Pastor Clay’s Blog #8
“Recommended Resources”
To the Saints in Christ Jesus at Central,
I constantly have people coming to me asking for recommendations of preachers to listen to, theological works to read, and various other Christian resources. This blog is not exhaustive but a concise list of my recommended resources that are easily accessible for you! I’ll squeeze all I can on the front and back of one page!
Recent Preachers (whose sermons are available to you online): John MacArthur, Voodie Baucham, R. C. Sproul, Mark Dever, John Piper, D. A. Carson, Andrew Davis, Tim Keller, Tony Merida, Derek Thomas, Al Mohler, Danny Akin, Robert Smith, Jr., Adrian Rogers, Bryan Chapell, Sinclair Ferguson, Thabiti Anyabwile, Paul Washer, Kevin DeYoung, Alistair Begg, H. B. Charles, Jr., Johnathan Leeman, Jim Shaddix, Stephen Rummage, Dwayne Milioni, Steven Wade, and countless others (see list under church history section where older preachers are mentioned, some who have sermon manuscripts available)!
Church history: Church history is initially difficult to study, which is why this list contains works that are simple reads for you to begin the journey: Church History in Plain Language by Bruce Shelley, Church History for Everyone by Kevin DeYoung, The Story of Christianity by Justo Gonzalez, The Baptist Story by Anthony Chute, Nathan Finn, Michael Haykin
Heroes of our faith (learn about them/their works!) from the post-apostolic period to mid-20th century (10 I recommend beginning with in bold): Polycarp, Justin Martyr, Origen, Augustine, John Chrysostom, Francis of Assisi, Thomas Aquinas, John Wycliffe, John Hus, Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli, John Calvin, William Tyndale, William Perkins, John Owen, John Flavel, John Knox, Thomas Watson, John Bunyan, Richard Baxter, George Whitefield, John Wesley, Jonathan Edwards, David Brainerd, William Carey, Adoniram Judson, Hudson Taylor, Amy Carmichael, Robert Murray McCheyne, Charles Spurgeon, Alexander Maclaren, George Liele, John Broadus, Charles Simeon, G. Campbell Morgan, D. L. Moody, William and Catherine Booth, Jim and Elisabeth Elliott, Lottie Moon, B. H. Carroll, C. S. Lewis, D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, John Stott, Billy Graham, James Montgomery Boice, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, W. A. Criswell, J. Vernon McGee, A. W. Tozer, Jerry Vines, J. I. Packer, and so many more!
Systematic Theology (contemporary works only, but I also highly recommend the classics of old):
(large) Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology by John Frame, Reformed Systematic Theology by Joel Beeke and Paul Smalley, A Theology for the Church, editors Daniel Akin, Kenneth Keathley, and Keith Whitfield, Evangelical Theology by Michael Bird
(concise) Concise Theology by J. I. Packer, Everyone’s a Theologian by R. C. Sproul, Christian Beliefs by Wayne Grudem, and Concise Systematic Theology by John Frame
The Church/Ministry: The resources are endless here, but to help you understand the direction we are headed as a church as we strive for a biblical model, I recommend resources from 9Marks and Pillar Network ministries.
Prayer: All E. M. Bounds’ books on prayer, With Christ in the School of Prayer by Andrew Murray, Praying the Bible by Donald Whitney, Prayer by Timothy Keller, and Praying With Paul by D. A. Carson
Discipleship: The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Discipling by Mark Dever, Theology as Discipleship by Keith Johnson, Deep Discipleship: How the Church Can Make Whole Disciples of Jesus by J. T. English, Transforming Discipleship by Greg Ogden, Twelve Ordinary Men by John MacArthur, An Infinite Journey by Andrew Davis, Replicate by Robby Gallaty and Chris Swain
Marriage/Parenting: Marriage: 6 Gospel Commitments Every Couple Needs to Make by Paul David Tripp, The Meaning of Marriage by Timothy Keller, Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas, Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family by Paul David Trip, Shepherding a Child’s Heart by Tedd Tripp, Parenting by the Book by John Rosemond, Praying Through the Bible for Your Kids by Nancy Guthrie
Devotionals: For the Love of God by D. A. Carson, Truth for Life by Alistair Begg, Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon, One Year of Dinner Table Devotionals and Discussion Starters by Nancy Guthrie