“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
II Timothy 2:15
One of the great blessings of the Christian church is the number of books that have been published dealing with everything from Bible study to biographies to help for Christian living. The trouble is with so many choices, how does one know where to begin? The following list is certainly not complete, but it will provide you with a starting point for your reading. Each book recommended is listed by title, author and publisher. Most Christian book sites will offer these titles and can be ordered online. Should you have a question about a certain book or would like further recommendations, please do not hesitate to contact us through email or a phone call to the church.
Our book selection is divided up into the following sections: Reading the Bible, Books for Bible Study, Daily Devotionals, Marriage and the Christian Family, Christian Living, Gospel Tracts, and Helpful Websites.
Reading the Bible
The most important place to begin your reading is with the Word of God. That’s why it is good to have a disciplined approach to being in the Scriptures every day. If you haven’t read the Bible before, invest some time into reading large portions of it. Try reading some of the letters of Paul, then turn to the Gospels, or take on a few books of the Old Testament. This will help you gain a broad understanding of Scripture. Always ask God to teach you and open your eyes to see what He is saying.
Eventually you will want to move to a daily Bible reading plan which will take you through the Word of God in a year. Check out the website www.Biblestudytools.com for a list of different ways to read through Scripture. Click on the link “Bible Study” and then the link “Reading Plans.” Here you will find a variety of ways to work through the Bible in a year.
Always pray as you read the Bible, asking God to help you understand and apply its message to your life.
Books for Bible Study
Here you will find a few recommendations for helping you understand the Bible better.
“Let’s Study” Series – Published by Banner of Truth – This is a collection of short commentaries written on different books of the Bible. The series is easy to read and extremely practical for the Christian walk. Check out the Banner of Truth website (listed below under “Helpful Websites”) for available titles.
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels – by J.C. Ryle – Published by Banner of Truth – J.C. Ryle wrote this commentary on the Gospels for family and private use. Here you will find a clear description of Christ in the Gospels as well as thorough application for Christian living.
Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Bible – by Matthew Henry – A classic for generations, this commentary covers each verse of the Bible in practical and heart-warming exposition. The complete commentary is available online for free at www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-complete/
Daily Devotionals
A devotional guide should never take the place of Bible reading, but should be read alongside the Scriptures. The following books are designed to get you thinking about a particular passage or theme in the Word of God.
Morning and Evening – by C.H. Spurgeon – This devotional has a morning and evening reading for every day of the year. Spurgeon takes a passage of Scripture and brings forth wonderful application for the Christian. It is available for free at www.ccel.org/ccel/spurgeon/morneve.i.html
The Christian in Complete Armour: Daily Readings in Spiritual Warfare – by William Gurnall – Published by Moody Publishers– The Christian finds himself in spiritual battles every day of his life. In this helpful devotional the writings of William Gurnall have been set into daily readings to help the Christian fight the good fight of faith.
The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions – by Arthur Bennett – Published by Banner of Truth– The prayers and meditations of the Puritans provide a concise and encouraging look at a variety of topics in the Christian faith.
Marriage and the Christian Family
Christian Living in the Home – by Jay Adams – Published by P & R Publishing – This is one of the best books written on Christian marriage and the family. Jay Adams deals with the issues of communication, singleness, the roles of husbands and wives, disciplining children and living with an unsaved spouse, all taken from a biblical perspective.
The Excellent Wife: A Biblical Perspective – by Martha Peace – Published by Focus Publishing – Martha Peace’s book on becoming the excellent wife of Proverbs 31:10 is filled with biblical principles and guidelines to help all women gain an understanding of how to live for Christ in their marriage.
The Complete Husband: A Practical Guide to Biblical Husbanding – Louis Paul Priolo – Published by Calvary Press – Here is one of the best guides to being a biblical husband. In his book, Louis Priolo deals with the subjects of understanding your wife, communicating with her, and being the spiritual leader of your home. This is a very practical guide to biblical husbanding.
Christian Living
There are all sorts of subjects which can be dealt with under the heading of “Christian Living.” Here is a selection of titles which deal primarily with the holy walk of God’s people. If you are looking for a book on a particular area of Christian living, please do not hesitate to contact us for a recommendation.
Pilgrim’s Progress In Today’s English – By John Bunyan, Retold by James H. Thomas, Published by Moody Publishers – The classic tale of the Christian’s journey from salvation to eternity is retold in modern English. This is one of the most encouraging and biblically based stories to inspire the child of God in his earthly walk with Christ.
Thoughts for Young Men – by J.C. Ryle – Published by Charles Nolan Publishers – J.C. Ryle speaks to the heart of young men today as he deals with the dangers which young men face as well as providing counsel on how to live a godly life in a difficult and hostile world.
Christian Life: A Doctrinal Introduction – by Sinclair Ferguson – Published by Banner of Truth – In this book, Dr. Ferguson expounds such key biblical themes as grace, faith, repentance, new birth and assurance with clarity and great enthusiasm. “Christian doctrines are life-shaping”, explains the author, because “they show us the God we worship”. Here we find doctrine turned into practical living.
Discovering God’s Will – by Sinclair Ferguson – Published by Banner of Truth – There are few more important things in the Christian’s life than discovering God’s will. The assurance that we are in the centre of God’s purposes brings lasting stability to our experience. But how do we discover the will of God for our lives? This is a wonderful volume written with clarity and reasoning from Scripture, helping us to understand how to determine the will of God.
Grow in Grace – by Sinclair Ferguson – Published by Banner of Truth – This book helps the Christian see how he can develop as a member of the family of God. Taking Jesus Himself as the model for our growth, it explains some of the biblical principles of spiritual development, and gives a number of ‘case histories’ to illustrate how God works in our lives to mature us as Christians.
The Pursuit of Holiness – by Jerry Bridges – Published by NavPress – “Scripture speaks of both a holiness we have in Christ before God, and a holiness we are to strive after,” writes Bridges. The author takes holiness out of the realm of the impossible and brings it into the real world of daily living and decisions. Whether you’re continuing your pursuit of holiness or just beginning, the principles and guidelines in this book will challenge you to obey God’s command of holiness.
Holiness – by J.C. Ryle – Published by Charles Nolan Publishers – Everyone knows that we are called upon to be holy, but what exactly does “holy” mean and what does “holy” look like? J.C. Ryle provides us with a wonderful picture of what it means to be set apart for the Lord.
Gospel Tracts
Ultimate Questions – by John Blanchard – Published by Evangelical Press – When you have spoken to someone about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, it is always helpful to leave behind a good Gospel tract which will help this person think about the Word of God and the message of salvation. John Blanchard’s booklet on questions about God, sin and salvation is an encouraging guide for the soul in need of Christ.
