Recommended Reading
We love the authority and sufficiency of the Bible. There is no substitute in the life of the believer for the Word of God. In His Word, God has communicated perfectly all that we need for salvation, for growth, and for living a life that is pleasing to Him. (2 Tim 3:16-17) And the Lord desires us to think deeply about what He has communicated in His Word and to respond appropriately. One profoundly beneficial aid in our pursuit of honoring the Lord personally is to be instructed by the careful biblical thinking of others in good books. Many saints have gone before us and pursued the Lord faithfully, and their words can help us explore the riches of scripture, and can help us grow in our love for the Lord and our love for others, our pursuit of the Lord and our pursuit of holiness. There are countless resources that are just a click away, and many are really beneficial.
Our desire is to point the church towards the best resources available. With these things in mind, the elders at Gilbert Bible Church have given thought to recommended reading for the body. If you would like a recommendation based upon topic, please reach out to [email protected]. We would love to help!
Below is recommended reading in the form of a book of the month. Each month, we will recommend a book, give a brief summary and a reading plan for that book. Building and maintaining the habit of reading even a small amount each day will help you to work through many good books, and to think more carefully and more biblically about many beneficial topics.
EVANGELISM AND THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD
by J.I. Packer
May’s book of the month is Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God by J.I. Packer. I am so thankful for how J.I. Packer explains biblical truth and important theology in a way that is approachable and applicable. Knowing God is one of my favorite books because of this. In Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, Packer addresses a question that many have when it comes to theology. How can divine sovereignty and human responsibility co-exist? ***Spoiler alert*** The answer is simply that they do co-exist, because God’s Word has revealed that He is both King and Judge. In salvation, God saves and yet He gives His people the responsibility to evangelize. Understanding God’s part in salvation and our part in evangelism is so comforting and should be motivating. Packer so helpfully explains the Christian’s duty to make known the truth of the gospel, and thankfully God Himself works in the hearts of men.
Keeping The Heart
by John Flavel
April’s book of the month is Keeping the Heart by John Flavel. This is an immensely practical and helpful book that has proven valuable to Christians for centuries to help them shepherd their hearts toward purity and devotion to the Lord. We recommend this book to encourage each of us to grow in our care for our own hearts with the word of God, which will fortify our ability to care for those around us. It is also the perfect size to be read in one month.
A Gospel Primer For Christians
by Milton Vincent
Milton Vincent encourages us to make preaching the gospel to ourselves a daily habit, and A Gospel Primer helps us understand why this is necessary and how to do it. This is a book every Christian will benefit from reading, even reading regularly. Join us this month—get your copy for $9.00 at the info desk.