Pastor Matt's Book List

Hello Mt. Zion!
We've decided to put together some recommended book lists together as we are approaching Christmas and the New Year in case you are looking for ideas for the reader on your list or whether you are looking for something for yourself to deepen your Bible study. These posts are divided up into 10 categories for the theology geek and those new to following Jesus alike. Stay tuned for lists from our other pastors in the upcoming days.

Here are my recommendations...

I.Intro to Christianity
Mere Christianity by CS Lewis
What does God Want? by Michael Heiser
Who God is by Ben Witherington

II.General Theological Reference
Old Testament Theology for Christians by John Walton
Classic Christianity by Thomas Oden
 Biblical Theology by Ben Witherington
Zondervan Counterpoints series (multiple views books on theological topics)

III.Commentary
IVP Bible Backgrounds Commentary (OT by John Walton, NT by Craig Keener)
The New Covenant Commentary series
The Bible for Everyone commentaries (OT by John Goldingay, NT by NT Wright)

IV.Basic apologetics book
CORE FACTS by Braxton Hunter
Reasonable Faith by William Lane Craig

V.Devotional
What if Jesus was Serious? by Skye Jethani
Advent season: An Advent for the Cosmos by Jeffery Pits
Lent season: The Unvarnished Jesus by Brian Zahnd
My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers

VI.Evangelism
Models of Evangelism by Pricilla Pope-Levison
The King Jesus Gospel by Scot McKnight
Gospel Allegiance by Matthew Bates

VII.Personal spiritual growth
One Life by Scot McKnight
Jesus Creed by Scot McKnight
After you Believe by NT Wright
The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard

VIII.Bible study
How to Read the Bible for all its Worth by Gordon Fee
Misreading Scripture through Western Eyes by E. Randolf Richards
Honor, Patronage, Kinship, and Purity by David deSilva
The New Testament in its World by NT Wright and Michael Bird

IX.Study Bible
Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible
Archeology Study Bible
NET Bible (With translation notes)

X.Bible Reading Plan
Read Scripture App by the Bible Project- This is a year long Bible reading plan with the Bible project videos imbeded and makes for a great study tool. 

The YouVersion Bible App has many yearly Bible reading plans that can help keep you on track. Another thing that I like to do is to choose a different translation to read through every year.

If you aren’t on YouVersion here are some translations that I have enjoyed that are not available on that app:
OT Translations:
The Hebrew Bible- translated by Robert Alter
The First Testament- translated by John Goldingay

NT Translations:
The New Testament- translated by David Bentley Hart
The Kingdom New Testament- translated by NT Wright

The Bible for Everyone- A combination of John Goldingay’s First Testament (OT) and NT Wright’s Kingdom New Testament

Blessings and Merry Christmas,
Pastor Matt