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 3^rd 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