his book Seeking God about the time he asked Dallas Willard for a list of the most formative books he had read. Willard suggested Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
Hudson was a bit disappointed by his response and asked if there were... any others. He writes this (118-119):
This time he was more emphatic in his response. "My suggestion is that you take the next twenty years or so to read and meditate on these four Gospels. Read them repeatedly, immerse yourself in the words and deeds of Jesus, and commit to memory as much as you are able."
I don't know if I've heard this story before or if I've heard other people suggest it. I think it's a swell idea nonetheless - though I'm also not opposed to reading other books on occasion (like this one).
I have read through the Gospels a number of times. I don't know if it's been twenty yet or not, but there's still time. I know I have used N.T. Wright's 'For Everyone' commentary series with them and journaled daily notes at least once through (maybe twice?). I tried doing that with other books of the bible, but it's simply not the same. There's just something about the Gospels.
So, I plan to start over and do it again - with the Gospels.
I wonder how long it would take to read and journal your way through all four if you started, say, on January 1?
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