NEWBIE -reading suggestions for a person new to this

[Richard King]

I was wondering if someone could suggest some books for newcomers to read to better understand the reformed faith. I guess it would be nice if a list was done that showed books increasingly valuable in maturity or depth. I just woke up to a burning interest in this. I don't know how I lived 50 years and this is all new to me. I am trying to really study and I fear I will buy too many books unwisely.

I mean if you were taking a Christian ( already certain of his salvation ) who has been in 'easy warm fuzzy church' all his life and you wanted him to grow in understanding what would you suggest?

 

[ReformedWretch]

WELCOME!

I was where you are now just a few months ago.

Here are the books that helped me.

-I will be your God by T.M. Moore

-The Israel of God by O. Palmer Robertson

-Grace Unknown by R.C. Sproul

In regard to "End Times"

Any and everything by Kenneth Gentry and Gary DeMar

[Edited on 3-2-2005 by houseparent]

 

[Me Died Blue]

One of the first books I would recommend for getting out of the "fuzzy" spirituality mindset is Michael Horton's In the Face of God. I've given some information on it in a few places already:

http://puritanboard.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=8595#pid126388
http://www.puritanboard.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=8414#pid123344
http://www.puritanboard.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=6757#pid101722

 

[Scot]

Grace Unknown - Sproul
Are Five Points Enough? - Leonard J. Coppes
The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination - Loraine Boettner
The Sovereignty of God - A.W. Pink

 

[ReformedWretch]

Originally posted by Me Died Blue
One of the first books I would recommend for getting out of the "fuzzy" spirituality mindset is Michael Horton's In the Face of God. I've given some information on it in a few places already:

http://puritanboard.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=8595#pid126388
http://www.puritanboard.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=8414#pid123344
http://www.puritanboard.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=6757#pid101722

I got that book from reading that thread and it is a nother good one!

 

[panta dokimazete]

If you want a really great web source of reformed thought:



www.monergism.com



It is OUTSTANDING, in my experience.

ooo! I just saw this there!

The New Reformation Study Bible (ESV)
High Demand Item Shipping in February - Pre-Order Now!

http://www.monergismbooks.com/reformationstudybible.html

 

[Puritan Sailor]

The Holiness of God by R.C. Sproul.
Chosen by God by R.C. Sproul.

 

[AdamM]

In addition to the books Patrick has noted, for an easy to access introduction to reformed theology, I would recommend the book Grace Unknown by R.C. Sproul.

https://ecom.ligonier.org/ecom/product.asp?idProduct=GRA01BH

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...102-5032718-5041722?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

[Edited on 3-2-2005 by AdamM]

 

[RamistThomist]

www.reformed.org

 

[Robin]

My Dear Richard,

Do what Martin Luther did - read the book of Romans; carefully; thoughtfully - from start to finish without stopping to analyse the verses. Read it as it was meant to be read - a pastor's letter to his beloved sheep - from the first sentence to the end.

Paul develops his ideas about the essentials of the Faith in a deliberate-progressive manner.

Do this a lot. Reading Romans takes about an hour or so. Listen to it read (CD). After you've spent some time (a month?) at this, then get a good commentary on Romans (DA Carson's is good.) But, hold tightly to this amazing letter! After all, it was this book that changed the shape of Western Civilization - and has given us all THE reason we can call ourselves "Reformed."

Here is what John Calvin had to say about Romans:

"With regard to the excellency of this Epistle, I know not whether it would be well for me to dwell long on the subject; for I fear, lest through my recommendations falling far short of what they ought to be, I should do nothing but obscure its merits: besides, the Epistle itself, at its very beginning, explains itself in a much better way than can be done by any words which I can use. It will then be better for me to pass on to the Argument, or the contents of the Epistle; and it will hence appear beyond all controversy, that besides other excellencies, and those remarkable, this can with truth be said of it, and it is what can never be sufficiently appreciated -- that when any one gains a knowledge of this Epistile, he has an entrance opened to him to all the most hidden treasures of Scripture."

John Calvin's commentary on Romans is here:

http://www.ccel.org/c/calvin/comment3/comm_vol38/htm/iv.htm

Prepare to be changed forever!

Robin

 

[panta dokimazete]

Originally posted by Draught Horse
www.reformed.org

Very good site. I have it in my Yahoo Favorites.

Speaking of good web sites, has there been a thread started to ask for good links?

 

[PuritanCovenanter]

I usually start discipling with The Holiness of God by R.C. Sproul
I like to use a simple book called Truths that Transform by D. James Kennedy.
For Christian disciplines I use a study booklet called Growing in Christ.
For personal Holiness I use and abridgement of John Owen Called Sin and Temptation by Houston.
The best way to get a good start is to start with one of the confessions the Westminster or London.