Recommended Reading

“Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.” John 21:25

As a book lover, this verse always puts a smile on my face. It shows the mind-blowing depth of the riches that are found in our Lord and is a sweet reminder to my own heart that there will never be a day that I can’t keep learning about the greatness, the majesty and the glory of Jesus Christ….both now and forevermore! 

Last week, I shared some encouragements to keep on learning, to keep on growing and to keep on reading, and I promised a list of personal suggestions that might help in that process. Please know, this is not an exhaustive list nor is it necessarily the best books out there on a given subject. These are simply some of what I have read in my years of life and ministry that have blessed and encouraged my own heart, as well as many of those we have ministered to. There are hundreds upon hundreds of books that are well worth every minute spent in them, though they may not have made my list because I have yet to read them myself. My “books to read pile” has grown large and there are many more books I hope to add to this recommended reading list in the months and years to come. (In fact, I was toying with the idea of asking Bryan for his own recommended reading list and posting it next week. His depth and breadth of reading far exceeds my own.) 

All that to say, these are books that I feel are tested and hold fast to the Word of God. Yet, as with any book we read, sermon we listen to, or blog post we skim…we must never fail to be “Berean-like”. Acts 17:10-12 talks about what this means:  “As soon as it was night, the brothers and sisters sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. Upon arrival, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. The people here were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, since they received the word with eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Consequently, many of them believed, including a number of the prominent Greek women as well as men.” We must not put our brains on “autopilot” as we read, but we must always be seeking to grow our “discernment muscles” as we hold fast to the Word of God, above all. 

May the Lord use even one of these books to change and transform you more and more into His likeness “so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world” (Philippians 2:15). 

Christian Living:

Trusting God by Jerry Bridges

The Enemy Within by Kris Lungard

Praying the Bible by Donald Whitney

Saved Without a Doubt by John MacArthur

Adopted for Life by Russell Moore

Marriage: 

What Did you Expect? by Paul Tripp

When Sinners Say I Do by Dave Harvey

Doing Things Right in Matters of the Heart by John Ensor (for singles pursuing relationships)

For Parents: 

Parenting by Paul David Tripp

Everyday Talk by John Younts

Gospel-Powered Parenting by William Farley

You Never Stop Being A Parent by Jim Newheiser and Elyse Fitzpatrick

For Women: 

Practical Theology for Women by Wendy Alsup

Women of the Word, None Like Him and In His Image by Jen Wilkin

Choosing Gratitude by Nancy Wolgemuth

Fearlessly Feminine by Jane Ortlund

Girls Gone Wise in a World Gone Wild by Mary Kassian

Stepping Heavenward by Elisabeth Prentiss (my all time favorite “fiction” book!)

Spiritual Mothering by Susan Hunt (discipleship)

Seasons of Waiting by Betsy Childs Howard

True Feelings by Carolyn Mahaney and Nicole Whitaker

Shopping for Time by the Mahaney Girls (time management)

Humble Roots and All That’s Good by Hannah Anderson 

The Gospel Comes with a House Key by Rosaria Butterfield (Hospitality)

Wilderness Wanderings by Stacy Reaoch (Contentment)

Praying Together by Megan Hill 

Getting to the Heart of Friendships by Amy Baker

Attitudes of a Transformed Heart by Martha Peace

For Wives: 

Fierce Women by Kimberly Wagner

The Excellent Wife by Martha Peace

Intimate Issues by Dillow and Pintus

For Moms: 

Glimpses of Grace by Gloria Furman (a must read!)

Treasuring Christ When Your Hands Are Full by Gloria Furman

Don’t Make Me Count To Three and Heaven at Home by Ginger Hubbard

Risen Motherhood by Emily Jensen and Laura Wifler

Together: Growing Appetites for God by Carrie Ward

Bible Studies: 

Keri Folmar

Living Word Studies

John MacArthur Studies