“The venerable dead are waiting in my library to entertain me and relieve me from the nonsense of surviving mortals.” ~ Samuel Davies

Often, we are requested by believers, particularly young believers, to recommend a list of books that have had a life shaping impact on our lives and ministry. While we may not necessarily agree with every statement in each book, these are some of the volumes that we recommend:

Don’s Recommended Book List

Theology

  • The Existence and Attributes of God by Stephen Charnock
  • Knowing God by J. I. Packer
  • Spurgeon vs. Hyper-Calvinism by Ian Murray
  • Great God of Wonders by Maurice Roberts
  • Knowledge of the Holy by A. W. Tozer
  • Father, Son and Holy Spirit by Bruce Ware
  • God’s Greater Glory by Bruce Ware

Autobiographies and Biographies

  • The Poetical Works and Memoir of William Cooper
  • The Life and Times of George Whitefield (Two volumes) by Arnold Dallimore
  • David Brainerd: His Life and Diary by Jonathan Edwards
  • Jonathan Edwards, A New Biography by Ian Murray
  • The Hidden Smile of God: The Fruit of Affliction in the Lives of Bunyan, Cowper and Brainerd by John Piper

Christian Life

  • The Discipline of Grace by Jerry Bridges
  • Pilgrims Progress by Jon Bunyan 
  • The Calvary Road by Roy Hession
  • The Gospel in Life by Timothy Keller
  • The Law of Christ by Charles Leiter
  • A Hunger for God by John Piper
  • Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper
  • Radical by David Platt
  • Joy Unspeakable by Martyn Lloyd Jones
  • The Pursuit of God by A. W. Tozer

Church

  • If You Bite and Devour One Another by A. Strauch
  • Nine Marks of a Healthy Church by Mark Dever
  • Love or Die by Alexander Strauch
  • Reckless Faith by John MacArthur

Counseling

  • Counsel from the Cross by D. Johnson & E. Fitzpatrick
  • Spiritual Depression by Martyn Lloyd Jones
  • Our Sufficiency in Christ by John MacArthur
  • Out of the Blue by Wayne Mack
  • When the Darkness Does Will Not Lift by John Piper
  • A Gospel Primer by Milton Vincent

Leadership

  • Leading with Love by Alexander Strauch

Marriage

  • Husbands and Wives by William J. Peterson
  • This Momentary Marriage by John Piper

Parenting

  • The Children for Christ by Andrew Murray
  • Duties of Parents by J. C. Ryle
  • Shepherding a Child’s Heart by Tedd Tripp

Prayer and Worship

  • The Complete Works of Prayer by E. M. Bounds
  • How to Worship Jesus Christ by Joseph Carroll
  • Prayer by O. Hallesby
  • The Hidden Life of Prayer by D. M. M’Intyre

Preaching

  • The Supremacy of God in Preaching by John Piper
  • Preaching Christ, The Heart of Gospel Ministry by Charles McIlvaine
  • Lectures to My Students by Charles Spurgeon
  • Preachers and Preaching by Martyn Lloyd Jones
  • What’s Wrong with Preaching Today by Al Martin

Revival and Spiritual Awakening

  • Revivals: Their Laws and Leaders by James Burns
  • Revival, A People Saturated with God by Brian Edwards
  • Jonathan Edwards on Revival
  • Religious Affections by Jonathan Edwards
  • Revival by Martyn Lloyd-Jones
  • Revival and Revivalism by Ian Murray
  • Pentacost Today? by Ian Murray
  • Why Revival Tarries by Leonard Ravenhill

Salvation and Conversion

  • The Explicit Gospel by Matt Chandler
  • Wasted Faith by Jim Elliff 
  • Today’s Gospel: Authentic or Synthetic by Walter Chantry
  • The Gospel According to Jesus by John MacArthur
  • Are You Born Again (Tract) by J. C. Ryle

Cindy’s Recommended Book List

Theology

  • The Attributes of God by A. W. Tozer
  • Knowledge of the Holy by A. W. Tozer
  • The One True God by Paul Washer
  • The Whole Christ by Sinclair Ferguson
  • Now, That’s a Good Question! by RC Sproul

Autobiographies and Biographies

  • Gladys Aylward, The Little Woman by Gladys Aylward and Christine Hunter
  • Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners, Autobiography of John Bunyan
  • The Hiding Place, Autobiography of Corrie ten Boom
  • Singing in the Fire by Faith Cook
  • Susanna Wesley by Arnold Dallimore
  • Marriage to a Difficult Man, The Uncommon Union of Jonathan & Sarah Edwards by Elisabeth D. Dodds 
  • A Chance to Die, The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael by Elisabeth Elliot
  • Climbing, Memoirs of a Missionary’s Wife by Rosalind Goforth
  • Amy Carmichael of Dohnavur by Frank Houghton
  • More Love to Thee, The Biography & Journal of Elizabeth Prentiss by Sharon James
  • Memories of Sandfields by Bethan Lloyd-Jones
  • The Autobiography of George Mueller
  • Husbands and Wives by William J. Peterson
  • The Swan Series (five volumes) by John Piper
  • Tapestry: Life and Times of Francis & Edith Schaeffer
  • My Queenly Mother by James Stewart
  • She Was Only 22 by James Stewart
  • To Die is Gain: the Triumph of John and Betty Stam by Mrs. Howard Taylor
  • Far Above Rubies: The Life of Bethan Lloyd-Jones by Lynette Clark
  • Joni by Joni Eareckson Tada
  • Evidence Not Seen by Darlene Deibler Rose

Christian Life

  • The Discipline of Grace by Jerry Bridges
  • The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan
  • The Value of Trials by Mrs. Judson Elliott
  • Ashamed of the Gospel by John MacArthur
  • A Hunger for God by John Piper
  • The Pursuit of God by A. W. Tozer
  • Spiritual Disciplines of the Christian Life by Donald Whitney
  • When God Weeps; Why Our Suffering Matters to the Almighty by Joni Eareckson Tada
  • A Lifetime of Wisdom; Embracing the Way of God by Joni Eareckson Tada
  • Anxious for Nothing by John MacArthur
  • A Place of Quiet Rest by Nancy Leigh DeMoss
  • Calm My Anxious Heart by Linda Dillow
  • Brokenness: The Heart God Revives by Nancy Leigh DeMoss Wolgemuth
  • Choosing Gratitude by Nancy Leigh DeMoss Wolgemuth
  • Choosing Forgiveness by Nancy Leigh DeMoss Wolgemuth
  • Desiring God by John Piper
  • A Hunger for God by John Piper

Counseling

  • Women Counseling Women by Elyse Fitzpatrick
  • Women Helping Women by Elyse Fitzpatrick
  • Counsel from the Cross by D. Johnson & E. Fitzpatrick
  • Spiritual Depression by Martyn Lloyd Jones
  • A Cluster of Camphire by Susannah Spurgeon

Devotional Books

  • My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers
  • Streams in the Desert by L. B. Cowman 
  • Hind’s Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard
  • Keep a Quiet Heart by Elizabeth Elliott
  • Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon
  • Free Grace & Dying Love by Susannah Spurgeon
  • New Morning Mercies by Paul David Tripp

Marriage

  •  Creative Counterpart by Linda Dillow
  • A Wife After God’s Own Heart by Elizabeth George
  • The Excellent Wife by Martha Peace
  • This Momentary Marriage by John Piper
  • What Did You Expect?; Redeeming the Realities of Marriage by Paul David Tripp

Parenting

  • Withhold Not Correction by Bruce Ray
  • Duties of Parents by J. C. Ryle
  • Spiritual Parenting by Charles Spurgeon
  • Shepherding a Child’s Heart by Tedd Tripp

Women

  • Lies Women Believe by Nancy Leigh DeMoss
  • A Woman After God’s Own Heart by Elizabeth George
  • Loving God With All Your Mind by Elizabeth George
  • Evangelical Feminism by Wayne Gruden
  • Radical Womanhood by Carolyn McCulley
  • Becoming a Titus 2 Woman by Martha Peace
  • Damsels in Distress by Martha Peace
  • Men and Women, Equal Yet Different by Alexander Strauch
  • Let Me Be a Woman by Elisabeth Elliot