We’ve filched some reading lists from The Discerning Reader. If you are wondering what to read, look at some of the books that have shaped these men of God.
Here are a few of the books John MacArthur says have had a great influence on his life:
- The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions edited by Arthur Bennett (Banner of Truth, 1975)
- The Exisitence and Attributes of God by Stephen Charnock
- Knowing God by J. I. Packer
- Preachers and Preaching by Martyn Lloyd-Jones
- Studies in the Sermon on the Mount by Martyn Lloyd-Jones
- Spiritual Growth by Arthur Pink
- The Preacher’s Portrait by John Stott
- The Beatitudes by Thomas Watson
- A Body of Divinity by Thomas Watson
Here is how MacArthur describes his reading habits:
“I really fell in love with reading theology. So now I read theology–books on doctrine–and commentaries. Every week of my life, I read all of the commentaries on any passage I am preaching, and then I just read theology. This comes in many volumes that deal with divine issues or divine themes, not just in theology textbooks, but also in books that deal with particular doctrines and doctrinal issues like the Holy Spirit, Christ, sin, or salvation.
“For variation, I then sprinkle in biographies of spiritual men and occasionally a really “hot” book on important contemporary issues.”
Dr. R.C. Sproul’s List of Most Influential Books:
- Freedom of the Will by Jonathan Edwards
- Bondage of the Will by Martin Luther
- Institutes of Christian Religion by John Calvin
- God and Modern Philosophy by James Collins
- A Time for Truth by William Simons
- Charity and Its Fruits by Jonathan Edwards
- The Person of Christ by G.C. Berkhouwer
- Gospel Fear by Jeremiah Burroughs
- Gospel Worship by Jeremiah Burroughs
- Elenctic Theology 3 vol, Francis Turretin
- Principles of Conduct by John Murray
- A Christian View of Men and Things by Gordon Clark
- Thales to Dewey by Gordon Clark
- Here I Stand by Roland Bainton
- Simple Way to Pray by Martin Luther
The books that have most influenced Russell Moore:
- On the Apostolic Preaching by Irenaeus
- Dialogue with Trypho the Jew by Justin Martyr
- The Problem of Pain by C.S. Lewis
- Baptists and the Bible by Tom Nettles and Russ Bush
- The Gospel and the Kingdom by George Eldon Ladd
- Uneasy Conscience of Modern Fundamentalism by Carl F.H. Henry
- Lord and Servant by Michael Horton
- Love in the Ruins by Walker Percy
- Life is a Miracle by Wendell Berry
