Recommended Reading

There is only one book that holds authority over my life, is necessary for my salvation, and remains sufficient to guide me in the way everlasting... the Bible. In addition, the Bible is not only authoritative, necessary, and sufficient, but it is also clear. Therefore, I can know that when I sit down to read my bible, God is able to open my eyes so that I might clearly see & understand his Word to me. However, I am still a sinful man. Because of this, I am apt to interpret Scripture in ways contrary to the true meaning of it. That is why I read. Over the years, I have benefited greatly from the wise interpretations & applications of men & women more godly than I. It keeps my beliefs and my practice in check. Man was not meant to interpret Scripture alone. He must do it in community. Reading is one way to do that. To that end, please check out this list of book recommendations. My hope is that these books will help you as you try to rightly interpret the powerful Word of God. May we all become homo unius libri.

Apologetics
The Reason for God by Tim Keller
Classic Apologetics by RC Sproul
Apologetics to the Glory of God by John Frame
The God Who Is There by Francis Schaeffer
Escape from Reason by Francis Schaeffer
He Is There and He Is Not Silent by Francis Schaeffer
Basic Christianity by John Stott
Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
Who Made God? by Edgar Andrews
Christian Apologetics: Past and Present by William. Edgar
Reasonable Faith by William Lane Craig
Biblical Manhood & Womanhood
The Masculine Mandate by Richard Phillips
Biblical Foundations for Manhood and Womanhood by Wayne Grudem
Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood by John Piper & Wayne Grudem
Becoming God's True Woman by Nancy Leigh DeMoss
Evangelical Feminism and Biblical Truth by Wayne Grudem
Fifty Crucial Questions by John Piper & Wayne Grudem
Pastoral Leadership for Manhood and Womanhood by Wayne Grudem & Dennis Rainey
Women's Ministry in the Local Church by Ligon Duncan & Susan Hunt
Women in the Church by Tom Schreiner & Andreas Kostenberger
Through His Eyes: Women in the Bible by Jerram Barrs
Radical Womanhood by Carolyn McCulley
Shopping for Time by Caroline Mahaney
Biographies & Autobiographies
Francis Schaeffer: An Authentic Life by Colin Duriez
The Heavenly Man by Brother Yun
Living Water by Brother Yun
The Roots of Endurance by John Piper
The Hidden Smile of God by John Piper
Filling Up the Afflictions of Christ by John Piper
Confessions by Augustine
Confessions of a Reformission Reverend by Mark Driscoll
Memoirs of an Ordinary Pastor by D.A. Carson
John Calvin by Burk Parsons
Portrait of Calvin by THL Parker
Jonathan Edwards by George Marsden
The Unwavering Resolve of Jonathan Edwards by Steven Lawson
Here I Stand by Bainton
Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners by John Bunyan
John Calvin: Pilgim & Pastor by Robert Godfrey
David Brainerd: A Flame for God by Vance Christie
Catechisms
An Overview of the Classic Christian Creeds, Confessions, and Catechisms
Heidelberg Catechism
Westminster Catechism
Spurgeon's Catechism
1641 London Particular Baptist Confession
The Good News We Almost Forgot by Kevin DeYoung
Training Hearts & Teaching Minds by Starr Meade
Christian Fiction
Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan
The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis
The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
The Betrayal by Douglas Bond
Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
Christian Living
Humility by C.J. Mahaney
Worldliness edited by CJ Mahaney
Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges
Trusting God by Jerry Bridges
The Discipline of Grace by Jerry Bridges
Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper
Desiring God by John Piper
When I Don't Desire God by John Piper
A Call to Spiritual Reformation by DA Carson
Unpacking Forgiveness by Chris Brauns
Uprooting Anger by Robert Jones
Feelings and Faith by Brian Borgman
Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach to Finding God's Will by Kevin DeYoung
Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Don Whitney
Generous Justice by Tim Keller
A Sweet & Bitter Providence by John Piper
Ruth: Under the Wings of God by John Piper
Holy Subversion by Trevin Wax
Rescuing Ambition by Dave Harvey
Stuff Christians Like by Jonathan Acuff
The Reason for Sports by Ted Kluck
The Walk by Stephen Smallman
Try Higher by Trevor Harris
The Power of Words & the Wonder of God edited by John Piper
Christ-Centered Worship by Bryan Chapell
Your Jesus Is Too Safe by Jared Wilson
Risking the Truth by Martin Downes
Religion Saves by Mark Driscoll
Broken Down House by Paul Tripp
Counterfeit Gods by Tim Keller
You Are the Treasure that I Seek by Greg Dutcher
The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs
Crossroads by Colin Creel
A Praying Life by Paul Miller
Prayer by John Bunyan
The Church
The New Shape of World Christianity by Mark Noll
Vintage Church by Mark Driscoll
Why We Love the Church by Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck
The Nine Marks of a Healthy Church by Mark Dever
The Mission of God by Christopher Wright
The Mission of God's People by Christopher Wright
The Church & the Surprising Offense of God's Love by Jonathan Leeman
Christless Christianity by Michael Horton
Gospel-Centered Church by Steve Timmis & Tim Chester
Total Church by Steve Timmis & Tim Chester
Ashamed of the Gospel by John MacArthur
The Intolerance of Tolerance by DA Carson
The Trellis & the Vine by Colin Marshall & Tony Payne
Church History
Abortion & the Early Church by Gene Veith
Christianity's Dangerous Idea by McGrath
Church History in Plain Language by Bruce Shelley
A Summary of Christian History by Robert Baker
The Rise of Evangelicalism by Mark Noll
Christian History Made Easy by Timothy Paul Jones
Predestination by Peter Thuesen
Historical Theology by Alister McGrath
Heresy: A History of Defending Truth by Alistair McGrath
Church Movements
The Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World by John Piper
Why We're Not Emergent by Kevin DeYoung & Ted Kluck
Becoming Conversant with the Emergent Church by DA Carson
Don't Stop Believing by Michael Wittmer
Evangelicalism by DA Carson
Evangelism

Let the Nations Be Glad by John Piper
Tactics by Gregory Koukl

Questioning Evangelism by Randy Newman

Learning Evangelism from Jesus by Jerram Barrs
The Master Plan of Evangelism by Robert Coleman
The Gospel

Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ by John Piper
50 Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die by John Piper
God Is the Gospel by John Piper
Counted Righteous in Christ by John Piper
The Future of Justification by John Piper
In My Place Condemned He Stood by J.I. Packer & Mark Dever
The Cross of Christ by John Stott

In Christ Alone by Sinclair Ferguson
The Great Exchange by Jerry Bridges
The Gospel for Real Life by Jerry Bridges
Living the Cross-Centered Life by C.J. Mahaney
Vintage Jesus by Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears
Death by Love by Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears
The Radical Cross by A.W. Tozer
The Cross He Bore by Frederick Leahy
The Glory of Christ by John Owen
The Death of Death in the Death of Christ by John Owen
The Power of the Cross of Christ by Charles Spurgeon
The Cross by Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Pierced for Our Transgressions by Steve Jeffrey
Whiter than Snow by Paul Tripp
The Prodigal God by Tim Keller
What Jesus Demands from the World by John Piper
Redemption Accomplished & Applied by John Murray
Gospel Worship by Jeremiah Burroughs
Gospel Fear by Jeremiah Burroughs
Scandalous by DA Carson
By Grace Alone by Sinclair Ferguson
A Body of Divinity by Thomas Watson
Raised with Christ by Adrian Warnock
Surprised by Grace by Tullian Tchividjian
The Gospel for Muslims by Thabiti Anyabwile
Grounded in the Gospel by JI Packer
God the Peacemaker by Graham Cole
The Reign of Grace by Scotty Smith
Counsel from the Cross by Elyse Fitzpatrick
Outrageous Mercy by William Farley
The Gospel-Driven Life by Michael Horton
The Atonement by Leon Morris
The Bruised Reed by Richard Sibbes
Christ's Doctrine of the Atonement by George Smeaton
The Apostle's Doctrine of the Atonement by George Smeaton
The Resurrection of the Son of God by NT Wright
The Marrow of Modern Divinity by Edward Fisher
Leadership

Sticky Teams by Larry Osbourne
On Money
Money Map by Howard Dayton
The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn
On Preaching
Christ-Centered Preaching by Bryan Chapell
The Supremacy of God in Preaching by John Piper
Spirit Empowered Preaching by Arturo Azurdia III
He Is Not Silent by Albert Moehler
Preaching & Preachers by Martyn Lloyd Jones
Spurgeon vs. Hyper Calvinism: The Battle for Gospel Preaching by Iain Murray
On Scripture
The Erosion of Inerrancy in Evangelicalism by GK Beale
Why Johnny Can't Preach by T. David Gordon

Words of Life by Timothy Ward

A Clear and Present Word by Mark Thomson

Lost in Transmission? by Nicholas Perrin

Why Is the Choice of Bible Translation So Important? by Wayne Grudem
The Gender-Neutral Bible Controversy by Wayne Grudem & Vern Poythress
Collected Writings on Scripture by DA Carson

Words of Life by Guy Davies
Exegetical Fallacies by DA Carson
Sex, Dating, Marriage, & Family
This Momentary Marriage by John Piper
Desire and Deceit by Al Mohler

Teach Them Diligently by Lou Priolo
Love and Respect by Emerson Eggerichs

Boy Meets Girl by Joshua Harris

Reforming Marriage by Doug Wilson

When Sinner's Say I Do by Dave Harvey

What He Must Be by Voddie Baucham Jr

Sex and the Supremacy of Christ by John Piper

Start Your Family: Inspiration for Having Babies by Steve & Candice Watters

Family Driven Faith by Voddie Baucham Jr

Get Outta My Face! by Rick Horne

Instructing a Child's Heart by Ted Tripp

Shepherding a Child's Heart by Ted Tripp

God, Family, & Marriage by Andreas Kostenberger

What Did You Expect by Paul Tripp

Intended for Pleasure by Ed Wheat

Big Truths for Young Hearts by Bruce Ware
Gospel-Powered Parenting by William Farley
Social Justice
When Helping Hurts by Steve Corbett & Brian Fikkert
From Every People and Nation by Stephen Meyer
Study Bibles
ESV Study Bible
Reformation Study Bible (ESV Translation)
Suffering
Spectacular Sins by John Piper
Suffering a
nd the Sovereignty of God edited by John Piper and Justin Taylor
How Long
, O Lord? by D.A. Carson
The Misery of Job and the Mercy of God by John Piper

When God Weeps by Joni Eareckson Tada

Suffering and the Goodness of God by Christopher Morgan

The God I Don't Understand by Christopher Wright

All Things for Good by Thomas Watson

Filling Up the Afflictions of Christ by John Piper
Be Still, My Soul by Nancy Guthrie

If God Is Good by Randy Alcorn
Hearing Jesus Speak Into Your Suffering by Nancy Guthrie
Does Grace Grow Best in Winter? by Ligon Duncan
Beyond Suffering by Layton Talbert
Systematic & Biblical Theology
Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem
Bible Doctrine by Wayne Grudem

Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin

Knowing God by J.I. Packer

Great Doctrines of the Bible by Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Theology in the Context of World Christianity by Timothy Tennet

Reformed Dogmatics by Herman Bavinck
The Mission of God by Christopher Wright

Books You'll Actually Read Series by Mark Driscoll
Doctrine by Mark Driscoll & Gerry Breshears
Dug Down Deep by Joshua Harris
Systematic Theology by Michael Horton
God's Big Picture by Vaughn Roberts
Institutes of Elentic Theology by Francis Turretin

Biblical Theology by Geerhardus Vos

Outlines of Theology by A. A. Hodge

Essential Truths of the Christian Faith by R. C. Sproul

The Essential Edwards Collection by Owen Strachan

According to Plan by Graeme Goldsworthy
God's Big Picture by Vaughn Roberts
The Doctrine of the Knowledge of God by John Frame
A Theology of John's Gospels & Letters by Andreas Kostenberger

Biblical Theology by John Owen
Theology: Doctrine of Man
The Truth About Man by Paul Washer
Theology: Old Testament

The Meaning of the Pentateuch by John Salihamer
An Old Testament Theology by Bruce Waltke

He Gave Us Stories by Richard Pratt

The End of the Law by Jason Meyer
The Word Became Flesh by Ralph Davis
The Unfolding Mystery by Edmund Clowney
The Shadow of Christ in the Law of Moses by Vern Poythress
Theology: The Sovereignty of God
The Bondage of the Will by Martin Luther
Still Sovereign edited by Thomas Schreiner and Bruce Ware

Putting Amazing Back into Grace by Michael Horton

Finally Alive by John Piper

The Justification of God by John Piper

The Grace of Repentance by Sinclair Ferguson

The Freedom of the Will by Jonathan Edwards

God's Passion for His Glory by John Piper

The Pleasures of God by John Piper

The End for Which God Created the World by Jonathan Edwards

Living for God's Glory by Joel Beeke
Chosen for Life by Sam Storms
What Happened to the Gospel of Grace? by James Boice
Putting Amazing Back into Grace by Michael Horton
Lectures on Calvinism by Abraham Kuyper
Theology: The Trinity
Communion with the Triune God by John Owen
Father, Son, & Holy Spirit by Bruce Ware
Theology: The Holy Spirit
Baptism & Fullness by John Stott
Showing the Spirit by D.A. Carson
Forgotten God by Francis Chan
The Gift of Prophecy by Wayne Grudem
Theology: Sanctification
The Mortification of Sin by John Owen
The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges
How People Change by Paul Tripp & Tim Lane
Future Grace by John Piper
Take Charge of Your Life by Richard Ganz
Holiness by Grace by Bryan Chapell
Growing in Christ by JI Packer
Theology: God
The Holiness of God by RC Sproul
Godology by Christian George

The One True God by Paul Washer

The Doctrine of God by John Frame