"Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding."
~Proverbs 4:5-7
At Christ Redeemer Church, we believe that ongoing study is an important part of the Christian life. This page shares both articles and books that we have found helpful in understanding many subjects in light of the Gospel. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but it is a helpful start.
Books are divided into general recommendations and recommendations for further study.
Many of these books are also available on the book table in the lobby. For a complete list of books available, contact the church office.
Books are divided into general recommendations and recommendations for further study.
Many of these books are also available on the book table in the lobby. For a complete list of books available, contact the church office.
Where to Begin
Below is a very narrow selection of books to begin with, assuming one’s goal is to growing biblical knowledge and understanding of the most basic Gospel doctrine. There are many more books in the categories that follow for further study and growth.
Preschool & Elementary Children
- Big Picture Story Bible by David Helm
- Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name by Sally Lloyd-Jones (This book is really good for every age to read.)
- Big Truths for Young Hearts by Bruce Ware
Teens
- ESV Student Study Bible published by Crossway
- Transformed by Truth by Katharine Foster
Adults
- Church History: An Essential Guide by Justo Gonzalez
- Desiring God by John Piper
- ESV Study Bible published by Crossway
Christian Novice or Non-Believer
- "How Can I Know God?" by Dr. Tim Keller
- Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
- "The Gospel Study Guide" by Pastor Don Willeman
- The Walk by Stephen Smallman
Basic Christianity
- A Gospel Primer for Christians by Milton Vincent
- Basic Christianity by John Stott
- For Your Joy by John Piper
- Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
- Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton
- The Everlasting Man by G.K. Chesterton
- "The Gospel Declaration" by Converge Worldwide
- "The Gospel Stated Biblically"
- "The Gospel Study Guide" by Pastor Don Willeman
- Reason for God by Tim Keller
- Simply Christian by N.T. Wright
- The Prodigal God by Tim Keller
- The Walk by Stephen Smallman
- Ultimate Questions by John Blanchard
- "What is Worship?" by Don Willeman
Christianity Living
- Are Christians Human? by Nigel M. de S. Cameron
- A Praying Life by Paul Miller
- Desiring God by John Piper
- Do Hard Things by Alex & Brett Harris
- Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper
- "Fasting for the Purpose of Godliness"
- Gay Girl Good God by Jackie Hill Perry
- Holy Sexuality and the Gospel by Christopher Yuan
- How Long O Lord? by D. A. Carson
- Lies Women Believe by Nancy Leigh DeMoss
- Life Together by Deitrich Bonhoeffer
- Man in the Mirror by Patrick Morley
- Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan
- "Practical Aspects of Prayer & Fasting"
- Sex and the Supremacy of Christ by John Piper & Justin Taylor
- "The Psychological Implications of the Gospel" by Don Willeman
- The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
- The Walk by Stephen Smallman
- Thoughts on Fasting & Prayer from scripture and theologians
- Untangling Emotions by J. Alasdair Groves & Winston T. Smith
- War of Words by Paul David Tripp
- What is a Healthy Church Member? by Thabiti M Anyabwile
Marriage, Family, & Singleness
- 7 Myths about Singleness by Sam Allberry
- Adopted for Life by Russell D. Moore
- Age of Opportunity by Paul David Tripp
- For Men Only by Shaunti & Jeff Feldhahn
- For Parents Only by Shaunti Feldhahn & Lisa Rice
- For Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn
- Grace-Based Parenting by Tim Kimmel
- The Meaning of Marriage by Tim Keller
- The Mystery of Marriage by Mike Mason
- Passion and Purity by Elisabeth Elliot
- Shepherding a Child’s Heart by Tedd Tripp
- They Were Single Too by David M. Hoffeditz
- The Tech-Wise Family by Andy Crouch
- Tying the Knot by Rob Green
- When Sinners Say “I Do” by Dave Harvey
Children
- Big Picture Story Bible by David Helm
- Big Truths for Young Hearts by Bruce A. Ware
- CRC Family Devotional Guide by Don Willeman
- Egermeier’s Bible Story Book by Elsie Egermeier, Clive Uptton
- The Case for a Creator for Kids by Lee Strobel
- The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones
- The King Without a Shadow by R.C. Sproul
- The Lightlings by R.C. Sproul
- The Prince’s Poison Cup by R.C. Sproul
- The Case for Christ for Kids by Lee Strobel
- The Case for Faith for Kids by Lee Strobel
- The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
- The Gospel Story Bible by Marty Machowski
- The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones
Youth
- Discovering God’s Way of Handling Money by Howard Dayton, Bev Dayton
- ESV Student Study Bible published by Crossway
- Do Hard Things by Alex Harris, Brett Harris
- Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper
- Guys are Waffles, Girls are Spaghetti by Chad Eastham, Bill Farrel, Pam Farrel
- Just Do Something by Kevin DeYoung
- Lies Young Women Believe by Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Dannah Gresh
- Passion and Purity by Elisabeth Elliot
- The Case for Christ, Student Edition by Lee Strobel, Jane Vogel
- Transformed by Truth by Katherine Forster
Ministry & Mission
- Almost Christian by Kenda Creasy Dean
- Foolishness to the Greeks by Lesslie Newbigin
- Grounded in the Gospel by J.I. Packer, Gary A. Parrett
- Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands by Paul David Tripp
- Let the Nations Be Glad! by John Piper
- Ministries of Mercy by Tim Keller
- Preaching & Preachers by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
- The Cross and Christian Ministry by D. A. Carson
- The Gospel Commission by Michael Horton
- The Gospel in a Pluralist Society by Lesslie Newbigin
- The Trellis and the Vine by Colin Marshall & Tony Payne
- What is a Healthy Church Member? by Thabiti M Anyabwile
- What is the Mission of the Church? by Kevin DeYoung & Greg Gilbert
- Why We’re Not Emergent by Kevin DeYoung & Ted Kluck
- Worship by the Book by Edited by D.A. Carson
Vocation
- Aging Matters by Gary W. Cox, Mathew D. McCubbins
- Body Broken by Charles D. Drew
- Culture Care by Makoto Fujimura
- Every Good Endeavor by Timothy Keller
- Gray Matter by David Levy, Joel Kilpatrick
- Jesus Christ and the Life of the Mind by Mark A. Noll
- The Call by Os Guinness
- The Global Public Square by Os Guiness
- The Missional Entrepreneur by Mark Russel
- The Outrageous Idea of Christian Scholarship by George Marsden
- The Soul of the American University by George Marsden
- Third Calling by Dr. Richard Bergstrom and Leona Bergstrom
- Vocation by Douglass Schuurman
Public Matters
- A Free People’s Suicide by Os Guiness
- Body Broken by Charles D. Drew
- Christ & Culture Revisited by D. A. Carson
- Confident Pluralism by John D. Inazu
The Global Public Square by Os Guiness
Study Bibles
- ESV Seek and Find Bible published by Crossway
- ESV Study Bible published by Crossway
- NIV Zondervan Study Bible D.A. Carson, General Editor
The Reformation Study Bible P & R Publishers
Church History
- Church History: An Essential Guide by Justo Gonzalez
- Creeds of the Churches by John Leith
- Destroyer of the gods by Larry W. Hurtado
- Delighting in the Trinity by Michael Reeves
- Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther by Roland H. Bainton
- Jonathan Edwards: A Life by George M. Marsden
- The Forgotten Spurgeon by Ian Murray
- The Reading & Preaching of Scripture in the Worship of the Christian Church by Hughes Oliphant Old
- The Story of Christianity: Vol 1 & Vol 2 by Justo Gonzalez
- The Unquenchable Flame by Michael Reeves
- Our Legacy by John D. Hannah
- Readings in the History of Christian Theology Volume 1 and 2 by William C. Placher
- Rejoicing in Christ by Michael Reeves
- Spurgeon vs. Hyper-Calvinism by Ian Murray
- The Essential Edwards Collection by Owen Strachan & Doug Sweeney
- Reformation as Renewal by Matthew Barrett
Theology
- Augustine’s Confessions by Saint Augustine
- Calvin’s Institutes by John Calvin
- Christ & Culture Revisited by D. A. Carson
- Jesus Christ and the Life of the Mind by Mark A. Noll
- Justification by Francis Turretin
- Knowing God by J.I. Packer
- The Apostolic Preaching of the Cross by Leon Morris
- The Cross of Christ by John R.W. Stott
- The Holiness of God by R.C. Sproul
- The Pleasures of God by John Piper
- The Race Set Before Us by Thomas Schreiner & Ardel Caneday
- The Religious Affections by Jonathan Edwards
- The Wonderful Works of God by Herman Bavinck
- Against Heresies by Irenaeus
Biblical Studies
- According to Plan by Graeme Goldsworthy
- Can We Trust the Gospel? by Peter Williams
- God’s Big Picture by Vaughan Roberts
- How to Read the Bible Book by Book by Gordon D. Fee, Douglas Stuart
- Is the New Testament Reliable? by Paul Barnett
- Jesus and the Eyewitnesses by Richard Bauckham
- New Testament History by F.F. Bruce
- The Canon of Scripture by F. F. Bruce
- The Canon of the New Testament by Bruce M. Metzger
- The Case for Jesus by Brant Pitre
- The Historical Reliability of the Gospels by Craig Blomberg
- The Meaning of the Pentateuch by John H. Sailhamer
- The New Testament Documents by F.F. Bruce
- The Old Testament Documents by Walter C. Kaiser
Christian Worldview & Thought
- A Little Manual for Knowing by Esther Lightcap Meek
- Desiring the Kingdom by James K. A. Smith
- How (Not) to Be Secular by James K. A. Smith
- Loving to Know by Esther Lightcap Meek
- Francis Schaeffer Trilogy by Francis Schaeffer
- The Dartmouth Apologia: A Journal of Christian Thought
Notable Dartmouth Faculty Books
- The Island of Knowledge by Marcelo Gleiser