Recommended Reading
Recommended Reading Resources
This is not a comprehensive list and is constantly in flux with additions and subtractions. The additions on this page are a mix of genres that I have found instructive and helpful. No doubt the choice to include any given work does not indicate that I wholeheartedly agree with every portion but, in some way, I find it beneficial to the pursuit of knowing and loving God. Some will find this list random and capricious and, no doubt, it is. I hope you find this helpful.
Reflections on the Gospel
The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith (Tim Keller)
Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense (N. T. Wright)
The Naked Gospel: The Truth You May Never Hear in Church (Andrew Farley)
Pastoral Ministry
Brothers, We Are Not Professionals: A Plea to Pastors for Radical Ministry (John Piper)
Why Johnny Can’t Preach: The Media Have Shaped the Messengrs (T. David Gordon)
You Can Change: God’s Transforming Power for Our Sinful Behavior and Negative Emotions (Tim Chester)
Missions
Let the Nations Be Glad!: The Supremacy of God in Missions (John Piper)
To the Golden Shore: The Life of Adoniram Judson (Courtney Anderson)
Through Gates of Splendor (Elisabeth Elliot)
Shadow of the Almighty: The Life and Testament of Jim Elliot (Elisabeth Elliot)
Reflections on Life and Faith
Searching for God Knows What (Donald Miller)
Hebrew Bible
The Pentateuch as Narrative (John Sailhamer)
Introduction to the Old Testament as Scripture (Brevard Childs)
The Meaning of the Pentateuch: Revelation, Composition, and Interpretation (John Sailhamer)
Introduction to Old Testament Theology: A Canonical Approach (John Sailhamer)
Dominion and Dynasty: A Biblical Theology of the Hebrew Bible (Stephen Dempster)
A Guide to Biblical Hebrew Syntax (Bill Arnold and John Choi)
Introduction to the Old Testament as Scripture (Brevard Childs)
Biblical Commentary
NIV Compact Bible Commentary (John Sailhamer)
The Epistle to the Philippians: A Commentary on the Greek Text (Peter O’Brien)
Biblical Interpretation
Exegetical Fallacies (D. A. Carson)
The Semantics of Biblical Language (James Barr)
Biblical Hermeneutics (Gerhard Maier)
Drama of Doctrine: A Canonical-Linguistic Approach (Kevin Vanhoozer)
Is There a Meaning in This Text (Kevin Vanhoozer)
Eclipse of Biblical Narraive (Hans Frei)
Church and Community
Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Faith in Community (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)
Biblical Foundations for Baptist Churches: A Contemporary Ecclesiology (John Hammett)
Total Church: A Radical Reshaping Around Gospel and Community (Tim Chester)
Discipleship
The Cost of Discipleship (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)
Don’t Waste Your Life (John Piper)
Topical Theology
The Revelation of God (Peter Jensen)
Scandalous: The Cross and Resurrection of Jesus (D. A. Carson)
The Cross of Christ (John Stott)
Biblical Theology
Biblical Theology: Retrospect and Prospect (Scott Hafemann)
Christian Ethics
God, Marriage, and Family: Rebuilding the Biblical Foundation (Andreas Köstenberger)
Who Are We?: Critical Reflections and Hopeful Possibilities (Jean Elshtain)
New Testament
Learn to Read New Testament Greek (David Black)
Apostle of the Crucified Lord: A Theological Introduction to Paul and His Letters (Michael Gorman)
Theodocy
The Innocence of God: Does God Ordain Evil? (Udo Middelmann)
A Creation-Order Theodicy: God and Gratuitous Evil (Bruce Little)
Church History
The Story of Christianity, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 (Justo Gonzalez)
Rebecca’s Children: Judaism and Christianity in the Roman World
Christian Subculture/Humor
The Unlikely Disciple: A Sinner’s Semester at America’s Holiest University (Kevin Roose)
Stuff Christians Like (Jonathan Acuff)
Hi Mark,
It’s been a while since I checked in on your blog. The recent matter brought you back to mind and it was a pleasant sensation.
It also leads me to ask you about a book that one of our men’s groups studied. I have looked through your blog and your book recommendations and didn’t find it. Have you read and reviewed Radical, by David Platt. I would very much like you thoughts about it.
I am heavily involved right now with the death of Bruce West — such a mixture of joy and sorrow that really puts Eccl. 3 into focus. Bruce and Maryanne and children had been worshipping and fellowshipping with us here at Living Proof before they left for Japan. They had really connected with so many of our members, including Harriett and me. I certainly don’t understand what God is up to in this, but know and trust that it will serve as he has purposed.
We also celebrated our 10th Anniversary this past weekend, with about 140 in worship. God is doing marvelous things with our people here.
In His service @LPBC,
Del
Thank you for the kind words. I had the pleasure of grabbing lunch with your pastor sometime last year and it was wonderful.
Whitney and I were sad we could not attend the LPBC 10th anniversary celebration. I was able to talk to Marco on that Sunday and he recapped how the service went. I have such wonderful memories about LPBC and the people there. Not only was it a wonderful place to worship and serve during my W&M time, it really was one of the main reasons I have pursued pastoral ministry.
As far as the book you mentioned. I have read Radical but have not officially reviewed it. As you may (or may not know), in addition to my pastoral duties in Suffolk I am also working on a Ph.D. at SEBTS. As such, I have had very limited time to blog or write outside of class. When I read “Radical,” I was greatly challenged by its content. David Platt has been a faithful expositor and good communicator through the previous years. While some of the practical applications of the book may leave something to be desired, the basic point stands — being a follower of Christ requires radical, whole-hearted, scandalous, and sacrificial obedience. Discipleship cannot be part-time. If our churches are going to fulfill the mission of God, they need to step out in faith in all areas. Since each and every believer is a part of the “the church,” that means that you and I must be at the front lines of this kind of commitment. All that to say, its a good book.
As far as Bruce and his family, we are still coming to terms with that situation. Bruce and Maryann came to start Crusade at WM my freshman year. I actually lived in their house one summer! Bruce and I met countless times for one-on-one discipleship over coffee or with others to play football, frisbee, or basketball. We planned worship services, evangelism initiatives, and campus-wide events. We wrote Bible Study curriculum for our campus small groups one year. His death has caused us immense heartache but it has also been a time to reflect, put things in perspective, and thank God for the role Bruce played in the discipleship of many. In addition, I’ve been able to connect with many friends from Campus Crusade with whom I haven’t talked in some time. Whitney and I hope to make it to any memorial service for Bruce that happens in Williamsburg whenever that occurs. It has been difficult to think of how much Maryann must be struggling. I can’t even imagine. I’ve been collecting some pictures that I have of Bruce and I and hope to put a letter together for Maryann, Benjamin, Joanna, and Jonathan so they can see the impact that their husband/father had on Whitney and I.
I’m excited to see how God is continuing to use LPBC.
In Christ,
Mark