At The Table, we are believers in expanding our devotional life with supplemental readings. These books are great for a book-club, discipleship group, or personal reading. 

 

Spiritual Practices & Devotions.

 

Spiritual practices involve prayer, meditation, study, resting, solitude, gratitude, fasting, worshipping, serving, etc. Many of us long to deepen these areas but struggle to understand and integrate them. These books will help you along in your apprenticeship to Jesus. 

 

• Disciplines of the Holy Spirit by Siang Yang-Tan and Douglas Gregg 

• The Life You’ve Always Wanted by John Ortberg

• Soul Keeping by John Ortberg

• Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer 

• The Spirit of Disciplines by Dallas Willard

• How to Pray: A Simple Guide for Normal People by Pete Greig

• Prayer by Timothy Keller

• A Meal with Jesus by Tim Chester

 

 

Devotional Theology

 

At its core, Christian theology is the study of God using Scripture, reason, and tradition. The goal of theology is not to know about God but to know God better. Of course, in learning theology, we will know more about God but the aim is experiencing closeness with God in such a way that inspires worship, formation, and mission. Here are some introductory books to growing in theological literacy. 

 

• The Knowledge of the Holy by A.W. Tozer

• The Apostles Creed by Ben Myers

• Incomparable by Andrew Wilson

• Delighting in the Trinity by Michael Reeves

• Enjoying God by Tim Chester Awe by Paul David Tripp

• The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer

 

Systematic & Biblical Theology.

 

One theologian defined Systematic Theology like this: “Systematic theology is the attempt to put Christian doctrine in a logical order, often starting from one fundamental principle…”Systematic Theology answers questions like, “What does the whole Bible teach about Salvation, the Church, the Holy Spirit, or the Return of Christ?” The aim is to summarize the whole Scripture’s teachings on particular subjects that then produce doctrine – beliefs about theology. Biblical Theology, on the other hand, is more about treating each book of the Bible on its own terms (i.e. the author’s intent, cultural background, historical context, and their theological beliefs.). Biblical Theology might answer questions like, “What did Jesus teach about the Kingdom of God in the gospels, and how to does it relate to Paul’s teaching on the Kingdom of God?” Both Systematic and Biblical theologies are helpful and important approaches to studying the Bible and compliment one another. Here are some good resources to get started. 

 

• Engaging Theology by Ben Blackwell & R.L. Hatchett

• The Heart of the Gospel by Robert Coleman

• Practicing Christian Doctrine by Beth Felker Jones

• The Whole Story of the Bible in 16 Verses by Chris Bruno

• The Epic of Eden by Sandra Richter

• The Drama of Scripture by Craig Bartholomew 

 

 

Bible Literacy

 

Getting to know your Bible and how to read it is essential for growing spiritually and theologically. There are so many resources out there that it can be overwhelming and hard to navigate. Here are some books that we feel are reliable and move us in a healthy direction for our bible literacy.

 

• How to Read the Bible for All its Worth by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart 

• How to Read the Bible Book by Book by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart

• How (Not) to Read the Bible by Dan Kimball

• The Blue Parakeet by Scot McKnight 

• Grasping God’s Word by Scott Duvall, J. Daniel Hays

• Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible by Craig Keener

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