I realize I'm late on this. The reason is that I haven't gotten my two books done and I was hoping to do that before I posted this. However, best case I will only finish one (12 Challenges Churches Face - Mark Dever). The other will be finished as I have time over the next couple of months (The Reformed Pastor - Richard Baxter).
This month is John Calvin month. The reading challenge is to read Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion. Why? Because I've always wanted to, so now I'm setting aside time for it. Will I finish it this month? Heh...at 1500+ pages, I'll be lucky to finish the first half of the two book set. But again, I'll try to squeeze the rest in later as I have time. In order to finish it in a month, it would require reading approximately 50 pages a day. Unlikely. Particularly unlikely in a Systematic Theology.
That said, I'd encourage you to find a copy and read some of it. Michael Reaves, author of The Unquenchable Flame, which is an introduction to the reformation, had this to say when suggesting addition reading on Calvin,
"Calvin's Institutes...is a must. The title makes it sound scary; inside, it is easy to read and warm in style."
So...it may not be as hard to understand as you might think. ;)
It is one of the classics of Christianity. Even if you can't read much, find a copy (there's free versions online if you can't get a hard copy) and read through a bit of it. You'll thank me later.
