Resources
These are some of our favorite books, articles, podcasts, ministries, and apps. God has used them to impact our lives and we pray He'll do the same for you. (No affiliation or promos here, just good ole fashioned recommendations.)
BIBLE STUDY &
SCRIPTURE MEMORY
In this online resource offered by Desiring God, Dr. John Piper skillfully and pastorally walks through verses and passages of Scripture helping us to see the treasures that lie within. By visually illustrating connections, meanings, and context, Look at the Book equips you to better understand and more deeply love Scripture.
If you've ever wanted to see all that Jesus commanded throughout the four Gospels compiled into one helpful resource, here it is! Jesus' commands show us who he is and how to be more like him; thus we do well to know them. In All That Jesus Commanded, John Piper walks through Jesus’ commands, explaining their context and meaning. Each of the fifty short chapters (consider walking through one per week) helps us understand Christ’s vision of the Christian life and what he still requires today. This helpful guide is for new believers and long-time Christians alike, for personal study or as a key resource in disciple-making.
This app is an incredibly helpful tool for memorizing scripture either through a set plan or your own selection of verses. Interactive quizzes, verse memory review schedule, and even verses set to music make daily use of the app simple and impactful. It's a nominal cost compared to the value it offers in terms of delighting in and meditating on God's Word. Reviewing verses on a daily and weekly basis keeps us deeply rooted in God's Word and ensures we are storing up truth in our hearts.
This non-profit creative studio seeks to make the biblical story accessible to everyone, everywhere. They create videos, podcasts, and study guides that explore the Bible's unified story by focusing on its overarching themes and each book's literary design. They are committed to understanding the Bible in its historical context and communicating its wisdom for the modern world. Using Bible Project resources will change how you read and use the Bible!
DEVOTIONALS &
PRAYER TOOLS
By Paul David Tripp
The work of Paul Tripp continues to impact our walk with Jesus. God used this devotional in particular to stir our affections for His Word and the Gospel Truth. Paul's words are so gospel-centered and to the point this devotional packs a punch in 10 minutes or less.
Available in Spanish as well!
By Craig Denison
We've used the First15 devotionals from Denison Ministries for years. They are in-depth, relevant, personal, and gospel-centered and are hands down one of our favorite daily devos. Originally delivered via email only, they are now available as beautifully designed books and a daily podcast! The Denison Forum also offers numerous other helpful resources connecting our faith to modern culture.
By Douglas McKelvey
We love this 3-volume series which features beautiful prayers and liturgies for the ordinary events of our daily lives; reminding us that busy and mundane moments have sacred purpose. Each volume emphasizes different seasons and aspects of life offering a prayer to mark every occasion - from hosting a garage sale, celebrating a birth, the passing of a life, buying a new home, or putting up a Christmas tree. Also available as an app.
By 24-7 Prayer
This app includes guided morning, midday, and evening times of prayer. Morning Prayers are inspired by the ancient practice of ‘Lectio Divina’ (meaning ‘Divine Reading’), a way of meditating on the Bible that’s been used by Christians for centuries. Midday Prayers are centered around The Lord’s Prayer. Evening Prayers are inspired by the Ignatian practice of The Examen, which is a way to prayerfully reflect on your day. Through the guided prayers you'll pray about global issues and headlines, explore timeless Biblical themes, prepare for seasons of Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost, and celebrate heroes of the faith on Feast Days
"Will you pray for me?" "How can I pray for you?" Random paper slips with prayers tucked in various places doesn't often work for the long haul. The Echo Prayer app is a central place to track prayers so that you actually pray. This free app offers customizable reminder schedules, a prayer timer, ability to share prayer requests, make notes, and mark prayers as answered. It's a digital prayer journal of sorts and quite the blessing as we walk alongside people in need of prayer, which is all of us.
SPIRITUAL GROWTH:
RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND OTHERS
By Susan Freese
This all-in-one resource contains a lifetime of discipleship essentials for new (and longtime) Christians worldwide. It’s hard to have a close relationship with God and fulfill your purpose without a clear understanding of His story and your part in it. This book, along with the numerous resources from All In Ministries, teaches the foundations of the Christian faith from Bible Study, prayer, sharing your faith, the Holy Spirit, and God's purpose for you. It's so full of goodness we encourage you to take your time digging deeply into the areas of your faith that need strengthening, stretching, and growth to be deeply rooted.
Available in multiple languages!
By Milton Vincent
This short book can open our eyes in a new way to the beauty of the gospel, the good news of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. It is powerful and yet simple. If you need a great understanding of the power of the gospel in your every day life, give this a read. If you need a daily remind of why the gospel changes everything, give this a read. If you are discouraged and need hope, give this a read.
By Paul David Tripp
In many areas of life we allow awe of God, the Creator of the Universe, to be replaced by awe of something created. This book opens our eyes to our awe-deficiency and its negative impacts on our relationship with God and others. We are all created by God as worshipers, the question is, what (or who) are we worshiping? This book helps reveal the answer.
EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY SPIRITUALITY
By Peter Scazzero
Lead by John Mark Comer
In a distracted, fragmented, and hurried culture, this ministry offers helpful resources for us to cultivate meaningful lives with God. They seek to provide a “curriculum for Christlikeness” – a clear path to being formed by Jesus in the modern era, rather than being counter-formed by a culture that skims near the surface. The free resources help people learn how to be with Jesus, become like him, and do as he did. They help us integrate the practices and rhythms of Jesus, creating space for the Holy Spirit to form us into people of depth and love.
A LONG OBEDIENCE IN THE SAME DIRECTION
By Eugene Peterson
This book reminds us that discipleship is not instant, even though everything else around us may be. Through a deep dive into the Songs of Ascents, as sung by pilgrims on their way up to worship in Jerusalem, Eugene Peterson encourages us as we learn to grow in worship, service, joy, work, happiness, humility, community and blessing.
MARRIAGE
Love your spouse with purpose. This book includes insightful application of the Bible’s principles of marriage. Founded in scripture and personal experience, this is direct, unsentimental advice useful for premarital counseling, married life, and for single men and women who value a biblical perspective on marriage.
This sermon series was the basis for Tim and Kathy's book, The Meaning of Marriage. Through twelve sermons Tim explains the purpose of marriage and the foundations for a Christ-centered, God-honoring marriage. Helpful whether you're married or single, widowed or divorced.
We love the 31-Day Devotional for Life series, particularly this one! How we talk to each other matters, especially in our marriage. Scripture calls us to build one another up, not tear each other down. This devo connects us to the ultimate help we need (Jesus!!) in order to love our spouse well. Work through it as a team with your spouse and learn how to speak with Christlike love, as you grow in holiness and glorify God with your words and your marriage.
DEATH & GRIEF
OTHER RESOURCES
CCEF is a go to source for counseling resources. Their website is rich with topical books, articles, and podcasts to help us minster to one another. The Journal of Biblical Counseling is a great resource for those practicing counseling or simply looking to expand their knowledge. CCEF seeks to restore Christ to counseling and counseling to the church by equipping laypeople and professional counselors to serve sinners, sufferers, and saints; pointing them to Jesus and the Word of God with love and humility.
Desiring God's rich ministry is rooted in the truth that we were made to know God’s glory and His glory alone can satisfy the deepest longings of our heart. Their principle belief is that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him. Through books, podcasts, sermons, and devotionals they offer a wealth of free resources to help you be deeply rooted in God's goodness and great love for you; cultivating the right response of loving and serving him in return.