Helpful Books for Deepening Discipleship

Helpful Books for Deepening Discipleship

Studying the Scriptures directly is the most helpful pursuit you could pursue in deepening your discipleship in Christ. Reading and talking through a book of the Bible or pursuing a particular subject in Scripture is most helpful. A book like David Helm’s One to One Bible Reading is a very helpful resource to that end. At the same time, using biblically driven books on various subjects to stimulate your thinking and conversation are very helpful tools to use as well. In this post I will list a few books that I think any small group of Christians could begin to use to strengthen their walks with Christ. Obviously this is no exhaustive list. You can probably think of better and more books to add. Please suggest some others. These are some I have personally used and found effective. In choosing books to use, it would be helpful to stimulate your thinking by choosing different books in different sorts of categories. I will arrange some of my suggestions according to a few categories. Christian Living Desiring God, John Piper Future Grace, John Piper Trusting God, Jerry Bridges The Discipline of Grace, Jerry Bridges The Cross-Centered Life, C. J. Mahaney Humility, C. J. Mahaney Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, Donald Whitney When People Are Big and God is Small, Edward Welch The Pursuit of God, A. W. Tozer Call to Spiritual Reformation, D. A. Carson A Gospel Primer for Christians, Milton Vincent Theology/Church Life Why We Love the Church, Kevin DeYoung The Trellis and the Vine, Colin Marshall The Gospel According to Jesus, John MacArthur 9Marks of a Healthy Church, Mark Dever Knowing...
Commentaries on Revelation

Commentaries on Revelation

For the past few weeks I have been preaching from Revelation 4 and 5, the throne-room scene of heaven.  I have been challenging myself and my church to think about how heaven should impact our own corporate gatherings.  I have received some wonderful responses from people, particularly over the fact that I am methodically teaching through a very neglected portion of Scripture: the book of Revelation.  I plan to preaching through another section of Revelation later this year also. In light of my recent time spent in studying and teaching Revelation, here are the commentaries I have been using with a few comments on them. Detailed Exegetical Commentaries Word Biblical Commentary, Revelation, David E. Aune. 3 Volumes.  Amillennial in perspective. This is a solid commentary on the exegetical side of things. Aune tends to miss the impact the book should have on the Christian community in his conclusions, however. The New International Greek Testament Commentary, The Book of Revelation, G. K. Beale.  Beale is eclectic in his approach, landing on the futuristic side of things at times while preterist and idealistic in other sections.  His exegesis is excellent throughout and is the best commentary in showing Old Testament connections. While I don”™t agree with many of his conclusions, his arguments are thorough and detailed. I never missed reading this one. The New International Commentary on the New Testament, The Book of Revelation, Revised, Robert H. Mounce. Ecclectic in perspective. Not as detailed for this series as I would have hoped, but good exegetical insights in places. Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Revelation, Grant T. Osborne. I usually...