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Top 10 Books on Christ in the Old Testament (Updated)

David Murray — Mon, 27 Nov 2017 07:00:37 +0000

As I’m often asked for book recommendations on various subjects, I decided to put together an online list of my top ten books in various categories. Basically, if I was only allowed 10 books in my library on that subject, these are the ten I would choose. You can access all my other Top Ten Lists here.

Today I’m listing my updated top ten books on Christ in the Old Testament—the ones marked with an asterisk are more suitable for pastors and seminary students. If you know any other books that should be on this list, please leave a comment and I’ll add it to the “Reader Suggestions” section.

*For your non-Kindle book buying needs please consider using Reformation Heritage Books in the USA and Reformed Book Services in Canada. Good value prices and shipping*

Also, here’s my catalog of Best Online Articles on Christ in the Old Testament (which will be updated further by tomorrow).

1. Knowing Jesus through the Old Testament by Christopher Wright.

One of the most eye-opening and thought provoking books I’ve ever read. Guaranteed to make you love Jesus more.

2. Preaching Christ from the Old Testament by Sidney Greidanus.*

Classic seminary textbook. Historical survey of the subject followed by most helpful step-by-step guide to preaching Christ from Old Testament texts.

3. Beginning at Moses by Michael Barrett.

Shorter and more readable than Greidanus but covers a wider range of OT genres.

4. Preaching Christ in All of Scripture by Ed Clowney.

The first two chapters will transform the way you read and teach the Bible. Clowney sets forth the principles and practice of finding Christ in Scripture and then putting together a Christ-centered sermon. This is followed by a number of wonderful sermons that demonstrate the “how.”

5. The Shadow of Christ in the Law of Moses by Vern Poythress.*

Especially helpful on typology, not just laying the foundational principles but also explaining numerous examples. Also wonderful insights on the Christ-centered nature of Old Testament law.

6. T he Christ of the Covenants by O P Robertson.*

It was the second or third time reading this book before the covenants all fell into place for me. Transformed the Bible and my ministry.

7. Preaching the Whole Bible as Christian Scripture by Graeme Goldsworthy.

First part provides the lenses with which to read the Old Testament, followed by many examples of how to preach Christian sermons from different genres of biblical literature. More thematic than exegetical.

8. The Unfolding Mystery by Ed Clowney.

More sample sermons demonstrating how #4 Preaching Christ in All of Scripture is put into practice.

9. Him We Proclaim: Preaching Christ from All the Scriptures by Dennis E. Johnson.

Good on theory and good on practice.

10. Jesus On Every Page by David Murray.

Couldn’t bring myself to make this # 1.

Honorable mentions

If I’d had a Top Twenty the following books would also have been included.

Close Encounters with the Son of God by Jonathan Stephen. If this was still easily available it would have been near the top of the Top Ten List. It deals with the Old Testament Christophanies.

Christ in the Old Testament by Robert Gordon. Again, this four-volume set of sermons would have easily made the Top Ten if it was easier to get.

According to Plan by Graeme Goldsworthy. A simplified version of Preaching the Whole Bible as Christian Scripture.

Seeing Christ in All of Scripture by Peter A. Lillback and others

Christ-centered Preaching: Redeeming the Expository Sermon by Bryan Chappell. Not specifically about preaching Christ from the Old Testament but much of the material will help with that.

A History of the Work of Redemption by Jonathan Edwards. Covers more than the Old Testament but the Old Testament section, especially the early part, is pure gold.

The Ancient Love Song by Charles Drew. One of the most accessible and readable of books on Christ in the Old Testament.

Messiah in the Old Testament by Walter Kaiser.

Preaching Christ from Genesis by Sidney Greidanus.

Preaching Christ from Daniel by Sydney Greidanus.

Preaching Christ from Ecclesiastes by Sidney Greidanus.

Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament Hardcover by Greg Beale and Don Carson.

How Jesus Transforms The Ten Commandments by Edmund P. Clowney

The Christ of Wisdom: A Redemptive-Historical Exploration of the Wisdom Books of the Old Testament by O. Palmer Robertson.

The Christ of the Prophets by O. Palmer Robertson.

Is Jesus in the Old Testament? by Iain M. Duguid.

How to Read the Bible through the Jesus Lens: A Guide to Christ-Focused Reading of Scripture by Michael Williams.

Singing the Songs of Jesus by Michael Lefebvre.

The Prophets Speak of Him: Encountering Jesus in the Minor Prophets by Anthony T. Selvaggio.

The Promised One: Seeing Jesus in Genesis by Nancy Guthrie. Excellent Bible study series with a good mix of teaching, questions, and discussion starters. See also follow-up Bible studies on various other parts of the Old Testament. See also follow-up Bible studies on various other parts of the Old Testament: The Lamb of God, The Wisdom of God, The Son of David, and The Word of the Lord.

Reader Suggestions

101 Portraits of Jesus on the Old Testament by Bob Beasley.

The Scriptures Testify about Me: Jesus and the Gospel in the Old Testament by Don Carson, Tim Keller, and others.

Look To The Rock by Alec Motyer.

The Messianic Hope by Michael Rydelnik.

Messianic Revelation in the Old Testament by Gerard Van Gronigen.

On The Trinity by Hilary of Poitiers.

Clavis Cantici by James Durham.

The Prophets Speak of Him by Anthony Salvaggio.

The Message of the Old Testament: Promises Made by Mark Dever.

Top 10 Modern Books on The Doctrine Of Sin

David Murray — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 21:20:59 +0000

Last week I listed the Top 10 Puritan Books on Sin. This week, here are my Top 10 Modern Books on Sin.

If you know of other good modern books on this topic in general or dealing with specific sins, please leave your suggestion in the comments and I’ll add them under “Reader Suggestions.”

1. Respectable Sins: Confronting the Sins We Tolerate by Jerry Bridges

Jerry Bridges exposes some of the more subtle and culturally acceptable sins like pride and anger.

2. Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave by Ed Welch

Welch argues that addictions are fundamentally a disorder of worship and therefore can only be adequately dealt with by theology.

3. Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters by Tim Keller

A timely book that highlights the counterfeit promises of happiness from pursuing sex, money, and success and points to the true God where true happiness can be found.

4. Idols of the Heart: Learning to Long for God Alone by Elyse Fitzpatrick

Elyse Fitzpatrick addresses besetting sins, habitual sins, and traces them to their root – idolatry. Some good weedkiller too.

5. Fallen: A Theology of Sin Edited by Christopher Morgan and Robert Peterson

A collection of leading evangelicals like Don Carson and Douglas Moo survey the Bible’s teaching on sin but always with the aim of helping us to live more holy and happy lives.

6. Finally Free: Fighting for Purity with the Power of Grace by Heath Lambert

Pornography is slaying its tens of thousands, even in the church. Heath Lambert tears off its mask but also points to the power of grace to conquer this destroyer of lives and marriages.

7. Motives: Why Do I Do the Things I Do by Ed Welch

A careful look at the deep and complex motives in the human heart which helps us to understand our desires, fears, regrets, etc.

8. A Fight to the Death: Taking Aim at Sin Within by Wayne Mack

A call to spiritual warfare against sin with many tools and weapons to kill it before it kills us.

9. Temptations Men Face: Straightforward Talk on Power, Money, Affairs, Perfectionism, Insensitivity by Tom Eisenman

An immensely practical and candid look at the most common difficulties men face in their Christian lives. Also includes advice for women on how they can help their husband resist temptation.

10. And just to balance things out, Lies Women Believe: And the Truth that Sets Them Free by Nancy Leigh DeMoss

Nancy Leigh DeMoss argues that “the lies Christian women believe are at the root of most of their struggles.” She exposes these lies and provides replacement truths from God’s Word.

Reader Suggestions

What books would you add to the list? Books that deal with sin in general and those which deal with specific sins.

Not the Way It’s Supposed to Be: A Breviary of Sin by Cornelius Plantinga.

Original Sin: Illuminating the Riddle (New Studies in Biblical Theology) by Henri Blocher.

Top 10 Puritan Books On Sin

David Murray — Wed, 23 Jul 2014 21:00:32 +0000

Now, I can’t say that I’ve ever been asked for my “Top 10 Books on Sin” (not exactly a list of bestsellers), but as we’ve been looking at the subject of sin the last few days I thought I’d highlight the books that I and others have found most helpful. We’ll start today with the Top 10 Puritan Books on Sin and next week I’ll post Top 10 Modern Books on Sin.

If you know of other good Puritan books on this topic in general or dealing with specific sins, please leave your suggestion in the comments and I’ll add them under “Reader Suggestions.”

1. Overcoming Sin and Temptation: Three Classic Works by John Owen

Overcoming Sin and Temptation includes three of Owen’s classic works: “Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers,” “Of Temptation: The Nature and Power of It,” and “Indwelling Sin.” The editors have updated the language and added other features to make Owen’s writing much more accessible.

2. The Enemy Within: Straight Talk About the Power and Defeat of Sin by Kris Lundgaard

This book is also based upon two of Owen’s classic books on sin, but Lundgraard offers lots of his own insight, encouragement, and counsel too. To give you an idea of the level it’s pitched at our church youth group went through this book last Spring.

3. Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices by Thomas Brooks

A balanced look at spiritual warfare. A deeply spiritual book that is especially good for those in the heat of the battle.

4. The Evil of Evils: The Exceeding Sinfulness of Sin (Puritan Writings) by Jeremiah Burroughs

The Evil of Evils contains sixty-seven short chapters that will sensitize your conscience and make you want to choose affliction rather than sin. Difficult to find a copy of this today but you can download a pdf here.

5. Keeping the Heart: How to maintain your love for God by John Flavel

A timeless book on maintaining union and fellowship with God as the ultimate bulwark against sin.

6. The Mischief of Sin by Thomas Watson

Watson: “My design in this small treatise is to give check to sinners and sound a pious retreat in their ears, to make them return from hot pursuit of their impieties.”

7. Sinfulness of Sin by Ralph Venning

First published in the aftermath of the Great Plague of London and entitled Sin, The Plague of Plagues, this book gives a crystal-clear explanation of what sin is, why it is so serious, and what we need to do about it. Here is reliable medicine for a fatal epidemic.

8. Sin The Greatest Evil by Samuel Bolton

Three titles in this book, each of them looking at how a sinner is converted. (1) Sin: The Greatest Evil, (2) The Conversion of a Sinner, (3) The One Thing Necessary.

9. The Jerusalem Sinner Saved; or, Good News for the Vilest of Men by John Bunyan

A hope-filled book for sinners as the title says, “Good News for the Vilest of Men.”

10. The Anatomy of Secret Sins by Obadiah Sedgwick

Reader Suggestions

Any other Puritan works you’d recommend on this subject? Leave a note in the comments and I’ll add them here.

The Mystery of Selfedeceiving; Or, a Discourse and Discovery of the Deceitfulnesse of Mansheart by Daniel Dyke.

Instructions About Heart-work, and a Companion for Prayer by Richard Alleine

A Treatise on Satan’s Temptations by Richard Gilpin.

Top 10 Books on Using Technology

David Murray — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 10:10:18 +0000

Today I’m listing the Top 10 Books on Using Technology. These are the books that I would recommend to any Christian trying to get to grips with this digital age and not be overwhelmed by the digital revolution. These books, though not all by Christian authors, include both warnings about the dangers and practical encouragements for how to use technology in a healthy and profitable way.

After this list you’ll find a poll where you can cast three votes for your favorite books in this category. Click on “View Results” to see what books are most popular.

You can also add any book not on the list by writing the title in “Other” or in the Comments I’ll add these to the end of the post under “Reader Suggestions.”

You may also want to look at Top 40 Online Resources on Using Social Media In Ministry.

1. The Next Story: Life and Faith after the Digital Explosion by Tim Challies

This book strikes a perfect balance between warning against the dangers of technology while also encouraging a positive approach to using it for personal profit and God’s glory. It also has a good balance between biblical teaching and scientific research. Well-written, well-argued, and well worth reading.

2. You, Your Family and the Internet by David Clark

This is the simplest book on the list. A good starter book for any family that is just beginning to struggle with the Internet and other new technologies. Readable and do-able.

3. Your Brain at Work: Strategies for Overcoming Distraction, Regaining Focus, and Working Smarter All Day Long by

Not by a Christian author, but it helps us to understand the science of what we are doing to our brains with our current work practices, and guides us to manage our limited mental resources in a healthier and happier way. The author follows a totally stressed-out couple as they try to cope with the digital deluge in their work settings. He analyzes their failings and then suggests alternative scenarios that would help them to work more efficiently and enjoyably. He also shows how knowing how our brains work and respond to pressure enables us to understand others better, resulting in better communication, collaboration, and long-term change.

4. Bit Literacy: Productivity in the Age of Information and E-mail Overload by Mark Hurst

On the same subject as Your Brain at Work, but a bit more basic with more emphasis on the practical. A good place to start if you want to pick up numerous tips on how to change bad the digital habits most of us have acquired into good habits that will improve our work and lives. If you want to learn how to better manage all the “bits” that swirl around your life – email, to-do lists, photos, files, etc., – begin here.

5. From the Garden to the City by John Dyer

A biblical theology of technology and how it interacts with us and our culture by a reliable Christian author. Good companion volume to The Next Story.

6. Digital Leader: 5 Simple Keys to Success and Influence by Erik Qualman

So important for anyone with any leadership role to understand the powerful influence of using digital technology well. Here’s A Digital Dictionary For Leaders and 10 Digital Commandments I gleaned from this book.

7. Ministry in the Digital Age: Strategies and Best Practices for a Post-Website World by David Bourgeois

You won’t agree with everything in here, but it’s a good place to start for some ideas on how to utilize social media and other new digital technologies for ministry purposes.

8. Alone Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from Each Other by Sherry Turkle

Written by an MIT science professor, this book majors on the dangers and downsides of technology. Makes a compelling scientific case for much greater discernment in our choice and use of technology. Similar in approach, outlook, and tone to the best-selling book, The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains by Nicholas Carr. Alone Together focuses more on the social impact, and The Shallows more on the intellectual impact.

9. The Social Church: A Theology of Digital Communication by Justin Wise

Back to distinctly Christian books with this good combination of theology and practice. Like #7, you don’t need to embrace everything to benefit from this book, but it will make you think more deeply about social media and also do it more thoughtfully and theologically.

10. iGods: How Technology Shapes Our Spiritual and Social Lives by Craig Detweiller

Traces the history of modern technologies, takes a balanced look at their present impact, and looks into the future to predict where this is all going.

Honorable Mentions

Digital Invasion: How Technology is Shaping You and Your Relationships by Archibald D. Hart

Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology by Neil Postman

Now you decide, what are your favorites? You can cast three votes and write a book in “Other” if it’s not on the list and I’ll add it to Reader Suggestions below. Click on “View Results” to see voting results.

Reader Suggestions

Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology by Neil Postman

iPod, YouTube, Wii Play: Theological Engagements with Entertainment by D. Brent Laytham.

Top 10 Books For Dads

David Murray — Tue, 27 May 2014 10:05:35 +0000

With “Father’s Day” just round the corner, I’m listing the Top 10 Books for Dads. After this list you’ll find a poll where you can cast three votes for your favorite books in this category. Click on “View Results” to see what books are most popular.

You can also add any book not on the list by writing the title in “Other” or in the Comments I’ll add these to the end of the post under “Reader Suggestions.”

1. The Masculine Mandate: God’s Calling to Men by Richard Phillips.

This is by far my favorite book on biblical manhood (don’t be put off by the cover)> It’s not exhaustive but covers all the bases like marriage, parenting, work, church, friendship, etc. Especially good for young men setting out on life.

2. The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God by Tim Keller.

We have to have one book dedicated to marriage on the list, and what better choice than Keller’s marriage transforming book. Nothing has influenced my own marriage in recent years more than this book.

3. The Shepherd Leader at Home by Timothy Witmer

Witmer applies the leadership principles of his popular book on church leadership, Shepherd Leader, to the home front.

4. Parenting by God’s Promises by Joel Beeke.

This book achieves that rare biblical balance of combining the huge responsibility God lays upon parents together with the huge encouragement God gives to faithful parents about their children.

5. Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God’s Work by Tim Keller.

An excellent foundation to a lifetime of work that makes me wish I was a teenager again. A perfect companion volume would by God at Work: Your Christian Vocation in All of Life by Gene Veith. A new book on work, productivity, and getting things done is What’s Best Next: How the Gospel Transforms the Way You Get Things Done by Matt Perman.

6. Crazy Busy: A (Mercifully) Short Book about a (Really) Big Problem by Kevin DeYoung.

Most Dads are. So if you want to slow Dad down a bit, this book should do the trick.

7. Conviction to Lead, The: 25 Principles for Leadership That Matters by Al Mohler

The values, principles, convictions and practices of a proven Christian leader.

8. What Every Man Wishes His Father Had Told Him by Byron Yawn

This is not just a book for men who had no fathers or poor fathers. It’s a book for all men, and especially for fathers who want to raise their sons to be men of God. Easy to read with lots of biblical teaching and common sense advice. I haven’t read it, but I noticed there’s a companion volume What Every Woman Wishes Her Father Had Told Her.

Honorable Mentions

What’s the Difference? Manhood and Womanhood Defined According to the Bible by John Piper

Manhood Restored: How the Gospel Makes Men Whole by Eric Mason

Father Hunger: Why God Calls Men to Love and Lead Their Families by Douglas Wilson

What He Must Be: …If He Wants to Marry My Daughter by Voddie Baucham

Now you decide, what are your favorites? You can cast three votes and write a book in “Other” if it’s not on the list and I’ll add it to Reader Suggestions below.

Reader Suggestions

What would you add to the list and why?

Date Your Wife by Justin Buzzard

Future Men by Douglas Wilson.

Anchor Man: How a Father Can Anchor His Family in Christ for the Next 100 Years by Steve Farrar.

Point Man: How a Man Can Lead His Family by Steve Farrar.

Top 10 Books on Preaching

David Murray — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 10:05:31 +0000

Today I’m listing my Top 10 books on preaching.

After my list you’ll find a poll where you can cast three votes for your favorite books and help others choose the best books on the subject. Click on “View Results” to see what books are most popular. You can also add any book not on the list by writing the title in “Other.”

1. Preaching and Preachers by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones.

What a difference it would make to the church if this book was modeled more widely. As the title suggest it is not just about sermons, but about those who preach them – the message and the man. This edition is interspersed with valuable commentary by contemporary preachers like Logon Duncan and Mark Dever.

2. Christ-centered Preaching by Bryan Chapell.

If I was just starting out in preaching, this would be my first purchase. It will anchor your sermons in the text and focus them on Christ. Key insight is the FCF (Fallen Condition Focus).

3. Between Two Worlds: The Challenge of Preaching Today by John Stott.

Good material on the theology of preaching, and good arguments to overcome objections to preaching. Especially good on identifying “The Dominant Thought” of the preaching passage. Also strong on application, but if I was looking for something on application alone, I would choose Truth Applied by Jay Adams.

4. How to Preach Biblically by John Macarthur and the Master’s Seminary Faculty.

As is common with multiple authorship, some chapters overlap and some are a little weak but this is the most comprehensive book on preaching on this list.

5. Feed my Sheep: A Passionate Plea for Preaching by a constellation of outstanding preachers, edited by Don Kistler.

Not for the newbie but if you’ve been preaching for a few years this will take you to the next level.

6. The Preacher and Preaching by various preachers, edited by Sam Logan.

My favorites chapter are Exegesis by Sinclair Ferguson and Sermon Structure and Flow by Glen Knecht. Gwyn Walters’ chapter on The Body in the Pulpit is also fascinating.

7. So Pastor, What’s Your Point? by Dennis Prutow.

Really a complete homiletics course in one large but very practical volume.

8. On The Preparation and Delivery of Sermons by John Broadus.

A bit verbose, but a treasure trove of classic homiletic teaching. Some of it dated, but much-needed “old-fashioned” emphasis on the privilege and dignity of the office of preacher.

9. Lectures to My Students by C.H Spurgeon.

So full of plain common sense and lots of funny stories.

10. How Sermons Work by David Murray.

Hope you’ll forgive me for including this – in my defense, I put it in at #10! Probably the simplest and most practical of the bunch. A good starter or refresher.

Now you decide, what are your favorites? You can cast three votes and add a book if it’s not in the list.

Honorable mentions

If I’d had a Top Twenty the following books would also have been included.

The Imperative of Preaching by John Carrick. Explains the four “moods” of preaching : The indicative, the exclamative, the interrogative, and the imperative, with the emphasis of the book being on the imperative.

The Supremacy of God in Preaching by John Piper. More focused on the subject of preaching than the method. But if this book doesn’t put fire in your belly, nothing will.

The Christian Ministry by Charles Bridges. Covers much more than preaching but still worth it for the preaching material alone.

Preach: Theology Meets Practice by Mark Dever and Greg Gilbert. 40 pages on the theology of preaching, 70 on the practice, and another 60 of sample sermons where the principle and the practice come together.

Dying to Preach: Embracing the Cross in the Pulpit by Steven W. Smith. His basic thesis is that the nature of our message should impact the way we present and communicate our message. Those who preach a crucified Christ should preach in a crucified style. And even though it is more about style than substance, the whole book is an argument for an absence of style, or, rather, a crucified style.

How To Preach Without Notes by Charles Koller. More specialized, but even if you don’t get to note-less, it will encourage less dependence on notes.

The Modern Preacher and the Ancient Text by Sidney Greidanus. A bit more technical but also many practical helps to bridge the gap between the time and culture of when the Bible was written and our own day.

Why Johnny Can’t Preach by T. David Gordon. Fairly negative but needed.

Preaching to a Post-Everything World by Zack Eswine. This and the following book are the two best books on preaching that have been published in the last couple of years. Contemporary, challenging, and encouraging.

Saving Eutychus: How to Preach God’s Word and Keep People Awake by Gary Millar and Phil Campbell. A call for more imagination, creativity, and feeling in preaching. Given the aim (less sleepy hearers), I was surprised at the continued commitment to full manuscript in the pulpit.

How to Evaluate Sermons by Joel Beeke. Although this focuses on the aftermath of preaching, it’s also a great checklist before preaching.

Reader Suggestions

Spirit Empowered Preaching: Involving The Holy Spirit in Your Ministry by Arturo Azurdia

Preaching with Passion by Alex Montoya

The Faithful Preacher: Recapturing the Vision of Three Pioneering African-American Pastors by Thabiti Anyabwile

On Preaching: Personal & Pastoral Insights for the Preparation & Practice of Preaching by H B Charles

Sacred Rhetoric by R. L Dabney

Preaching: A Biblical Theology by Jason C. Meyer

Preaching with Purpose by Jay Adams

Preaching? Simply Teaching on Simply Preaching by Alec Motyer

Biblical Preaching by Haddon Robinson

Spirit Empowered Preaching by Art Azurdia

The Cross and Christian Ministry by D. A. Carson

Text-Driven Preaching: God’s Word at the Heart of Every Sermon. Edited by David Allen and Daniel Akin.

Expositional Preaching: How We Speak God’s Word Today by David Helm

He is Not Silent: Preaching in a Postmodern World by Al Mohler

Preaching: The Art of Narrative Exposition by Calvin Miller