Recommended Reading
Reading that will increase your faith & obedience.
Why read Christian books? Isn’t the Bible enough?
Indeed, the Bible is the only perfect, infallible, and inerrant book in the world. Christian growth is impossible without regular rhythms of reading and study of Scripture. We must never look to Christian authors instead of looking to the Author.
Yet God has chosen to use men and women as instruments—conduits—of His grace to us. Missionary biographies warm our hearts and challenge us to attempt great things and endure hardship. Theological books help us learn to reason our faith on the basis of biblical thinking. Books on the Christian life press us to apply God’s Word in everyday obedience, and books on the church help us understand how the New Testament vision for Christ’s people takes shape in real, modern contexts.
The Bible remains the primary and only essential book for Christian growth and church practice. At the same time, God has providentially given us the counsel of believers throughout the centuries to provoke us to obedience, worship, and deeper love for Christ. My hope in providing this list—and a few select reviews—is simply to encourage you to receive God’s grace through these written resources and to pass along books that have helped me walk more faithfully with the Lord.
Christ-Centered Preaching: Redeeming the Expository Sermon, Bryan Chapell
Grand Rapids: Baker Academics, 2005
Engaging Exposition, D. Akin, B. Curtis & S. Rummage
Nashville: B&H Publishing, 2011
Expositional Leaderhsip: Shepherding God’s People from the Pulpit, R. Scott pace & Jim Shaddix
Wheaton: Crossway, 2024
Expositional Preaching: How We Speak God’s Word Today (9Marks), David Helm
Wheaton: Crossway, 2014
Expository Exultation: Christian Preaching as Worship, John Piper
Wheaton: Crossway, 2018
Him We Proclaim: Preaching Christ from All the Scriptures, Dennis E. Johnson
NJ: P&R Publishing, 2007
Preaching by the Book: Developing and Delivering Text-Driven Sermons, R.Scott Pace
Nashville: B&H Publishing, 2018
Preaching: Communicating Faith in an Age of Skepticism, Timothy Keller
NY: Penguin Random House, 2015
Saving Eutychus: How to Preach God’s Word and Keep People Awake, Gary Millar & Phil Campell
Sydney: Matthias Media, 2022
The Beauty & Power of Biblical Exposition, Douglas Sean O’Donnell & Leland Ryker
Wheaton: Crossway, 2022
The Christ-Centered Expositor: A Field Guide for Word-Driven Disciple Makers, Tony Merida
Nashville: B&H Academic, 2016
The Passion Driven Sermon, Jim Shaddix
Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2003
Elements of Biblical Exegesis, Michael J. Gorman
IGrand Rapids: Zondervan Academics, 2020
God’s Big Picture: Tracing the Storyline of the Bible, Vaughan Roberts
IL: Intervarsity Press, 2002
How to Read the Bible for All its Worth, 4th Ed, Gordan Fee & Douglas Stuart
Grand Rapids: Zondervan Academics, 2014
Jesus on Every Page, David Murray
Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2013
Look to the Rock: An Old Testament Background to our Understanding of Christ, Alec Motyer
Intervarsity Press, 1996
How to Read and Understand the Biblical Prophets, Peter J Gentry
Wheaton: Crossway, 2017
Preaching and Teaching from the Old Testament: A Guide for the Church, Walter Kaiser, Jr
Grand Rapids: Baker Publishing, 2003
Preaching the Whole Bible as Christian Scripture , Graeme Goldsworthy
Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2000
Preaching Christ from the Old Testament, Sydney Greidanus
Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1999
Biblical Eldership, Rev., Alexander Strauch
Colorado Springs: BER, 2023
Biblical Leadership: Theology for the Everyday Leader, Benjamin Forrest & Chet Roden, Ed.
Grand Rapids: Kregal Publications, 2017
Canoeing the Mountains: Christian Leadership in Uncharted Territory, Tod Bolsinger
Dowing Grovers, IL: IVP, 2015
Dangerous Calling: Confronting the Unique Challenges of Pastoral Ministry, Paul David Tripp
Wheaton: Crossway, 2012
Zeal without Burnout: Seven keys to a lifelong ministry of sustainable sacrifice, Christopher Ash
UK: Good Book Company, 2016
Designed to Lead, Eric Geiger & Kevin Peck
Nashville: B&H Publishing, 2016
On Being a Servant of God, Rev., Warren Wiersbe
Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2007
Pastoral Ministy: How to Shepherd Biblically, John MacArthur
Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2005
Paul and His Team: What the Early Church can Teach us about Leadership and Influence, Ryan Lokkesmoe
AUS: Matthias Media, 2009
The Mentoring Church: How Pastors and Congregations Cultivate Leaders, Phil A. Newton
Grand Rapids: Kregal Publications, 2017
The Trellis and the Vine: The Ministry Mind-Shift that Changes Everything, Colin Marshall & Tony Payne
Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2017
The Great Omission: Reclaiming Jesus’s Essential Teachings on Discipleship, Dallas Willard
New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2006
Holding the Rope: How the Local Church Can Care for Its Sent Ones, RyanMartin
Knoxville: The Upstream Collective, 2022
The Insanity of God: A True Story of Faith Resurrected, Nik Ripken
Nashville: B&H Publishing, 2013
Serving as Senders Today, 2nd Ed., Neal Pirolo
San Diego: Emmaus Road International, 2013
Missionary Methods: St. Paul’s or Ours?, Roland Allen
Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1962
Gaining by Losing: Why the Future Belongs to Churches that Send, J.D. Greear
Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2015
I Am a Church Member: Discovering the Attitude that Makes the Difference, Thomas Rainer
Nashville: B&H Publishing, 2013
Love One Another: Becoming the Church Jesus Longs for, Gerald L. Sittser
Downers Grove: IVP, 2008
Love Your Church: 8 Great Things about being a Church Member, Tony Merida
UK: The Good Book Company, 2021
Simple Church: Returning to God’s Process for Making Disciples, Thom Rainer & Eric Geiger
Nashville: B&H Publishing, 2011
A Path Through Suffering, Elisabeth Elliot
IGrand Rapids: Revell Publishing, 1990
A Place for Healing, Joni Eareckson Tada
Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 2010
Is God Really in Control?: Trusting God in a World of Hurt Jerry Bridges
IL: Navpress, 2006
Suffering is Never for Nothing, Elisabeth Elliot
Nashville: B&H Publishing, 2019
God Smuggler: The True Story and Legacy of Brother Andrew, Brother Andrew, John & Elizabeth Sherrill
Grand Rapids: Chosen Books, 2015
Oswald Chambers: Abandoned to God, David McCasland
Grand Rapids: Our Daily Bread Publishing, 1998
Amazing Grace, Eric Metaxas
New York: HarperCollins, 2009
Stonewall Jackson: The Man, The Soldier, The Legend, James Robertson Jr.
New York: Macmillan Publishers, 1997
The Hiding Place, Corrie Ten Boom
Grand Rapids: Chosen Books, 2006
Adoniram Judson: Devoted for Life, Vance Christie
UK: Christian Focus Publications, 2013
Through Gates of Splendor, Elisabeth Elliot
Wheaton: Tyndale House, 1996
George Whitefield, Vol.1&2, Arnold Dallimore
Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 2009
Amy Carmichael: A Chance to Die, Elisabeth Elliot
Grand Rapids: Revell Publishing, 1987
Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy, Eric Metaxes
Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2010
C.S. Lewis: A Life, Alister McGrath
Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, 2013
Borden of Yale ’09, Howard Taylor
Philadelphia: China Inland Mission, 1930
The Memoirs of Harriet Newell,
originally 1812; reprinted many times
The Life and Diary of David Brainerd,
originally 1744; reprinted many times
Reset: Living a Grace-paced Life in a Burnout Culture,
David Murray
Wheaton: Crossway, 2017
The Disciplined Life: The Mark of Christian Maturity,
Richard S. Taylor
Minneapolis: Bethany House Publishing, 1962
Stop Trying: How to Receive—Not Achieve—Your Real Identity, Cary Schmidt
Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2021
Ordering Your Private World, Gordon MacDonald
Nashville: Oliver-Nelson, 1985
Delighting in the Trinity: An Introduction to the Christian Faith, Michael Reeves
Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2012
Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers, Dane Ortlund
Wheaton: Crossway, 2020
God in the Whirlwind: How the Love of God Reorients our World, David Wells
Wheaton: Crossway, 2014
Knowing God, J.I. Packer
Downers Grove: IVP, 1973
The Grace and Truth Paradox, Randy Alcorn
Oregan: Multnomah Publishers, 2003
The Silent Shepherd: The Care, Comfort, and Correction of the Holy Spirit, John MacArthur
Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 2012
Salvation and Sovereignty, Kenneth Keathley
Nashville: B&H Publishing, 2010
Systematic Theology, 2nd Ed., Wayne Grudem
Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2020
Christian Theology, 3rd Ed., Millard Erickson
Grand Rapids: Baker Academics, 2013
A Theology for the Church, Rev. ed., Danny Aiken, Ed.
Nashville: B&H Academics, 2014
Basic Theology, Charles Ryrie
Chicago: Moody Press, 1999
The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God, Tim & Kathy Keller
New York: Penguin Group, 2013
Marriage: 6 Gospel commitments every couple needs to make, Paul David Tripp
Wheaton: Crossway, 2021
Preparing for Marriage, David & Meg Robbins
Minneapolis: Bethany House, 2023
Shepherding a Child’s Heart, Tedd Tripp
PA: Shepherd Press, 2005
Give Them Grace: Dazzling Your Kids with the Love of Jesus, Elyse Fitzpatrick & Jessica Thompson
Wheaton: Crossway, 2011
Worship Matters: Leading Others to Encounter the Greatness of God, Bob Kauflin
Wheaton: Crossway, 2008
Doxology & Theology: How the Gospel Forms the Worship Leader, Matt Boswell
Nashville: B&H Publishing, 2013
Below is a short list of modern hymn writers for the church. In addition to this list, we believe God has blessed Christ-honoring songs by many mainstream Christian artists that are far beyond our shortlist and are, at times, appropriate for public worship. We also love many of the hymns of the faith and believe that they must not be forsaken by the modern church.
Sovereign Grace Music
CityAlight
Keith & Kristen Getty, Matt Boswell & Matt Papa
Shane & Shane
*Phil Wickham (some)
The list below is not close to exhaustive. Just a few that you can easily find on YouTube or SermonAudio.com
Alistair Begg
John MacArthur
John Piper
Greg Mazak
Bryan Chapell
Paul David Tripp
Adrian Rogers
Bible Versions
English Standard Version
*The primary Bible I use
New American Standard Bible
New King James Version
King James Version
Christian Standard Bible
Study Bibles
John MacArthur Study Bible
ESV Study Bible
The Jesus Bible ESV
Pastors Talk (9marks)
Preachers Talk (Simeon’s Trust)
On Preaching (HB Charles)
Ask Pastor John (Desiring God)
The World & Everything in It (World Radio)
The Overflow Podcast (Overflow NE)