Books We Recommend
Below you will find a list of recommended books. We have many of these books in our Resource Center, where you will also find many other titles.
Bibles
In our preaching, we use the English Standard Version. We highly recommend the ESV Study Bible. Of course, other translations, such as the NIV, NASB, and HCSB, are fine choices, too. The NIV Study Bible is another excellent resource.
Theology
Here are some helpful books on theology, whether biblical theology, systematic theology, or, quite simply, knowing God better.
Daniel Akin: A Theology for the Church
T. D. Alexander: From Eden to the New Jerusalem
D. A. Carson: The God Who Is There
Graeme Goldsworthy: According to Plan
Wayne Grudem: Systematic Theology
Michael Lawrence: Biblical Theology in the Life of the Church
J. I. Packer: Knowing God
A. W. Pink: The Attributes of God
John Piper: The Pleasures of God
R. C. Sproul: The Holiness of God
John R. W. Stott: The Cross of Christ
James R. White: The Forgotten Trinity
Bible Study
The Bible is a long, complex book. It helps to have some guides for how to read it and understand it. Here are some books that can help you make sense of God's Word.
D. A. Carson and Douglas J. Moo: An Introduction to the New Testament
Daniel M. Doriani: Getting the Message
George H. Guthrie: Read the Bible for Life
Tremper Longman III and Raymond B. Dillard: An Introduction to the Old Testament
Robert L. Plummer: 40 Questions about Interpreting the Bible
Robert H. Stein: Playing by the Rules: A Basic Guide to Interpreting the Bible
Spiritual Growth/Christian Living
Sometimes, even as we study the Bible, we benefit from books that look at one aspect (or more) of the Christian life. These books are good for your soul.
Jerry Bridges: The Discipline of Grace
Jerry Bridges: Pursuit of Holiness
Jerry Bridges: Respectable Sins
D. A. Carson: For the Love of God (Vols. 1-3)
Francis Chan: Crazy Love
Os Guinness: The Call
Tim Keller: Counterfeit Gods
Tim Keller: The Prodigal God
Paul Miller: A Praying Life
John Piper: Desiring God
David Platt: Radical
Donald S. Whitney: Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life
Classics
Though we often tend to read books written in our generation, sometimes it's good to read the best of previous generations. Here are some suggestions.
Augustine: Confessions
Dietrich Bonhoeffer: The Cost of Discipleship
John Bunyan: Pilgrim's Progress
John Edwards: The Sermons of Jonathan Edwards (eds. Kimach, Minkema, Sweeney)
C. S. Lewis: Mere Christianity
C. S. Lewis: The Screwtape Letters
Martin Luther: The Bondage of the Will
John Owen: Overcoming Sin and Temptation
Francis Schaeffer: How Should We Then Live?
Charles Spurgeon: Spurgeon's Sermons
Children
Here are a few excellent books for children. Parents, you will enjoy reading these to your kids.
David R. Helm: The Big Picture Story Bible
Sally Lloyd-Jones: The Jesus Storybook Bible
Marty Machowski: The Gospel Story Bible
Starr Meade: The Mighty Acts of God
Parenting
Speaking of children, these books will help you learn to raise and disciple your children.
Starr Meade: Training Hearts, Teaching Minds
Marian M. Schoolland: Leading Little Ones to God
Tedd Tripp: Shepherding a Child's Heart
Tedd and Margy Tripp: Instructing a Child's Heart
Bruce A. Ware: Big Truths for Young Hearts
Marriage/Relationships
These books reflect a biblical view of marriage, gender roles, and family.
Bryan Chapell: Made for the Other
Andreas J. Köstenberger: God, Marriage and Family
C. J. Mahaney: Sex, Romance, and the Glory of God
John Piper: This Momentary Marriage
John Piper and Wayne Grudem: Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood
Gary Thomas: Sacred Marriage
Paul David Tripp: What Did You Expect?
Evangelism/Missions
Every Christian is, in some sense, a missionary. As God's image bearers, we have the privilege of reflecting His glory to the world. The following are some books that will help us - or challenge us - to do that.
Jerram Barrs: Learning Evangelism from Jesus
Mark Dever: The Gospel and Personal Evangelism
Michael Green: Evangelism through the Local Church
Will Metzger: Tell the Truth
Randy Newman: Questioning Evangelism
J. I. Packer: Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God
Jim Petersen: Living Proof
John Piper: Let the Nations Be Glad!
J. Mack Stiles: Speaking of Jesus
John Stott: Basic Christianity
Apologetics and Worldview
Peter tells us to always be "prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you" (1 Peter 3:15). These books will help you understand how to defend the faith. They will also help you understand the various philosophies and worldviews that stand in opposition to Christianity.
D. A. Carson: How Long, O Lord?
John M. Frame: Apologetics to the Glory of God
Douglas Groothuis: Christian Apologetics
Phillip E. Johnson: Darwin on Trial
Tim Keller: The Reason for God
Nancy Pearcy: Total Truth
Hugh Ross: The Creator and the Cosmos
James Sire: The Universe Next Door
Lee Strobel: The Case for Christ
David Wells: Above All Earthly Powers
The Church
These are some good books about the church. Every Christian should be an active, contributing member of a local church, and these books help us understand what a biblical, effective, healthy church should be like.
Thabiti Anyabwile: What Is a Healthy Church Member?
Edmund Clowney: The Church
Mark Dever: Nine Marks of a Healthy Church
Mark Dever: What Is a Healthy Church?
Mark Dever and Lee Alexander: Deliberate Church
Thom Rainer and Eric Geiger: Simple Church
Ministry
These books help us understand certain aspects of Christian ministry.
Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert: When Helping Hurts
Timothy J. Keller: Ministries of Mercy
Colin Marshall and Tony Payne: The Trellis and the Vine
Ken Sande: The Peacemaker
Paul David Tripp: Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands
Worship
Every Christian should be interested in worship, because it is what God made us for. These books present to us a biblical view of worship, which includes corporate worship (when we meet to sing, pray, hear from God's Word, give our offerings, and receive the ordinances/sacraments) and total-life worship.
D. A. Carson (editor): Worship by the Book
Bob Kauflin: Worship Matters
David Peterson: Engaging with God
Vaughan Roberts: True Worship
Church History and Biographies
All of us can learn from history. The history of Christianity is fascinating, informative, and inspiring.
S. M. Houghton: Sketches from Church History
Ian Murray: Revival and Revivalism
Mark Noll: Turning Points
J. I. Packer: A Quest for Godliness
John Piper: The Swans Are Not Silent series
This Week's Schedule |
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Sunday, February 19 |
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Bible Study (all ages) |
9:45 a.m. |
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Worship service |
11:00 a.m. |
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Third Sunday fellowship |
4:30 p.m. |
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6:00 p.m. |
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Monday, February 20 |
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| Women's Bible study | 6:30 p.m. |
Tuesday, February 21 |
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| Women's Bible study | 10:30 a.m. |
Wednesday, February 22 |
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Teachers meeting |
6:00 p.m. |
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Choir rehearsal |
7:00 p.m. |
Friday, February 24 |
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Salt of the Earth (food bank) |
11:30 a.m. |
Saturday, February 25 |
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| Men's Prayer meeting | 7:30 a.m. |
Sunday, February 26 |
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| Bible Study (all ages) | 9:45 a.m. |
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Worship service |
11:00 a.m. |
| Evening worship | 6:00 p.m. |
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Please call or email the church office for more details on our schedule and upcoming events. Office hours are Tuesday - Friday from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
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