Tier 2 Reading List

 

Old Testament/New Testament Studies

Introduction to Old Testament Theology – John Sailhamer

The Message of the Old Testament – Mark Dever

The Message of the New Testament – Mark Dever

*Introduction to New Testament Theology – Henry Theissen

Making Sense of the New Testament – Craig Blomberg

New Testament Theology – Tom Schreiner

Paul and His Letters – John Polhill

*Theological Dictionary of the Bible – Walter Elwell

 

Hermeneutics

*A Basic Guide to Interpreting the Bible– Robert Stein

Living by the Book – Howard Hendricks

Gospel-Centered Hermeneutics – Graeme Goldsworthy

*Rightly Divided, Readings in Hermeneutics – ed. Roy Zuck

The Hermeneutical Spiral – Grant Osbourne

Hermeneutics, Authority and Canon – D.A. Carson/John Woodbridge

 

Systematic Theology

*Basic Theology – Charles Ryrie

Institutes of the Christian Religion – John Calvin

*Lectures in Systematic Theology – Henry Thiessen

*Systematic Theology ( 4 Volume Set) – Norm Geisler

 

Christian Theology – Millard Ecrickson

Doctrine of the Bible

Christianity and Liberalism – J. Gresham Machen

*Doctrine of the Bible – David Dockery

*General Introduction to the Bible – Norm Geisler

God, Revelation and Authority 6 vol – Carl Henry

*Inerrancy – Norm Geisler

Knowing Scripture – R.C. Sproul

The Inspiration of Authority of the Bible – B.B. Warfield

*Why I Believe the Bible – John Macarthur

 

Doctrine of God

*Knowledge of the Holy – A.W. Tozer

No One Like Him – John Feinberg

*Our Awesome God – John MacArthur

The Doctrine of God – John Frame

The Existence and Attributes of God – Stephen Charnock

The Forgotten Trinity – James White

Understanding the Trinity – Alister McGrath

Doctrine of Man and Sin

Sin and Temptation – John Owen

The Bondage of the Will – Martin Luther

The Christian View of Man – J. Gresham Machen

*The Freedom and Power of Forgiveness – John MacArthur

 

Christology

On the Incarnation - Athanasius

*The Battle for the Resurrection – Norman Geisler

The Cross of Christ – John Stott

The Glory of Christ – John Owen

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ – N.T. Wright

*The Virgin Birth of Christ – J. Gresham Machen

Doctrine of Salvation

How Can I Be Sure I’m a Christian? – Don Whitney

Justification and the New Perspective on Paul – Guy Walters

*Our Sufficiency in Christ – John MacArthur

The Cross-Centered Life – C.J. Mahaney

*The Gospel According to Jesus – John MacArthur

The Great Exchange – Jerry Bridges

 

Doctrine of the Holy Spirit

*Baptism, Filling, and Gifts of the Holy Spirit – W.A. Criswell

God’s Indwelling Presence – Hamilton

Showing the Spirit – D.A. Carson

Spirit Life – Jerry Vines

The Holy Spirit – Robert Gromacki

 

Ecclesiology (the doctrine of the church)

*Ashamed of the Gospel – John MacArthur

Believers Baptism – Tom Schreiner and Shawn Wright

Elders and Congregational Life – Phil Newton

*Fresh Wind Fresh Fire – Jim Cymbala

Membership Matters – Chuck Lawless

Polity – Mark Dever

Prophetic Untimliness – Os Guiness

*Surprising Insights from the Unchurched – Thom Rainer

The Deliberate Church – Mark Dever

*Dining with the Devil – Os Guinness

 

Eschatology

The Coming Prince – Sir Robert Anderson

*The Second Coming – John MacArthur

*Things to Come – Dwight Pentecost

Three Views on the Millennium and Beyond – ed. Gundry and Bock

 

Church History

*Baker History of the Church 5 vol – Woodbridge/Wright

Christianity’s Dangerous Idea – Alister McGrath

Creeds of Christendom 3 vol – Philip Schaff

Getting to Know the Church Fathers – Brian Litfin

*Heresies – Harold Brown

Surprising Work of God – Jonathan Edwards

The History of the Christian Church 8 vol – Philip Schaff

*The Light and the Glory – Peter Marshall

The 100 Most Important Events in Christian History – Curtis, Lang & Peterson

The Rise of Evangelicalism – Mark Noll

*Two Kingdoms – Clouse/Pierard/Yamauchi

 

Baptist Distinctives

*A Hill on Which to Die – Paul Pressler

Baptist Faith and Message 2000 – Douglas Blount and Joseph Wooddell

*Baptists and the Bible – Russ Bush and Tom Nettles

The Anabaptist Story – William Estep

The Baptists 3 vol. – Tom Nettles

*Why I’m a Baptist – Tom Nettles and Russell Moore

 

Ministry/Preaching

*Biblical Preaching – Haddon Robinson

Brothers We Are Not Professionals – John Piper

Criswell’s Guidebook for Pastors – W.A. Criswell

*Expository Preaching – John MacArthur

Lectures to My Students – Charles Spurgeon

*Pastoral Ministry – John MacArthur

Preaching and Preachers – Martin Lloyd-Jones

The Reformed Pastor – Richard Baxter

*A Parliamentary Guide for Church Leaders – C. Barry McCarty

*Leading and Managing Your Church – Carl George/Robert Logan

 

Counseling

*Biblical Counseling – John MacArthur

*Billy Graham Christian Worker’s Handbook

Boundaries – Henry Cloud/John Townsend

Competent to Counsel – Jay Adams

Counseling: How to Counsel Biblically – John MacArthur

Fearing Death – Billy Graham

Heaven – Criswell/ Patterson

*Psychology as Religion – Paul Vitz

Theology of Christian Counseling – Jay Adams

 

Evangelism/Missions

An Enquiry – William Carey

Exploring Evangelism – Mendell Taylor

Salvation to the Ends of the Earth – Andreas Kostenberger

The Soul Winner – Charles Spurgeon

 

Worship

*The Ultimate Priority – John MacArthur

Worship by the Book – D.A. Carson

 

Apologetics

*Christian Apologetics – Norm Geisler

*New Evidence That Demands a Verdict – Josh McDowell

*To Everyone an Answer – Beckwith, Craig & Moreland

Reasons for Faith – Scott Oliphint

*Reasonable Faith – William Lane Craig

*What if Jesus Had Never Been Born? – D. James Kennedy

*What if the Bible Had Never Been Written? – D. James Kennedy

*When Critics Ask – Norm Geisler

*When Skeptics Ask – Norm Geisler

*Christian Apologetics – Norm Geisler

*What’s So Great about Christianity – Dinesh D’Souza

 

Culture

A Christian Manifesto – Francis Shaeffer

Above all Earthly Powers – David Wells

All God's Children and Blue Suede Shoes – Kenneth Myers

*Amusing Ourselves to Death – Neil Postman

*Black and Right – Faryna/Stetson/Conti

*Cosmic Justice – Thomas Sowell

Christ and Culture Revisted – D.A. Carson

*Fit Bodies Fat Minds – Os Guiness

God In the Wasteland – David Wells

Losing our Virtue – David Wells

*No Place for Truth – David Wells

*Slouching Towards Gomorrah – Robert Bork

The Courage to be Protestant – David Wells

The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind – Mark Noll

Total Truth – Nancy Pearcey

How Now Shall We Live – Charles Colson / Nancy Pearcey

 

Art

*Art and the Bible – Francis Shaeffer

*Modern Art and the Death of a Culture – H. R. Rookmaker

*State of the Arts – Gene Veith

 

Politics/Government

Beyond Good Intentions – Doug Bandow

Citizen Christians – Richard Land / Russell Moore

*Coercing Virtue – Robert Bork

*Democracy by Decree – Ross Sandler/David Schoenbrod

*Evangelicals in the Public Square – J. Budziszewski

God and Government – Chuck Colson

Has Democracy Had Its Day? – Carl Henry

*Scalia Dissents – Kevin Ring

The Clash of Civilizations – Samuel Huntington

*The Culture of Disbelief – Stephen Carter

The Uneasy Conscience of Modern Fundamentalism – Carl Henry

*Why Religion Still Matters – Huston Smith

 

Reading

*How to Read a Book – Mortimer Adler

How to Read Slowly – James Sire

Reading Between the Lines – Gene Veith

 

Education

*Closing of the American Mind – Allan Bloom

*Left Back – Diane Ravitch

*Psychology as Religion – Paul Vitz

Recovering the Lost Tools of Learning – Doug Wilson

The Case for Classical Christian Education – Doug Wilson

*The Language Police – Diane Ravitch

Tyranny Through Public Education – William Cox

 

Economics/Finances

*Basic Economics – Thomas Sowell

*Money, Possessions and Eternity – Randy Alcorn

The Complete Financial Guide for Young Couples – Larry Burkett

The Total Money Makeover – Dave Ramsey

The Treasure Principle – Randy Alcorn

 

Ethics

*Christian Ethics - Norm Geisler

*Evangelical Ethics – John Jefferson Davis

How to be a Christian in a Brave New World – Nigel Cameron & Joni Tada

The Doctrine of the Christian Life – John Frame

 

Abortion

*Abortion and the Sanctity of Human Life – Francis Beckwith

Politically Correct Death – Francis Beckwith

*Pro-Life Answers to Pro-Choice Arguments – Randy Alcorn

The Hand of God – Bernard Nathanson

Why Pro-Life? – Randy Alcorn

 

Homosexuality

The Homosexual Agenda – Alan Sears/Craig Osten

The Truth About Same Sex Marriage – Erwin Lutzer

 

 

Science

*Darwin on Trial – Phillip Johnson

*Dawkins’ GOD – Alister McGrath

Defeating Darwinism – Philip Johnson

*In Six Days – John Ashton

*Law, Darwinism, and Public Education – Francis Beckwith

*Limitations of Scientific Truth – Nigel Brush

Redeeming Science – Vern Poythress

*Refuting Compromise – Jonathan Sarfati

*The Battle for the Beginning – John MacArthur

*The Dawkins Delusion – Alister McGrath

*The Design Revolution – William Dembski

*The Devil’s Delusion – David Bellinski

*The Reenchantment of Nature – Alister McGrath

The Soul of Science – Nancy Pearcey

*The Spiritual Brain – Mario Beauregard/Denyse O’Leary

*The Structure of Scientific Revolutions – Thomas Kuhn

 

Other Religions/Cults

*Kingdom of the Cults – Walter Martin

*Mormonism Unmasked – Phil Roberts

*Roman Catholics and Evangelicals – Norm Geisler

*The Secret Teachings of the Masonic Lodge – John Ankerberg/John Weldon

*Unmasking the New Age – Doug Groothuis

*Unveiling Islam – Ergun and Emir Caner

 

 

Open Theism

Beyond the Bounds – John Piper

God’s Lesser Glory – Bruce Ware

No Other God – John Frame

 

Pluralism/Relativism

Gagging of God – D.A. Carson

Relativism – Francis Beckwith & Greg Koukl

 

 

Postmodernism/Emerging Church

*Becoming Conversant with the Emerging Church – D.A. Carson

*Postmodern Times – Gene Veith

*The Challenge of Postmodernism – David Dockery

Truth and the New Kind of Christian – R. Scott Smith

Why We’re Not Emergent (by two guys who should be) – Kevin DeYoung & Ted Kluck

The Charismatic Movement

*Charismatic Chaos – John MacArthur

Christianity in Crisis – Hank Hanegraaff

The Agony of Deceit – ed. Michael Horton

*Tongues in Biblical Perspective – Charles Smith

*Understanding Spiritual Gifts – Robert Thomas

 

 

Spiritual Life

A Hunger for God – John Piper

A Passion for Prayer – Tom Elliff

Desiring God – John Piper

Pursuit of Holiness – Jerry Bridges

Respectable Sins – Jerry Bridges

Simplify Your Spiritual Life – Don Whitney

Spiritual Depression – Martin Lloyd-Jones

The Call – Os Guinness

The Complete Works of E.M. Bounds on Prayer – E.M. Bounds

The Godly Man’s Picture - Thomas Watson

*The Keys to Spiritual Growth – John MacArthur

*The Pillars of Christian Character – John MacArthur

The Purity Principle – Randy Alcorn

*The Pursuit of God – A.W. Tozer

When God Doesn’t Make Sense – James Dobson

 

 

Leadership

*Spiritual Leadership – J. Oswald Sanders

*The Book on Leadership – John MacArthur

 

Discipleship

Basic Christianity – John Stott

*Master Plan of Evangelism – Robert Coleman

*Spiritual Discipleship - J. Oswald Sanders

*The Cost of Discipleship – Dietrich Bonhoeffer

The Training of the Twelve – A.B. Bruce

 

Men

Disciplines of a Godly Man – Kent Hughes

Every Man’s Battle – Steven Arterburn

Sex is Not the Problem (lust is) – Josh Harris

Tender Warrior – Stu Webber

 

 

Women

Evangelical Feminism – Wayne Grudem

Fearlessly Feminine – Jani Ortlund

Feminine Appeal – Carolyn Mahaney

Passion and Purity – Elisabeth Elliot

 

 

Marriage/Family/Parenting

Bringing Up Boys – James Dobson

Family-Driven Faith – Voddie Baucham

*Raising a Modern-Day Knight – Robert Lewis

*Sacred Parenting – Gary Thomas

Sex, Romance and the Glory of God – C.J. Mahaney

The Act of Marriage – Tim LaHaye

The Marriage Builder – Larry Crabb

When Sinners Say ‘I do’ – Dave Harvey

God on Sex: The Creator's Ideas About Love, Intimacy, and Marriage – Daniel Akin

 

Christian Classics/Literature

*Abolition of Man – C.S. Lewis

City of God - Augustine

Confessions - Augustine

Great Books of the Christian Tradition – Terry Glaspey

*Orthodoxy – G.K. Chesterton

Pensees – Blaise Pascal

Pilgrims Progress – John Bunyan

*Screwtape Letters – C.S. Lewis

The Brothers Karamazov – Fyodor Dostoevsky

The Chronicles of Narnia – C.S. Lewis

Till We Have Faces – C.S. Lewis

*More Than Conquerors, ed. John Woodbridge

 

Biography

 

Augustine

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

David Brainerd

John Bunyan

John Calvin

William Carey

Amy Carmichael

Chuck Colson

Jonathan Edwards

Jim Elliot

John “Praying Hyde”

Carl Henry

Adoniram Judson

John Knox

C.S. Lewis

David Livingston

Martin Luther

J. Gresham Machen

D.L. Moody

George Mueller

John Newton

John Patton

Francis Shaeffer

Charles Spurgeon

C.T. Stud

The Cambridge Seven

Hudson Taylor

William Tyndale

John Wesley

George Whitefield

William Wilberforce

John Wycliffe