Staff & Students Favourite Books of 2022

We've compiled a list of some of the best books we read during 2022. Perhaps you'll find one you'd like to read this year!

 

• 40 days of Faith by Paul Tripp – Tripp takes the topic of faith and gives lessons for living the Christian life. It can either be read as it is written or there is an option for further study.

 

• A Treatise on the Law and the Gospel by John Colquhoun – “If a man cannot distinguish aright between the law and the gospel, he cannot rightly understand so much as a single article of divine truth.” This book helps us understand law and gospel correctly and prevents us from falling into the error of glawspel. Glawspel being the “damning mixture of law and gospel.” 

 

• Blessed by Nancy Guthrie – Nancy opens up the book of Revelation to make it accessible, readable, applicable and enjoyable where generally most people fear or avoid it. Going through each chapter, explaining the visions and what John experienced, Nancy shows how it can help and guide us today as we wait for Christ’s return. The book is challenging and helps us focus on what is accurate and real and truly necessary for life today.

 

• Chosen by God by R.C. Sproul – Sproul clearly and helpfully expounds the doctrine of election as found in Scripture and explains how the doctrine of election is not something that should be ignored or despised, but it is a doctrine that all believers should embrace, love, and take great comfort from.

 

• Herman Bavinck on Preaching and Preacher – Dutch theologian Herman Bavinck lived a little over 100 years ago, but this book felt like it could’ve been written yesterday. It’s a collection of essays on preaching and includes one of Bavinck’s only written sermons. For Bavinck, he believed that preachers must be students of the Word, have an impassioned heart, and should aim to be simple and clear. His understanding of the unbearable weight of preaching made bearable by the decisive role of the Spirit is incredibly encouraging.

 

• Imminent Domain: The Story of the Kingdom of God and Its Celebration by Ben Witherington – An informative, inspiring and challenging treatment of the topic from a world-class scholar. This book provides an ideal starting point for anyone who wants to start and explore what the New Testament teaches on the theme.

 

• Isaiah by the Day by Alec Motyer – Isaiah is a majestic book, but can be quite intimidating, so I really appreciated how Motyer helped me make sense of the big picture, as well as offering precise insights on individual words and phrases. His daily thought after each reading was always refreshing and challenging—the best daily devotional I've read in some time!

 

• Pastoral Friendship: The Forgotten Piece to a Persevering Ministry by Haykin, Croft & Carroll – This book deals with a much-neglected aspect of pastoral life and ministry, promoting the tangible blessing of deep and meaningful friendships in all of life and not least in ministry.

 

• The Darksome Bounds of a Failing World: The Sinking of the Titanic and the End of the Edwardian Era by Gareth Russell –“Gareth Russell peers through the portholes of six first-class travellers to immerse us into the Edwardian era while demonstrating how modernity shook up the class system of the age.” A fascinating insight by a Belfast author into the lives of real people who sailed on the momentous maiden voyage of the Titanic.

 

• The Pastor’s Justification: Applying the Work of Christ to Your Life and Ministry by Jared C. Wilson – In this warm and winsome book Wilson is both realistic and optimistic about ministry life. He helpful points us to Jesus and his means for accomplishing his purposes.

 

• Things Unseen: A Systematic Introduction to the Christian Faith and Reformed Theology - J Graham Machen – Acting as a basic introduction to systematic theology and the Christian faith, Machen’s original series of radio addresses continue to communicate eternal truths, grounding God’s people and providing an accessible apologetic with resounding simplicity that never detract from the seriousness of his subject matter: here is a masterclass in Biblical and systematic theology.

 

• Under a Flaming Sky: The Great Hinckley Firestorm of 1894 by Daniel James Brown – A book about fire probably doesn’t appear all that exciting, but Brown is a master of writing historical narrative. Reading authors like Brown helps us become better writers.

 

• What About Evil? A Defense of God's Sovereign Glory by Scott Christensen – It is a thorough but accessible treatment of the age-old question asked by Christians and sceptics alike: how do we explain evil and suffering whilst affirming the sovereignty of an omnipotent God? By overviewing the grand storyline of Scripture and engaging with the toughest questions, he demonstrates that God's chief end in creation is to magnify his glory to his image-bearers, especially by defeating evil through the atoning work of Christ.

 

• Words of Life: Scripture as the Living and Active Word of God by T. Ward – One of the best short treatments of the doctrine of Scripture available today. With an ear attuned to the voices of history and tradition, the author allows Scripture to speak for itself and presents a thoroughly conservative position with winsome clarity.