These resources are good for equipping a new believer in the areas of evangelism and discipleship:
Equipping--Beginner
• The Way of the Master—by Ray Comfort (DVD-Basics or book by Ray Comfort); This evangelism training is unique in that it is the only one that I know of that uses the law of God as a dagger to the conscience of the human heart. Most evangelistic training courses advocate telling the person they are a sinner, but none advocate the direct use of the law (Calvin’s 1st use of the law). There is a serious different between someone acknowledging "Yeah no one is perfect. Sure, I'm a sinner." and having their mouth stopped because they realize they've sinned against the God who created them. Yes, the Spirit of God must do the work, but He is pleased to use word of God and specifically the law of God to do it. They have a simple acrostic WDJD: Would you consider yourself a good person? Do you think you’ve kept the 10 commandments? Judgment—If God judged you on the basis of the commandments would you be innocent of guilty? Destiny—Do you think you would go to heaven or hell? If they believe hell, then you can proceed to give the glorious good news. I highly recommend it. The videos are simple and well done. Excellent for a new Christian or any Christian.
• Today’s Gospel: Authentic or Synthetic by Walter Chantry. This is a helpful exposition of Jesus’ encounter with the rich young ruler. Jesus’ use of the law and call to repentance exposes the synthetic gospel of most evangelicals today. Most modern evangelical would have had the rich, young, ruler saying the prayer or walking the isles only to eventually find out as Bunyan said years ago ‘that there is a way to hell from the gates of heaven.’ Chantry exposes the modern gospel in a simple and easy read.
• Six Step to Talking About Jesus DVD/Study Guide by Matthias Media—a helpful course to believers to get out there and start telling people about Jesus.
• Six Steps to Encouragement DVD/Study guide by Matthias Media/Gorden Cheng (also Cheng’s book called Encouragement—God’s Word Changes Us and Through Us It Can Change Others Too. This is the motto of the course. It is simple, but lifechanging were everyone in the body of Christ to take it to heart. This course is about personal ministry or discipleship within the body.
• Ready to Restore by Jay Adams—helpful intro to discipleship counseling to all people within the body of Christ. For too long the church has prostituted the role of spiritual physicians to people in white coats rather than sages immersed in the Word of God.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Beginner-Christian Living
More resources for the beginner Christian on Christian living.
Christian Living—Beginner
• Trusting God by Jerry Bridges—This book unfolds God’s Sovereignty, Goodness, and Wisdom that will anchor the soul of any believer who trust Him amidst the afflictions of life. A great book for applying the Sovereigty of God to our lives in a practical way.
• Pursuit of Holiness by Bridges—It introduces the doctrine of sanctification as the pursuit of every true follower of Christ.
• Disciplines of Grace by Bridges—a very helpful book on understanding the relationship between grace and using the means of grace to grow spiritually.
• Humility by C. J. Mahaney—this is a helpful and practical book on humility. Augustine said the three most important things in the Christian life are humility, humility, and humility.
• How Can I Change by C. J. Mahaney—it goes through some of the means of change in the Christian life: word, law, prayer, communion, etc.
• How People Change by Paul Tripp or Changing Hearts Changing Lives DVD—explains how real change takes place in a Christians life with a very important emphasis upon the heart.
• When People are Big and God is Small by Ed Welch—if you think you don’t have fear of man problems, then you haven’t read this book. But Welch not only diagnoses your fear of man/people-pleasing idolatry, but he gives you the hope of the gospel and a plan to cultivate a greater fear of God. Because he who fears God fear no one and nothing.
• Cross-Centered Life by C. J. Mahaney—great call to keep the cross the main thing in our life. The cross is the heart of Christianity and should be the heart of the Christian life.
• The Treasure Principal by Randy Alcorn—helpful book to give the Scriptural principles of finances without getting in the details of specifically how to do your own finances.
• The Peacemaker by Ken Sande—the best book in resolving conflict in print. He goes through the 4 G’s of resolving conflicts: Glorify God, Get the log out of your eye, Gently restore, Go and be reconciled. The book will change your marriage if you apply it. It also helps cultivate peace within the body of Christ. We all have a tendency to be
• Sex Isn’t the Problem, Lust Is by Josh Harris—the bets book in print on dealing with sexual immorality. He does shy away from uncomfortable discussions. It is gospel centered and very practical on how to deal with this sin that many Christians are entangled in. Formerly published as Not Even a Hint. I am not sure why they changed the title, but the content is the same except for an extra appendix in the newer edition on dealing with internet pornography.
• God’s Solutions to Life’s Problems by Wayne/Josh Mack—very good workbook that would be an excellent discipleship manual for a new believer or any believer who has not yet been taught how to fight sin and grow in the Lord.
• Stop Dating the Church by Josh Harris—great book for this non-committal generation. He goes through some of the important things to look for in a good church an exhorts people to commit to the local body.
• Guidance and the Voice of God by Philip Jensen—probably the best introductory book on decision making from a biblical perspective. This is a huge issue in discipleship. If find many Christians paralyzed in their decision-making because of misunderstanding what the Bible teaches on this issue. It dispels the common ideas that paralyze Christians in making decisions: fleeces, peaces, and signs. He beckons readers to understand three different categories of decision: righteousness, wisdom, triviality. This alone is worth the price of the book.
More to come.
Christian Living—Beginner
• Trusting God by Jerry Bridges—This book unfolds God’s Sovereignty, Goodness, and Wisdom that will anchor the soul of any believer who trust Him amidst the afflictions of life. A great book for applying the Sovereigty of God to our lives in a practical way.
• Pursuit of Holiness by Bridges—It introduces the doctrine of sanctification as the pursuit of every true follower of Christ.
• Disciplines of Grace by Bridges—a very helpful book on understanding the relationship between grace and using the means of grace to grow spiritually.
• Humility by C. J. Mahaney—this is a helpful and practical book on humility. Augustine said the three most important things in the Christian life are humility, humility, and humility.
• How Can I Change by C. J. Mahaney—it goes through some of the means of change in the Christian life: word, law, prayer, communion, etc.
• How People Change by Paul Tripp or Changing Hearts Changing Lives DVD—explains how real change takes place in a Christians life with a very important emphasis upon the heart.
• When People are Big and God is Small by Ed Welch—if you think you don’t have fear of man problems, then you haven’t read this book. But Welch not only diagnoses your fear of man/people-pleasing idolatry, but he gives you the hope of the gospel and a plan to cultivate a greater fear of God. Because he who fears God fear no one and nothing.
• Cross-Centered Life by C. J. Mahaney—great call to keep the cross the main thing in our life. The cross is the heart of Christianity and should be the heart of the Christian life.
• The Treasure Principal by Randy Alcorn—helpful book to give the Scriptural principles of finances without getting in the details of specifically how to do your own finances.
• The Peacemaker by Ken Sande—the best book in resolving conflict in print. He goes through the 4 G’s of resolving conflicts: Glorify God, Get the log out of your eye, Gently restore, Go and be reconciled. The book will change your marriage if you apply it. It also helps cultivate peace within the body of Christ. We all have a tendency to be
• Sex Isn’t the Problem, Lust Is by Josh Harris—the bets book in print on dealing with sexual immorality. He does shy away from uncomfortable discussions. It is gospel centered and very practical on how to deal with this sin that many Christians are entangled in. Formerly published as Not Even a Hint. I am not sure why they changed the title, but the content is the same except for an extra appendix in the newer edition on dealing with internet pornography.
• God’s Solutions to Life’s Problems by Wayne/Josh Mack—very good workbook that would be an excellent discipleship manual for a new believer or any believer who has not yet been taught how to fight sin and grow in the Lord.
• Stop Dating the Church by Josh Harris—great book for this non-committal generation. He goes through some of the important things to look for in a good church an exhorts people to commit to the local body.
• Guidance and the Voice of God by Philip Jensen—probably the best introductory book on decision making from a biblical perspective. This is a huge issue in discipleship. If find many Christians paralyzed in their decision-making because of misunderstanding what the Bible teaches on this issue. It dispels the common ideas that paralyze Christians in making decisions: fleeces, peaces, and signs. He beckons readers to understand three different categories of decision: righteousness, wisdom, triviality. This alone is worth the price of the book.
More to come.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Beginners-Bible Study/Doctrine
I will spend the next couple of posts recommending certain resources for 4 different areas of the Christian life: bible study/reading, doctrine, christian living, and equipping. I am also further breaking them down into 3 groups of beginner, intermediate, and advanced. Yes, I could have used John's language of children, young men, and fathers, but then we might all be tempted to be proud of whichever group we're in. I am sure there could be more categories but we will focus on these for the sake of simplicity. If you have any suggestions of books that I might leave out or some that belong in different categories like intermediate vs. beginners, I am open to suggestions. Here's my 2 cents of resource recommendation for beginners in Bible Study and Doctrine:
Bible Study
• Reading Through Bible in 1 Year
• MacArthur Scripture Memory System—Helpful system that gives you a broad array of important Scriptures to feast upon throughout the year.
• Six Steps to Reading Your Bible by Matthias Media
Bible Doctrine—Beginner•
• Fundamental of the Faith by John MacArthur—excellent workbook with 13 lessons that cover the fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith. It also works well for unbelievers as long as you keep going back to the gospel. Essential for any new believer. It is now published by Moody and contains an MP3 CD with 13 sermons that cover each topic.
• Bitesize Theology by Peter Jeffrey—excellent little book that introduces different important theological terms such as election, justification, etc. Each chapter has suggested Scriptures to study. It is simple and yet profound.
• Basic Christianity by John Stott—excellent book for an unbeliever or a new believer. Covers some common objections that unbelievers might have concerning Christianity.
• Right With God by John Blanchard—excellent book for an unbeliever or a new believer. It’s abridged form is found in the famous pamphlet Ultimate Questions. A helpful and simple explanation of the gospel.
• Chosen by God by Sproul—excellent introduction to the doctrines of grace. Sproul is a master at taking rich and hard to understand theological truths in a very clear manner. DVD is also available.
• Holiness of God by Sproul—life changing book that will drive you to bow in wonder and awe at the Tri-Holy God. DVD is also available.
• Knowing God by J. I. Packer—excellent work for a person to feast upon the character of God. You will understand why it is considered a classic if you read it. It might be pushing it to place this in the beginner's categories, but my dad gave it to me when I was about 14. I think most beginners could handle it.
• Hard to Believe by John MacArthur—excellent book for a new believer or unbeliever to explain the high cost of following Christ. I consider it a popular version of The Gospel According to Jesus.
That's all for now.
Bible Study
• Reading Through Bible in 1 Year
• MacArthur Scripture Memory System—Helpful system that gives you a broad array of important Scriptures to feast upon throughout the year.
• Six Steps to Reading Your Bible by Matthias Media
Bible Doctrine—Beginner•
• Fundamental of the Faith by John MacArthur—excellent workbook with 13 lessons that cover the fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith. It also works well for unbelievers as long as you keep going back to the gospel. Essential for any new believer. It is now published by Moody and contains an MP3 CD with 13 sermons that cover each topic.
• Bitesize Theology by Peter Jeffrey—excellent little book that introduces different important theological terms such as election, justification, etc. Each chapter has suggested Scriptures to study. It is simple and yet profound.
• Basic Christianity by John Stott—excellent book for an unbeliever or a new believer. Covers some common objections that unbelievers might have concerning Christianity.
• Right With God by John Blanchard—excellent book for an unbeliever or a new believer. It’s abridged form is found in the famous pamphlet Ultimate Questions. A helpful and simple explanation of the gospel.
• Chosen by God by Sproul—excellent introduction to the doctrines of grace. Sproul is a master at taking rich and hard to understand theological truths in a very clear manner. DVD is also available.
• Holiness of God by Sproul—life changing book that will drive you to bow in wonder and awe at the Tri-Holy God. DVD is also available.
• Knowing God by J. I. Packer—excellent work for a person to feast upon the character of God. You will understand why it is considered a classic if you read it. It might be pushing it to place this in the beginner's categories, but my dad gave it to me when I was about 14. I think most beginners could handle it.
• Hard to Believe by John MacArthur—excellent book for a new believer or unbeliever to explain the high cost of following Christ. I consider it a popular version of The Gospel According to Jesus.
That's all for now.
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