At the WorshipGod08 conference we recommended and then gave away a number of books. I told the attendees that our purpose was not simply to buy books but to build a library (a phrase I stole from CJ Mahaney, who has used it for years). I wanted to post those books here, in the hopes that if you weren’t at the conference you might consider getting them anyway. This list includes books that were recommended in the main sessions as well as books that were recommended in some of the seminars.
Theology of the Psalms
How to Read the Psalms – Tremper Longman III
Great introduction to understanding the Psalms.
Transformed by Praise – Mark Futato
Explores the Psalms as praise, poetry, and instruction. Clear, readable, biblical, and inspiring.
Psalms: An Introduction and Commentary, Vol. 1 & Vol. 2 – Derek Kidner
Kidner wastes no words in this densely packed insightful commentary. Plenty of nuggets and very Christ-centered.
Preaching Christ from the Old Testament – Sidney Greidanus
A helpful combination of hermeneutical principles and practical illustrations.
The Messiah and the Psalms – Richard Belcher
Packed with insights that will help you see Christ more clearly in the Psalms.
Deserted by God? – Sinclair Ferguson
Hope from the Psalms for those who don’t experience God’s presence in difficult times.
General Biblical Study
The Message of the Old Testament: Promises Made – Mark Dever
Transcribed from Mark Dever’s sermons on every book of the Old Testament. Insightful, relevant and Christ-centered.
The Message of the New Testament: Promises Kept – Mark Dever
Transcribed from Mark Dever’s sermons on every book of the New Testament.
New Bible Commentary – Introduction by D.A. Carson, “Approaching the Bible”
Excellent overall perspective for reading Scripture the way God intended us to hear it.
For the Worship Team and Worship Leader
The Art of Worship – Greg Scheer
Comprehensive, practical, winsome, and insightful. Especially helpful for churches seeking to introduce modern music to their congregation.
Worship Matters – Bob Kauflin
My book aimed at worship leaders, musicians, pastors, and anyone wanting to grow in their understanding and practice of biblical worship.
Engaging with God: A Biblical Theology of Worship – David Peterson
Probably the best single volume on what biblical worship means and entails.
Growing in Godliness
Humility – C.J. Mahaney
One of the greatest needs of every individual involved in leading corporate worship, written by one of the humblest men I know.
What is a Healthy Church Member? – Thabiti Anyabwile
A short but powerful book on how you can best contribute to your church.
Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health – Donald Whitney
Worth reading once a year to find out whether your spiritual growth is imagined or real.
A Gospel Primer – Milton Vincent
Thirty one ways the gospel should make a difference in your life.
Speaking the Truth in Love – David Powlison
Sound biblical direction for the 20,000 plus words most of us speak every day.
Seeing with New Eyes – David Powlison
Insightful articles that carefully and wisely address topics including marriage, anxiety, pride, suffering, and the heart.
Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life – Donald Whitney
Practical and clear direction for the area of our life that matters most – the private life.
Living the Cross Centered Life – C.J. Mahaney
For thirty years I’ve benefited from watching CJ live a cross-centered life. This book will help you do the same.
Do you know who recommended having the book by Greg Scheer (The Art of Worship) there? Was this something you read? I picked it up at the conference and having started reading it, I have found it helpful for churches with both traditional and contemporary songs/elements.
Dave
thanks for posting this. i wasn’t able to purchase any books at the conference so its great to have this list to begin adding to my library. :)
A book was mentioned with a title that sounded like “The Messiah in the Psalms”. I couldn’t find it during the conference. Would anyone remember the proper name of the book and its author? And Bob, thank you for how you served me and by proxy, all the folks in the Miami church!
Regarding Peterson’s worship book, last fall I read it as well as Allen Ross’s “Recalling the Hope of Glory.” I found Ross’s book to be equally comprehensive and yet significantly more soul-stimulating – a great pair!
Tim,
You’re right. Peterson, a NT scholar, combined with Ross, an OT scholar, is a great combo.
Miguel,
Mark Dever mentioned “The Messiah and the Psalms” by Richard Belcher. You can find it on Amazon.com.
Aaron
Thanks Aaron!
Hi, Bob. Would have loved to have joined everyone at the conference. Looking forward to trying for 2010.
Do you have the Gospel Primer available at your church bookstore?
Amazon is out of stock. I thought that looked like a great devotional idea for a month, since it references the number 31.
Also, I recently picked up Respectable Sins: Confronting the sins we tolerate — by Jerry Bridges. Quite an enlightening and very easy to relate to, readable book (has a study guide available). Very convicting and yet healing.
As ever, thanks for equipping us with such great resources. Just this week I passed my spare copy of your Worship Matters book on to a local pastor whom I just had the pleasure of meeting.
Eve,
Yes, I’m pretty sure we have copies of A Gospel Primer at the Covenant Life bookstore. Thanks for your encouraging words.
I have found Interpreting the Psalms: An Exegetical Handbook to be more worth while that Longman’s How to Read the Psalms.
Wilson’s NIVAC commentary on the Psalms is also good. As are the volumes in the Word Biblical Commenary series.
My personal fave is Mowinckel’s The Psalms in Israel’s Worship.
Hey Bob,
I enjoyed the conference. Thanks for your “heroic” labors.
One of my favorite commentaries on the Psalms, The “Treasury of David”, is an excellent resource on the Psalms, and a great value. Originally published in seven volumes, the current three volume set is available from CBD for about $30. The work was written and compiled by Charles Spurgeon over a 20 year period. It has been called his magnum opus. It contains Spurgeon’s overview & exposition of each Psalm, quotes from many Puritan & Reformed writers commenting on the texts (not all are verified by Spurgeon… nothing heretical, but perhaps some speculation, the reader is left to validate), and somewhat of a sermon outline for each Psalm.
BTW, the Valley of Vision contains the prayers of many of the people that he quotes.
I love these volumes because I love the Psalms, because there is “safety in a multitude of counselors”, because the beauty of truth is explained here in beautiful words/prose, because it is humbling and encouraging to read the words of those who suffered, some dying, for the things that I believe, and because God has always had a kingdom (the church didn’t start with the Jesus movement in the 70s) and it is helpful to retrace His footsteps through the ages, hearing Him speaking through His great and gifted men given to lead His church. The old writings, like the Treasury, take me there.
The Treasury of David is also available to read online at:
http://www.spurgeon.org/treasury/treasury.htm
FYI: it is written in dated English (Spurgeon living in the late 1800s and those he quoted for the most part from the 1600s on).
Wally
Wally,
Thanks for the recommendation. We had 20 of Spurgeon’s commentaries at the conference and sold out. As you said, while Spurgeon and those he quotes can move into speculation, there are few guys who are as inspiring or Gospel-centered as he is when it comes to the Psalms.