Recommended Reading
Stonegate Men -
As a husband and father, you are the resident theologian of your home. As you talk at the dinner table, sit in the living room, and tuck kids into bed, you are teaching theology to your family. To help you in that journey, we have a few recommendations for you.
- Bible (English Standard Version). You also need a good, reliable Bible. We preach from the English Standard Version on Sunday morning and recommend the ESV Study Bible for those in the market for a new Bible. We recommended this version for two reasons: 1) it's a literal translation and 2) it is very readable.
- 2013 Bible Reading Plan. This is the plan we'll be following as a church in 2013. Get your copy of The 2013 Bible Reading any Sunday morning. You can also download a pdf at the link above to print at home (simply print 2-sided and fold in half).This reading plan was written by our friends at The Rooted Church in Fort Worth, TX.
- Bible Doctrine, by Wayne Grudem. Every family needs a great, readable, concise theology book. This book might also serve as a great discipleship tool for wives and children. This is our top recommendation.
In addition to these resources, we've compiled a list of books that we think will feed your soul. I love what the old puritan Thomas Watson once said, "When you find a chillness upon your souls, and that your former heat begins to abate, ply yourselves with warm clothes, get those good books that may acquaint you with such truths as may warm and affect your hearts." We hope, by the grace of God, that these books will have that sort of affect on you.
GOSPEL-CENTERED RESOURCES
You Can Change, Tim Chester
The Cross Centered Life, CJ Mahaney
The Gospel In Every Day Life, Jerry Bridges
The Disciple of Grace, Jerry Bridges
The Great Exchange: My Sin for His Righteousness, Jerry Bridges
The Prodigal God, Tim Keller
The Gospel In Life, Tim Keller
The Centrality of the Gospel, Tim Keller (pdf)
God is the Gospel, John Piper (pdf)
The Explicit Gospel, Matt Chandler
A Gospel Primer, Milton Vincent
Note to Self, Joe Thorn.
DEVOTIONAL BOOKS FOR THE FAMILY
Jesus Storybook Bible - Sally Lloyd-Jones
Training Hearts and Teaching Minds: Family Devotions Based on the shorter catechism, Starr Meade
Big Truths for Little Kids - Susan and Richie Hunt
THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
Don’t Waste Your Life, John Piper (pdf)
Master Plan of Evangelism, Robert Coleman
The Dangerous Duty of Delight - John Piper (pdf)
Everyday Church: Gospel Communities on Mission, Tim Chester & Steve Timmis
Counterfeit Gods, Tim Keller
Practice of the Presence of God – Brother Lawrence
Humility, CJ Mahaney
Wordliness, CJ Mahaney
How People Change - Timothy S. Lane and Paul David Tripp
When People Are Big and God is Small, Ed Welch
Future Grace, John Piper (pdf)
Just Do Something, Kevin Deyoung
The Pursuit of Holiness, Jerry Bridges
Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave, Ed Welch
At the Altar of Sexual Idolatry, Steve Gallagher
War of Words, Paul Tripp
SUFFERING
Suffering and the Sovereignty of God, John Piper (pdf)
Trusting God, Jerry Bridges
Be Still, My Soul, Nancy Gutherie
When God Weeps, Joni Eareckson Tada
How Long, O Lord?, D.A. Carson
FOR HUSBANDS
Disciplines of a Godly Man, R. Kent Hughes
Date your Wife, Justin Buzzard
The Exemplary Husband: A Biblical Perspective, Stuart Scott
Sexual Detox: A Guide for Guys who are Sick of Porn, Tim Challies
FOR WIVES
Feminine Appeal: Seven Virtues of a Godly Wife and Mother, Carolyn Mahaney
Let Me Be a Woman, Elisabeth Elliot
The Excellent Wife: A Biblical Perspective, Martha Peace
Her Husband’s Crown, Sara Leone
Girl Talk: Mother-Daughter Conversations on Biblical Womanhood, Carolyn Mahaney
ON MARRIAGE
What Did You Expect? Redeeming the Realities of Marriage, Paul Tripp
This Momentary Marriage, John Piper
(pdf)
Strenthening Your Marriage, Wayne Mack
The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God, Tim Keller
Love That Lasts: When Marriage Meets Grace, by Gary Ricucci, Betsy Ricucci, C. J. Mahaney, and Carolyn Mahaney
Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood – Wayne Grudem/John Piper
When Sinners Say I do, Dave Harvey
FOR PARENTS
Shepherding a Child's Heart, Tedd Tripp
The Age of Opportunity: A Biblical Guide to Parenting Teens, Paul David Tripp
Give them Grace, Elyse Fitzpatrick
Grace Based Parenting, Tim Kimmel
Future Men: Raising Boys to Fight Giants, Douglas Wilson
ADOPTION
Orphanology, Tony Merida
Reclaiming Adoption: Missional Living through the Rediscovery of Abba Father, by Dan Cruver
Adopted for Life, Russell Moore
MISSIONS
Let the Nations Be Glad, John Piper (pdf)
Operation World (21st Century Edition), Patrick Johnstone and Jason Mandryk
THEOLOGY
Bible Doctrine, Wayne Grudem
Christian Beliefs: twenty basics every Christian should know, Wayne Grudem
Concise Theology, J.I. Packer
Doctrine, Mark Driscoll
Knowing God, J.I. Packer
Chosen by God, R.C. Sproul
The Holiness of God - R.C. Sproul
Desiring God, John Piper
(pdf)
Pleasures of God, John Piper
(pdf)
Vintage Jesus, Mark Driscoll
Why We are Not Emergent, Kevin Deyoung and Ted Cluck
The Cross of Christ, John Stott
The One True God, Paul Washer
On the New Testament: a book you'll actually read, Mark Driscoll
On the Old Testament: a book you'll actually read, Mark Driscoll
On Who is God: a book you'll actually read, Mark Driscoll
Works of Jonathan Edwards
Works of John Owen Christian
APOLOGETICS
The Reason for God, Tim Keller
Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis
The Case for Christ, Lee Strobel
CLASSICS
Pilgrim’s Progress, John Bunyan
Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis
Confessions, Augustine
The Reformed Pastor, Richard Baxter
The City of God, Augustine
BIOGRAPHY
Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners, John Bunyan
In the Shadow of the Almighty or Through the Gates of Splendor, Jim Elliot
The Autobiography of George Muller
Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet,Spy, Eric Mataxes
Foxe’s Book of Martyrs – John Foxe
The Swan's Are Not Silent (4 part series), John Piper (pdf)
Tortured for Christ, Richard Wurmbrand
The Life and Diary of David Brainerd, Jonathan Edwards
William Tyndale: A biography, David Daniell
Surprised By Joy, C.S. Lewis
DAILY DEVOTIONALS
A Godward Life (part 1 or 2), John Piper
(pdf)
Mornings and Evenings with Charles Spurgeon
Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions, Arthur Bennett
We Shall See God, Randy Alcorn.
MONEY
The Treasure Principle, Randy Alcorn
Money, Possessions, and Eternity, Randy Alcorn
The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness, Dave Ramsey
Financial Peace, Dave Ramsey
All things Crown Financial.
THE CHURCH
Total Church, Tim Chester & Steve Timmis
Biblical Eldership. Alexander Strauch
On Church Leadership, Mark Driscoll
Vintage Church, Mark Driscoll
What is a Healthy Church Member, Thabiti Anyabwile
Stop Dating the Church, Josh Harris
Simple Church, Thom Rainer and Eric Geiger
CHURCH PLANTING
Church Planter, Darren Patrick
Total Church, Tim Chester and Steve Timmis
Church Planting Manual, Tim Keller
Planting Missional Churches, Ed Stetzer
Confessions of a Reformissional Rev: hard lessons from an emerging missional church - Mark Driscoll
COUNSELING
Instruments in the Hands of the Redeemer, Paul Tripp
Counseling: How to Counsel Biblically, John MacArthur and Wayne Mack
Cross Talk, Michael Emlet
Counsel from the Cross, Elyse Fitzpatrick
Redemption: Freed by Jesus from the Idols We Worship and the Wounds We Carry, Mike Wilkerson
Rid of My Disgrace: Hope and Healing for Victims of Sexual Assault, Justin Holcomb
CHURCH HISTORY
The Story of Christianity (Volume 1 and 2), Justo Gonzalez
History of Missions, Stephen Neill
MINISTRY
Lectures to My Students, Charles Spurgeon
Why Revival Taries, Leonard Ravenhill
9 Marks of a Healthy Church, Mark Dever
Brothers, We Are Not Professionals, John Piper
(pdf)
The Deliberate Church, Mark Dever
Leaders Who Last, Dave Kraft
Bloodlines: Race, Cross, and the Christian, John Piper (pdf)
PREACHING
Preaching Christ in All of Scripture, Ed Clowney
Christ-Centered Preaching, Bryan Chapell
Preaching and Preachers, Martyn Lloyd Jones
Lectures to my Students, Charles Spurgeon
Preaching the Cross, Mark Dever, Ligon Duncan, C.J. Mahaney, and others.
For a list of recommended commentaries, click here.