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The Book Corner
By Tim Keller. Dutton, 2008. ISBN: 0525950494.
Referred to by some as a Mere Christianity for our day, Tim Keller’s The Reason for God engages skeptics and agnostics with fresh, winsome, clear-headed arguments. It would make a great gift to someone who claims to be searching for spiritual truth. At the same time, the book can be used profitably for Christians desiring to equip themselves as they seek to stand for truth. Keller refuses to shy away from even the most difficult challenges to Christianity.
By Graeme Goldsworthy. InterVarsity, 2002. ISBN: 0830826963.
We often approach the Bible as either a series of unrelated morality tales or as a collection of wise sayings. But, as Graeme Goldsworthy demonstrates, the Bible is actually a single, unified story of redemption with one very important message for humanity. This book will help you to look at the Bible in a fresh, and perhaps even new way, as you get a birds-eye view of the unfolding redemptive work of God.
By Mark Dever. Crossway, 2005/2006. ISBN: 1581347170 & 1581347162.
These two books, based on two series of sermons explaining the Old and New Testaments are a helpful introduction to biblical theology. This subject might sound intimidating to the layperson, but by explaining one by one how each book of the Bible fits into the overall message of the Scriptures, Pastor Mark Dever writes in a way that is both clear and accessible.
By Roland Bainton. Hendrickson, 2009. ISBN: 1598563335.
In the early 15th century, Martin Luther challenged the Catholic Church's teaching on the doctrine of salvation. For that challenge, he lived as a marked man for most of his life. Roland Bainton's classic biography of the Reformer introduces us to both his life and his teachings. Bainton's biography is very engagingly written and strikes just the right balance for making it accessible to a wide audience.
By George Marsden. Eerdmans, 2008. ISBN: 0802802206.
Jonathan Edwards is considered by many to be America's finest theologian. Edwards pastored a church, authored many important works, led missions to the Indians, and championed the Great Awakening of America's colonial period. Marsden, who in 2003 authored a towering biography of Edwards, brings Edwards to a wider audience with his Short Life.
By Howard Taylor and Geraldine Taylor. Hendrickson, 2008. ISBN: 1598562533.
For over 50 years, Hudson Taylor gave his life to bring the gospel to China. As the founder of China Inland Mission, Taylor was a missions pioneer who insisted on reaching the Chinese in a manner that was sensitive to culture. God's work through Taylor brought over 800 missionaries to China and saw tens of thousands of people converted. His risk-taking example is an inspiration. Read about him if you dare.
By Corrie ten Boom. Hendrickson, 2009. ISBN: 1598563394.
Corrie ten Boom was a Dutch woman who risked her life in the 1930s and 40s to help Jews escape capture by the Nazis by hiding them in her home. The family's efforts were discovered, however, resulting in the the family being sent to a concentration camp where her father, sister, brother, and nephew perished. This remarkable story of faith and courage is written in Corrie ten Boom's own words
By Courtney Anderson. Judson Press, 1987. ISBN: 9780817011215.
One of the most edifying genres of Christian books to read is missionary biography, and one of the greatest missionary biographies ever written is Courtney Anderson’s biography of Adoniram Judson. Adoniram Judson was one of the first Baptist missionaries from North America. He labored with his wife Ann for 40 years to bring the Gospel to Burma. Check out his life story in this engaging book!
By George Mueller. Hendrickson, 2008. ISBN: 1598562525.
George Mueller's life is a testimony to how God can answer prayer. Mueller was a man burdened to care for orphans in Bristol, England. Through prayer, he asked God to make provision for his efforts and God answered by supplying what today would amount to several million dollars. Over the course of his life, he started over 100 schools and provided care for thousands of orphans. Mueller also preached the gospel around the world.
By Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck. Moody, 2009. ISBN: 0802458378.
Despite its flaws, its awkward missteps, its internal politics, and more, Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck love the church--and think you should too. It's been fashionable even among Christians in the past few years to criticize the church, and this book is an effort to balance that criticism. It's also a challenge to believers who may be waffling or who have given up on the church altogether. In an age of church hopping and me-centered worship and ministry, DeYoung and Kluck encourage believers to move beyond their casual relationship with the church and plant their roots deep.
By Paul David Tripp. P & R, 2002. ISBN: 0875526071.
People are in need of gospel transformation and the process of maturing in Christ, sanctification, lasts a lifetime. In this book, Tripp lays out God's plan to change and grow his people. Key to that process is the role of the Body of Christ; i.e. how God uses other people to bring about that transformation. Whatever your stage of Christian discipleship, you will find this resource very helpful.
By C.J. Mahaney. Multnomah, 2006. ISBN: 1590525787.
Christians should never think that we move past the cross. Too much of what passes for Christianity gives the impression that the cross is the entry way to the Christian life and that actually living the Christian life consists of following worldly principles that have been dressed up with Christian speak. Mahaney encourages believers instead to delight in the cross--to make their home there. This book is short, devotional reading, but its content is anything but light.
By Bruce Waltke. Eerdmans, 1995. ISBN: 9780802839749.
How can I know the will of God? A great deal of confusion often surrounds this question for many believers. Old Testament scholar Bruce Waltke first helps Christians to recognize common unbiblical patterns we use to discern God’s will, and then helps set us on a more biblical path.
By Tim Challies. Crossway, 2007. ISBN: 1581349092.
There is a great need in churches to recover the discipline of spiritual discernment. We live in a time inundated with false teachings, celebrity preachers, and Christian fads. Wading through these waters can be a difficult task, but Tim Challies is a helpful guide. In his book The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment, he challenges Christians to cultivate wisdom for distinguishing truth from error, right from wrong, edifying from subversive. You will find this book to be a great help and a tremendous blessing.
By Jerry Bridges. NavPress, 2006. ISBN: 157683932X.
Christians are called to pursue holiness. This might seem like the most obvious thing in the world, but in our culture, it is not. In this modern classic, Jerry Bridges helps Christians to understand exactly what holiness and how to pursue it in the real world of our everyday lives. By demonstrating that the call to holiness does not mean achievable perfection on this side of eternity, Bridges show Christians how growth in holiness is not only possible, but essential.
By Mark Dever. Crossway, 2007. ISBN: 1581348460.
This short book lays out the fundamentals of evangelism: What is it? Who should do it? Why? Many Christians struggle with evangelism because they misunderstand what it is, don't know how to go about it, don't understand the urgency, or are apathetic. Dever tackles all of these. If you're looking for some guidance in how to go about sharing this Gospel, this book will help you get some ground under your feet.
By J.I. Packer. InterVarsity, 2009. ISBN: 0830834125.
One of the most difficult issues for Christians to get their heads around is how human responsibility interacts with God's sovereignty particularly as it relates to evangelism and salvation. J.I. Packer faithfully magnifies the sovereign work of God in saving people, insists on the Christian's responsibility to evangelize and the unbeliever's responsibility to respond, all the while acknowledging the tension and mystery created by the paradox. If you are confused about your role in evangelism or how to pray for the gospel to go forth in power, you will find this little book to be a tremendous blessing.
Marriage, Children, and Family
By Alister Begg. Moody, 2002. ISBN: 0802434053.
Marriages today are failing all around us, and far from being an aberration, divorce is now the norm. But that is not God's design for marriage. He intends for it to last a lifetime. In this book, Alister Begg shares some key principles for making marriage last.
By John Piper. Crossway, 2009. ISBN: 1433507129.
According to Ephesians 5, marriage was created to be a display of the gospel--a portrait of the love between Christ and his church. There is plenty of confusion today about what marriage actually is, but in this book John Piper holds the banner of Ephesians 5 up high. Theological, practical, and devotional, this book faithfully lays out the Bible's teaching on marriage and singleness.
By Bryan Chapell. Baker, 2006. ISBN: 0801066018.
Marriage requires not just love as the world defines it, but sacrificial love. In this book, Chapell teaches couples how to live out the implications of the gospel in the relationship with one another. Husbands and wives will both be challenged by a more radical understanding of the roles to which they've been called.
By David Helm and Gail Schoonmaker. Crossway, 2004. ISBN: 1581342772.
We often teach children the Bible as a series of isolated character studies or—worse—simple morality tales. The Bible is certainly not less than simple stories about real human concerns, but it is more than that. The Bible is a grand unified story of God’s redemptive work. It is the story of His kingdom and of His forever King—Jesus. The Big Picture Story Bible weaves this story together with deep truths and beautiful illustrations. All children, but especially children ages 3-8, will truly enjoy this Bible.
By Sally Lloyd-Jones. ZonderKidz, 2007. ISBN: 00310708257.
Every part of the Bible points to the person and work of Jesus Christ, and it is important that we teach children to see that truth. Like the Big Picture Story Bible, this Bible helps children to see how every story relates to the redemptive plan of God in Christ. Beautifully illustrated and movingly written, your family will treasure this story Bible.
By Sinclair Ferguson. Christian Focus, 1997. ISBN: 1857922956.
Parents have a responsibility to train their families up in the Lord. One key method for fulfilling this role is by keeping regular family devotions, and Sinclair Ferguson's Big Book is a very helpful resource. Organized around 77 key questions like, "Who is God?", and packed with a variety of different ideas and teaching tools, this book can be used for both younger and older children alike.
By Bruce Ware. Crossway, 2009. ISBN: 01433506017.
Theology is the stuff of life, and that's not only true for big people. This helpful little book was born out of a theologian's efforts to explain doctrinal truth to his own young children. Parents will find this book very helpful for gaining a firm grounding in doctrine with a special view toward how they can communicate it to their children.
By Tedd Tripp. Shepherd Press, 1995. ISBN: 0966378603.
There are as many parenting methods out there as there are potential book deals. Parents can often become frustrated and unsure how to sift through differing, sometimes contradictory, advise. Tedd Tripp offers more than a method in his book--he shares a philosophy that is saturated with Scripture. Rejecting typical notions, such as the goal of discipline being behavior modification, Tripp argues that parents must reach all the way to a child's heart to affect real and lasting change.
By Ray Comfort. Genesis, 2005. ISBN: 0974930040.
Parents naturally want to see their children come to Christ, but what should that look like? How should we instruct them? What are the most important things we need to communicate? Most of all, how can we avoid seeing our children falsely converted? Ray Comfort offers parents helpful, biblical counsel for sharing the gospel with their children.
By John MacArthur. Thomas Nelson, 1999. ISBN: 0849975115.
John MacArthur is a trustworthy guide when it comes to the gospel, and this is true when it comes to teaching the gospel to children as well. If you're looking for a resource for how to communicate the gospel to your young children, you'd be hard-pressed to find something better. I Believe in Jesus comes complete with pictures and detailed explanations geared toward children.
By Paul David Tripp. P & R, 2001. ISBN: 0875526055.
Most parents look at the teenage years as a period to survive through, much less thrive in. But Paul David Tripp wants us to have a different vision. This book is full of encouragement for parents of teenagers to embrace those years in their kids lives as an opportunity for their own spiritual growth and maturing as well as for their kids'.
By John Piper. Baker, 2010. ISBN: 0801036410.
"Missions exists because worship doesn't" has become a classic statement of purpose for the cause of Christian missions. From churches, to missions workshops, to seminary classrooms, John Piper's exhortation to missions has been used powerfully by God in the lives of many. Now in its third edition, this book is certain to stir your heart for the nations.
By Ruth Tucker. Zondervan, 2004. ISBN: 0310239370.
Ruth Tucker’s classic history of missions has now been released in a second edition. Through brief portraits of individual missionaries, Tucker weaves together 2000 years of missions efforts into a story that is sure to both challenge and inspire. Whether read straight through or devotionally, youth and adults will enjoy learning how God has used ordinary people to advance His Gospel among the nations.
By Jason Mandryk. Authentic, 2010. ISBN: 1850788626.
Have you ever determined to pray for missions and for the gospel to go out to the nations but weren't sure where to start. Operation World is your answer to that dilemma. Packed with information about hundreds of countries and people groups including specific prayer needs, you'll find information here to guide you in prayer for months to come. If you truly desire for God to break your heart for the nations, this book will help guide you along.
By Donald Whitney. NavPress, 1991. ISBN: 1576830276.
Discipline: a concept that few of us like because we associate it with limits and legalism. The Scriptures offer a different view of discipline, however. Discipline in the Bible is both fruitful and ultimately freeing. In his book, Donald Whitney takes his readers on a tour of the spiritual disciplines and how God will use them to nurture godliness in our lives. In a day when spirituality can be a pretty confused subject, Whitney offers clear and sound biblical teaching.
By Charles Spurgeon. Crossway, 2003. ISBN: 158134466X.
This devotional by one of the 19th century's most stirring preachers is a classic. Just as its title indicates, the devotional contains two readings for each day. Spurgeon's devotional thoughts will encourage you to continue trusting in Christ and to continue in meditating on God's Word.
Edited by Arthur Bennett. Banner of Truth, 1975. ISBN: 0851512283.
This book is a classic devotional collection of Puritan prayers and meditations. God has used it mightily in the spiritual growth of many Christians.
By Kenneth Boa. Zondervan, 1997. ISBN: 0310925509.
This book is a very helpful tool for guiding personal devotions. Kenneth Boa has arranged hundreds of Scripture passages into the first person so that that they can be used as prayers to the Lord. There are three months worth of guides for daily prayers. Each day is arranged into categories of adoration, confession, renewal, petition, intercession, affirmation, and thanksgiving.
By J.I. Packer. InterVarsity, 1993. ISBN: 083081650X.
What does it mean really to know God? Knowing God is not just for the academic theologian. It is for the Christian, whose entire existence should be characterized by an ever- deepening knowledge of God. For over 30 years, J.I. Packers book Knowing God has both challenged and inspired ordinary Christians toward an exalted view of God and his character. Check out this modern classic.
By John Stott. InterVarsity, 2006. ISBN: 083083320X.
For more than 20 years, John Stott's The Cross of Christ has been a gold standard for understanding the doctrine of Christ's substitutionary atonement. Like Knowing God, this book, readable by both scholar and layperson alike, has truly been a gift to the church.
By John Piper. Christian Focus, 2009. ISBN: 1845504216
In our culture, the term “born again” has become nothing more than an adjective, often derogatory, to describe evangelical Christians. In the Bible, however, the new birth represents an enormous theological truth. In Finally Alive, pastor John Piper unpacks the transforming reality of the new birth in all its richness. If you’ve ever wondered what Jesus and the New Testament writers mean when they speak of being “born again,” and what that means for your life, you will love the powerful insights of this book. To download a free electronic version of this book, visit Desiring God.
By Wayne Grudem. Zondervan, 1995. ISBN: 0310286700.
Where do you go when you wonder what the Bible teaches about a particular topic? Numerous Christians across the centuries have ventured to explain Christian teaching as a coherent whole. One of the best modern efforts to do just that is Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology. Although highly readable so that it can be read straight through, this book is particularly helpful as a reference and it is one that Christians should have on their shelves. You will turn to it again and again. For a more simplified version of this book, check out Grudem's book Bible Doctrine.
By Wayne Grudem and Jeff Purswell. Zondervan, 1999. ISBN: 0310222338.
If Grudem's Systematic Theology intimidates you, check out his book Bible Doctrine. Filled with the same rich substance, it is an abbreviated version of his Systematic. This book is a great reference to have on hand as you encounter teachings that make you scratch your head.
By David F. Wells. Eerdmans, 2008. ISBN: 9780802840073.
In his book, David Wells challenges biblical Christians to resist the pressure and intimidation to embrace the methods that some evangelicals demand are required for cultural relevance. He writes, “The key to the future is not capitulation that we see in both the marketers and the emergent's. It is courage. The courage to be faithful to what Christianity in its biblical forms has always stood for across the ages.” This book is a welcome encouragement to Christians who are striving to build their lives, churches, and doctrine on the Word of God.
By Alex and Brett Harris. Multnomah, 2008. ISBN: 9781601421128.
Alex and Brett Harris are youth on a mission. Since 2005, they have hosted the website therebulution.com to challenge youth to rebel against a culture that places low expectations on them. Their radical counter-cultural message has been noticed even in the secular media and they have been featured on several of the cable news outlets, NPR, and The New York Times. Their book presents five different challenges to youth to do hard things. If you are a dad or mom of a youth, you won’t want them to miss out on this book.
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