Recommended Reading
Our recommended reading list includes a selection of articles and books categorized according to the main themes of Christ the King’s vision statement.
Please note: This list was carefully selected and represents some of the best available resources on the respective subjects. However, the views expressed by the authors may not always be reflective of the theological or doctrinal beliefs of Christ the King Presbyterian Church.
Exploring Christianity
Books
The Reason for God, by Tim Keller
Why I Am a Christian, by John Stott
Mere Christianity, by C.S. Lewis
Finding God at Harvard, by various authors
Basic Christianity, by John Stott
Articles
“How Can I Know God?” by Tim Keller
Growing in Christ
Books
The Christian Life by Sinclair Ferguson
The Religious Affections by Jonathan Edwards
A Quest for Godliness by J. I. Packer
The Discipline of Grace by Jerry Bridges
Desiring God by John Piper
True Spirituality by Francis Schaeffer
Rediscovering Holiness by J. I. Packer
Articles
“10 Principles of Christian Giving” by Ligon Duncan
“The Centrality of the Gospel” by Tim Keller
“The Idol Factory” by C.J. Mahaney
“Soul Idolatry Excludes Men Out of Heaven” by David Clarkson
“Idols of the Heart and ‘Vanity Fair’” by David Powlison
On Marriage, Singleness, and Vocation
Books
Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper
Real Sex: The Naked Truth about Chastity by Lauren Winter
Intimate Allies by Dan Allender
The Mystery of Marriage by Mike Mason
What Did You Expect? by Paul Tripp
Article
“Singled Out for Good” by Paige Benton
Decision Making and Wisdom
Step by Step: Divine Guidance for Ordinary Christians by James Petty
Decision Making and the Will of God: A Biblical Alternative to the Traditional View by Garry Friesen
The Call: Finding and Fulfilling the Central Purpose of Your Life by Os Guinness
Finding the Will of God: A Pagan Notion? by Bruce Waltke
Just Do Something by Kevin DeYoung
Parenting and Family
Shepherding a Child’s Heart by Tedd Tripp
Age of Opportunity: A Biblical Guide to Parenting Teens by Paul Tripp
Don’t Make Me Count to Three by Ginger Plowman
Wise Words for Moms by Ginger Plowman
Gospel-Powered Parenting by William Farley
Peacemakers: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict by Ken Sande
How People Change by Tim Lane
Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands by Paul Tripp
War of Words by Paul Tripp
Big Truths for Little People by Susan Hunt
Leading Little Ones to God by Marian Schooland
The Children’s Bible in 365 Stories by Mary Batchelor and John Haysom
The Child’s Story Bible by Catherine Vos
On the Bible
Craig Blomberg’s The Historical Reliability of the Gospels (IVP, 2nd edition, 2008.) This makes the case that the Biblical account of Jesus is not legend but historically trustworthy. Blomberg incorporates insights from Richard Bauckham’s Jesus and the Eyewitnesses, an important work but much longer and more difficult to read.
On the Cross
J.I.Packer and Mark Dever, In My Place Condemned He Stood (Crossway, 2007.) This volume assembles several older essays by J.I . Packer.
John Stott, The Cross of Christ (IVP, 2006) This volume along with the Packer book will give you a very complete and Biblically rich understanding of the Cross.
On the Resurrection
N.T.Wright, Surprised by Hope (HarperOne, 2008) This is a shorter and more accessible summary of his bigger classic The Resurrection of the Son of God, which is wonderful but very long and academic.
Devotional
John Newton, The Letters of John Newton or Cardiphonia: The Utterance of the Heart (various editions) Either of these editions of John Newton’s letters are classics of spirituality and devotion. He was the former slave trader who was converted and became a minister and wrote the hymn ‘Amazing Grace’
General
C.S.Lewis, Mere Christianity (Harper, 1952) – We talk about C.S. Lewis a lot around CTK and this is one of his greats. If you have already read it, read one of the other big CSL classics: The Screwtape Letters or The Great Divorce or even The Narnia Chronicles.
