“It is not the reading of many books which is necessary to make a man wise and good, but the well-reading of a few, could he be sure to have the best.”
Richard Baxter

“When I get a little money I buy books; and if any is left I buy food and clothes.
Erasmus

“We read to know we are not alone.”
“A children’s story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children’s story in the slightest.”
C. S. Lewis

Church Library

At the moment, Rolleston Baptist Church does not have a dedicated library. We don’t even have a church building!

However, Joe’s library is available for use by anyone within the congregation upon request. You can find an online catalogue of Joe’s personal/pastoral library on LibraryThing.

Recommended Reading

As a starting point, here is a list of recommended books on various topics related to Christianity, the gospel and topical issues.

All of these books are available to borrow from Joe. To purchase a personal copy, you may like to support the following Kiwi Christian booksellers:

• The Good Book Company (NZ)
• Grace & Truth Publications

EXPLORING CHRISTIANITY

• Who Made God? – Edgar Andrews
• The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism – Timothy Keller
• The Walk: Steps for New and Renewed Followers of Jesus – Stephen Smallman
• The Case for Christ – Lee Strobel
• The God Who Is There – D.A. Carson

BASICS OF THE FAITH

• Rock Solid: 12 Gospel Truths to Live By – Ed. Trevor Archer and Tim Thornborough
• Knowing God – J.I. Packer
• Essential Truths of the Christian Faith – R.C. Sproul

SPIRITUAL GROWTH

• A Call to Spiritual Reformation – D.A. Carson
• One-to-One Bible Reading – David Helm
• Taking God Seriously: Vital Things We Need to Know – J.I. Packer
• Living the Cross Centered Life – C.J. Mahaney
• The Discipline of Grace – Jerry Bridges
• Christ’s Call to Discipleship – James Montgomery Boice
• Desiring God – John Piper
• Worldliness – CJ Mahaney
• Spiritual Disciplines of the Christian Life – Donald Whitney
• Power Through Prayer – E.M. Bounds

DISCERNMENT

• Minority Report – Carl Trueman
• The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment – Tim Challies

CHURCH

• What is a Healthy Church Member? – Thabiti M. Anyabwile
• Evangelism: How the Whole Church Speaks of Jesus – J. Mack Stiles
• Expositional Preaching: How We Speak God’s Word Today – David R. Helm
• Church Elders: How to Shepherd God’s People Like Jesus – Jeramie Rinne
• The Gospel: How the Church Portrays the Beauty of Christ – Raymond C. Ortlund Jr.
• Church Membership: How the World Knows Who Represents Jesus – Jonathan Leeman
• Church Discipline: How the Church Protects the Name of Jesus – Jonathan Leeman
• Sound Doctrine: How a Church Grows in the Love and Holiness of God – Bobby Jamieson
• Memoirs of an Ordinary Pastor – D.A. Carson
• The Deliberate Church: Building Your Ministry on the Gospel – Mark Dever
• The Church: The Gospel Made Visible – Mark Dever
• Life in the Father’s House – Wayne Mack & David Swavely
• The Trellis and the Vine – Colin Marshall & Tony Payne

THEOLOGY

• Ethics for a Brave New World, 2nd Ed. – John and Paul Feinberg
• Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine – Wayne Grudem
• The Cross of Christ – John Stott
• God’s Big Picture – Vaughan Roberts
• Biblical Theology in the Life of the Church – Michael Lawrence, Thomas Schreiner
• A Body of Divinity – Thomas Watson
• According to Plan – Graeme Goldsworthy

TOPICAL ISSUES

• The Meaning of Marriage – Tim and Kathy Keller
• This Momentary Marriage – John Piper
• Shepherding a Child’s Heart – Tedd Tripp
• Instructing a Child’s Heart – Tedd and Margy Tripp
• Withhold Not Correction – Bruce Ray
• Counsel from the Cross – Fitzpatrick & Johnson
• Between Two Worlds – John Stott

EVANGELISM AND APOLOGETICS

Apologetics:

• Reasons We Believe – Nathan Busenitz
• Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions – Greg Koukl

Personal Evangelism:

• Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God – J.I. Packer
• The Gospel and Personal Evangelism – Mark Dever
• Jesus The Son of God – D.A. Carson
• The Gospel for Muslims – Thabiti Anyabwile

Missions and Biographies:

• Let the Nations be Glad! – J.I. Packer
• Tortured for Christ – Richard Wurmbrand
• Shadow of the Almighty: The Life And Testament of Jim Elliot – Elisabeth Elliot
• God’s Smuggler – Brother Andrew
• Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret – Dr & Mrs Howard Taylor

LEADERSHIP AND PREACHING

• Spiritual Leadership – J. Oswald Sanders
• The Christian Ministry – Charles Bridges
• Brothers, We are not Professionals – John Piper
• D.L. Moody on Spiritual Leadership – Steve Miller
• Preaching and Preachers – Martin Lloyd Jones
• Finding Faithful Elders and Deacons – Thabiti M. Anyabwile

FAMILY READING

• Here the Reformation Begins: A Practical Discussion on Family Worship (reading list) (blog series) – 2014 Stand for the Gospel Conference

“The reading of all good books is like a conversation with the finest men of past centuries.”
René Descartes