In 1878, J. C. Ryle reminded his fellow Englishmen that “Ignorance can never be the mother of acceptable worship.” I wholeheartedly agree with this conviction. Without knowledge, God cannot be rightly worshipped by those whom he created for this very purpose (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). And as it was then, so it is in our day, that biblical illiteracy prevents many from knowing, obeying, believing, and enjoying the God who made them.
This burden to help people in New Orleans become better worshippers of God and followers of Christ is what has motivated me to publish our church’s annual reading guide. In it, you will find encouragement to read God’s Word consistently and to familiarize yourself with extrabiblical resources that provide biblical instruction.
In this 2026 edition, you will notice various quotes, all from the pen of John Charles Ryle (1816-1900), the first bishop of Liverpool in England. His writings, life, and ministry have been a great encouragement to me over the years. In my opinion, he is one of the most clear, theologically sound, courageous, and accessible writers available to the English-speaking world. If others are encouraged to peruse his writings from this publication, I think I will have done the world a little bit of good.
May God, by His great grace, enliven your pursuit of Him this coming year.
Omri Miles,
Lead Pastor