Favorite Books and Resources

Study Bible's

The ESV Study Bible is a great resource to have. A solid team of evangelical scholars contributed to and edited the vast amount of notes, articles, maps, charts and book introductions. The cross-referencing system the ESV Study Bible has is extremely helpful as it guides the reader to biblical quotes, biblical allusions, and similar topics. I have found this to be an indispensable tool in my personal Bible study, mentoring, teaching and sermon preparation. The editors and contributors include men such as J.I. Packer, Wayne Grudem, Justin Taylor, Thomas Schreiner, Paul House, Andreas Kostenberger, S.M. Baugh, Clinton Arnold, and Robert Yarbrough to name a few. esvstudybible.org 




The Persecuted Church

"Open Doors has worked in the world's most oppressive countries, empowering Christians who are persecuted for their beliefs through programs like Bible & Gospel Development, Women & Children Advancement and Community Restoration." This website is a great place to learn about the persecuted church, and find out how you can help believers around the world in persecution. www.opendoorsusa.org

The Insanity of God Book and Nik Ripkin Ministries. "...The Ripkens [pen name Nik and Ruth] have interviewed over 600 believers in persecution, exceeding 72 countries. Sitting at their feet, the Ripkens learned from the suffering church how to thrive amidst suffering, not merely survive. The Ripkens, using everything they’ve learned from believers in persecution are creating resources as gifts from the church to the church." You can find their books and additional resources at their website.  www.nikripken.com

Missions

Operation World  This website has a wealth of knowledge in regards to the nations of the world and how we can intentionally pray for them.  There is even a "prayer cast" where you can watch a video and pray along for each particular nation. www.operationworld.org


PeopleGroups.Org is a website created by the SBC'sInternational Mission Board and is aimed at assisting the church understand various people groups around the world, specifically those "unreached" with the gospel, and equip the church to connect with them. There is a wealth of valuable information on this site. http://peoplegroups.org/

The Joshuah Project is another helpful website developed to help Christians understand and know how to pray for global people groups who are yet to be reached with the gospel. https://joshuaproject.net/ 

Invitation to World Missions: A Trinitarian Missiology for the Twenty-first Century (Invitation to Theological Studies Series) by Timothy Tennent. This book gives a readable overview of modern Christian missions that is rooted in the Trinitarian Missio Dei (mission of God). This book is engaging, biblical, and practical.

Youth Ministry

reTHINK by Steve Wright and Chris Graves.  This is a great book about integrating family and youth ministry.  In my opinion, this book is very helpful in finding a biblical approach to youth ministry.











ApParent Privilege by Steve Wright and Chris Graves.  This book has been very helpful for me to understand my privilege and responsibility to disciple my own children.  Thoroughly biblical as well as refreshingly practical.








Determining God's Will

Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach to Finding God's Will by Kevin DeYoung.  This book is challenging yet liberating, as it claims.  DeYoung challenges many of our contemporary beliefs regarding understanding God's will and backs his challenges up with biblical and solid theological truth.  This book is short, sweet and to the point.








Children and Family


Seeds Family Worship This company has multiple albums of great children's worship music and other media that is both biblical and musically rich. Seeds Family Worship's mission is to, "  "get God’s Word through Seeds into as many homes (and hearts) as possible around the world." https://www.seedsfamilyworship.com/ 








Club Jelly Telly This is an online network of videos, games, and other media that comes from a faith-based perspective developed by VeggieTails creator Phil Vischer.  This contains a wealth of fun Christian media for developed for children.  www.jellytelly.com



What's In The Bible This is a new DVD series, also created by Phil Vischer, designed to walk kids and their families through the Bible in a fun and exciting way.  I have found these DVD's to be very theologically sound yet refreshingly entertaining (and my kids love them).  The depth of biblical content is surprisingly comparable to what you find at a Bible college or seminary!  www.whatsinthebible.com

The Big Picture Story Bible by David Helm. As written on Crossway's website, "Everyone loves a good story—especially children! But what we sometimes overlook is that the Bible is more than a collection of great stories. It is the real account of God’s love for the world.

The Big Picture Story Bible presents this remarkable true story. Simple words and striking illustrations unfold the storyline of God’s Word from Genesis to Revelation. All ages will enjoy this exciting discovery of a God who keeps his big promise." Our family has thoroughly enjoyed this book. Our first copy has been read from front to back numerous times and is falling apart. www.crossway.org/books/the-big-picture-story-bible

This book is great for ages 2-7.

The Gospel Story Bible By Marty Machowski. "Marty Machowski puts God's plan of salvation in Christ on continuous display in The Gospel Story Bible. The easy-to-read storybook introduces your family to many captivating people, places, and events from the Bible's Old and New Testaments, showing how each one ultimately points to Jesus.

As you share these gospel-centered Bible stories together, you and your family will meet Jesus and learn a new, life-changing way of recognizing Christ as the hero of every story. Vibrant illustrations, child-friendly discussion questions, and Scripture references accompany each narrative to help you lead in effective family Bible study. You will be delighted to discover how easily even a young child can understand the original text of a story that he or she has already come to love. Ideal as a storybook for your preschooler, a devotional for your grade school student, a refresher for the adult believer, or an introduction for the new one.... Machowski has also authored many other children's books that are solid resources for children and families.

The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name by Sally Lloyd-Jones is a great book for showing how all of the Bible points to Jesus. This book shows the big story of the Bible in a way that is fun and accessible to children. Our family loves this book. www.jesusstorybookbible.com 

The New City Catechism  "The New City Catechism is a modern-day resource aimed at helping children and adults alike learn the core doctrines of the Christian faith via 52 questions and answers." This resource comes in two styles of books, is online and available in an app. The online version and the app have songs Scripture readings, videos, and commentary that can be modified to suit children or adults. newcitycatechism.com  

Evangelism and Discipleship

The Master Plan of Evangelism by Robert E. Coleman.  In this book, Coleman takes a good look at how Jesus did evangelism and seeks to draw out practical applications for how we can make disciples Jesus' way.  This short and exciting read makes you think and gives the reader some very helpful insights into how to follow Jesus and fulfill the "Great Commission." This is a foundational book in learning how to make disciples.

With: A Practical Guide to Informal Mentoring and Intentional Disciple Making by Alvin Reid and George Robinson. This book argues that one of the most effective forms of disciple making is informal intentional mentoring.  Alvin and George helpfully explain how to make disciples by bringing people into your life and being with them throughout ministry and everyday life. One of the helpful things about this book is that the authors show you how to make disciples without adding any extra events onto your calendar.  

Aspire: Part One: Transformed by the Gospel by Matt Rogers "...is a 15-week study, written in two parts, designed to be used to disciple believers in the local church. Each week's study combines rich theological content and clear practical application in a journal-based format. Ideal for one-on-one discipleship relationships, Aspire guides believers toward life-long transformation." This book would be ideal for one-on-one discipleship with a new believer or even a basic Christianity class for the church. Part one gives the overarching story of the Bible working from Creation to Eternity and how this changes the world. I highly recommend this workbook.  

Christian Life 


Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God by Francis Chan.  My wife and I recently listened to the audio version of this book and were both left deeply convicted.  This book challenges us to live our lives in light of the overwhelming love of God.  Chan writes in an easy to read style, but the things he says are not always easy to hear.  Check it out, reading it may change your life.







Biblical and Ministry Training

A Basic Guide to Interpreting the Bible: Playing by the Rules by Dr. Robert Stein is a helpful and accessible guide to understanding how to interpret the Bible according to its various genres and apply the Bible to life. This book is ideal for equipping and discipling believers in regards to correctly understanding and applying the Bible. It is well suited for individual and group study having questions at the end of every chapter. (240 pages)

From Creation to the Cross: Understanding the First Half of the Bible by Albert H. Baylis is a readable resource surveying the story of Old Testament. This book gives an accessible overview the Old Testament showing how all of the Old Testament leads to Jesus. There are helpful questions at the end of every chapter making it a great resource for one-on-one discipleship or group study. (400 pages)

What The New Testament Authors Really Cared About: A Survey of Their Writings edited by Kenneth Berding and Matt Willimas is an extremely accessible resource exploring the books and message of the New Testament. This book is well suited for either a high school or undergraduate level student. I have used this book in one on discipleship and have found it to be very helpful. (304 pages)

Introducing the New Testament: A Short Guide to Its History and Message by D.A. Carson, Douglas J. Moo and Andrew David Naselli is very short and informative introduction to the New Testament. Each chapter gives a very brief overview of a particular book of the Bible and gives a brief overview of the outline, most important information and some theological debates. This book is a good supplement to Berding and Williams' book above. (176 pages)

BiblicalTraining.org is a website that offers extensive biblical and theological training to any and everyone with access to a computer.  It is free or extremely cheap and is taught by well known biblical scholars.  You can learn from anywhere.  Here is what their website states, 

"BiblicalTraining helps to make fully-devoted disciples by creating world-class educational resources for use within the community of the church.

Over 900 hours of instruction (73 classes), and constantly growing

Wide range of topics, from new believers, lay and elder training, to seminary-level classes

Top professors from 14 schools

Broadly evangelical, not tied to any one church, denomination, or theological tradition

We value holistic education (head, heart, hands) delivered in community in mentor/apprenticeship relationships"

Check out the website at, http://www.biblicaltraining.org/

The Gospel Coalition Courses, or TGC Learn, is a ministry the The Gospel Coalition that contains a variety of free Christian courses. On their page they explain, "TGC Learn is designed to help people around the world learn more about God and the Christian life. We have tried to reduce barriers to entry, creating a place where you can come to know and love God and the holy Scriptures in a more profound way." On the site you can watch lectures, read lecture notes, and see a recommended reading list of books.

Check out TGC Courses at, https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/courses