Obviously, this is not an exhaustive list, and I’ve even left out a few of my favorites. But here’s a list of important topics and books to help you as you seek to live every day to the glory of Christ.
Introduction to Reformed Theology
Whether you’re just getting started, or need a helpful refresher, these books open the door to Reformed Theology, and faithfully help us to comprehend God’s Word.
Level 1 – The Christian Life by Sinclair Ferguson
Level 2 – What Is Reformed Theology? by R.C. Sproul
Level 3 – Living For God’s Glory: An Introduction To Calvinism by Joel Beeke
Systematic Theology
This field of study categorizes and explains the major doctrines of our faith.
Level 1 – The Westminster Confession of Faith
Level 2 – Reformed Dogmatics: Abridged In One Volume by Herman Bavinck
Level 3 – Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin (i.e. Calvin’s Institutes)
Biblical Theology
What is the major storyline of the Bible? That’s what Biblical Theology is all about.
Level 1 – God’s Big Picture: A Bible Overview by Vaughan Roberts
Level 2 – God Dwells Among Us: Expanding Eden To The Ends Of The Earth by G.K. Beale and Mitchell Kim
Level 3 – Biblical Theology by Geerhardus Vos
Apologetics
Read these to help you defend and explain the faith once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3).
Level 1 – The Reason For God by Tim Keller
Level 2 – Christianity and Liberalism by J. Gresham Machen
Level 3 – Covenantal Apologetics by K. Scott Oliphint
Covenant Theology
It’s been said that Covenant Theology is Reformed Theology. This field of study traces the covenant promises of God, which are fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
Level 1 – Covenants Made Simple by Jonty Rhodes
Level 2 – The Christ of the Covenants by O. Palmer Robertson
Level 3 – God To Us: Covenant Theology In Scripture by Stephen G. Myers
Soteriology
This field of study is all about God’s saving grace in Jesus Christ.
Level 1 – Putting Amazing Back Into Grace by Michael Horton
Level 2 – Redemption Accomplished and Applied by John Murray
Level 3 – Christ Crucified: Understanding the Atonement by Donald Macleod
God
Also called Theology Proper, these books introduce us to the glorious attributes of God.
Level 1 – God Is: A Devotional Guide to the Attributes of God by Mark Jones
Level 2 – Knowing God by J.I. Packer
Level 3 – The Trinity: An Introduction by Scott R. Swain
Jesus
In my opinion, every Christian will do well to read these.
Level 1 – In Christ Alone by Sinclair Ferguson
Level 2 – Rejoicing In Christ by Michael Reeves
Level 3 – Knowing Christ by Mark Jones
The Holy Spirit
These books help us to better understanding and appreciate the 3rd Person of the Trinity.
Level 1 – The Holy Spirit by Sinclair Ferguson
Level 2 – Rediscovering The Holy Spirit by Micahel Horton
Level 3 – The Holy Spirit: An Introduction by Fred Sanders
Scripture
These books help us understand the nature and authority of God’s Word.
Level 1 – Taking God At His Word by Kevin DeYoung
Level 2 – Words of Life by Timothy Ward
Level 3 – Thy Word Is Truth by E.J. Young
The Church
Christians who love Christ, will also learn to love and appreciate His body, the church.
Level 1 – How Jesus Runs The Church by Guy Prentis Waters
Level 2 – On Being Presbyterian: Our Beliefs, Practices, and Stories by Sean Michael Lucas
Level 3 – The Apostolic Church: Which Is It? by Thomas Witherow
Worship
Since worship is the most important thing we do…
Level 1 – What Happens When We Worship? by Jonathan Landry Cruse
Level 2 – Trembling Joy: A Biblical Defense of Traditional Worship by Ryan Speck
Level 3 – Worship: Reformed According To Scripture by Hughes Oliphant Old
The Sacraments
The gospel for our senses: books that help us to understand Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
Covenantal Baptism by Jason Helopoulos
Spreading The Feast by Howard Griffith
Growing In Holiness
As we seek to grow more and more like Christ, these books will help us along the way.
Level 1 – The Hole In Our Holiness by Kevin DeYoung
Level 2 – Holiness By Grace by Bryan Chapell
Level 3 – The Mortification of Sin by John Owen
Marriage
In no particular order…
How We Can Build A Godly Marriage by Joel and Mary Beeke
The Meaning of Marriage by Timothy and Kathy Keller
The Deep-Rooted Marriage by Dan Allender and Steve Call
What Did You Expect? Redeeming The Realities Of Marriage by Paul Tripp
Parenting
In no particular order…
Parenting Ahead: Preparing Now For The Teen Years by Kristen Hatton
Gospel-Powered Parenting by William P. Farley
Shepherding A Child’s Heart by Tedd Tripp
Come Back, Barbara by C. John Miller and Barbara Miller Juliani
Disability And The Gospel by Michael S. Beates
When Life Is Hard
Oftentimes, the Christian life is marked by struggle. These books have helped me rejoice in the midst of affliction.
The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness by Timothy Keller
Created To Draw Near: Our Life As God’s Royal Priests by Ed Welch
The Christian’s True Identity: What It Means To Be In Christ by Jonathan Landry Cruse
Puritan Classics
In my opinion, the Puritans are some of the finest biblical expositors the world has ever seen. The books are classics, and worthy of your time and energy. (listed from easiest to hardest)
The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan
The Great Gain Of Godliness by Thomas Watson
Keeping The Heart by John Flavel
The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs
The Crook In The Lot by Thomas Boston
The Bruised Reed by Richard Sibbes
The Heart of Christ by Thomas Goodwin
The Glory of Christ by John Owen