Pastor and People

Favorite Books:

The Christian in Complete Armour by William Gurnall

Memoir and Remains of Robert Murray M’Cheyne edited by Andrew Bonar

The Glory of Christ by John Owen

The Pleasures of God by John Piper

Jonathan Edwards: A New Biography by Iain Murray

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

John Adams by David McCullough

1776 by David McCullough

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Some of my favorite authors include (in no particular order):

Christian:Jonathan Edwards, Iain H. Murray, John Bunyan, Charles Spurgeon, John Owen, John Piper, David Wells, William Gurnall, Thomas Watson, John Calvin, J.I. Packer, R.C. Sproul, John MacArthur, Robert Murray M’Cheyne, D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Sinclair Ferguson.

Fictional: C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, J.K. Rowling

American History:David McCullough, Douglas Southall Freeman, Joseph Ellis, Gordon S. Wood.

My favorite publishing house: Banner of Truth - they publish some of the best written classical Christian works in existence. Please visit their site through the link on the front page.

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Books I recommend to every Christian:

The Mortification of Sin by John Owen - This book has changed my life and way I deal with sin and temptation. I would purchase The Banner of Truth edition. It is in the Puritan Paperback series. It is 130 pages and abridged and made easy to read by Richard Rushing.

The Pleasures of God by John Piper - To know God in His pleasures is to see Him as He is. Piper walks you through the pleasure of God in being God. This book is to be read slowly and heavily meditated upon for life changing effects.

Knowing God by J.I. Packer - Packer’s Knowing God has become a classic of the Christian faith. Why? While it gives us information about God with clarity and grace, it does much more—it aids us in actually knowing him, in building our relationship with him, and helps draw us closer to him in love and worship.

Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald S. Whitney - Dr. Whitney, through Scripture, shows the Christian how to integrate spiritual disciplines into the daily routine of life. This is a wonderful book and your life will not doubt be transformed!

The Gospel According to Jesus by John MacArthur - What did Jesus mean when he said, “Follow me”? MacArthur warns against the “easy-believism” proclaimed by many today, explains his understanding of biblical faith and works, emphasizes the high cost of discipleship, and reinforces his conviction that there is no eternal life without surrender to the Lordship of Christ.

Christian In Complete Armour by William Gurnall - This is a three volume set. David Wilkerson (author of The Cross and the Switchblade) writes: “I believe The Christian in Complete Armour, should be in the library of every man and woman of God. No Christian leader, teacher, pastor, evangelist, or Christian worker should be without it.”

(more book recommendations to come)

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Top 10 Recommended Banner of Truth Books for Pastor’s and Preacher’s

1. The Christian Ministry by Charles Bridges - One of the best and most comprehensive books ever written on the work of the ministry.

2. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones2 vol. set by Iain H. Murray - In vol. 1 you see the events that transported Martyn Lloyd-Jones from a glamouous Harley Street medical practice to a pastorate in an impoverished Welsh mining town make a magnificent biography. Then in vol. 2 the ministry of Martyn Lloyd-Jones at Westminster Chapel which began at the outbreak of World War II was suddenly changed at the point at which this volume begins. His hard work in the difficult War and post-War years became the preparation for his great influence in London in the fifties and sixties. But these pages trace his ministry into wider circles - to the Universities, to Europe, the United States, South Africa and ultimately, in his books, to the whole world.

3. The Christian Life: A Doctrinal Introduction by Sinclair Ferguson - The Christian Life expounds such key biblical themes as grace, faith, repentance, new birth, and assurance with clarity and contagious enthusiasm.

4. The Glory of Christ by John Owen - In The Glory of Christ, abridged and made easy to read by R. J. K. Law, we have the great Puritan pastor and theologian John Owen at his richest and most mature.

5. The Religious Affections by Jonathan Edwards - Jonathan Edwards is best known as the theologian of revival. In this, his major study on the theme, he analyses the nature of a genuine work of the Holy Spirit.

6. The Works of Jonathan Edwards 2 vol. set by Jonathan Edwards - The only full edition of Edwards’ Works currently available. ‘In my early days in the ministry there were no books which helped me more, both personally and in respect of my preaching, than this two-volume edition of The Works of Jonathan Edwards’ D. M. Lloyd-Jones.

7. Systematic Theology by Louis Berkhof - Berkhof’s one-volume compendium of Reformed theology holds an almost unique place in contemporary literature, expounding Christianity according to the historic Reformed position.

8. Thoughts on Religious Experience by Archibald Alexander - On the basis of fifty years as a pastor, preacher and professor at Princeton Theological Seminary, Archibald Alexander (1772-1851) deals with the subjective work of the Holy Spirit in the heart in all its phases, from the new birth until final preparation for heaven. This book was recommended to me by Iain Murray.

9. The Reformed Pastor by Richard Baxter - One of the best known classics on the work of the Christian ministry.

10. The Works of John Bunyan 3 vol. set by John Bunyan - These three quality volumes, first edited by George Offor (1853 and 1862) constitute the only available standard edition of his works.