Endorsements

Here are resources I have endorsed.

This list helps me to keep track of what I’ve endorsed and to point people to resources I’ve endorsed.

I take endorsing a resource seriously. I decline most invitations to endorse a book because the publisher usually gives endorsers a short window of time to do it and because endorsing a book can require a lot of time. (My rule is to read the entire book before endorsing it.)

Hunter, Trent. Graphical Greek: Quick Reference Guide for Biblical Greek. 2012. “If you are a visual learner, then Trent’s attractive and logical charts will help you grasp and retain the fundamentals of Greek.”
Anderson, Chris, Joe Tyrpak, and Carl R. Trueman. Gospel Meditations for Prayer. Madison, OH: Church Works, 2013. “John Newton wrote, ‘Thou art coming to a King; large petitions with thee bring. For His grace and power are such, none can ever ask too much.’ Pray big. This devotional helps.”
Burk, Denny. What Is the Meaning of Sex? Wheaton: Crossway, 2013. “Clear writing, thoughtful arguments, wise positions, courageous counter-cultural stand. I learned some things I didn’t know (e.g., the intersex discussion) and honed what I did. Denny is a skilled Bible-interpreter and shrewd critic of politics and culture.”
Chapell, Bryan, ed. Gospel Transformation Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton: Crossway, 2013. “This study Bible wisely combines doctrine and devotion. Pitting doctrine against devotion is a false dichotomy because God intends them to go together. They are not mutually exclusive; one without the other is incomplete. As B. B. Warfield observed, ‘Recruiting officers do not dispute whether it is better for soldiers to have a right leg or a left leg: soldiers should have both legs.’”
Chute, Anthony L., Christopher W. Morgan, and Robert A. Peterson, eds. Why We Belong: Evangelical Unity and Denominational Diversity. Wheaton: Crossway, 2013. “This book promotes a healthy Christian unity by showing how and why God’s family is much larger than any one denomination.”
Croteau, David A. Tithing after the Cross: A Refutation of the Top Arguments for Tithing and New Paradigm for Giving. Areopagus Critical Christian Issues 7. Gonzalez, FL: Energion, 2013. “This book is thoughtful, clear, pastoral, convincing, and convicting. It does not lead to a position that Christians should give less than ten percent. Rather, (a) if the foundation of giving is our relationship with God and the grace and love he gives us and (b) if the amount we give is based on our income, what we determine in our heart, the needs of those ministering to us and of fellow Christians, and generosity, then why give only ten percent?”
DeRouchie, Jason S., ed. What the Old Testament Authors Really Cared About: A Survey of Jesus’ Bible. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2013. “[1] DeRouchie unapologetically explains that this is not a theology of the Hebrew Bible on its own but a Christian Old Testament survey. Now that we have the whole story, how can we not read the first part in light of the whole? [2] This clear and attractive book combines academic rigor with devotional warmth. [3] Each chapter is message-driven; it briefly addresses introductory matters such as authorship and date, but it is not preoccupied with them. [4] The authors have taught Old Testament courses many times, and they know how to connect with students.”
Hamilton, James M., Jr. The Bible’s Big Story: Salvation History for Kids. Illustrated by Tessa James. Fearn, Scotland: Christian Focus, 2013. “This poetry memorably summarizes turning points in the Bible’s storyline and views the whole Bible with Christian eyes. My kids love it!”
Hubbard, Peter. Love into Light: The Gospel, the Homosexual, and the Church. Greenville, SC: Ambassador International, 2013. “Peter Hubbard is a gifted teacher, and he wisely navigates what are uncharted waters for many Christians: How should churches relate to others with same-sex attractions?”
Morgan, Christopher W., and Kendell H. Easley, eds. The Community of Jesus: A Theology of the Church. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2013. “This thoughtful introduction to the doctrine of the church rightly roots its systematic theology in biblical theology.”
Piper, John, and David Mathis, eds. Acting the Miracle: God’s Work and Ours in the Mystery of Sanctification. Wheaton: Crossway, 2013. “This book is theologically informed and pastorally wise. It helpfully distinguishes and defines definitive and progressive sanctification, and it shrewdly shows how to approach Christian living without being reductionistic.”
Plummer, Robert L. Understanding the Bible: A Guide to Reading Scripture with Clarity and Enjoyment. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2013. “Plummer is a clear and evenhanded guide to foundational and complex interpretational issues.”
Rigney, Joe. Live Like a Narnian: Christian Discipleship in Lewis’ Chronicles. Minneapolis: Eyes & Pen, 2013. “It’s evident that Joe Rigney has deeply breathed the air of Narnia for a long time, and he creatively applies Lewis’s masterpiece to Christian living with wit and wisdom.”
Wittmer, Michael E. Despite Doubt: Embracing a Confident Faith. Grand Rapids: Discovery House, 2013. “Mike Wittmer is to systematic theology what Carl Trueman is to historical theology: witty and full of (edifying) verve.”
Perman, Matt. How to Set Up Your Desk: A Guide to Fixing a (Surprisingly) Overlooked Productivity Problem. Minneapolis: Matt Perman Company, 2014. “Matt Perman has served me so well in applying a Steve Jobs-like approach to my workflow: simple, intuitive, elegant, and efficient. I’ve followed most of his advice about setting up my desk (as well as processing my email), and it works beautifully.”
Bandy, Alan S., and Benjamin L. Merkle. Understanding Prophecy: A Biblical-Theological Approach. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2015. “Bandy and Merkle accessibly and responsibly introduce prophecy with a biblical-theological approach rather than a systematic-theological one. They disagree on two controversial issues regarding the end times: ‘all Israel’ in Romans 11:26 (Bandy thinks it refers to a future mass conversion of ethnic Jews, and Merkle thinks it refers to all the elect remnant of ethnic Israel throughout history) and the millennium (Bandy is historic premil, and Merkle is amil). But they beautifully demonstrate how two academics who disagree on those issues can agree on so many other issues in light of the Bible’s storyline.”
Biblearc. “The best part about knowing the biblical languages is tracing the argument. The main tool we use for this at Bethlehem College & Seminary is Biblearc.”
Chediak, Alex. Beating the College Debt Trap: Getting a Degree without Going Broke. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2015. “Alex Chediak does it again. He gives wise, user-friendly advice for students in high school and college (and their parents) for how to graduate from college without crippling debt. This book makes me even more grateful for colleges that do everything they can to serve students by keeping tuition low.”
Harmon, Matthew S. Philippians: A Mentor Commentary. Fearn, Scotland: Christian Focus, 2015. “Matt Harmon explains Paul’s letter clause by clause, traces Paul’s argument, reads Paul’s argument in light of the rest of the Bible, and applies the letter to people today. He reminds me of two of his professors when he was working on his PhD at Wheaton: Doug Moo and Greg Beale.”
Machowski, Marty. The Ology: Ancient Truths Ever New. Illustrated by Andy McGuire. Greensboro, NC: New Growth, 2015. “This well-illustrated book clearly and logically introduces theology for children.”
Storms, Sam. Tough Topics 2: Biblical Answers to 25 Challenging Questions. Fearn, Scotland: Christian Focus, 2015. “Each controversial question Sam Storms poses could be the subject of an entire book, but he manages to give thoughtful brief answers that aren’t superficial. As a model pastor-theologian, he answers with clarity, wisdom, and grace.”
Ash, Christopher. Married for God: Making Your Marriage the Best It Can Be. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2016. “Engaged couples would benefit from carefully reading this book. The way Ash applies the Bible is pithy, practical, and wise.”
Christensen, Scott. What about Free Will? Reconciling Our Choices with God’s Sovereignty. Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian & Reformed, 2016. “Many think that free will is the silver-bullet answer to some of theology’s most difficult questions. But do we have a free will? Short answer: It depends on what you mean by free. Long answer: Read this book.”
Gladd, Benjamin L., and Matthew S. Harmon. Making All Things New: Inaugurated Eschatology for the Life of the Church. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2016. “Gladd and Harmon apply to pastoral ministry the inaugurated eschatology they learned from Greg Beale. The book repeatedly moves from sound exegesis to theology to application.”
Green, Rob. Tying the Knot: A Premarital Guide to a Strong and Lasting Marriage. Greensboro, NC: New Growth, 2016. “I would have loved to read this book with my wife while we were engaged. So practical, so wise. Engaged couples, listen carefully to Rob Green.”
Köstenberger, Andreas J., Benjamin L. Merkle, and Robert L. Plummer. Going Deeper with New Testament Greek: An Intermediate Study of the Grammar and Syntax of the New Testament. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2016. “This grammar’s level of detail falls somewhere between Dan Wallace’s lengthy grammar (1996) and his abridgment (2000). That is a happy medium for Greek professors who teach intermediate Greek in just one semester. It is student-friendly, and it is up-to-date on Greek verbal aspect theory and argument diagrams. Highly recommended!”
Merkle, Benjamin L. Ephesians. Exegetical Guide to the Greek New Testament. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2016. “Merkle is a clear, concise, and informed guide to refer to when exegeting Ephesians, especially for tracing Paul’s argument and understanding his grammar and syntax.”
Strachan, Owen, and Gavin Peacock. The Grand Design: Male and Female He Made Them. Fearn, Scotland: Christian Focus, 2016. “Strachan and Peacock don’t simply defend a view of men and women that is traditional but now counter-cultural. They show it is beautiful.”
Thornton, Champ. The Radical Book for Kids: Exploring the Roots and Shoots of Faith. Greensboro, NC: New Growth, 2016. “Intriguing + edifying = the kind of book I want my kids reading. This is one of them.”
Wellum, Stephen J., and Brent E. Parker, eds. Progressive Covenantalism: Charting a Course between Dispensational and Covenant Theologies. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2016. “These ten essays exegetically and theologically support the argument that Steve Wellum and Peter Gentry present in Kingdom through Covenant (2012). Unlike covenant theology, progressive covenantalism argues that the genealogical principle (a basis for infant baptism) significantly changes across redemptive history. Unlike dispensationalism, progressive covenantalism understands the land not ultimately as Canaan but as a type of the new creation. This book is now required reading for my biblical theology courses.”
Barrett, Michael P. V. Complete in Him: A Guide to Understanding and Enjoying the Gospel. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage, 2017. “Barrett correlates what the whole Bible teaches about the gospel in a way that is organized, clear, faithful, and edifying. As he says over and over, right thinking about the gospel produces right living in the gospel. The better you understand the gospel, the better you can enjoy it.”
DeYoung, Kevin. The Art of Turning from Sin to Christ for a Joyfully Clear Conscience. Leyland, England: 10 Publishing, 2017. “Kevin DeYoung engagingly explains what the conscience is, how to have a clear one, and why it matters.”
Kimble, Jeremy M. 40 Questions about Church Membership and Church Discipline. 40 Questions. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2017. “This handbook concisely explains the why and how of church membership and church discipline. Jeremy Kimble, who serves as a pastor and who wrote his PhD dissertation on church discipline, is a faithful guide.”
MacArthur, John, and Richard Mayhue, eds. Biblical Doctrine: A Systematic Summary of Bible Truth. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2017. (And the abridged version: MacArthur, John, ed. Essential Christian Doctrine: A Handbook on Biblical Truth. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2021.) “In addition to presenting orthodox theology common to historic Protestants, MacArthur and Mayhue defend an unusual combination of views that evangelicals debate, such as young-earth creationism, Calvinist soteriology, credobaptism, elder-rule polity, complementarianism, cessationism, and traditional dispensationalism (or what they call futuristic premillennialism). They argue in a clear and orderly way that is worth engaging even if you disagree.”
Wellum, Stephen J. Christ Alone—The Uniqueness of Jesus as Savior: What the Reformers Taught and Why It Still Matters. The Five Solas. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2017. “Steve Wellum is my favorite living theologian because he masterfully integrates exegesis, biblical theology, historical theology, systematic theology, and practical theology culminating in doxology. He does it again in this book on sola Christus.”
Barrett, Matthew. 40 Questions about Salvation. 40 Questions. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2018. “Barrett accessibly and faithfully presents what the whole Bible teaches about salvation.”
Hunter, Trent, and Stephen J. Wellum. Christ from Beginning to End: How the Full Story of Scripture Reveals the Full Glory of Christ. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2018. “A pastor and a scholar team up to explain the Bible’s storyline accessibly and skillfully. This book is a gift to the church.”
Sun, Irene. God Counts: Numbers in His Word and His World. Greensboro, NC: New Growth, 2018. “This book creatively teaches children about God and his Word. If you have a child who is fascinated by numbers, this is a great resource to talk with them about God.” —Andy and Jenni Naselli
Ward, Mark L., Jr. Authorized: The Use and Misuse of the King James Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham, 2018. “Ward combines good writing and common sense to explain why English speakers today should both appreciate the KJV and benefit from excellent modern translations.”
Barrick, William D. Understanding Bible Translation. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2019. “If you want to learn how Bible translation works, wouldn‘t you want to learn from a faithful Christian scholar who has been teaching people to translate the Bible for over fifty years, who spent fifteen years translating the Bible into Bengali, and who has helped translate English versions such as the ESV and NET Bible? Bill Barrick has so much wisdom to share.”
Burk, Denny, James M. Hamilton Jr., and Brian Vickers, eds. God’s Glory Revealed in Christ: Essays on Biblical Theology in Honor of Thomas R. Schreiner. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2019. “I want to be like Tom Schreiner when I grow up. This collection of thoughtful essays honors a faithful husband, father, pastor, professor, exegete, and theologian.”
Carlson, Darren. Jesus in Athens. Directed by Peter Hansen. 2019. ”This documentary is eye-opening and edifying. Darren Carlson, who for his PhD dissertation studied how Christians are serving refugees in Athens, is a reliable guide.”
Green, Rob, and Stephanie Green. Tying Their Shoes: A Christ-Centered Approach to Preparing for Parenting. Greensboro, NC: New Growth, 2019. “I would have loved to read this book with my wife prior to the birth of our first child. It’s full of practical and wise advice from a godly couple.”
Nichols, Stephen J. Bible History ABCs: God’s Story from A to Z. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2019. “This is a delightful and creative way to tell the Bible’s story.”
Albuquerque, Roque N. Presupposition and [E]Motion: The Upgraded Function and the Semantics of the Participle in the New Testament. New York: Lang, 2020. “Dr. Albuquerque skillfully analyzes what the authors of the Greek New Testament intend to communicate when they begin a sentence with an adverbial participle before the main clause.”
Beale, G. K., and Benjamin L. Gladd. The Story Retold: A Biblical-Theological Introduction to the New Testament. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2020. ”Beale and Gladd concisely survey each book of the New Testament through a biblical-theological lens. I plan to require this book for my seminary course that focuses on the theological message of each New Testament book.“
Crowe, Brandon D. Every Day Matters: A Biblical Approach to Productivity. Bellingham, WA: Lexham, 2020. “Brandon Crowe distills the best secular books on productivity but with a distinctively Christian approach. What drives his common-sense advice is for us to glorify God.”
Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2020.” Grudem’s Systematic Theology is well organized, easy to understand, usually persuasive, and devotional. Grudem does not merely inform you; he stirs your affections to love and worship the triune God. Grudem is not attempting to write a cutting-edge contemporary theology that plays theological Ping-Pong with trendy non-evangelical theologians. Nor is he attempting to write a historical theology that exhaustively explains what significant Bible interpreters and theologians have believed. Rather, he is serving the church by helping Christians who are not experts in theology better understand what the whole Bible says about God, God’s word, man, Christ, the Holy Spirit, angels and demons, salvation, the church, and the end times.”
Harris, Murray J. Navigating Tough Texts: A Guide to Problem Passages in the New Testament. Bellingham, WA: Lexham, 2020. “Murray Harris is a veteran New Testament scholar who knows the Greek of the New Testament better than most English-speaking people today know English. In this book he shares 66 short devotional interpretations of challenging passages in the New Testament.”
Leeman, Jonathan. One Assembly: Rethinking the Multisite and Multiservice Church Models. 9Marks. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2020. “Evangelical churches that are multisite and/or multiservice are like that for good-intentioned pragmatic reasons. Jonathan Leeman challenges us to think exegetically and theologically about a popular practice that may not be as strategic as so many assume.”
Morgan, Christopher W., with Robert A. Peterson. Christian Theology: The Biblical Story and Our Faith. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2020. ‘‘Chris Morgan’s systematic theology is concise, easy to understand, and edifying. He models how to do theology by rooting his conclusions in exegesis and biblical theology while considering historical theology and culminating in practical theology.”
Van Halteren, Tyler. Illustrated by Beatriz Mello. Little Pilgrim’s Big Journey: John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress Fully Illustrated and Adapted for the Next Generation. Canada: Lithos Kids, 2020. “Excellent! My four daughters loved reading this together. It was equally engaging for them (ages 3, 8, 9, and 12).”
Verrett, Brian A. The Serpent in Samuel: A Messianic Motif. Eugene, OR: Resource, 2020. “Brian Verrett’s work on the serpent is first-class. He skillfully combines rigorous exegesis with whole-Bible biblical theology.”
Winston, Richard Wellons. Misunderstanding, Nationalism, or Legalism: Identifying Israel’s Chief Error with Reference to the Law. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2020. ”Winston demonstrates that the main idea of Romans 9:30–10:13 is not that Israelites are guilty for zealously maintaining their nationalistic boundary markers—circumcision, Sabbath, and food laws. Rather, Paul argues that many Israelites failed to believe in Jesus and foolishly attempted the impossible—to earn righteousness based on the law.”
Crabtree, Sam. Practicing Thankfulness: Cultivating a Grateful Heart in All Circumstances. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2021. ”I thank God for Sam Crabtree. He is a wise and jovial brother who practices what he preaches in this book: he gives thanks in all circumstances. (Don’t miss the last chapter—a creative list of one hundred practical ways to be thankful.)“
Compton, R. Bruce, and Timothy E. Miller. Translating First Peter Clause by Clause: A Guide for Translation and Interpretation. Detroit: Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary, 2021. “I think that tracing the argument is the best part about knowing Greek. This book by two faithful Greek professors is a valuable resource to help you trace the argument of 1 Peter.”
Lanier, Gregory R., and William A. Ross. The Septuagint: What It Is and Why It Matters. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2021. “The Septuagint is unfamiliar and intimidating to most Bible students. I don’t know of a more accessible introduction than this book.”
The Legacy Standard Bible. Irvine, CA: Three Sixteen Publishing, 2021. “I regularly benefit from the strengths of multiple Bible translations along the spectrum that spans from more form-based translations to more meaning-based ones. The LSB is an outstanding form-based translation, and I thank God for gifting us with scholars who devote their lives to such a valuable translation.”
Piper, John. Providence. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2021. “John Piper helps us see and savor God’s purposeful sovereignty by inductively demonstrating what the whole Bible teaches about its ultimate goal, its nature, and its extent.”
Rigney, Joe. More Than a Battle: How to Experience Victory, Freedom, and Healing from Lust. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2021. “Indulging in pornography is an international pandemic that will send you to hell. Is it worth it to pursue a fleeting pleasure that is God-defying, life-wasting, family-betraying, poison-injecting, mind-ruining, conscience-searing, and slavery-fueling? The wise advice in this book is a gift for two groups of people: those who are struggling and those who want to help.”
Wellum, Stephen J. The Person of Christ: An Introduction. Short Studies in Systematic Theology. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2021. “Christians affirm seemingly contradictory claims about Jesus: self-existent and depending on food and water; all-powerful and getting tired and sleeping; all-knowing and growing in knowledge; everywhere present and localized; eternal and born from a mother’s womb; unable to sin and tempted as we are; immortal and dying; in short—God and man. How can that be? And why is that so glorious? I require my seminary students to read Steve Wellum’s 500-page God the Son Incarnate: The Doctrine of Christ because Wellum masterfully answers such questions by integrating exegesis, biblical theology, historical theology, and systematic theology. This book is shorter, more accessible, and less intimidating—an ideal entry point for someone who wants to better understand who Christ is.”
Anderson, Chris. Theology That Sticks: The Life-Changing Power of Exceptional Hymns. Madison, OH: Church Works, 2022. “Since there are hundreds of outstanding hymns, the church should not be content to sing shallow songs that came out ten minutes ago (or ten decades ago) and that nobody will request to sing on their deathbed. Chris Anderson wisely and engagingly counsels us what to sing.”
Carson, D. A., and John D. Woodbridge. Letters Along the Way: From a Senior Saint to a Junior Saint. 2nd ed. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2022. “My wife and I read this book together during my first year as Dr. Carson’s teaching assistant and PhD student. We loved it. Reading these made-up letters is almost as personal as if you wrote a challenging theological or practical question to Drs. Carson and Woodbridge themselves and then received a thoughtful reply. Now I use this book as a resource for mentoring seminary students.”
Merkle, Rebekah. Eve in Exile: The Restoration of Femininity. A Canon+ Original Documentary. May 2022. “Like Rebekah Merkle’s book, this documentary is timely, wise, witty, and motivating. I can hold up Rebekah Merkle as an example to my daughters of a Christian wife and mother who is at the same time wise, witty, skilled, well-educated, and rock solid on believing and cherishing what God the Creator has revealed about men and women: God created both men and women in his image, and God designed them with complementary differences for the home, church, and society.”
Sammons, Peter. Reprobation and God’s Sovereignty: Recovering a Biblical Doctrine. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2022. “Peter Sammons faithfully explains what the Bible teaches about reprobation. He is tethered to Scripture, and he is historically informed.”
Schrock, David S. The Royal Priesthood and the Glory of God. Short Studies in Biblical Theology. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2022. “David Schrock helps Christ’s royal priesthood exult in Christ, the supreme royal priest.”
Talbert, Layton MacDonald. The Trustworthiness of God’s Words Why the Reliability of Every Word from God Matters. Fearn, Scotland: Christian Focus, 2022. “Layton Talbert demonstrates from God’s own words that God is passionate about vindicating the complete integrity and trustworthiness of his words. All of God’s words are reliable. God always keeps his words.”
Blaylock, Richard M. Vessels of Wrath: Volume 1. The Witness of the Old Testament to Divine Reprobating Activity; Vessels of Wrath: Volume 2. The Witness of the New Testament to Divine Reprobating Activity. Eugene, OR: Pickwick, 2023. “Richard Blaylock analyzes God’s reprobating activity in the Bible with great care and thoroughness. The way he exegetes and correlates Scripture is not overstated but convincing.”
Mahaney, Carolyn, and Nicole Whitacre. True Life: Practical Wisdom from the Book of Ecclesiastes. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2023. “This wise book helps us realistically assess our short life ‘under the sun,’ and it encourages us to fear God and to enjoy the life he has ordained for us.” [endorsed with my wife, Jenni]
Moo, Douglas J., Eckhard J. Schnabel, Thomas R. Schreiner, and Frank Thielman, eds. Paul’s Letter to the Romans: Theological Essays. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2023. “This collection of essays on the greatest letter ever written is thought provoking and academically responsible. That is what we would expect since the editors are expert exegetes who have authored outstanding commentaries on Romans.”
Riccardi, Michael. To Save Sinners: A Critical Evaluation of the Multiple Intentions View of the Atonement. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2023. “Mike Riccardi robustly defends definite atonement with careful and coherent exegesis and theology. In particular, he explains and refutes the multiple intentions view that some Calvinists have recently argued for.”
Schrock, David S. Dividing the Faithful: How a Little Book on Race Fractured a Movement Founded on Grace. Douglasville, GA: G3, 2023. “Back in 2018 I was concerned about the progressive direction one of my Reformed evangelical friends was going. He was writing a dissertation (at one of the largest and most theologically conservative seminaries in America) on how white evangelicals are guilty of white fragility, and he had become an activist for what he called ‘racial justice.’ I asked him to recommend a book for me to read in order to better understand his perspective, and he cautioned me to avoid people like Thomas Sowell because such black intellectuals are marginal voices who do not represent the black view. The book he most encouraged me to read is Emerson and Smith’s Divided by Faith. I read it, and my concerns increased. I wish David Schrock’s Dividing the Faithful had been available then. I’m glad it’s available now.”
Shenvi, Neil, and Pat Sawyer. Critical Dilemma: The Rise of Critical Theories and Social Justice Ideology―Implications for the Church and Society. Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 2023. “For the past five years, Neil Shenvi’s website has been enormously helpful to me as I have tried to better understand the ‘contemporary critical theory’ cultural revolution. Most of us don’t have the patience and expertise to engage so many technical primary sources that are incompatible with Christianity. In this book Neil Shenvi and Pat Sawyer update their years of research to give us a resource that is clear, meticulous, responsible, reasonable, penetrating, loving, and discerning. Their work is especially helpful for pastors and teachers since God calls us not only to give instruction in sound doctrine but also to rebuke those who contradict it (Titus 1:9).”
White, J. Aaron. The Little Book of Great Comfort for Grieving Christians: Meditations from Romans Chapter 8. Wapwallopen, PA: Shepherd, 2023. “Romans 8 is gloriously assuring for those who are in Christ and have the Spirit and love the triune God. We are free from condemnation, and we confidently expect that God will glorify us and that nothing can successfully be against us. In this book Pastor Aaron White shows how Romans 8 is comforting particularly for Christians who are grieving.”
Basham, Megan. Shepherds for Sale: How Evangelical Leaders Traded the Truth for a Leftist Agenda. New York: Broadside Books, 2024. “Megan Basham exposes and explains how some evangelical leaders are failing to affirm and defend with clarity what Scripture teaches about issues such as LGBTQ, abortion, abuse, and critical race theory. She also reveals how some wealthy secular progressives are targeting evangelicals with evil ideologies disguised as love for neighbor. But it’s not loving, she argues, to minimize or overturn offensive parts of Scripture. I pray that Megan’s book will embolden Christians to destroy arguments that keep people from knowing God and to take every rebellious thought captive to obey Christ the King. This book can help you recognize some ways you may have erred (even with good intentions) or some ways you have been misled so that you can walk in the truth.”
Bowman, Robert M., Jr., and J. Ed Komoszewski. The Incarnate Christ and His Critics: A Biblical Defense. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2024. “Bowman and Komoszewski make a cumulative-case argument that Jesus the Messiah is God the Son. Their argument is clear, memorable, extensive, informed, and compelling. It leads me to exult in and worship our God and Savior Jesus Christ.”
DeMars, Sean. Rebel to Your Will: A Story of Abuse, Father Hunger, and Gospel Hope. Fearn, Scotland: Christian Focus, 2024. “Sean’s story is moving and motivating. It is moving to hear him recount how hurt people hurt other people, and it is motivating to hear him recount how God saves sinners. Sean tells his story in a way that makes much of God.”
DeRouchie, Jason S. Delighting in the Old Testament: Through Christ and for Christ. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2024. “Jason DeRouchie is a faithful guide to the Old Testament. He shows that its theological message is that God reigns, saves, and satisfies through covenant for his glory in Christ.”
Frame, John M. Concise Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Christian Belief. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2024. “This book has the typical strengths of John Frame’s writing—it is clear, unassuming, and logical (and filled with threes). It also has an unusual feature—it is concise! Frame does not care about impressing his peers and proving that he is scholarly (although he could). In this book he aims to build up thoughtful Christians with sound, straightforward theology.”
Grudem, Wayne. Christian Ethics: Living a Life That Is Pleasing to God. 2nd ed. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2024. “This is the best all-around book on Christian ethics I’m aware of, and I require it as the primary textbook for my course on biblical ethics. Grudem writes in his characteristic style: clear, logical, accessible, and (usually!) persuasive.”
Pennington, Tom. The Biblical View of Abortion: God’s Heart for Life in the Womb. Southlake, TX: The Word Unleashed, 2024. “Abortion is the big E on the eye chart for ethical issues in our culture. Tom Pennington clearly explains what it is, why common arguments in favor of it fail, and how the Bible teaches that it is wrong. In short, abortion is wrong because it is wrong to intentionally kill an innocent human.”
Plummer, Robert L., and E. Roderick Elledge. 1–3 John. Exegetical Guide to the Greek New Testament. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2024. “The first New Testament book that many beginning Greek students translate is 1 John. The reason is that its Greek grammar and syntax is relatively simple and straightforward. But it still has some challenges. This exegetical guide is ideal for beginning Greek students (and those needing a refresher) to work through line by line, and it is a handy reference for other Greek readers.”
Riccardi, Michael. Gender and Sexuality: Biblical Sanity in a World of Confusion. The Institute for the Christian Life Series. Fort Washington, PA: CLC Publications, 2024. “As our culture increasingly rebels against God’s good design for men and women, we must understand and affirm and celebrate God’s brilliant design. Mike Riccardi helps us do that with his timely, clear, insightful, and sound teaching.”
Rigney, Joe. Leadership and Emotional Sabotage: Resisting the Anxiety That Will Wreck Your Family, Destroy Your Church, and Ruin the World. Moscow, ID: Canon, 2024. “The wise insights Joe Rigney presents in this book are the result of his marinating in the Bible, plundering the Egyptians, and applying sound principles in challenging contexts. Joe is entirely committed to the Bible’s authority, and he does not waver when people slander him. His goal isn’t to please people but to please God. Weak leaders often fail by having a failure of discernment (especially because of untethered empathy that hinders how others grow by affirming their low pain threshold) and a failure of nerve (especially by fearing to take stands at the risk of displeasing people). In this book Joe explains what a leader should do when people are highly reactive and anxious and combustible—like a gas leak that can explode with just a spark.”
Schreiner, Thomas R. The Justice and Goodness of God: A Biblical Case for the Final Judgment. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2024. “Does it sound uplifting to read an entire book about what the Bible teaches about God’s judgment? It should. In this book Tom Schreiner delivers to us the hard truth about God’s righteous judgment that we deserve for our sinful condition. The bad news is really bad. But that is what makes the good news about God’s merciful kindness in Jesus the Messiah so uplifting. Tom, who used to live through Minnesota winters, ends the book with a fitting analogy that contrasts God’s mercy with God’s judgment: ‘The warmth of the sunshine in the spring stands out in Minnesota in contrast to Florida since Minnesotans experience savagely cold winters. The warmth of the sun is glorious, delightful, and beautiful after experiencing a cold that penetrates to the bones.’ The more accurately you understand God’s righteous judgment, the more brightly God’s saving work shines.”
MacArthur, John, and Abner Chou, eds. Translation Notes on the Legacy Standard Bible: New Testament; Vol. 1: Matthew–Acts. Los Angeles: The Master’s Seminary Press, 2025. “Major English Bible translations occasionally include footnotes that clarify a particular word or phrase, but I wish they all included more detailed and extensive translation notes like the translators of the Legacy Standard Bible are doing here. These notes helpfully clarify what they are intending to communicate in the translation and why. When I prepare to preach a passage, I start by studying the passage in its original language along with a spectrum of Bible translations that range from more form-based to more meaning-based (e.g., LSB, ESV, NIV, CSB, NET, NLT). I now plan to consult this resource as part of that process.”
Strachan, Owen. The Warrior Savior: A Theology of the Work of Christ. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2024. “There are many pictures for Christ’s saving us because there are many pictures for our deep sin problem. These pictures portray the reality that Christ saves sinners, and this book exults in the picture that is most central: Jesus paid our penalty (penal) in our place (substitution).”

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