library

recommended readings

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Have you ever been in a situation where, when you learned a little bit more about what some part of the Bible was saying, whether through a pastor, Biblical scholar, or devotional book, you realized you had previously misunderstood it? Although that might seem simple enough, people who have misunderstood the Bible and acted on those misunderstandings have had significant consequences through human history.

 

Harvest City Church is committed to discipling followers of Jesus as they foster a deeper, more personal relationship with King Jesus. While we believe this should happen first and foremost through God’s Word and revelation from Holy Spirit, we also recognize that we have been invited into God's story that stretches over thousands of years and many, many cultures. As a result, we encourage everyone to partake additional studying and reading from authors and theologians who have dedicated their lives studying, explaining and teaching specific books of the Bible, Biblical themes, languages and cultural contexts. Enjoy our exhaustive list of recommended books.​

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How to read the bible

• Reading the Bible For a Change - Ray Lubeck

• The Journey From Text to Translation: The Origin and Development of the Bible - Paul Wegner

• Wisdom for Faithful Reading - John Walton

• Biblical Theology In the Life of the Church - Michael Lawrence

• Essential Bible Background - J. Carl Laney

• The Literary Structure of the Old Testament - David Dorsey

• Survey of the New Testament - Robert Grundy

• Old Testament Ethics for the People of God - Christopher Wright

• The Lost World of the Israelite Conquest - John Walton and J. Harvey Walton

• How (Not) To Read the Bible - Dan Kimball

• The Blue Parakeet - Scot McKnight

• For the Love of God’s Word - Kostenberger Patterson

• Ani Maamin - Joshua Berman

• The Lost History of Christianity - George Lakoff and Mark Johnson

• Covenant and God’s Purpose For the World - Thomas Schreiner

• The Skeletons in God's Closet: The Mercy of Hell, the Surprise of Judgment, the Hope of Holy War - Joshua Butler

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knowing jesus

• Knowing Jesus Through the Old Testament - Christopher Wright

• Jesus Monotheism - Crispin Fletcher-Louis

• Jesus + Nothing = Everything - Tullian Tchividjian

• Jesus Creed - Scot McKnight

• The Kingdom of God and the Glory Of The Cross - Patrick Schreiner

• The New Creation and the Storyline Of Scripture - Frank Thielman

• A New Vision for Israel: The Teaching of Jesus in National Context - Scot McKnight

• Crazy Love - Francis Chan

• God Looks Like Jesus: A Renewed Approach to Understanding God - Greg Boyd

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genesis

• The Lost World of Genesis One - John Walton

• The Lost World of Adam and Eve - John Walton

• Reading Genesis Well: Navigating History, Poetry, Science, and Truth in Genesis 1-11 – John Collins

• Adam as Israel: Genesis 1-3 as the Introduction to the Torah and Tanakh - Seth Postell

• A Commentary on the Book of Genesis: From Adam to Noah - U. Cassuto From

• Paradise to the Promised Land: An Introduction to the Main Themes of the Pentateuch - T. Desmond Alexander

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pentateuch​

• Who Shall Ascend the Mountain of the Lord: A Biblical Theology of the Book of Leviticus - L. Michael Morales

• The Pentateuch As Narrative - John Sailhamer

• The Meaning of The Pentateuch - Jon Sailhamer

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prophets​

• The Prophets - Abraham Heschel

• The Lost World of the Prophets: Old Testament Prophecy and Apocalyptic Literature in Ancient Context - John Walton

• The Gospel of Ruth - Carolyn James

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gospels

• Reading the Gospel Wisely - Jonathan Pennington

• Interpreting the Synoptic Gospels - Scot McKnight

• Stories With Intent: A Comprehensive Guide to the Parables of Jesus - Klyne Snodgrass

• Short Stories By Jesus - Amy-Jill Levine

• Historic Faith Commentary Series: Matthew – David Bercot

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sermon on the mount

• The Sermon On the Mount and Human Flourishing - Jonathan Pennington

• Sermon On the Mount - Scot McKnight

 

 

acts

• The Acts of the Risen Lord Jesus - Alan Thompson

• A Theology of Luke and Acts - Darrell Bock

• The Challenge of Acts: Rediscovering What the Church Was and Is – N.T. Wright

 

 

epistles

• Into the Heart of Romans - N.T Wright

• Reading Romans Backwards - Scot McKnight

• Historic Faith Commentary Series: Romans – David Bercot

• The Letters to Philemon, the Colossians, and the Ephesians - Ben Witherington

• Letters and Homilies for Jewish Christians: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary on Hebrews, James and Jude - Ben Witherington

 

 

studies on paul

• Paul for Everyone: The Prison Letters - N.T Wright

• Paul Behaving Badly - Randolph Richards and Brandon O’Brien

• Paul: A Biography - N.T. Wright

 

 

revelation

• The Book of Revelation - Richard Bauckham

• Reading Revelation Responsibly - Michael Gorman

 

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identity

• Living In Union with Christ - Grant Macaskill

• Conformed To the Image of His Son - Haley Jacob

• To Live Is Christ To Die Is Gain - Matt Chandler

• Possessed By God: A New Testament Theology of Sanctification and Holiness - David Peterson

• Bearing God’s Name - Carmen Imes

• Changed Into His Likeness: A Biblical Theology of Personal Transformation - J. Gary Millar

 

 

holy spirit

• Paul, The Spirit, and the People of God - Gordon Fee

• Knowing the Holy Spirit Through the Old Testament - Christopher Wright

• The Familiar Stranger: (Re)Introducing the Holy Spirit to Those in Search of an Experiential Spirituality - Tyler Staton

• Forgotten God - Francis Chan

• Deliverance - Jon Thompson

 

 

atonement

• The Nature of the Atonement - James Beilby and Paul Eddy

• Jesus and The Victory of God - N.T. Wright

• Crucifixion of the Warrior God - Greg Boyd

• A Community Called Atonement - Scot McKnight

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church, temple, & tabernacle​

• A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs – David Bercot

• Church History In Plain Language – Bruce Shelley

• Letters to the Church - Francis Chan

• Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church – N.T. Wright

• Until Unity - Francis Chan

• God Dwells Among Us: Expanding Eden to the Ends of the Earth - G.K. Beale and Mitchell Kim

• The Temple and the Church’s Mission: A Biblical Theology of the Dwelling Place of God - G.K. Beale

• The Temple and the Tabernacle - J. Daniel Hays

• Center Church - Timothy Keller

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hell

• The Geography of Hell In the Teaching of Jesus - Kim Papaioannou

• Erasing Hell - Francis Chan

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prayer

• Prayer - Timothy Keller

• Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools - Tyler Staton

• A Praying Life - Paul Miller

• Praying the Bible - Donald Whitney

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spiritual disciplines

• Practicing the Way - John Mark Comer

• Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life - Donald Whitney

• Called - Mark Labberton

• You Mean I Don’t Have to Tithe - David Croteau

• Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough - Elmer Towns

• 10 Second Rule by Clare - Graaf

• The Liturgy of Creation - Michael LeFebvre

• Water from a Deep Well - Gerald Sittser

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apologetics

• Hidden Worldviews: Eight Cultural Stories That Shape Our Lives - Steve Wilkins and Mark Sanford

• Making Sense of God - Timothy Keller

• Cultural Engagement: A Crash Course on Contemporary Issues - Joshua Chatraw and Karen Prior

• The Problem of God: Answering Skeptics Challenges to Christianity - Mark Clark

• Theology in the Context of World Christianity - Timothy Tennent

• Mere Christianity - C.S. Lewis

• The Screwtape Letters - C.S. Lewis

• Letters from a Skeptic: A Son Wrestles With His Father's Questions About Christianity - Greg Boyd

 

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Family & Marriage

• God, Sex, and Your Marriage - Juli Slatery

• Sacred Marriage - Gary Thomas

• Love & Respect - Emmerson Eggerichs

• You and me Forever - Francis and Lisa Chan

• Preparing for Marriage - Dennis Rainey

• Does the Bible Support Same-Sex Marriage - Preston Sprinkle

• Men and Women in Christ - Andrew Bartlett

• Habits of the Household:Practising the Story of God In Everyday Family Rhythms - Justin Earley

• The Intentional Father: A Practical Guide to Raise Sons of Courage and Character - John Tyson

 

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leadership

• The Emotionally Healthy Leader - Peter Scazzero

• The Way of the Shepherd - Kevin Leman and Bill Pentak

• Sticky Teams - Larry Osborne

• Gospel Eldership - Robert Thune

• The Council - Gary Hoag, Wesley Wilmber, and Gregory Henson

• Timeless Leadership Principles: Building Champions for Life - Kim Kunau

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preaching

• Biblical Preaching - Haddon Robinson

• Preaching the Whole Councel of God - Julius Kim

• The Beauty and Power of Biblical Exposition - Douglas ‘Donnell and Leland Ryken

• Christ Centered Preaching - Brian Chapell​

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