Every now and again, in my part of rural Kansas, word will get around that some cows have escaped their field and are walking about on well-traveled highways. At such times it is necessary for the owner to go and herd the cows back to the safety of their green pastures.

The Preacher in the book of Ecclesiastes teaches us: “The words of the wise are like goads.” Yet, he also warns, “Of the making of many books there is no end, and much study is weariness of the flesh.” Not all that is written is worth reading! But the wisdom that comes from the Shepherd is intended to be like a pointed stick that stimulates thought and action, keeps us back from error, pushes us toward safety, advances us forward in faith and life, and drives us to the pastures of God’s wisdom.

How to discern the difference between those writings that are wise and those that are foolish is not always an easy task. Pastors are often asked for their recommendations for private study, devotional use, family worship, or for book tables at church. Included here is a compilation of books on a range of topics that come pastorally selected as both informative and edifying. The font color for each book title indicates the level of readability:

EASY

INTERMEDIATE

ADVANCED

WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE BIBLE?

The Bible makes claims about itself that most books do not. The most significant claim it makes is that it is the word of God. This is often called inspiration. Inspiration is a biblical word that literally means God-breathed. When it is applied to the Bible it means that the Bible is the breathing out of God Himself—His very word.

Because the Bible is inspired, there are a number of characteristics that help us to appreciate and understand what it is. First, the Bible is necessary as it tells us what we are to believe about God and what He requires of us. Second, the Bible is sufficient as God has given us everything we need for life and godliness so that we might be equipped for every good work. Third, the Bible is clear in what it says about the saving message of Jesus Christ. Finally, the Bible is authoritative because it is not the word of men but the word of God.

1. Taking God at His Word by Kevin De Young

2. Knowing Scripture by R.C. Sproul

3. From the Mouth of God by Sinclair Ferguson

4. Thy Word is Truth by E.J. Young

5. Disputations on Holy Scripture by William Whitaker

6. Revelation and Inspiration by B.B. Warfield

7. Principles of Biblical Interpretation by Louis Berkhof

WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE CHURCH?

There is a lot of confusion today about the church, but the Bible puts the church at the very center of Jesus’ vision for the Great Commission and the Christian life. We are even told in the Bible that the church is “our mother” (see Gal. 4:26). It was once said that a church-less Christianity is not Christianity at all. There are, however, many questions about what the church is, why it is important, who belongs to it, where it is present, what it should do, and how it should be organized.

1. Church Membership by Jonathan Leeman

2. The Glorious Body by R.B. Kuiper

3. The Church by Edmund Clowney

4. The Scriptural Doctrine of the Church by Douglas Bannerman

5. The Communion of Saints by Philip Graham Ryken

6. Rules for Walking in Fellowship by John Owen

WANT TO KNOW ABOUT PROTESTANTISM?

A century ago the line of demarcation between Roman Catholic and Protestant was—even on a popular level—more pronounced than it is today. Protestantism originally got its name from the word protest, since during the Reformation a movement began which protested the errors and abuse of the Roman Catholic Church. Since then, Protestantism has rejected Catholic teaching on things like papal supremacy, the sacraments, and the authority of tradition. Historically, Protestantism could be characterized by the solas (a Latin word meaning “alone”)—Scripture alone, faith alone, grace alone, Christ alone, and the glory of God alone. Today those commitments in general are not as firm as in the past, and Protestantism is distinguished by many denominational bodies such as the Adventists, Anglicans, Baptists, Reformed, Lutherans, Methodists, Pentecostals, and evangelical churches.

1. Why We’re Protestant: An Introduction to the Five Solas of the Reformation by Nate Pickowicz

2. The Courage to Be Protestant by David Wells

3. Christianity and Liberalism by J. Gresham Machen

4. A Dialogue Between a Catholic Priest and a Protestant by Matthew Poole

5. Infallibility of the Church by George Salmon

WANT TO KNOW ABOUT PRESBYTERIANISM?

Perhaps as you drive down the streets of your community you have seen signs for churches that include in their names words like Congregational, Independent, Episcopalian, or Presbyterian. Obscure as these names may be to many, they simply refer to the way in which the church is organized and governed. Presbyterianism believes that the church is to be led by a plurality of elders, each of whom is equal to one another and is chosen by the membership of the church as possessing the scriptural qualifications. Additionally, Presbyterianism believes in the organizational unity of the church, and so there are broader church bodies beyond the local congregation often called presbyteries, synods, or general assemblies. This way of structuring the church is not only biblical but is practically important for accountability, encouragement, and fellowship.

1. How Jesus Runs the Church by Guy Prentiss Waters

2. The Elder by Lawrence Eyers

3. On Being Presbyterian by Sean Michael Lucas

4. The Church of Christ by James Bannerman

5. The Church of God by Stuart Robinson

WANT TO KNOW ABOUT REFORMED THEOLOGY?

The adjective Reformed gets used a lot. Maybe you have heard about a Reformed church, seminary, conference, or book. But what’s in a name? Historically, Reformed Christianity was a branch of Protestantism whose beliefs and convictions came to be expressed in detailed statements of faith that we usually call confessions or catechisms. Today, the most-used Reformed statements of faith are the Heidelberg Catechism, Belgic Confession, Canons of Dort, Westminster Confession of Faith, and the Westminster Larger and Shorter Catechisms. To be Reformed, then, means that one agrees with and believes as biblical the set of teachings contained in confessions and catechisms like these.

1. Welcome to a Reformed Church by Danny Hyde

2. The Reformed Confessions Harmonized by Joel Beeke and Sinclair Ferguson

3. Living to God’s Glory by Joel Beeke

4. Commentary on the Westminster Confession of Faith by A.A. Hodge

5. The Body of Divinity by Thomas Watson

6. Reformation Theology by Matthew Barrett (ed.)

WANT TO KNOW ABOUT CALVINISM?

The biblical teaching of salvation is that we are saved by God’s grace alone. However, one of the greatest challenges in our hearts is to actually let the grace of God be the grace of God. In subtle ways we often want to add to God’s grace our works, efforts, or attainments. That is why, for instance, the Apostle Paul often writes about how salvation cannot be a result of things done by us but is truly a gift of God. In Reformed churches we believe salvation by grace alone is worked out most consistently in the teaching that is commonly called Calvinism. Many people know about Calvinism according to the simple acronym TULIP—total depravity, unconditional election, limited atonement, irresistible grace, and preservation (perseverance) of the saints. While those sound like difficult subjects (and some of them are!), as they are biblically worked out we see that salvation is truly by grace alone.

1. The Five Points of Calvinism by David Steele

2. For Calvinism by Michael Horton

3. Chosen by God by R.C. Sproul

4. The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination by Loraine Boettner

5. Lectures on Calvinism by Abraham Kuyper

6. Foundations of Grace by Steve Lawson

WANT TO KNOW ABOUT WORSHIP?

To worship means to ascribe worth. The Bible teaches that we are to only worship the one, true, and living God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In fact, this is the very purpose of our existence: to worship God. Worshiping someone or something other than God is what the Bible calls idolatry and it is a very serious sin.

Thankfully, God has not left us to imaginatively figure out how we should worship him. Rather, He has graciously told us in the Bible what is pleasing and acceptable to Him. When we worship God as God has commanded, we have the joy of knowing that our worship is a sweet-smelling fragrance to the one who is Creator and Redeemer.

1. Worship in the Presence of God by Frank Smith

2. Public Worship 101 by Denny Prutow

3. Reformed Worship by Terry Johnson

4. Gospel Worship by Jeremiah Burroughs

WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE SABBATH?

God cares about our schedules. In his kindness He has given us six days for all our work, labor, entertainment, and recreations. Yet, for our good and for His glory, He has set apart a day to be unlike the other days of the week. Since the very beginning of creation God has given to us a day of sabbath. On this day we are freed from the worldly burdens, cares, and responsibilities that demand our attention on the other six days. During His earthly ministry Jesus claimed to be the “Lord of the Sabbath.” That means He gets to direct the details of the day. During this day He wants us to have a holy rest, worship Him, do works of mercy toward our neighbor, and remember His resurrection on the first day of the week.

1. Call the Sabbath a Delight by Walter Chantry

2. The Day of Worship by Ryan McGraw

3. The Lord’s Day by Joseph Pipa

4. The True Doctrine of the Sabbath by Nicholas Bownd

WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE SACRAMENTS?

Sacrament is a word that sounds very religious and is probably, for many, confusing. In its simplest definition a sacrament is a visible sign of a spiritual grace. As we await His return, Jesus has given His church two visible signs—baptism and the Lord’s supper. Baptism is a visible sign of our being brought into the church, and the Lord’s supper is a visible sign of our continued spiritual nourishment in the Lord Jesus Christ. But they are not mere signs. By the blessing of the Holy Spirit, these sacraments also confirm to us the promises of the gospel and so become a means of grace.

1. Christian Baptism by John Murray

2. Given for You by Keith Mathison

3. Children at the Lord’s Table? by Cornelis Venema

4. Feasting with Christ by Joel Beeke and Paul Smalley

5. Word, Water, and Spirit by J.V. Fesko

6. Jesus Loves the Little Children by Danny Hyde

WANT TO KNOW ABOUT PSALM SINGING?

Part of the way that God wants us to worship Him is through the singing of praise. For this purpose God has given us an entire book of the Bible that is a collection of songs—the Book of Psalms. The Book of Psalms includes psalms, hymns, and songs that were written by King David and other men of great wisdom. They weren’t, however, the only authors, as these songs are breathed out by God (see previous section on the Bible). Because they are the Word of God, they are perfectly trustworthy in all they say and teach. They also express the full range of human emotion. No matter how you are feeling or what you are experiencing, the Book of Psalms has words to sing. But they are not only about us. Rather, they are about Jesus—His birth, life, death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and return. We also sing of all the blessings and promises He gives in the gospel.

1. Songs of Zion by Michael Bushell

2. Singing the Songs of Jesus by Michael LeFebvre

3. Sing the Lord’s Song by John Keddie

4. Sing a New Song by Joel Beeke and Anthony Selvaggio

5. The Messiah and the Psalms by Richard Belcher

6. On Psalmody by John Cotton

WANT TO KNOW ABOUT INSTRUMENTS?

The temple worship of the Old Testament was an elaborate ceremony filled with colors, smells, sounds, and sights. An important aspect of that worship was the musical instruments that David constructed by the direct command of God. They were created to be played by the Levitical priests when the burnt offering was being offered on the altar. When the burnt offering was finished, the musical instruments would stop and the Psalms of David would be sung with joy and gladness in the worship of God.

When Jesus came He brought an end to the old way of worshiping God in the temple—the priesthood, sacrifices, altar, and even the musical instruments. Now we make a melody with our heart as we sing psalms to God. When we do that without musical instruments we are reminded that the ultimate offering—the sacrifice of Jesus Christ—has been made once and for all.

1. Old Light on New Worship by John Price

2. Instrumental Music in the Public Worship of the Church by John Girardeau

3. A Cappella Music in the Public Worship of the Church by Everett Ferguson

Kyle Borg is pastor of Winchester, Kan., RPC and is a member of the RPCNA Board of Education & Publication. Several RP ministers contributed book suggestions for this article.