For those who wish to pursue a deep and accurate understanding of the Biblical God and His revelation to humankind,  I recommend the following resources, which I have been using to mature my own thinking.

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Recommended Resource Links         

• Bible Gateway (online Bible in many languages and translations)

• Christian Classics Ethereal Library (online copies of classic Christian books)

• The Gospel Coalition (articles, video lectures, etc.)

• Ligonier Ministries (articles, video lectures, etc. by R.C. Sproul and his associates)

• Desiring God (articles, video lectures, etc. by John Piper and his associates)

• Grace to You (articles, video lectures, etc. by John MacArthur and his associates)

• Creation.com (best online resource about the science of creation, and all of the many brilliant scientists who have the courage to speak the truth from their research, without compromising their scientific objectivity for the sake of secular academic politics)

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Recommended Books 

• Bible. Be sure to get the orthodox version of 39 Old Testament books and 27 New Testament books, in an accurate translation, such as the English Standard Version -- with supplemental reading in parallel translations, such as the New Living Translation. I use a small, portable version (ESV Value Thinline Bible) that is easy to read, easy to mark up with underlines and notes, and easy to carry with me to church, parks, coffee shops, and other locations.

• The Reformation Study Bible, R.C. Sproul, editor, 2015. There are many excellent study Bibles in various translations. I currently use this one in the ESV version and am very satisfied with it.

• A History of Western Philosophy and Theology, John M. Frame, 2015.

• Systematic Theology, Wayne Grudem, 1994.

• 131 Christians Everyone Should Know, from the editors of Christian History Magazine, 2000.

• The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? (expanded edition), Rick Warren, 2013.

• God's Passion for His Glory: Living the Vision of Jonathan Edwards (with the complete text of Edward's The End for Which God Created the World), John Piper, 1998.

• Spectacular Sins and Their Global Purpose in the Glory of Christ, John Piper, 2008.

• Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist, John Piper, 2011 (Revised Edition)

• Institutes of the Christian Religion, John Calvin, 1541. There are many good English and other translations of this book, which was originally published in French. I have a different version, but this one seems that it might be better. It is a long and difficult book to read, but the passion that Calvin had for Jesus and his excellent summation of what most of the reformers, such as Martin Luther, were thinking is both impressive and valuable.

• Chosen by God, R. C. Sproul, 1994 (Revised Version)

• Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus, Nabeel Qureshi, 2016.  This is an excellent autobiography of a devout, intellectual Muslim who abandons Islam for faith in Jesus, after several years of scholarly study and debate with both Christian and Muslim believers.

• Confessions, Augustine, 400 AD

• Imitation of Christ, Thomas à Kempis, 1418-1427

• The Attributes of God, A. W. Pink (1961)

• Systematic Theology, Wayne Grudem, 1995

 

Recommended Documents on Christian Doctrine

• Apostles' Creed, Nicene Creed, Athanasian Creed

• Belgic Confession, 1561

• Heidelberg Catechism, 1563

• Canons of Dort, 1618-19

• Westminster Confession, 1647

• The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy, 1978 

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Recommended Christian Thinkers, Theologians, and Practitioners 

• Augustine (354-430)

• John Wycliffe (1320-1384)

• Martin Luther (1483-1546)

• John Calvin (1509-1564)

• John Owen (1616-1683)

• Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758)

• George Mueller (1805-1898)

• A. W. Pink (1886-1952)

• A. W. Tozer (1897-1963)

• C. S. Lewis (1898-1963)

• David Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981)

• Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) 

• Francis Schaeffer (1912-1984)

• John R. W. Stott (1921-2011)

• Reiji Oyama / 尾山 令仁 (1927-)

• John MacArthur (1939-)

• R. C. Sproul (1939-)

• John Piper (1946-)

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Recommended Online Movies, Lectures, and Documentaries

Ryan Reeves:  YouTube lectures on Christian history and doctrine

Luther:  2003 movie on Martin Luther's life and reformation activities

War Room: Prayer Is a Powerful Weapon:  2015 movie about the strategies and value of prayer 

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Other Publications for Intellectual Breadth and Balance

In addition to firmly grounding myself in the thoughts and experiences of those above who genuinely know God, and consequently, have a deep love for him and a passion for following him, I also try to balance myself with intelligent, well-articulated perspectives and experiences of others who may know God more vaguely through their pursuit of him through nature, prayer, and meditation, as well as others who have radically different ideas about reality.  It is impossible to list all of the publications that have informed and enlightened me over the past 60 years of my life, but I will begin to list a few that I like, which have a particularly philosophical focus.

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• The Wisdom of the Native Americans, Ken Nerburn

• The Wisdom of Confucious, Epiphanius Wilson, Editor

• Spiritual Sayings of Kahlil Gibran, Anthony Rizcallah Ferris, Translator

• Man's Search for Meaning, Victor E. Frankl

• Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid, Douglas Hofstadter

• The Meaning of Life: A Very Short Introduction, Terry Eagleton

• The Koran: A Very Short Introduction, Michael Cook

• Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction,Damien Keown

• Indian Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction, Sue Hamilton

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