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Writer's pictureJohn Davis

100+ Book Recommendations By Category

Updated: Mar 8, 2022

The other day someone asked if I would put together a list of book recommendations. Well... if I must.


I absolutely love to read. It's a significant part of my job. I also consider the task of steering people toward good books and away from bad ones as part of the job of pastors and elders. This is shepherding the flock.


Below are some of my highest recommendations by category. You might read through the list and think, "WHAT?! HOW IN THE WORLD DID YOU LEAVE OFF ____________?!?!?" The answer is simple: either I haven't read that book... or I didn't think it was as good as you did. These recommendations are completely subjective and limited to what I have had the chance to read.


Also, know that I do not line up theologically with every author on this list. Believe it or not, you can greatly benefit from the thoughts of Christians who don't attend the same kind of church as you do! I certainly have.


PARENTS: I've included a category on kids books at the bottom because there have been some absolutely great kids books come out recently that have greatly benefitted my family. Check them out!


Finally... if you only have time to read one book, make it the Bible.


God

Knowing God - J.I. Packer

The Pursuit of God - A.W. Tozer

God Most High - Jack Cottrell


Christ

The Cross of Christ - John Stott

The Final Days of Jesus - Andreas Kostenberger & Justin Taylor

Knowing Christ - Mark Jones

The Jesus Storybook Bible - Sally Lloyd-Jones


The Holy Spirit

Power From On High - Jack Cottrell

Forgotten God - Francis Chan


The Bible

The Faith Once for All - Jack Cottrell

Authorized: The Use and Misuse of the King James Bible - Mark Ward

Taking God At His Word - Kevin DeYoung

Reading the Bible Supernaturally - John Piper

A Peculiar Glory - John Piper

Women of the Word - Jen Wilkin

Canon Revisited - Michael Kruger


Prayer

A Call to Prayer - J.C. Ryle

Prayer - Tim Keller

Prayer - Philip Yancey

Praying the Bible - Donald Whitney


Christian Living

Spiritual Disciplines - Donald Whitney

Union with Christ - Rankin Wilbourne

Thoughts for Young Men - J.C. Ryle

Every Good Endeavor - Tim Keller

A Hunger for God - John Piper

Devoted to God: Blueprints for Sanctification - Sinclair Ferguson


Spiritual Gifts

Spiritual Gifts - Thomas Schreiner

What Are Spiritual Gifts? - Kenneth Berding

Strange Fire - John MacArthur


Spiritual Warfare

The Screwtape Letters - C.S. Lewis

Fighting Satan - Joel Beeke


Devotional/Encouragement

The Bruised Reed - Richard Sibbes

Loving the Way Jesus Loves - Phil Ryken

Gentle & Lowly - Dane Ortlund


The Church

What is the Mission of the Church? - Kevin DeYoung & Greg Gilbert

The Deliberate Church - Paul Alexander & Mark Dever

The Compelling Community - Mark Dever & Jamie Dunlop

The Prodigal Church - Jared Wilson


Worship

Corporate Worship - Matt Merker

Does God Care How We Worship? - Ligon Duncan


Evangelism

Evangelism as Exiles - Elliot Clark

Evangelism - J. Mack Stiles

Missions - Andy Johnson


Discipleship

Master Plan of Evangelism - Robert Coleman

The Trellis and the Vine - Colin Marshall


Preaching

Lectures to My Students - Charles Spurgeon

On Preaching - H.B. Charles

Simplicity in Preaching - J.C. Ryle

Expositional Preaching - David Helm


Suffering

How Long, O Lord? - D.A. Carson

Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy - Mark Vroegop

Walking With God Through Pain and Suffering - Tim Keller

Spiritual Depression - Martyn Lloyd-Jones


Homosexuality

Is God Anti-Gay? - Sam Allberry

Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert - Rosaria Butterfield

Same-Sex Attraction and the Church - Ed Shaw

What Does the Bible Really Say About Homosexuality? - Kevin DeYoung


Marriage

The Meaning of Marriage - Tim Keller

Marriage and the Mystery of the Gospel - Ray Ortlund

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


Parenting

Parenting - Paul Tripp

Shepherding a Child’s Heart - Tedd Tripp

The Life We Never Expected - Andrew Wilson (special needs kids)


Apologetics

Can We Trust the Gospels? - Peter Williams

Making Sense of God - Tim Keller

Mere Christianity - C.S. Lewis

Confronting Christianity - Rebecca McLaughlin


Baptism

Baptism - Jack Cottrell


Politics

How The Nations Rage - Jonathan Leeman

God and Politics - Mark Dever


Women in Ministry

Men and Women in the Church - Kevin DeYoung

Two Views on Women in Ministry - James Beck

Women in the Church - Andreas Kostenberger & Thomas Schreiner


Church History

Union in Truth: An Interpretive History of the Restoration Movement - James North

Church History in Plain Language - Bruce Shelley


Calvinism and Arminianism

The Bible Versus Calvinism - Jack Cottrell

Grace, Faith, & Free Will - Robert Picirilli


The End Times

The Bible and the Future - Anthony Hoekema

From Now to Eternity: Prophecy and the End Times - Jack Cottrell


Leadership

The Conviction to Lead - Albert Mohler

A Tale of Three Kings - Gene Edwards


Culture

The Gathering Storm - Albert Mohler

The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self - Carl Trueman

The Intolerance of Tolerance - D.A. Carson

The Case for Life - Scott Klusendorf


Fiction

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

The Wingfeather Saga - Andrew Peterson

Lonesome Dove - Larry McMurtry

Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen

The Chronicles of Narnia - C.S. Lewis


Biography

Here I Stand: the Biography of Martin Luther - Roland Bainton

Tyndale: The Man Who Gave God an English Voice - David Teems

Unbroken - Laura Hillenbrand

Spurgeon - Arnold Dallimore

Let the Trumpet Sound (Martin Luther King, JR) - Stephen B. Oates

Amazing Grace: William Wilberforce - Eric Metaxas

A Burning in My Bones: The Authorized Biography of Eugene H. Peterson - Winn Collier


Productivity

Deep Work - Cal Newport

Do More Better - Tim Challies

What’s Best Next - Matt Perman


Pornography

Finally Free - Heath Lambert

Wired for Intimacy - William Struthers

The Death of Porn - Ray Ortlund


Other Life Issues

What Grieving People Wish You Knew About What Really Helps - Nancy Guthrie

Transgender - Vaughan Roberts

Gender Ideology - Sharon James


Kids Books

The Jesus Storybook Bible - Sally Lloyd-Jones

The Friend Who Forgives - Dan Dewitt

Jesus and the Very Big Surprise - Randall Goodgame

God’s Very Good Idea - Trillia Newbell

The Moon is Always Round - Jonathan Gibson

God Made All of Me - Justin & Lindsey Holcomb

The Garden, the Curtain, and the Cross - Carl Laferton

A Child’s First Book About Marriage: God’s Way is Always Best - Jani Ortlund


Anything written by these authors will be good…

Jack Cottrell

Timothy Keller

Sam Allberry

C.S. Lewis

Jen Wilkin


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