I am sometimes asked to help churches evaluate their libraries, and to suggest the books they should add and the ones they should take away. I thought it might prove helpful to put together a list of the first 250 books that can get a church well on its way to having a great library.
No one will agree with every book on this list. In fact, by this time tomorrow I probably won’t agree with them all either. But I think you’ll still find it a very good place to begin as you attempt to build a well-rounded, trustworthy church library. I will work on a list for the children’s portion of the library next.
(Note: links to Amazon and Westminster Books are affiliate links, which means I earn from qualifying purchases.)
By popular request, here’s the list in a downloadable and printable format .
Starting Out
These are books for new believers, or those who are discipling them.
1 What Is the Gospel?
Greg Gilbert
2 Basic Christianity
John Stott
3 Now What?
Aaron Armstrong
4 Grounded in the Faith
Kenneth Erisman
5 The Quiet Time Kickstart
Rachel Jones
6 Core Christianity
Michael Horton
7 The Gospel Way Catechism
Trevin Wax & Thomas West
8 The Good News We Almost Forgot
Kevin DeYoung
9 Stop Asking Jesus Into Your Heart
J.D. Greear
10 How Can I Be Sure I’m a Christian?
Donald Whitney
Reading and Understanding the Bible
Books that help you read the Bible and teach you to do so yourself.
11 ESV Study Bible
12 Reformation Study Bible
13 Knowing Scripture
R.C. Sproul
14 Read This First
Gary Millar
15 How to Get the Most from God’s Word
John MacArthur
16 Taking God at His Word
Kevin DeYoung
17 Women of the Word
Jen Wilkin
18 One-to-One Bible Reading
David Helm
19 The One Story Bible
Greg Gilbert
20 A Divine Tapestry
Ryan McGraw
21 Dig Deeper
Nigel Beynon & Andrew Sach
22 Can We Trust the Gospels?
Peter J. Williams
23 New Bible Dictionary
IVP (ed. Marshall, Millard, Packer, Wiseman)
24 ESV Bible Atlas
Crossway (Currid & Barrett)
25 Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life
Donald Whitney
God, the Gospel, and Doctrine
Theology to get you grounded.
26 Knowing God
J.I. Packer
27 The Holiness of God
R.C. Sproul
28 Chosen by God
R.C. Sproul
29 What Is Reformed Theology?
R.C. Sproul
30 Putting Amazing Back into Grace
Michael Horton
31 The Doctrines of Grace
James Montgomery Boice & Philip Ryken
32 Delighting in the Trinity
Michael Reeves
33 The Deep Things of God
Fred Sanders
34 None Like Him
Jen Wilkin
35 Gentle and Lowly
Dane Ortlund
36 The Cross of Christ
John Stott
37 The Truth of the Cross
R.C. Sproul
38 The Gospel
Ray Ortlund
39 The Prodigal God
Tim Keller
40 The Whole Christ
Sinclair Ferguson
41 Christian Beliefs
Wayne Grudem
42 Daily Doctrine
Kevin DeYoung
43 Urban Legends of Theology
Michael Wittmer
44 The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God
D.A. Carson
Christian Living and Growth
Holiness, habits, and Christian living.
45 The Pursuit of Holiness
Jerry Bridges
46 The Discipline of Grace
Jerry Bridges
47 Respectable Sins
Jerry Bridges
48 Trusting God
Jerry Bridges
49 The Hole in Our Holiness
Kevin DeYoung
50 Habits of Grace
David Mathis
51 Devoted to God
Sinclair Ferguson
52 Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health
Donald Whitney
53 Uprooting Anger
Robert Jones
54 The Blessing of Humility
Jerry Bridges
55 Don’t Waste Your Life
John Piper
56 Desiring God
John Piper
57 Just Do Something
Kevin DeYoung
58 Crazy Busy
Kevin DeYoung
59 Conscience
Andrew Naselli & J.D. Crowley
60 Resisting Gossip
Matthew Mitchell
61 Good and Angry
David Powlison
62 When People Are Big and God Is Small
Edward Welch
Prayer and Devotion
Books to teach you how to pray, and then help you with it.
63 A Praying Life
Paul Miller
64 Prayer
Tim Keller
65 Praying the Bible
Donald Whitney
66 Praying Backwards
Bryan Chapell
67 The Prayer of the Lord
R.C. Sproul
68 Praying Together
Megan Hill
69 The Valley of Vision
ed. Arthur Bennett
70 Piercing Heaven
ed. Robert Elmer
71 New Morning Mercies
Paul David Tripp
72 Morning and Evening
Charles Spurgeon
Classics
Books that, for good reason, have outlived their authors.
73 The Pilgrim’s Progress
John Bunyan
74 Confessions
Augustine
75 Mere Christianity
C.S. Lewis
76 The Screwtape Letters
C.S. Lewis
77 Holiness
J.C. Ryle
78 Thoughts for Young Men
J.C. Ryle
79 The Bruised Reed
Richard Sibbes
80 Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices
Thomas Brooks
81 The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment
Jeremiah Burroughs
82 Overcoming Sin and Temptation
John Owen (ed. Kapic & Taylor)
83 A Little Book on the Christian Life
John Calvin
84 All of Grace
Charles Spurgeon
The Church
Why the local church matters and why every Christian needs to be part of one.
85 Nine Marks of a Healthy Church
Mark Dever
86 What Is a Healthy Church Member?
Thabiti Anyabwile
87 Church Membership
Jonathan Leeman
88 The Prodigal Church
Jared C. Wilson
89 Rediscover Church
Collin Hansen & Jonathan Leeman
90 The Loveliest Place
Dustin Benge
91 Love the Ones Who Drive You Crazy
Jamie Dunlop
92 The Compelling Community
Mark Dever & Jamie Dunlop
93 Finding the Right Hills to Die On
Gavin Ortlund
94 Spiritual Gifts
Thomas Schreiner
Evangelism and Apologetics
Books on sharing the faith and defending it.
95 The Reason for God
Tim Keller
96 Confronting Christianity
Rebecca McLaughlin
97 Tactics
Greg Koukl
98 Cold-Case Christianity
J. Warner Wallace
99 The Case for Christ
Lee Strobel
100 Finding Truth
Nancy Pearcey
101 Total Truth
Nancy Pearcey
102 The Story of Reality
Greg Koukl
103 Fool’s Talk
Os Guinness
104 The World Next Door
Rory Shiner & Peter Orr
105 The Gospel and Personal Evangelism
Mark Dever
106 Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God
J.I. Packer
107 Reaching Your Muslim Neighbor with the Gospel
Ayman Ibrahim
108 World Religions in Seven Sentences
Douglas Groothuis
109 The Deconstruction of Christianity
Alisa Childers & Tim Barnett
Missions and the Global Church
Books on the church’s mission, both local and global.
110 Let the Nations Be Glad!
John Piper
111 When Helping Hurts
Steve Corbett & Brian Fikkert
112 Missions: How the Local Church Goes Global
Andy Johnson
113 Dispatches from the Front
Tim Keesee
114 From the Rising of the Sun
Tim Challies & Tim Keesee
115 Faith in the Wilderness
ed. Hannah Nation & Simon Liu
116 Operation World
Jason Mandryk
117 The New Shape of World Christianity
Mark Noll
Marriage, Sex, and Singleness
Books on marriage, sex, and living single.
118 The Meaning of Marriage
Tim & Kathy Keller
119 When Sinners Say “I Do”
Dave Harvey
120 This Momentary Marriage
John Piper
121 Gospel-Shaped Marriage
Chad & Emily Van Dixhoorn
122 Married for God
Christopher Ash
123 Love That Lasts
Gary & Betsy Ricucci
124 Build a Stronger Marriage
Bob Lepine
125 Counsel for Couples
Jonathan Holmes
126 The Marriage Bed
Ray Rhodes
127 Redeeming Sex in Marriage
Scott Mehl
128 What Is the Meaning of Sex?
Denny Burk
129 Single Together
Lisa LaGeorge
130 Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage
Jim Newheiser
Parenting and Family
Books on parenting and raising children.
131 Shepherding a Child’s Heart
Tedd Tripp
132 Instructing a Child’s Heart
Tedd & Margy Tripp
133 Parenting
Paul David Tripp
134 Age of Opportunity
Paul David Tripp
135 Gospel-Powered Parenting
William Farley
136 Purposeful and Persistent Parenting
John & Cindy Raquet
137 Everyday Talk
Jay Younts
138 The Disciple-Making Parent
Chap Bettis
139 Family Worship
Donald Whitney
140 Big Truths for Young Hearts
Bruce Ware
141 Risen Motherhood
Emily Jensen & Laura Wifler
142 What Do I Say When…?
Andrew & Christian Walker
143 The Tech Exit
Clare Morell
Men and Women
Books that address issues specific to men and women.
144 The Masculine Mandate
Richard Phillips
145 Disciplines of a Godly Man
R. Kent Hughes
146 The Men We Need
Brant Hansen
147 Reclaiming Masculinity
Matt Fuller
148 The Humility Project for Men
Edward Welch
149 Feminine Appeal
Carolyn Mahaney
150 Adorned
Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth
151 True Woman 101
Mary Kassian & Nancy Leigh DeMoss
152 To Be a Woman
Katie McCoy
153 Glimpses of Grace
Gloria Furman
154 Men and Women in the Church
Kevin DeYoung
155 Mere Complementarianism
Denny Burk
Suffering, Grief, and Death
Books on suffering, grief, death, and other forms of sorrow.
156 Surprised by Suffering
R.C. Sproul
157 If God Is Good
Randy Alcorn
158 Suffering and the Sovereignty of God
ed. John Piper & Justin Taylor
159 Does Grace Grow Best in Winter?
Ligon Duncan
160 A Book of Comfort for Those in Sickness
P.B. Power
161 Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy
Mark Vroegop
162 When God Weeps
Joni Eareckson Tada & Steve Estes
163 Hope When Life Unravels
Adam Dooley
164 The Last Enemy
Michael Wittmer
165 Seasons of Sorrow
Tim Challies
166 Grieving, Hope and Solace
Albert N. Martin
167 You Are Still a Mother
Jackie Gibson
168 Heaven
Randy Alcorn
Mental Health and Counseling
Books on mental health struggles and counseling.
169 Made to Tremble
Blair Linne
170 Is It Unspiritual to Be Depressed?
Paul Ritchie
171 Running Scared
Edward Welch
172 Understanding Trauma
Steve Midgley
173 Side by Side
Edward Welch
174 You’re Only Human
Kelly Kapic
175 Finally Free
Heath Lambert
176 Addiction and the Local Church
Andy Constable & Mez McConnell
Culture and Contemporary Issues
Books on understanding today’s culture and contemporary issues.
177 Strange New World
Carl Trueman
178 The Air We Breathe
Glen Scrivener
179 Remaking the World
Andrew Wilson
180 The Gathering Storm
Albert Mohler
181 Confronting Injustice without Compromising Truth
Thaddeus Williams
182 Is God Anti-Gay?
Sam Allberry
183 Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert
Rosaria Butterfield
184 Love Thy Body
Nancy Pearcey
185 Does God Care About Gender Identity?
Samuel Ferguson
186 A Field Guide on Gender and Sexuality
Ligonier Ministries
187 The Case for Life
Scott Klusendorf
188 Digital Liturgies
Samuel James
189 Terms of Service
Chris Martin
Work, Money, Time, and Aging
Books for those with questions about work, money, time, and aging.
190 Work
Daniel Doriani
191 The Gospel at Work
Greg Gilbert & Sebastian Traeger
192 What’s Best Next
Matt Perman
193 Do More Better
Tim Challies
194 Managing God’s Money
Randy Alcorn
195 The Treasure Principle
Randy Alcorn
196 Money, Debt, and Finances
Jim Newheiser
197 Zeal Without Burnout
Christopher Ash
198 Not Old, Not Young, Not Done
Christopher Ash
199 Making Good Return
Kathleen Nielson
Biography
Worthwhile biographies that span a range of subjects.
200 Fearless Pilgrim
Faith Cook
201 John Calvin: Pilgrim and Pastor
W. Robert Godfrey
202 Here I Stand
Roland Bainton
203 A Short Life of Jonathan Edwards
George Marsden
204 Spurgeon
Arnold Dallimore
205 Susie
Ray Rhodes Jr.
206 George Whitefield
Arnold Dallimore
207 John Newton
Jonathan Aitken
208 Amazing Grace
Eric Metaxas
209 William Tyndale
David Daniell
210 Lady Jane Grey
Faith Cook
211 Hudson Taylor: Gospel Pioneer to China
Vance Christie
212 Adoniram Judson
Vance Christie
213 Amy Carmichael: Beauty for Ashes
Iain Murray
214 John and Betty Stam
Vance Christie
215 For the Love of India
Jim Cromarty
216 Missionary to the Cannibals of the South Seas
Paul Schlehlein
217 Pure Gold
David McCasland
218 The Hiding Place
Corrie ten Boom
219 Through Gates of Splendor
Elisabeth Elliot
220 David Livingstone
Vance Christie
221 R.C. Sproul: A Life
Stephen Nichols
222 Timothy Keller
Collin Hansen
Church History
Books to help you understand your history as a Christian.
223 Church History 101
Sinclair Ferguson, Joel Beeke & Michael Haykin
224 Church History in Plain Language
Bruce Shelley
225 30 Key Moments in the History of Christianity
Mark W. Graham
226 Sketches from Church History
S.M. Houghton
227 The Unquenchable Flame
Michael Reeves
228 The Reformation
Stephen Nichols
229 For Us and For Our Salvation
Stephen Nichols
230 Meet the Puritans
Joel Beeke & Randall Pederson
Pastor’s Reference Shelf
Books that a pastor uses and wants you to use as well.
231 ESV Expository Commentary (12 volumes)
Crossway (ed. Duguid, Hamilton & Sklar)
232 Systematic Theology
Wayne Grudem
233 The Wonderful Works of God
Herman Bavinck
234 Institutes of the Christian Religion
John Calvin
235 A Puritan Theology
Joel Beeke & Mark Jones
236 Creeds, Confessions, and Catechisms
ed. Chad Van Dixhoorn
237 2,000 Years of Christ’s Power (5 volumes)
Nick Needham
238 Saving Eutychus
Gary Millar & Phil Campbell
239 Conduct Gospel-Centered Funerals
Brian Croft & Phil Newton
240 Pierced for Our Transgressions
Jeffery, Ovey & Sach
241 Biblical Eldership
Alexander Strauch
242 The Deliberate Church
Mark Dever & Paul Alexander
243 The Trellis and the Vine
Colin Marshall & Tony Payne
244 The Care of Souls
Harold Senkbeil
245 Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands
Paul David Tripp
246 Christ-Centered Preaching
Bryan Chapell
247 Rediscovering Expository Preaching
ed. John MacArthur
248 Lectures to My Students
Charles Spurgeon
249 The Reformed Pastor
Richard Baxter
250 Worship by the Book
ed. D.A. Carson
