“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:
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