Disclaimer from Pastor Tony: This resource list does not attempt to be comprehensive or exhaustive; these resources will be updated periodically. Further, unlike the Bible, these resources are not infallible, but are considered generally reliable for promoting the life of faith. Only the Holy Scriptures are infallible and inerrant, and, therefore, present themselves as the standard for truth by which we evaluate all things, including these resources: “Test everything; hold fast what is good (1 Thess. 5:21).”

Study Bibles [There are many options available when it comes to Bibles and Study Bibles today, it can be
confusing to know which are most helpful. Check out the excellent, reliable Bibles below]:

• ESV Study Bible
• ESV Reformation Study Bible
• NIV Life Application Study Bible

Bible Apps

• Thru the Word
• Bible Project
• Dwell
• Blue Letter Bible

Podcasts

• Truth for Life [preaching ministry of Alistair Begg]
• The Paul Tripp Podcast [discipleship for everyday life]
• Working with Dan Doriani [glorifying God in your work]
• The World and Everything in It [news and analysis from a Christian perspective]
• Renewing Your Mind [R.C. Sproul and others]
• White Horse Inn [theology and culture roundtable discussion]
• Stand to Reason [apologetics ministry of Greg Koukl]
• Unbelievable [Justin Brierley – an apologetics debate program]
• Five Minutes in Church History [Edifying lessons from church history]

Bible Study Tools

• Handbook for Personal Bible Study, by William Klein [how to use Bible study tools rightly to read the Bible carefully]
• Knowing Scripture, by R.C. Sproul [how to study the Bible, good overview]
• New Bible Dictionary, edited by Marshall, Millard, Packer, and Wiseman [excellent, concise entries on all kinds of Bible topics]
• New Bible Commentary, edited by Wenham, Motyer, Carson, and France [excellent one-stop commentary on the entire Bible, great for personal study]
• IVP Bible Background Commentary – Old Testament, by Walton, Matthews, and Chavalas [provides very brief, but helpful, historical-cultural background info on Old Testament passages]
• IVP Bible Background Commentary – New Testament, by Craig Keener [provides very brief, but helpful, historical-cultural background info on New Testament passages]
• Holman Bible Atlas, by Thomas Brisco [full of excellent biblical maps, pictures, charts, and explanations of biblical geography]

The Gospel

• What is the Gospel, by Greg Gilbert [provides much-needed clarity on the nature of the Gospel; also comes in a pamphlet form that makes an excellent gift!]
• The Prodigal God, by Tim Keller [a beautifully written, concise exposition of the Gospel message through a study of the Parable of the Prodigal Son – great reading for both believers and non-believers]

On God

• Knowing God, by J.I. Packer [a modern spiritual classic on Christian faith that is worth returning to again and again]
• The Holiness of God, by R.C. Sproul [Sproul at his best helping us understand the oft-misunderstood attribute of God’s holiness, its centrality to who God is, and how it relates to the Christian life]
• The Attributes of God, by A.W. Pink [superb, briefer entries suitable for a devotional study of God’s nature]
• The Forgotten Trinity, by James White [Getting the doctrine of the Trinity right is critical to a right understanding of God. Also serves as an excellent resource in understanding and refuting cultic rejections and misstatements of this doctrine put forward by groups like the Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and others]

On Jesus

• Who is Jesus? By R.C. Sproul [excellent pamphlet on who Jesus is and what He has done]
• Man of Sorrows, King of Glory, by Jonty Rhodes [excellent shorter book on Christ’s humiliation and exaltation]

On the Holy Spirit

• Keep in Step with the Spirit, by J.I. Packer [superb presentation of a biblical understanding of the Holy Spirit and His ministry, exciting look at how the Spirit empowers the Christian life]
• The Holy Spirit, by A.W. Pink [an excellent, briefer, look at the Holy Spirit and His ministry today]

The Christian Life

• Bookends of the Christian Life, by Jerry Bridges and Bob Bevington [short book that lays out the two necessary “bookends” that hold the Christian life together and make it possible: the righteousness of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit]
• Living the Cross Centered Life, by C.J. Mahaney [shows how the Gospel isn’t just how you “get in,” but it is the way on in the Christian life]
• Habits of Grace, by David Mathis [unpacks the role the means of grace play in the Christian life: the Word of God, prayer, and the church]

Discerning God’s Will

• Just Do Something, by Kevin DeYoung [very brief guide on discovering God’s will for your life – good one to give to high school graduates, college students]
• Step by Step, by James Petty [presents a biblical pathway for decision-making that avoids a lot of the unbiblical notions floating around the church, such as “fleeces,” subjective impressions, etc.]
• The Call, by Os Guinness [human beings long for purpose – what is God’s call on my life? How do you hear and heed the call of God on your life? Take up and read!]

Prayer

• Prayer, by Tim Keller [A feast of rich, Scripturally-grounded food for the journey of prayer]
• A Praying Life, by Paul Miller [incredibly perceptive on the “heart-issues” of prayer, contains the best discussion of the problem of cynicism that I’ve ever encountered]
• Prone to Wander, by Barbara Duguid and Wayne Duguid Houk [contains calls to confession, prayers of confession, and assurances of pardon – very helpful putting words to the needs of our hearts in the face of our ongoing struggle with sin]
• Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions, edited by Arthur Bennett [help from the Puritans in lifting our hearts up before the Lord in a variety of circumstances]

Suffering

• Trusting God, by Jerry Bridges [when life hurts, how do you trust God? Well worth reading!]
• Walking with God through Suffering, by Tim Keller [a treasure of biblical wisdom and encouragement in the face of life’s suffering]
• Walking through Twilight, by Douglas Groothuis [a seminary professor’s journey through his wife’s battle with dementia]
• Seasons of Sorrow: The Pain of Loss and the Comfort of God, by Tim Challies [the agony of losing a child and the journey of faith]
• God in the Dark, by Os Guinness [for those struggling with doubt]
• Surprised by Suffering, by R.C. Sproul [how could a loving God allow people to suffer? Excellent discussion]
• How Long, O Lord: Reflections on Suffering and Evil, by D.A. Carson [excellent, in-depth look at the Bible’s teaching on suffering]

Marriage
[The following books are excellent resources for both premarital counseling and working through current marriage struggles. Take a look at each to see which fits your situation best.]

• Marriage, by Paul Tripp
• When Sinners Say I Do, by Dave Harvey
• The Meaning of Marriage, by Tim and Kathy Keller
• Catching Foxes, by John Henderson
• Five Things to Pray for your Spouse, by Michael and Melissa Kruger

Parenting

• Parenting, by Paul Tripp [presents the core principles of Christian parenting]
• Age of Opportunity, by Paul Tripp [for parents of teenagers]
• Five Things to Pray for your Kids, by Melissa Kruger [learning how to pray for the right things for our kids]
• Grandparenting with Grace, by Larry McCall

Family Worship

• Big Book of Questions and Answers, by Sinclair Ferguson [for families with smaller children]
• Family Worship, by Donald Whitney

On Baptism

• What Christian Parents Should Know about Infant Baptism, by John Sartelle
• Why Do We Baptize Infants? By Bryan Chapell
• Baptism: Answers to Common Questions, by Guy Richard

On the Lord’s Supper

• The Lord’s Supper, by Robert Letham
• The Lord’s Supper: Answers to Common Questions, by Keith Mathison

Church Government

• Book of Church Order https://www.pcaac.org/bco/
• How Jesus Runs the Church, by Guy Prentiss Waters [lays out the biblical logic of the presbyterian model of church polity, particularly that of the Presbyterian Church in America]

Reformed Theology

• Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms
• Heidelberg Catechism
• What is Reformed Theology? By R.C. Sproul [excellent starting point for those new to the Reformed faith]
• Covenants Made Simple, by Jonty Rhodes [easy-to-read foray into covenant theology]
• Desiring God, by John Piper [makes the case that “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him” – a modern masterpiece that will stoke your own desires for the pleasures of knowing God!]

Finances

• The Total Money Makeover, by Dave Ramsey [wisdom for managing money, developing a budget, etc.]
• Managing God’s Money, by Randy Alcorn [develops the biblical truth that Christians are stewards, not owners, of God’s resources]

Dating and Singleness

• Not yet Married, by Marshall Segal [on singleness, courtship, and marriage]

Apologetics

• The Reason for God, by Tim Keller [A pastor called to preach the Gospel in Manhattan presents his case for faith]
• Apologetics to the Glory of God, by John Frame [how to defend Christian faith on biblical presuppositions]
• Tactics, by Greg Koukl [basics of correct reasoning with application focus]
• The Case for Christ, by Lee Strobel [a modern-day classic vindicating the person, claims, and work of Christ]
• Mere Christianity, by C.S. Lewis [not Reformed, but well worth reading]
• The God Who is There, by Francis Schaeffer [a great intro to one of the greatest thinking evangelists of the 20th century; models tough-mindedness and Christian compassion]
• Christianity and Liberalism, by J. Gresham Machen [the classic critique of “progressive” Christianity. Published in 1923, yet reads like a tract for the times]
• Ten Commandments of Progressive Christianity, by Michael Kruger [simplified, updated version of Machen]

Science and Faith

• Seven Days that Divide the World, by John Lennox [how to understand the opening chapters of Genesis– fair-minded to all sides]
• Scientism and Secularism, by J.P. Moreland [is science the only path to knowledge? No. Take up and read!]
• Defeating Darwinism by Opening Minds, by Phillip Johnson [a brilliant legal scholar dissects Darwinism at a level youth-aged students can understand. Excellent.]
• Icons of Evolution, by Jonathan Wells [from Darwin’s “tree of life” to peppered moths, Wells demonstrates that these “icons” don’t support Darwin’s theory.]
• “Report of the PCA Study Committee on Creation (June 2000)” https://www.pcahistory.org/pca/digest/studies/creation/report.pdf

Sexuality, Gender Issues

• God, You, and Sex, by David White [biblical theology of sex with implications for hot topic issues]
• Sex in a Broken World, by Paul Tripp [power of the Gospel for Christians in a sexually insane culture]
• Same Sex Attraction and the Church, by Ed Shaw [applying faith to same-sex attraction]
• Out of a Far Country, by Christopher and Angela Yuan [memoir of God’s relentless pursuit of sinners]
• Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert, by Rosaria Butterfield [inside look at the conversion of a lesbian professor initially opposed to biblical faith]
• Openness Unhindered, by Rosaria Butterfield [further thoughts on sexual identity and union with Christ]
• The Wounded Heart, by Dan Allender [hope for adult victims of childhood sexual abuse]
• Strange New World, by Carl Trueman [traces the origins of today’s identity politics in the development of “expressive individualism” – brilliant exposition of the intellectual roots of current cultural realities]
• Love Thy Body, by Nancy Pearcey [exposes our culture’s dehumanizing worldview and shows how the Christian worldview restores hope for hurting people by upholding the dignity of our bodies]

Forgiveness and Conflict Resolution

• Forgive: Why Should I and How Can I? by Tim Keller
• Moving On, by Ruth Ann Batstone
• The Peacemaker, by Ken Sande [conflict resolution according to the Bible]
• Bold Love, by Dan Allender
• Boundaries, by Henry Cloud and John Townsend [how to say “no” and knowing your limits]

Sharing your Faith

• Questioning Evangelism, by Randy Newman [how to share your faith naturally and organically through simply asking good questions, like Jesus!]
• Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, by J.I. Packer [theology of evangelism]

End Times

• The Millennial Maze, by Stanley Grenz [excellent, fair-minded presentation of different views of the millennium held by different Christians]
• The Returning King, by Vern Poythress [a “big picture,” understandable look at Revelation]
• Revelation: Four Views, A Parallel Commentary, by Steve Gregg [shows how four different views of
• Revelation interpret the text]

Worship

• Corporate Worship, by Matt Merker [excellent primer on worship!]
• Trinity Hymnal
• Part 3 of Book of Church Order, “The Directory for the Worship of God” https://www.pcaac.org/bco/

Devotionals

• New Morning Mercies, by Paul Tripp
• Morning and Evening, by Charles Spurgeon