Resources for Mature Christians

Compared with the new Christian and growing Christian pages, this page has more classic books that have stood the test of time.  Many of the books were written by the Puritans and are recommended due to their intensive use of the Bible compared with more recently written books.  The book list is designed to serve laymen and is not academic.

Recommended books:

  • Discipleship – in whatever you do, do all for the glory of God
    • Great Gain of Godliness by Thomas Watson: How should we live and why
    • A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life by William Law: Classic of spiritual discipline
    • The Sinfulness of Sin by Ralph Venning: Find out how much God hates sin. Read highlights from Section Two
    • Spiritual Mindedness by John Owen: Learn how to think of things beyond our world
    • The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs: Consider what you have rather than what you don’t.  Review a brief summary of key points
    • The Christian in Complete Armor by William Gurnall: Very long, but profound treatise on the spiritual armor we are to put on daily
  • God and His plan – in the beginning God created
    • The Glory of Christ by John Owen: Amazing explanation of God’s glory and its meaning
    • The Sovereignty of God by AW Pink: Detailed explanation of how God is in control
    • A Body of Divinity by Thomas Watson: Exposition of the first set of questions from the Westminster Shorter Catechism
    • Religious Affections by Jonathan Edwards
    • The End for Which God Created the World by Edwards: Answers the question of purpose for God’s creation
    • The Christ of the Covenants by O Palmer Robertson: Introduction to covenant theology
  • Prayer – we have not ceased to pray for you
    • Call to Spiritual Reformation by DA Carson: Book about prayer that focuses on how Paul prayed
    • Valley of Vision by Arthur Bennett: One page prayers by Puritans on a variety of topics will help your devotional life if you pray through them meditatively
  • Suffering and trials – have you considered by servant Job?
    • All Things for Good by Thomas Watson: Great book for those who are suffering or expect to suffer in the future (all of us)
    • How Long O Lord by DA Carson
    • Suffering and the Sovereignty of God by John Piper and Justin Taylor: Addresses suffering from both a theological and pastoral perspectives
    • The Problem of Pain by CS Lewis: Deals with the philosophical problem of evil and suffering
  • Work and wealth
    • Redeeming the Time by Leland Ryken
    • Neither Poverty Nor Riches by Craig Blomberg
    • Business to the Glory of God by Wayne Grudem
  • Other topics
    • No Place for Truth by David Wells: Diagnosis of the problems the lack of theological teaching is causing in the church
    • The Christian Mind by Harry Blamires
    • The Historical Reliability of the Gospels by Craig Blomberg
    • Miracles by CS Lewis
    • Christian Ethics by Norman Geisler
    • Flatland by Edwin Abbott: This book is not for everyone because it is a story of dimensionality within geometry, but it has interesting theological implications.  I recommend skimming the beginning
    • Joel Beeke’s book recommendations: Recommendations on a variety of theology topics

Magazines:

Online resources:

Free seminary lectures:

Beyond your church

For ideas of where to contribute financially beyond your church see this list of small ministries to support