Book Recommendations

Book Recommendations

1. Apologetics & Worldview

  • “Darwin’s Black Box” Michael Behe
  • “Darwin on Trial” by Phillip Johnson
  • “The Universe Next Door” James W. Sire
  • “Defending the Faith” by R. C. Sproul
  • “Christian Apologetics” by Cornelius Van Til
  • “The Gospel for Muslims” by Thabiti Anyabwile
  • “Nothing in My Hand I Bring” by Ray Galea
  • “The Reason for God” by Tim Keller
  • “The Consequences of Ideas” by R. C. Sproul
  • “Christianity & Liberalism” by J. Gresham Machen

2. Church History
A. Early Church

  • “Early Christian Mission” by Eckhard Schnabel
  • “Paul the Missionary” by Eckhard Schnabel
  • “2,000 Years of Christ’s Power, Volume 1: Age of the Early Church Fathers” by Nicholas R. Needham
  • “Early Church” by Henry Chadwick
  • “Early Christianity” by Roland Bainton
  • “The Apostolic Fathers” edited by Michael Holmes
  • “Documents of the Christian Church” by Henry Bettenson
  • “The History of the Church” by Eusebius
  • “For Us and For Our Salvation: The Doctrine of Christ in the Early Church” by Stephen Nichols
  • “Confessions” by Augustine

B. Medieval Church

  • “2,000 Years of Christ’s Power, Volume 2: Middle Ages” by Nicholas R. Needham
  • “The Medieval Church” by Roland Bainton
  • “The Battle for the Gospel: The Bible and the Reformation 1444-1589” by Marvin Anderson

C. Renaissance & Reformation

  • “2,000 Years of Christ’s Power, Volume 3: Renaissance and Reformation” by Nicholas R. Needham
  • “Reformation: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow” by Carl Trueman
  • “The Unquenchable Flame” by Michael Reeves
  • “Theology of the Reformers” by Timothy George
  • “Here I Stand” biography of Martin Luther by Roland Bainton
  • “Five English Reformers” by J. C. Ryle
  • “The Articles of the Synod of Dort” by Thomas Scott

D. Puritans

  • The Reformation of the Church” by Iain Murray
  • “Meet the Puritans” by Joel Beeke and Randall Pederson
  • “The Puritans: Their Origins and Successors” by Martyn Lloyd Jones
  • “Sermons of the Great Ejection” Various Authors
  • “Puritan Portraits” by J. I. Packer
  • “The Worship of the English Puritans” by Horton Davies
  • “The Worship of the American Puritans” by Horton Davies

E. Great Awakening through 20th Century

  • “The Baptists Volume 1: Beginnings in Britain” by Tom Nettles
  • “The Baptists Volume 2: Beginnings in America” by Tom Nettles
  • “The Baptists Volume 3: The Modern Era” by Tom Nettles
  • “George Whitefield: The Life and Times of the Great Evangelist of the 18th Century Revival” by Arnold Dallimore
  • “Jonathan Edwards: A Life” by George Marsden
  • “Jonathan Edwards: A New Biography” by Iain Murray
  • “Revival and Revivalism” Iain Murray
  • “Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1859-2009” Greg Wills
  • “Democratic Religion” by Greg Wills
  • “Evangelicalism Divided” by Iain Murray
  • “No Place for Truth” by David Wells
  • “God in the Wasteland” by David Wells
  • “Losing Our Virtue” by David Wells
  • “Above All Earthly Powers” by David Wells
  • “The Courage to Be Protestant” by David Wells
  • “The Bleeding of the Evangelical Church” by David Wells
  • “A Hill on Which to Die” by Paul Pressler
  • “David Martyn Lloyd Jones the First 40 Years: 1899-1939” by Iain Murray
  • “David Martyn Lloyd Jones: The Fight of Faith: 1939-1981” by Iain Murray
  • “C. H. Spurgeon Autobiography: The Early Years: 1834-1859” by Charles Haddon Spurgeon
  • “C. H. Spurgeon Autobiography: The Full Harvest: 1860-1892” by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

3. Church
A. General 

  • “The Church: The Gospel Made Visible” by Mark Dever
  • “Nine Marks of a Healthy Church” by Mark Dever
  • “A Display of God’s Glory” by Mark Dever
  • “The Deliberate Church” by Mark Dever and Paul Alexander
  • “Preach” by Mark Dever and Greg Gilbert
  • “The Compelling Community” by Mark Dever and Jamie Dunlop
  • “Polity: Biblical Arguments on How to Conduct Church Life” edited by Mark Dever
  • “The Church” by Edmund Clowney
  • “Manual of Church Order” by J. L. Dagg
  • “The Trellis and the Vine” by Colin Marshall and Tony Payne
  • “What Is the Mission of the Church” by Kevin DeYoung and Greg Gilbert
  • “Biblical Eldership” by Alexander Strauch
  • “Elders in the Life of the Church” by Phil Newton and Matt Schmucker
  • “Elders in Congregational Life” by Phil Newton
  • “Spiritual Disciplines Within the Church” by Don Whitney
  • “On Earth As It Is In Heaven” by Wyman Lewis Richardson
  • “The Glorious Body of Christ” by R. B. Kuiper
  • “The Shepherd Leader” by Timothy Wittmer
  • “Biblical Foundations for Baptist Churches” by John Hammett

B. 9Marks Church Study Guides:

  • “Built Upon the Rock: The Church” by Bobby Jamieson
  • “Hearing God’s Word: Expositional Preaching” by Bobby Jamieson
  • “The Whole Truth About God: Biblical Theology” by Bobby Jamieson
  • “God’s Good News: The Gospel” by Bobby Jamieson
  • “Real Change: Conversion” by Bobby Jamieson
  • “Reaching the Lost: Evangelism” by Bobby Jamieson
  • “Committing to One Another: Church Membership” by Bobby Jamieson
  • “Guarding One Another: Church Discipline” by Bobby Jamieson
  • “Growing One Another: Discipleship in the Church” by Bobby Jamieson
  • “Leading One Another: Church Leadership” by Bobby Jamieson

C. Teaching & Preaching

  • “Preaching and Preachers” by Martyn Lloyd Jones
  • “Preach” by Mark Dever and Greg Gilbert
  • “The Supremacy of God in Preaching” by John Piper
  • “Christ Centered Preaching” by Bryan Chapell
  • “Lectures to My Students” by Charles Spurgeon
  • “Biblical Preaching” by Haddon Robinson
  • “Preaching Christ in All of Scripture” by Edmund Clowney
  • “Preaching the Whole Bible as Christian Scripture” by Graeme Goldsworthy
  • “Between Two Worlds” by John Stott
  • “He Is Not Silent” by Al Mohler
  • “Expositional Preaching” by David Helm
  • “The Archer and the Arrow” by Phillip Jensen and Paul Grimmond
  • “Speaking God’s Words” by Peter Adam
  • “Apostolic Preaching of the Cross” Leon Morris
  • “The Word Became Fresh, How to Preach from Old Testament Narrative Texts” by Dale Ralph Davis
  • “The Priority of Preaching” by Christopher Ash
  • “What Is Biblical Preaching?” by Eric Alexander
  • “Feed My Sheep: A Passionate Plea for Preaching” Various Authors

D. Spiritual Gifts

  • “Showing the Spirit” by D. A. Carson
  • “The Spirit of Promise” by Donald Macleod
  • “The Holy Spirit (Puritan Paperback)” by John Owen
  • “Fruit of the Spirit” by John Sanderson

E. Church Practice

  • “Believer’s Baptism” by Tom Schreiner and Shawn Wright
  • “Christian Baptism” by Adoniram Judson
  • “Baptism in the New Testament” by G. R. Beasley-Murray
  • “A String of Pearls Unstrung” by Fred Malone
  • “The Baptism of Disciples Alone” by Fred Malone
  • “Going Public: Why Baptism Is Required for Church Membership” by Bobby Jamieson
  • “Understanding Baptism” by Bobby Jamieson
  • “Restoring Integrity in Baptist Churches” Edited by Thomas White and Jason Duesing
  • “Baptism and the Lord’s Supper” by Thabiti Anyabwile and Ligon Duncan
  • “The Lord’s Supper” by Tom Schreiner and Michael Crawford
  • “The Lord’s Supper” by Thomas Watson
  • “From Sabbath to Lord’s Day” edited by D. A. Carson
  • “Worship by the Book” edited by D. A. Carson
  • “Engaging With God: A Biblical Theology of Worship” by David Peterson
  • “Give Praise to God” edited by Phil Ryken
  • “Christ Centered Worship” by Bryan Chapell
  • “Worship Matters” by Bob Kauflin
  • “Protestant Worship” James F. White
  • “Contemporary Worship Music” by John Frame
  • “We Become What We Worship” by G. K. Beale
  • “Perspectives on Christian Worship” Edited by Ligon Duncan and Matthew Pinson

4. Ethics
A. Abortion

  • “Fearfully and Wonderfully Made” by Megan Best
  • “Healing After Abortion” by David Powlison
  • “Abortion” by R. C. Sproul

B. Homosexuality

  • “Is God Anti-Gay?” by Sam Alberry
  • “Homosexuality: Speaking the Truth in Love” by Ed Welch
  • “Homosexuality and the Bible” by Nicholas Black
  • “What Does the Bible Really Teach About Homosexuality” by Kevin DeYoung
  • “The Bible and Homosexual Practice: Texts and Hermeneutics” by Robert Gagnon

C. War

  • “Christian in an Age of Terror” by Martyn Lloyd-Jones
  • “Christian Attitude Toward War” by Loraine Boettner
  • “Learning in Wartime in The Weight of Glory and Other Addresses” by C. S. Lewis
  • “PTSD: Healing for Bad Memories” by Timothy Lane
  • “Jubilee Manifesto” by Michael Schluter

D. Manhood & Womanhood

  • “The Masculine Mandate” by Richard Phillips
  • “A Guide to Biblical Manhood” edited by Randy Stinson and Dan Dumas
  • “Preparing for Fatherhood” by Deepak Reju
  • “Sexual Sanity for Men” by David White
  • “Sexual Sanity for Women” by Ellen Dykas
  • “Recovering Biblical Manhood & Womanhood” edited by John Piper and Wayne Grudem
  • “Feminine Appeal” Carolyn Mahaney
  • “True Beauty” by Carolyn Mahaney and Nicole Whitacre
  • “50 Crucial Questions” by John Piper and Wayne Grudem
  • “God’s Good Design” by Claire Smith

E. Marriage & Family

  • “The Excellent Wife” by Martha Peace
  • “When Sinners Say ‘I Do’” by Dave Harvey
  • “The Meaning of Marriage” by Tim and Kathy Keller
  • “Love that Lasts” by Gary Ricucci
  • “War of Words” by Paul Tripp
  • “Sex and the Supremacy of Christ” edited by John Piper and Justin Taylor
  • “God, Marriage, and Family” by Andreas Köstenberger
  • “Sex, Romance, and the Glory of God” by C. J. Mahaney
  • “Marriage Matters” by Winston Smith
  • “What Did You Expect?” by Paul Tripp

F. Parenting

  • “Shepherding a Child’s Heart” by Tedd Tripp
  • “Give Them Grace” by Elyse Fitzpatrick
  • “Don’t Make Me Count to Three” by Ginger Plowman
  • “Treasuring God in Our Traditions” by Noël Piper
  • “Family Worship” by Don Whitney
  • “Age of Opportunity” by Paul Tripp
  • “Glimpses of Grace” by Gloria Furman
  • “Treasuring Christ When Your Hands Are Full” by Gloria Furman
  • “Mom Enough” various authors

G. Divorce & Remarriage

  • “Divorce” by John Murray

H. Adoption

  • “Adopted for Life” by Russell Moore
  • “Adoption and Orphan Care” edited by Russell Moore
  • “Helping Your Adopted Child” by Paul Tripp
  • “Adopted Into God’s Family: Exploring a Pauline Metaphor” by Trevor Burke

5. God
A. Father

  • “The Pleasures of God” by John Piper
  • “Future Grace” by John Piper
  • “The Providence of God” by Paul Helm
  • “Providence of God” by G. C. Berkouwer
  • “What Is Providence” by Derek Thomas

B. Son

  • “Jesus the Son of God” by D. A. Carson
  • “The Pre-existent Son” by Simon Gathercole
  • “Salvation Accomplished by the Son: The Work of Christ” by Robert Peterson
  • “The Person of Christ” by Donald Macleod
  • “The Work of Christ” by Robert Letham
  • “The Man: Jesus Christ” by Bruce Ware
  • “The Saviour of the World” by B. B. Warfield
  • “Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ” by John Piper
  • “The Glory of Christ” by John Owen

C. Holy Spirit

  • “The Holy Spirit” by John Owen
  • “The Holy Spirit” by Sinclair Ferguson
  • “The Holy Spirit” by Kevin DeYoung

D. Trinity

  • “Delighting in the Trinity” by Michael Reeves
  • “What Is the Trinity?” by David Wells
  • “One God in Three Persons: Unity of Essence, Distinction of Persons, Implications for Life” by Bruce Ware and John Starke
  • “What Is the Trinity” by R. C. Sproul
  • “The Doctrine of God” by John Frame
  • “The Doctrine of the Knowledge of God” by John Frame
  • “The Doctrine of God” by Herman Bavinck
  • “The Doctrine of God” by Gerald Bray
  • “The Attributes of God” by A. W. Pink
  • “The Existence and Attributes of God” by Stephen Charnock
  • “Knowing God” by J. I. Packer
  • “Desiring God” by John Piper
  • “The Holiness of God” by R. C. Sproul
  • “Eternal God” by Paul Helm
  • “Redemption Accomplished and Applied” by John Murray
  • “Big God” by Orlando Saer

E. Sovereignty

  • “The Sovereignty of God” by A. W. Pink
  • “Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God” by J. I. Packer
  • “The Mystery of Providence” by John Flavel
  • “Lectures on Calvinism” by Abraham Kuyper
  • “Behind a Frowning Providence” John J. Murray
  • “Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility” by D. A. Carson
  • “Suffering & the Sovereignty of God” edited by John Piper and Justin Taylor
  • “Whomever He Wills” edited by Matthew Barrett and Tom Nettles
  • “Reformed Doctrine of Predestination” by Lorraine Boettner
  • “A Defence of Calvinism” by Charles Spurgeon
  • “Five Points of Calvinism” by W. J. Seaton
  • “Living for God’s Glory” Joel Beeke
  • “Let Christ Be Magnified” by J. H. Merle d’Aubigne
  • “The Institutes of the Christian Religion” by John Calvin (edited by John T. McNeil)
  • “To the Ends of the Earth: Calvin’s Missional Vision and Legacy” by Michael Haykin
  • “Chosen by God” by R. C. Sproul
  • “Freedom of the Will” by Jonathan Edwards
  • “On the Bondage of the Will” by Martin Luther
  • “The Death of Death in the Death of Christ” by John Owen
  • “From Heaven He Came and Sought Her” edited by David Gibson and Jonathan Gibson
  • “Five Points” by John Piper

F. Love

  • “The Love of Christ” by Richard Sibbes
  • “Charity and It’s Fruits” by Jonathan Edwards
  • “The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God” by D. A. Carson
  • “God Is Love” by Gerald Bray
  • “God in the Whirlwind: How the Holy Love of God Reorients Our World” by David Wells
  • “Accepting God’s Forgiveness: Believing in God’s Love for You” by John Miller
  • “God’s Love: Better than Unconditional” by David Powliso

G. Wrath

  • “The Last Things: Death, Judgment, Heaven and Hell” by Paul Helm
  • “Romans 2:1-3:20: The Righteous Judgment of God” by Martyn Lloyd Jones
  • “God’s Glory in Salvation Through Judgment” by James Hamilton

6. Life Issues
A. Abuse

  • “Living with an Angry Spouse: Help for Victims of Abuse” by Ed Welch
  • “Recovering from Child Abuse: Healing and Hope for Victims” by David Powlison
  • “Protecting Children From Abuse in the Church” by Bassyle Tchividjian
  • “On Guard: Preventing and Responding to Child Abuse at Church” by Deepak Reju
  • “Domestic Abuse: How to Help” by David Powlison and Paul Tripp
  • “Bringing Christ to Abused Women” Diane Langberg

B. Addiction

  • “When You Love an Addict” by Philip Monroe
  • “Sexual Addiction: Freedom from Compulsive Behavior” by David Powlison
  • “Freedom from Addiction” by Ed Welch
  • “Your Husband Is Addicted to Porn: Healing After Betrayal” by Vicki Tiede
  • “Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave, Finding Hope in the Power of the Gospel” by Ed Welch
  • “Crossroads – Facilitator’s Guide” by Ed Welch
  • “Crossroads – Study Guide” by Ed Welch

C. Biblical Counseling

  • “Competent to Counsel” Jay Adams
  • “How People Change” by Tim Lane and Paul Tripp
  • “Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands” by Paul Tripp
  • “Speaking the Truth in Love” by David Powlison
  • “Seeing with New Eyes” by David Powlison
  • “The Biblical Counseling Movement: History and Context” by David Powlison
  • “The Pastor and Counseling: The Basics of Shepherding Members in Need” by Deepak Reju
  • “Spiritual Depression” by Martyn Lloyd Jones
  • “Depression” by Ed Welch
  • “Blame It on the Brain” by Ed Welch
  • “Running Scared” by Ed Welch
  • “Relationships: A Mess Worth Making” by Paul Tripp
  • “When People Are Big and God Is Small” by Ed Welch

D. Conflict Resolution

  • “War of Words” by Paul Tripp
  • “The Peacemaker” by Ken Sande
  • “The Young Peacemaker: Teaching Students to Respond to Conflict in God’s Way” by Corlett Sande
  • “Conflict” by Tim Lane

E. Singleness

  • “Single and Lonely” by Jayne Clark
  • “Sex and the Single Girl” by Ellen Dykas
  • “What’s Wrong with a Little Porn When You’re Single” by Nicholas Black
  • “Thoughts for Young Men” by J. C. Ryle
  • “Passion and Purity” by Elisabeth Elliot

G. Knowing God’s Will & Guidance

  • “Just Do Something” by Kevin DeYoung
  • “Guidance and the Voice of God” by Tony Payne
  • “The Call” by Os Guinness
  • “Step by Step” by James Petty

H. Fear and Anxiety

  • “When I Am Afraid” by Ed Welch
  • “Running Scared” by Ed Welch
  • “Overcoming Fear, Worry, and Anxiety” by Elyse Fitzpatrick
  • “Anxiety and Panic Attacks” by Jocelyn Wallace
  • “Social Anxiety” by Amy Baker
  • “Overcoming Anxiety” by David Powlison
  • “Worry” by David Powlison
  • “Living Without Worry” by Tim Lane
  • “Fear and Faith” by Trillia Newbell

I. Humility

  • “Humility: True Greatness” by C. J. Mahaney
  • “Holiness” by J. C. Ryle

J. Joy

  • “When I Don’t Desire God” by John Piper
  • “The Dangerous Duty of Delight” by John Piper
  • “Stepping Heavenward” by Elizabeth Prentiss
  • “Religious Affections” by Jonathan Edwards
  • “Joy!: A Bible Study on Philippians for Women” by Keri Folmar
  • “Basics for Believers” by D. A. Carson

K. Money

  • “Counterfeit Gods” by Tim Keller
  • “Worldliness” edited by C. J. Mahaney
  • “Health, Wealth and Happiness” by David Jones and Russell Woodbridge
  • “Sex & Money: Pleasures That Leave You Empty and Grace that Satisfies” by Paul Tripp
  • “When the Money Runs Out” by James Petty
  • “Managing God’s Money” by Randy Alcorn

L. Retirement

  • “Rethinking Retirement” by John Piper
  • “Life After Retirement” by Stephen Brown

M. Suffering

  • “How Long, O Lord?” by D. A. Carson
  • “When God Weeps” by Joni Eareckson Tada
  • “Walking with God through Pain and Suffering” by Tim Keller
  • “Suffering and the Goodness of God” edited by Christopher Morgan
  • “A Place of Healing” Joni Eareckson Tada
  • “Be Still My Soul” by Paul Tripp
  • “Pain My Companion” by Irene Howat
  • “Surprised by Suffering” by R. C. Sproul
  • “A Grief Sanctified” by Richard Baxter – edited by J. I. Packer
  • “Does Grace Grow Best In Winter?” By Ligon Duncan
  • “Facing Grief” by John Flavel
  • “From Grief to Glory” by James Bruce

N. Work & Vocation

  • “The Gospel At Work” by Sebastian Traeger and Greg Gilbert
  • “Don’t Waste Your Life” by John Piper
  • “Business to the Glory of God” by Wayne Grudem
  • “Does Grace Grow Best In Winter?” By Ligon Duncan
  • “Crazy Busy” by Kevin DeYoung

O. Aging, Old Age & Facing Death

  • “Finishing Our Course With Joy: Guidance from God for Engaging with Our Aging” by J. I. Packer
  • “Finishing Well to the Glory of God: Strategies from a Christian Physician” by John Dunlop
  • “Wellness for the Glory of God: Living Well after 40 with Joy and Contentment in All of Life” by John Dunlop
  • “Lost in the Middle: MidLife and the Grace of God” by Paul Tripp
  • “Sunsets: Reflections for Life’s Final Journey” by Deborah Howard
  • “Fear Not! Death and Afterlife from a Christian Perspective” by Ligon Duncan and J. Nicholas Reid

Forthcoming categories…
7. Outreach
A. Church Planting
B. Evangelism
C. International Ministry
D. Mercy Ministry

8. Salvation
A. Adoption by God
B. Assurance of Salvation
C. Atonement
D. Conversion
E. Covenants
F. Faith
G. Heaven & Hell
H. Justification
I. Perseverance
J. Predestination & Election
K. Regeneration
L. Repentance

9. End Times & Christ’s Return

10. The Gospel

11. The Law

12. Scripture
“The Doctrine of the Word of God” by John Frame
A. Inerrancy
B. Authority
C. Interpretation
D. Biblical Theology
E. How to Study the Bible
F. Systematic Theology
G. Sin

13. Christian Life
A. Prayer
B. Giving
C. Serving
D. Sanctification & Growth

14. Creation

15. Government & Economics

16. Postmodernism

17. Terrorism