The Christian’s Bookshelf — 9 Reliable Study Companions for a Lifetime of Growth

Starting on your Bible journey, you wonder what path you should take. There are “Bible in a year” reading programs, along with several others.

Or, you could start out in Genesis 1:1 and read to the end of the Book. Then there’s Bro Chuck Missler, who accurately pointed out that a beginning Bible student should begin with the book of Revelation, since that’s the only book of the Bible that promises a BLESSING (Revelation 1:3 – Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.). I recommend a very effective and brief book on Revelation, below, to accompany your study in Revelation. There is SO MUCH BLESSING to understanding prophecy and how it will unfold, and I truly believe any church of value should lay claim to this. This is especially relevant in a day where numerous churches fall short in prophecy.

But having a doctrinal path for beginning your Bible study journey is a premium bonus: you’re visiting the Scripture and understanding how it fits together with the way you believe — far more than just a reading program.

Truth is, even at this stage of my life I find immense comfort and reassurance in the books I’m recommending below — they are THAT good and I consider them lifelong traveling companions.

An easy way to believe is to take the Bible at its Word. II Timothy 3:16 says a Great Truth. As do numerous others verses. In fact, I allude to an excerpt in my review of Pentecost’s Things to Come. Taking the Bible “as it is” is simply profound. Literal interpretations reinforce our hope.

Taken together, supporting verses to doctrine prove an umbrella of topical coverage. It also gets your brain connecting a lot of dots. A sound, Bible-believing, Christ-centered church will provide its doctrinal statement freely, and matching that up with a study path will help you grow.

Late Arrivals:

There are several books that arrived on my scene decades after my pastor’s initial recommendations. I was so interested in sharing the Gospel with others, so I was always on the lookout for study guides that helped new believers.

One phenomenal book by Chip Ingram, Why I Believe, should be at the side of every Christian. Why, you ask? Because it champions the solid foundation of the Christian life, and sheds light on the very firm fact that believers don’t leave their thinking caps at the door when they take on Christian faith (e.g., Jesus was a historical figure, Biblical accuracy regarding archaeology, creationism). I’ve never seen a book like it, full of answers to a barrage of questions and challenges you’ll confront when living the Christian life and when sharing your faith and the Gospel with others. I cannot recommend it highly enough — it deserves a category all its own, actually.

Another set of books that arrived later in life was the 5-volume set by J Vernon McGee. Although my pastor’s original recommendations were H R Ironside — who I believe penned more than a dozen books total in his commentaries — I was more focused on brevity and **approachability**. These attributes are both underscored in McGee’s volumes which are based on his Thru the Bible radio series; he’s a plowman who lays it out there for the common man, and he does it artfully. The 5-volume set covers the entirety of Scripture, and is full of blessings for any Bible student.

What did i leave out? The bulky Strong’s Greek and Hebrew Concordance hardcover (KJV) I purchased nearly 40 years ago — I still have it parked on my bookshelf. But the truth is there are so many software solutions for this particular type of reference which are just as effective and weigh significantly less. Additionally, I found early that I was not scribbling in the margins of the Concordance like I had been doing with other references, so I decided other less-heavy solutions were more viable.

(As the decades distance me from my first birthday, I pay a lot more attention to the weight of volumes, and the volume of weight.)

Praying you find this list of recommendations a blessing to your Christian walk. 2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.