Books that have shaped this ministry and fed our faith over the years. These are resources we return to again and again — trusted voices that help us go deeper into the Word.
If one of them speaks to you, we’ve included a link to find it.
The BibleVarious Authors The Book. First and foremost in every library. A book that is the guide to every day living, that instructs us in how to deal with whatever this life brings. And it is the story of salvation. Everything in it points to Jesus as Messiah, Savior of the world, and to understand it is to know that it is the greatest love story ever told.
“‘When Christ calls a man,’ says Dietrich Bonhoeffer, ‘he bids him come and die.’ There are different kinds of dying, it is true; but the essence of discipleship is contained in those words. And this marvelous book is a commentary on the cost.” — G. K. A. Bell, late Bishop of Chichester Jesus tells us in Luke 14 to count the cost of following him. Bonhoeffer counted the cost and paid with his life. This book will have you reflecting on whether you’ve counted the cost and are willing to pay whatever God may ask of you.
The be all and end all of preachers in my book. Discovering Spurgeon was a gift. He unpacks the word like no other preacher I know of and I’ve used many of his messages and launching points for messages on GFS. There’s no sense in reinventing the wheel. Priceless.
When praying about which devotional to do one year, my wife and a fellow member of New Day both brought this to me independently, without knowing the other had recommended it. For everyone who goes through difficult seasons — and we all do — this points to the light at the end of the tunnel. Never ending faith and trust in God.
Another Spurgeon favorite of The Feeding Station. Still inspiring 100 years later, Spurgeon gives us the perfect beginning and ending to every day by reminding us that no matter what, our hope is in the Lord.
What would a daily devotion be without Chambers. This is a devotional that invites everyone to get out of the shallows and into the deep with God and really consider where your faith in God stands.
25 Advent reflections on “A Christmas Carol” — second only to the story of the nativity when it comes to Christmas. I’ve always seen “A Christmas Carol” as a story of redemption and finally found something that reflected my thoughts on it and put it into a devotional. Ms. Pittman brings together the Word of God and the words of Dickens in such a way that causes us to reflect, repent, and celebrate life renewed in Christ. And it reminds us — it’s never too late.
Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible, 6 VolumesMatthew Henry
Another one I bought early on in my study of scripture. This has been around for 300 years and was recommended to me by Pastor Doug White. In depth and great applications to every day life.
The Bible Knowledge Commentary: Old & New Testament, 2 VolumesJohn F. Walvoord & Roy B. Zuck
The Old Testament Commentary was the first one Pastor Doug gave me when we started the Feeding Station. Introduced me to exposition and commentary by the Dallas Theological Seminary faculty. Really gave me a clearer understanding of the Old Testament.
It took Spurgeon nearly half of his ministry to write this commentary on the Psalms and when you read it you understand why. Spurgeon’s own commentary on every verse of the Psalms is extremely insightful and rich, drawing from hundreds of commentators including the great Puritan expositors of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
Another recommendation from Pastor Doug. We were discussing prayer and he mentioned this book. If there’s a better guide to prayer — why and how to, and how not to pray — I haven’t seen it. His contemporaries called him the “Eagle of God.” He once said, “Recreation to a minister must be as whetting is with the mower — that is, to be used only so far as is necessary for his work.” That is a man who is serious about his faith and his time devoted to God.
