These titles have been included for different maturity levels. Each level covers a different aspect of the topic so that there is minimal overlap if you read both books for each. Do be discerning. I have not read every title, but have included some on the consistent testimony of others. I have noted the century of the older works, although their printings are modern.
Foundations
| |||||
Topics
|
Rare readers
|
Regular readers
| |||
Why be a Christian?
[General]
|
Christianity Explored (Rico Tice & Barry Cooper, Authentic Lifestyle)
|
A fresh start (John Chapman, St. Matthias Press)
| |||
Why be a Christian?
[Philosophical]
|
[For regular readers] Mere Christianity (CS Lewis, Penguin)
|
The Universe next door (James Sire, IVP)
| |||
Objections to Christianity answered
|
Know why you believe (Paul & Marie Little, IVP)
|
Does God believe in atheists (John Blanchard)
| |||
Evidence for the resurrection
|
Jesus on trial (Kel Richards, The Goodbook Company)
|
Who moved the stone (Frank Morrison, Zondervan)
| |||
Struggling with doubt?
|
Struggling to believe (Dave Burke, Crossway)
|
God in the dark (Os Guinness, Crossway)
| |||
Struggling with suffering?
|
The bumps are what you climb on (Warren Wiersbe, Baker Books)
|
Is God in control? Trusting God when life hurts (Jerry Bridges, NavPress)
| |||
Overview of Christian truth
|
A faith to live by (Donald MacLeod, Christian Focus)
|
Know the truth (Bruce Milne, IVP)
| |||
Understanding the bible
|
Get into the bible (John Richardson, Goodbook Company)
|
God's big picture (Vaughan Roberts, IVP)
| |||
Christian Living
| |||||
Topics
|
Rare readers
|
Regular readers
| |||
Daily bible reading
|
Explore bible notes (The Goodbook company)
|
One year bible: NIV (Tyndale House Publishers)
| |||
Prayer
|
Too busy not to pray (Bill Hybels, IVP)
|
A call to spiritual reformation (Don Carson, IVP)
| |||
Devotional thought
|
Morning & evening [Revised modern english version] (Charles Spurgeon, Whitaker House)
|
The saint's everlasting rest [17th century & weighty] (Richard Baxter)
| |||
Biography
|
A chance to die: A biography of Amy Carmichael (Elizabeth Elliot)
|
Here I stand: A life of Martin Luther (Roland Herbert Bainton, Lion)
| |||
Understanding our culture
|
A guide to contemporary culture (Gene Veith, Crossway Books)
|
Trilogy (Francis Schaeffer, IVP)
| |||
Christian life
|
Making life work (Bill Hybels, IVP)
|
Discipleship (David Watson, Hodder and
| |||
Worship
|
True Worship (
|
Sing a new song (David Montgomery, Handsel Press)
| |||
Holiness
|
Holiness (Jerry Bridges, NavPress)
|
What every Christian needs to know about temptation and putting sin to death (John Owen, Presbyterian & Reformed)
| |||
Ethics & social action
|
Good news about injustice (Gary A Haugen, IVP)
|
Issues facing Christians today (John Stott, IVP)
| |||
Work
|
Thank God it’s Monday (Mark Greene, Scripture Union)
|
The callings (Paul Helm, Banner of Truth)
| |||
Relationships & singleness
|
[Relationships] The relationships revolution (Nigel Pollock, IVP)
|
[Singleness] The single issue (Al Hsu, IVP)
| |||
Getting married
|
Looking up the Aisle (David & Joyce Aymes, Kingsway)
|
One flesh: Honeymoon sex and beyond (Amelia & Greg Clarke, Matthias Media)
| |||
Being married
|
Strengthening your marriage (Wayne Mack, Presbyterian & Reformed)
|
[Fairly meaty] Marriage: Sex in the service of God (Christopher Ash, IVP)
| |||
Parenting
|
A celebration of children (Edith Schaeffer, Baker Books)
|
Shepherding a child's heart [Be discerning over the section on discipline!] (Tedd Tripp, Shepherd Press)
| |||
Baptism
|
Salvation’s sign and seal (Roger Crooks, Christian Focus)
|
Children of the promise (Robert R Booth, Presbyterian & Reformed)
| |||
Christian caring
|
What could I say? (peter Hicks, IVP)
|
Ready to restore (Jay Adams, Presbyterian & Reformed)
| |||
Preaching
|
Setting hearts on fire (John Chapman, The Goodbook company)
|
Speaking God’s words (Peter Adam, IVP)
| |||
Considering church leadership
|
The work of the pastor (William Still, Christian Focus)
|
Shepherding God's flock (Jay Adams, Zondervan)
| |||
Sharing our Faith
| |||||
Topics
|
Rare readers
|
Regular readers
| |||
The need of evangelism
|
God that’s not fair [about hell & those who haven’t heard] (Dick Dowsett, OMF)
|
Let the nations be glad: The supremacy of God in missions (John Piper, IVP)
| |||
World evangelism
|
Don’t just stand there (Martin Goldsmith, IVP)
|
The church is bigger than you think (Patrick Johnstone, Christian Focus)
| |||
Personal evangelism
|
Becoming a contagious christian (Bill Hybels, Paternoster Press)
|
Know and tell the gospel (John Chapman, St. Matthias Press)
| |||
Defending the faith
|
Evangelism made slightly less difficult (Nick Pollard, IVP)
|
Bridgebuilding (Alistair McGrath, IVP)
| |||
Learning from the Past
| |||||
Topics
|
Rare readers
|
Regular readers
| |||
Church history
|
Turning points (Mark Noll, IVP)
|
Evangelicalism in
| |||
The Puritans
|
A golden treasury of Puritan devotion [17th century] (ed. Mariano Di Gangi, Presbyterian & Reformed)
|
Among God's giants (Jim Packer, Kingsway)
| |||
Key Christian Truth
| |||||
Topic
|
Rare readers
|
Regular readers
| |||
Overview of Christian truth
|
A faith to live by (Donald MacLeod, Christian Focus)
|
Know the truth (Bruce Milne, IVP)
| |||
Understanding the bible
|
Get into the bible (John Richardson, Good Book Company)
|
God's big picture (Vaughan Roberts, IVP)
| |||
The trustworthiness of the bible
|
Is all scripture inspired? (J C Ryle, Banner of Truth)
|
God has spoken (J I Packer, Hodder & Stoughton)
| |||
God
|
Experiencing God (Michael Eaton,
|
Knowing God (Jim Packer, Hodder & Stoughton)
| |||
God the Father
|
Adopted by God: From wayward sinners to cherished children (Tobert A Peterson, Presbyterian & Reformed)
|
The pleasures of God (John Piper, Christian focus)
| |||
God the Son
|
Steps of understanding (Gerald Bray, Christian Focus)
|
The glory of Christ (Peter Lewis, Paternoster Press)
| |||
God the Holy Spirit
|
Baptism and fullness (John Stott, IVP)
|
The Holy Spirit (Sinclair Ferguson, IVP)
| |||
The cross and resurrection
|
Cross examined (Mark Meynell, IVP)
|
The cross of Christ (John Stott, IVP)
| |||
Understanding God’s grace
|
Putting the Amazing Back into Grace (Michael Horton, Baker books)
|
Grace unknown (RC Sproul, Baker books)
| |||
Topical Topics
(For the Christian reader)
| |||||
Title
|
Topic
| ||||
The New Testament Documents: Are they reliable? (FF Bruce, IVP)
|
The historical reliability of the gospels
| ||||
Three views on creation and evolution (Counterpoints series)
|
Creation and evolution
| ||||
Straight and narrow (Thomas Schmidt, IVP)
|
Homosexuality
| ||||
How Long O Lord (Carson, IVP)
|
Suffering and evil
| ||||
Predestination
| |||||
Is Jesus the only saviour? (Ronald Nash, Zondervan)
|
Other religions
| ||||
Two view on hell (Fudge & Peterson, IVP)
|
Hell
| ||||
Are miraculous gifts for today: Four views (Counterpoints series)
|
Spiritual gifts
| ||||
Top Ten Books for New Christians
(Best read in this order)
| |||||
Title
|
Topic
| ||||
A fresh start (John Chapman, Good Book company)
|
Getting clear about the central Christian message
| ||||
Know why you believe (Paul Little, IVP)
|
Tackling common objections or questions
| ||||
Mere Christianity (CS Lewis, Penguin)
|
An introduction to Christian thought
| ||||
Discipleship (David Watson, Hodder & Stoughton)
|
An overview of Christian living
| ||||
Know and tell the gospel (John Chapman, St. Matthias Press)
|
Why and how to speak about Christ to others
| ||||
A faith to live by (Donald MacLeod,
|
An overview of Christian belief
| ||||
Issues facing Christians today (John Stott, Hodder and
|
An overview of Christian ethics
| ||||
God’s big picture (Vaughan Roberts, IVP)
|
An overview of the whole bible
| ||||
How long O Lord (Don Carson, IVP)
|
Getting clear about how to view suffering before suffering it
| ||||
Search the scriptures (Ed. Alan Stibbs, IVP)
|
Questions to help you read any or all of the bible in daily chunks
| ||||
Basic Commentary Recommendations
| |||||
Abbreviation
|
Series and Publisher
| ||||
FOB
|
Focus on the bible (Christian Focus)
| ||||
TOTC
|
Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (IVP)
| ||||
BST
|
Bible speaks today series (IVP)
| ||||
IVPNTC
|
IVP New Testament Commentary (IVP)
| ||||
NIVAC
|
NIV Application Commentary (Zondervan)
| ||||
New Testament
| |||||
Gaps show where a commentary covers a number of bible books.
| |||||
Bible book
|
Author and series
| ||||
Matthew
|
Keener (IVPNTC)
| ||||
Mark
| |||||
Luke
|
Bock (IVPNTC)
| ||||
John
|
Milne (BST)
| ||||
Acts
|
Stott (BST)
| ||||
Romans
|
Moo (NIVAC)
| ||||
1 Corinthians
|
Blomberg (NIVAC)
| ||||
2 Corinthians
| |||||
Galatians
|
Stott (BST)
| ||||
Ephesians
|
Liefield (IVPNTC)
| ||||
Philippians
|
Fee (IVPNTC)
| ||||
Colossians
|
Lucas (BST)
| ||||
Philemon
| |||||
1 Thessalonians
|
Stott (BST)
| ||||
2 Thessalonians
| |||||
1 Timothy
|
Towner (IVPNTC)
| ||||
2 Timothy
| |||||
Titus
| |||||
Hebrews
|
Guthrie (NIVAC)
| ||||
James
|
Motyer (BST)
| ||||
1 Peter
|
Marshall (IVPNTC)
| ||||
2 Peter
|
Lucas/Green (BST)
| ||||
Jude
| |||||
1 John
|
Burge (NIVAC)
| ||||
2 John
| |||||
3 John
| |||||
Revelation
|
Wilcox (BST)
| ||||
Old Testament
| |||||
Gaps show where a commentary covers a number of bible books.
| |||||
Bible book
|
Author and series
| ||||
Genesis
|
Chs 1-11: Atkinson BST, 12-50:
| ||||
Exodus
|
Enns NIVAC
| ||||
Leviticus
|
Averbeck NIVAC
| ||||
Numbers
|
Brown BST
| ||||
Deuteronomy
|
Block NIVAC
| ||||
Joshua
| Ralph Davis FOB | ||||
Judges
|
Ralph Davis FOB
| ||||
Ruth
|
Atkinson BST
| ||||
1 & 2 Samuel
|
Ralph Davis FOB
| ||||
1 & 2 Kings
|
Ralph Davis FOB
| ||||
1 & 2 Chronicles
|
Wilcox BST
| ||||
Ezra
|
Kidner (includes Nehemiah) TOTC
| ||||
Nehemiah
|
Brown BST
| ||||
Esther
|
Jobes NIVAC
| ||||
Job
|
Atkinson BST
| ||||
Psalms
| chs 1-72, 73-150 Wilcox BST | ||||
Proverbs
| Alden (Proverbs: Commentary on an ancient book of timeless advice) Baker | ||||
Ecclesiastes
|
Provan NIVAC
| ||||
Song of Songs
| |||||
Isaiah
|
Webb BST
| ||||
Jeremiah
|
Kidner BST
| ||||
Lamentations
| |||||
Ezekial
|
Duguid NIVAC
| ||||
Daniel
|
Tremper-Longman III NIVAC
| ||||
Hosea
|
Smith NIVAC
| ||||
Amos
| |||||
Micah
| |||||
Joel
|
Prior (includes Micah) BST
| ||||
Habakkuk
| |||||
Obadiah
|
Baker, Alexander, Walke (includes Micah) TOTC
| ||||
Jonah
| |||||
Nahum
|
Baker (includes Habakkuk) TOTC
| ||||
Zephaniah
| |||||
Zechariah
|
Webb BST
| ||||
Haggai
| |||||
Malachi
| |||||