RECOMMENDED RESOURCES

There’s a lot of books and resources out there, and people ask us all the time: Where do I start? That’s why we created this list of recommended resources—mostly books, but also courses and podcasts for you to check out. We also regularly recommend books and other resources in sermons. If you’re not sure where to start, start with the section called: “Your First Five Books.”

  • If you had to start with five books, here’s what we recommend:

    • Practicing the Way (John Mark Comer)

    • How to Pray (Pete Greig)

    • The Purpose Driven Life (Rick Warren)

    • Confronting Christianity (Rebecca McLaughlin)

    • All Things New (Pete Hughes)

  • If you’re new to faith or have lots of questions about faith, here’s a few good books that can guide you through your questions:

    • A Doubter’s Guide to Jesus (John Dickson)

    • The Reason for God (Timothy Keller)

    • Confronting Christianity (Rebecca McLaughlin)

    • The Air We Breathe (Glen Scrivener)

    • The Tech-Wise Family (Andy Crouch)

    • Family Discipleship (Matt Chandler and Adam Griffin)

    • The Intentional Father (Jon Tyson)

    • Risen Motherhood (Emily Jensen + Laura Wifler)

    • Habits of the Household (Justin Whitmel Earley)

    • Discipline That Connects With Your Child’s Heart (Jim + Lynne Jackson)

  • Books:

    • The Biggest Story Bible Storybook (Kevin Deyoung)

    • The Jesus Storybook Bible (Sally Lloyd-Jones)

    • Don’t Forget to Remember (Ellie Holcomb)

    • Baby Believer Board (Book Series)

    • Tales That Tell the Truth (Book Series) 

    • Little Pilgrims Progress (Helen L. Taylor)

    For more age specific and topical books, check out the Risen Motherhood Resource List (risenmotherhood.com/children)

    Podcasts:

  • If you’re a young adult, our Lead Pastor has written a book for you on the five searches of young adulthood: answers, habits, belonging, love, and work. It’s called A Restless Age: How Saint Augustine Helps You Make Sense of Your Twenties. It came out of his own experience of young adulthood and leading a ministry to young adults.

  • Marriage:

    • The Meaning of Marriage (Tim + Kathy Keller)

    • Sacred Marriage (Gary Thomas)

    • The Intentional Year (Glenn + Holly Packaim)

    Dating:

    • The New Rules for Love, Sex, and Dating (Andy Stanley)

    • Single, Dating, Engaged, Married (Ben Stuart)

    • The Sacred Search (Gary Thomas)

    • Culture-Making (Andy Crouch)

    • Courage and Calling (Gordon. T Smith)

    • Every Good Endeavor (Timothy Keller)

    • The Call (Os Guinness)

    • Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest (Ruth Haley Barton)

    • A Woman’s Place(Katelyn Beaty)

    • Fighting Shadows (Jon Tyson)

    • Date Your Wife (Justin Buzzard)

    • The Intentional Father (Jon Tyson)

    • Wild at Heart (John Eldredge)

    • Finally Free (Heath Lambert)

    • None Like Him (Jen Wilkin)

    • In His Image (Jen Wilkin)

    • Fervent (Priscilla Shirer)

    • Everyday Habits course (Everyday Institute)

    • How to Hear God (Pete Greig)

    • Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools (Tyler Staton)

    • How to Pray (Pete Greig)

    • Celebration of Discipline(Richard Foster)

    • The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry (John Mark Comer)

    • The Liturgy of the Ordinary (Tish Harrison Warren)

    • The Gospel Comes with a House Key (Rosaria Butterfield)

    • Sacred Rhythms (Ruth Haley Barton)

    • Practicing the Way (John Mark Comer) (See also Practicing the Way courses)

    • Untangle Your Emotions, Jennie Allen

    • Share the Struggle — courses on anxiety, trauma, depression, and more

    • Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, Pete Scazzero

    • Bullies and Saints (John Dickson)

    • Church History in Plain Language (Bruce Shelley)

    • Do You Believe? (Paul David Tripp)

    • Knowing God (J.I. Packer)

    • You Are a Theologian (J.T. English + Jen Wilkin)

    • Practicing the Power (Sam Storms)

    • Come, Holy Spirit (Gordon. T. Smith)

    • Familiar Stranger (Tyler Staton)

    • Forgotten God (Francis Chan)

    • Conviction & Compassion (Justin Giboney, Chris Butler, and Michael Wear)

    • The Liturgy of Politics (Katelyn Schiess)

    • Untrustworthy (Bonnie Kristian)

    • Saint Augustine — Start with Confessions

    • C.S. Lewis — Start with Mere Christianity or The Chronicles of Narnia

    • Dietrich Bonhoeffer — Start with Life Together

    • George Muller — Start with The Autobiography of George Muller

    • Watchman Nee — Start with The Normal Christian Life

    • A.W. Tozer — Start with The Pursuit of God

  • If you don’t subscribe to the Bellevue Christian Church podcast, start there so that your primary teaching comes from your local church. But, there’s a lot of other churches out there with excellent teaching series.