The resources below are recommended by our pastors and organized by category.
Reading List
Christian Living
- Dane Ortlund, Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers
- Jerry Bridges, Transforming Grace: Living Confidently in God’s Unfailing Love
- Bryan Chapell, Unlimited Grace: The Heart Chemistry That Frees from Sin and Fuels the Christian Life
- C.S. Lewis, “Three Kinds of Men”
- Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Spiritual Depression: Its Causes and Cure
- Dane Ortlund, Deeper: Real Change for Real Sinners
- John Owen, Communion with God
- J. I. Packer, Knowing God
- J. R. R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings
- Jen Wilkin, In His Image: 10 Ways God Calls Us to Reflect His Character
Addiction
- Ed Welch, Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave
- Ray Ortlund, The Death of Porn: Men of Integrity Building a World of Nobility
- David Powlison, Making All Things New: Restoring Joy to the Sexually Broken
Pain & Suffering
- D. A. Carson, How Long, O Lord? Reflections on Suffering and Evil
- Paul Miller, J-Curve: Dying and Rising with Jesus in Everyday Life
- David Powlison, God’s Grace in Your Suffering
Marriage & Parenting
- Bryan Chapell, Each for the Other: Marriage As It’s Meant to Be
- Tim Keller, The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God
- Paul Tripp, Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family
- Tedd Tripp, Shepherding a Child’s Heart
Prayer
- Paul E. Miller, A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World
- Guy M. Richard, Persistent Prayer: Blessings of the Faith
- Kevin DeYoung, The Lord’s Prayer: Learning from Jesus on What, Why, and How to Pray
- Ole Hallesby, Prayer
- Andrew Murray, On Prayer
Apologetics
- Tim Keller, The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism
- Rebecca McLaughlin, Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for the World’s Largest Religion
- Rebecca McLaughlin, 10 Questions Every Teen Should Ask (and Answer) about Christianity
- Gavin Ortlund, Why God Makes Sense in a World That Doesn’t: The Beauty of Christian Theism
Devotionals
- The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions
- Tim Keller, The Songs of Jesus: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Psalms
- Erika Allen, ed., Daily Joy: A Devotional for Women
- Dane Ortlund, In the Lord I Take Refuge: 150 Daily Devotions through the Psalms
- Sam Storms, ed., Daily Strength: A Devotional for Men
- Paul Tripp, New Morning Mercies: A Daily Gospel Devotional
Church Life
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together
- Mark Dever, Discipling
- Colin Marshall and Tony Payne, The Trellis and the Vine: The Ministry Mind-Shift That Changes Everything
- Richard Lovelace, Dynamics of Spiritual Life: An Evangelical Theology of Renewal
- Ray Ortlund, The Gospel: How the Church Portrays the Beauty of Christ
- Francis Schaeffer, The Lord’s Work in the Lord’s Way
Recommended Bibles
- At Rio Vista Church we use the English Standard Version across all our ministries. Below are a few editions you may find useful beyond the text-only editions that Crossway publishes.
– ESV Study Bible
– ESV Student Study Bible
– ESV Men’s Devotional Bible
– ESV Women’s Devotional Bible
– ESV Creeds and Confessions Bible
See also esv.org for a useful and searchable digital Bible, including audio.