You pick it from RTS I will read it

[Christopher88]

RTS Recommended Reading List

I will read twelve books that you pick off of this list and post a small review on my blog. (If money allows me to purchase one book a month, which it should)

In other words please pick twelve must reads off this list that I should read in the next 11.5 months.

I have no idea what to read this year, so I am asking for your help. Thanks.

I am picking the twelve most listed. Thanks.

 

[CharlieJ]

How to Read a Book, Mortimer Adler & Charles Van Doren. It will help with all the rest.

 

[J. Dean]

Definitely Holiness by Ryle.

 

[JohnGill]

Strictly from the list (Adler should've already been read, if not, for shame.)

1. Christ of the Covenants

O. Palmer Robertson
2. Biblical Theology Geerhardus Vos
3. Confessions , St. Augustine
4. The Godly Man's Picture , Thomas Watson (don't read an edited version.)
5. The Way of Life , Charles Hodge
6. Pilgrim's Progress , John Bunyan
7. Holiness , J.C. Ryle
8. Foundations of the Christian Faith , James Boice
9. Redemption Accomplished and Applied , John Murray
10. Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms (Shorter and Longer)
11. Institutes of Christian Religion , John Calvin
12. Lectures on Calvinism , Abraham Kuyper


And since 10 is free online and you're Presbyterian (Which means you better have the shorter memorized! ​

)

13. Van Til's Apologetic , Greg Bahnsen​

 

[Marrow Man]

Lots of good books (and a few not so great -- e.g., Nouwen).

Some recommendations:
The Godly Man's Picture by Thomas Watson
Holiness by J.C. Ryle
Christ of the Covenants by O. Palmer Robertson
Redemption Accomplished and Applied by John Murray
Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin
Worldviews in Conflict by Ronald Nash
Turning Points by Mark Noll
Historical Theology by Alister McGrath
Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God by J.I. Packer
Tell the Truth by Will Metzger
Shepherding God's Flock by Jay Adams
Give Praise to God by Ligon Duncan and Derek Thomas
Creation and Change by Doug Kelly
Bondage of the Will by Martin Luther

Narrowing it down:
If you want a book to read on practical Christianity --> Holiness
If you want a book on pastoral ministry --> Shepherding God's Flock
If you want a book on evangelism --> Tell the Truth
If you want a book on worship --> Give Praise to God

 

[Zach]

Thanks for sharing this link Sonny. Many of those recommended books will be edifying.

 

[Christopher88]

Glad to have posted the link Zach.

Thanks for the input Christians.

I have two the books I have half read, so I will put those on my twelve list.

1.Holiness (66% way through on the Kindle. Wish I brought this book in paper)
2.Christ of the Covenants (Read Part 1, now unto too part 2)
10 more........

 

[Christopher88]

• Holiness
• Christ of the Covenants
• Redemption Accomplished and Applied
• Pilgrims Progress
• ICR
• Turning Points by Mark Noll
• Tell the Truth by Will Metzger
• Godly Mans Picture
• Give Praise to God
• How to Read a Book
• Bondage of the Will
• Worldviews in Conflict


Out of this list those are the twelve books I will through this year.
Now I will of course add other books to my reading list but I will get through these twelve. Thanks for all the help. (Of course there is no specif order)

 

[DMcFadden]

I can't pick 12. But here are my idiosyncratic picks (LIMITED to the list).

I. Bible Content and Interpretation
Christ of the Covenants, O. Palmer Robertson
The Progress of Redemption, William Van Gemeren
Biblical Theology, Geerhardus Vos
Introduction to the Old Testament, Raymond Dillard & Tremper Longman III
Introduction to the New Testament, Carson, Moo, and Morris

II. Spiritual Growth and Calling
Confessions, St. Augustine
The Godly Man's Picture, Thomas Watson
The Disciplines of Grace, Jerry Bridges
Pilgrim's Progress, John Bunyan
The Pleasures of God, John Piper
Holiness, J.C. Ryle
Decision Making and the Will of God, Garry FriesenTop

III. Systematic Theology
Knowing God, J.I. Packer
Putting Amazing Back into Grace, Michael Horton
Summary of Christian Doctrine, Louis Berkhof
Introductory Essay to John Owens' The Death of Death in the Death of Christ, J.I. Packer
Redemption Accomplished and Applied, John Murray
Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms
Institutes of Christian Religion, John Calvin
Systematic Theology, Wayne Grudem
A New Systematic Theology, Robert Reymond

IV. Philosophy and Christian Thought
The Universe Next Door, James Sire
World Views in Conflict, Ronald Nash
God and the Philosophers: The Reconciliation fo Faith and Reason, Thomas V. Morris
The Gravedigger File, Os Guiness & Nick Butterworth
The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, Thomas Kuhn
Lectures on Calvinism, Abraham KuyperTop

V. Church History
Church History in Plain Language, Bruce Shelley
Turning Points: Decisive Moments in the History of Christianity, Mark Noll
The Story of Christian Theology, Roger Olson
Historical Theology, Alister McGrath
Luther, Heiko Oberman
Calvin: A Biography, Bernard Cottret
Jonathan Edwards: A Life, George Marsden
Early Christian Doctrines, J.N.D. Kelly
Christianity & Western Thought, Volume 1, Colin Brown
The Christian Tradition: A History of the Development of Doctrine (5 vols.), Jaroslav Pelikan

VI. Contemporary Western Culture
Engaging God's World, Cornelius Plantinga
Christ and Culture, H. Richard Niebuhr
No Place for Truth, David Wells
Postmodern Times, Gene Veith
Scandal of the Evangelical Mind, Mark Noll
Total Truth, Nancy Pearsey

VII . Apologetics
Every Thought Captive, Richard Pratt, Jr.
Christian Apologetics, Cornelius Van Til
Van Til: An Analysis of His Thought, John Frame
Van Til's Apologetic, Greg Bahnsen
Five Views of Apologetics, ed. Steve CowanTop

VIII. Missions and Evangelism
Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, J.I. Packer
Let the Nations Be Glad, John Piper
Christian Mission, John Stott
Telling the Truth: Evangelizing Postmoderns, D.A. Carson
Perspectives on the World Christian Movevment, Ralph Winter

IX. Task of Preaching
How To Talk So People Will Listen, Steve Brown
The Supremacy of God in Preaching, John Piper
Between Two Worlds, John Stott
Biblical Preaching, Haddon Robinson
Christ-Centered Preaching, Bryan Chapell
Preaching Christ in All of Scripture, Ed Clown

X. Pastoral Ministry and Leadership
Spiritual Leadership, J. Oswald Sanders
Shepherding God's Flock, Jay Adams
The Reformed Pastor, Richard Baxter
The Making of a Leader, Robert Clinton

XI. Christian Counseling
Inside Out, Larry Crabb
Connecting, Larry Crabb
Bold Love, Dan Allender & Tremper Longman III

XII . Other Titles
Truth in All Its Glory: Commending the Reformed Faith, William Edgar
How to Read a Book, Mortimer Adler & Charles Van Doren
Chosen by God, R.C. Sproul
Seeking a Better Country: 300 Years of American Presbyterianism, D.G. Hart & John R. Muether
Give Praise to God, Ligon Duncan & Derek Thomas
The Bondage of the Will, Martin Luther

 

[lynnie]

I think you should narrow the field to what you love most and pick heavier in that group. Some people love church history, some love apologetics. Some are just crazy about systematics and some want to do one on one counseling. Are you into prayer? Evangelism? Leading bible studies? I think you have too broad a spread here. Just my opinion. But try to answer this question- what grabs you, what "wrecks" you, what attracts you and grips your mind and heart?

 

[Christopher88]

I'm more of a systematic guy, thou the reason for this is to broaden my education in Christianity.
Thanks for all the posts.
Now through March here are the books:
Holiness
Christ of Covenants
Redemption Accomplished and Applied