Resources

AUGUST 2023 | The Goodness of God by Randy Alcorn
Randy Alcorn explores the troubling doubts and questions that agitate within us when we confront suffering and evil. 

JULY 2023 | Depression: Looking Up from the Stubborn Darkness by Ed Welch
Ed Welch addresses the complex nature of depression with compassion and insight, applying the rich treasure of the gospel and giving fresh hope to those who struggle. 

JUNE 2023 | The Tech-Wise Family by Andy Crouch
Drawing on in-depth research, Andy Crouch shows readers that the choices we make about technology have consequences we may never have considered. 

MAY 2023 | Seasons of Sorrow by Tim Challies
Combining personal narrative, sound theology, and beautiful writing, this book may be helpful for anyone who has loved and lost.

APRIL 2023 | Putting Your Past in Its Place by Stephen Viars
Learn to replace guilt and despair over past failures with forgiveness and hope, resolve past conflicts and broken relationships, and turn struggles from the past into stepping stones for growth.

MARCH 2023 | God, Greed, and the (Prosperity) Gospel by Costi Hinn
Costi Hinn has a unique, first person perspective on prosperity preaching through his family. He shares his own journey to the true gospel and equips believers to be discerning.

FEBRUARY 2023 | 31 Ways to be a “One Another” Christian by Stuart Scott
Careful examination of the “one another” commands in Scripture provide a Word-based understanding of what God intends for Christian relationships – showing not only what they look like, but also how to develop them.

JULY 2022 | When People Are Big and God is Small by Edward Welch
Are you overly concerned about what people think of you? Welch uncovers the spiritual dimension of people-pleasing and points the way through a true knowledge of God, ourselves, and others.

JUNE 2022 | What does the Bible Really Teach about Homosexuality? by DeYoung
After examining key biblical passages in both the Old and New Testaments and the Bible’s overarching teaching regarding sexuality, DeYoung responds to popular objections raised by Christians and non-Christians alike.

MAY 2022 | Down But Not Out by Wayne Mack
Worry, burnout, self-pity, discontentment, and discouragement are common experiences in a broken world. Mack carefully applies scripture to these common problems.

APRIL 2022 | John G. Paton: Missionary to the Cannibals of the South Seas by Paul Schlehlein
Paton demonstrated incredible dedication, desperation, sacrifice, and selfless love of Christ as he carried the gospel and invested in people in the south seas. This accessible and riveting biography can help instill a heart for the gospel and those who don’t yet know Christ.

MARCH 2022 | Uprooting Anger: Biblical Help for a Common Problem by Robert Jones
Written for those who recognize that anger is a too-frequent issue in their lives and a too-prevalent problem in family, work, and church relationships, Jones provides practical, Christ-centered help in uprooting anger.

FEBRUARY 2022 | Safe in the Arms of God by John MacArthur
What happens to children when they die? This painful question is asked by many who experience the loss of a child – whether in the womb or early in life. MacArthur walks through this sensitive topic with scriptural authority and gentleness.

JANUARY 2022 | Peacemaking for Families by Ken Sande and Tom Raabe
How do we deal with real life conflict in families? How do we teach children to be peacemakers? How do we resolve conflict between adult family members? Sande explores these topics with Biblical principles and practical examples.

December 2021 | 5 Minutes in Church History by Stephen Nichols
In bite size chapters, Dr. Nichols provides snapshots of the church through the centuries. This lively and informative journey not only captures the richness of Christian history, but also reveals a record of God’s providence and faithfulness to His people. Dr. Nichols describes it as “our story—our family history.”

November 2021 | What is the Gospel by Greg Gilbert
Have you ever struggled to clearly understand and explain the gospel? Beginning with Paul’s systematic presentation of the gospel in Romans and moving through the sermons in Acts, Gilbert argues that the central structure of the gospel consists of four main subjects: God, man, Christ, and a response. The book carefully examines each and then explores the effects the gospel can have in individuals, churches, and the world.

October 2021 | Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund
In Matthew 11, Jesus describes Himself as “gentle and lowly in heart,” longing for His people to find rest in Him. This book reflects on His words, diving deep into Bible passages that speak of Christ’s affections for sinners and encouraging believers as they journey, weary and faltering, toward heaven. Ortlund follows the example of the Puritans by taking one facet of Christ and reflecting on it in depth to press this truth home.

September 2021 | Anxiety: Knowing God’s Peace by Paul Tautges
In this 31-day devotional, pastor and biblical counselor Paul Tautges delves deeply, but gently, into the heart of fear and unbelief, using daily readings, reflection questions, and practical application to fuel the faith that strengthens inner security and peace. The Bible is honest about human experiences of dread and fear, even in the lives of believers. We wage our war against anxiety through the disciplined exercise of biblical faith rooted in who God is, what He has done for us in Christ, and how He promises to continue to care for those who belong to Him.

February 2020 | Delighting in the Trinity by Michael Reeves
Do you struggle to simply understand the Trinity? Does it seem like a confusing teaching with no real relevance to your daily life as a Christian? In this lively book, you will find an introduction to Christianity and the Christian life that is from start to finish rooted in our triune God―Father, Son and Spirit. Not only do we understand the person and work of Christ through the Trinity, but also prayer, the church and every aspect of our faith.

January 2020 | Confronting Christianity by Rebecca McLaughlin
Using state-of-the-art research, personal stories, and careful biblical study, Confronting Christianity explores 12 questions that keep people from considering faith in Christ. McLaughlin’s winsome approach makes this an ideal book to give to a skeptical friend. Her clear answers may also address lingering questions that Christians wonder about themselves.

December 2019 | Age of Opportunity by Paul Tripp
Rather than approaching parenting a teen with fear, Paul Tripp shows that we can seize these years to invest in kids at a critical time. If you are a parent of teenagers – or will be soon – Tripp’s book will help equip you with the tools and perspective to steward this season of parenting for the glory of God.

November 2019 | The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness by Timothy Keller
In this short and punchy book, Timothy Keller shows that gospel humility means we can stop connecting every experience, every conversation with ourselves and can thus be free from self condemnation. A truly gospel humble person is not a self-hating person or a self-loving person, but a self-forgetful person. This freedom can be yours…

October 2019 | Through Gates of Splendor by Elisabeth Elliot
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” Jim Elliot said those words before he lost he life taking the gospel to a people group in Ecuador. His widow, Elisabeth, wrote this compelling account of his ministry and martyrdom. For 62 years it has served to give generations of Christians a vision for missions.

September 2019 | Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy by Vroegop
How do we bring our sorrows to God? When we feel like despairing, how can we call out to Him in hope? Mark Vroegop walks through the Word to teach believers the neglected practice of lament, which he describes as, “how you live between the poles of a hard life and trusting in God’s sovereignty.”

August 2019 | Putting Your Past in Its Place by Steve Viars
Lives grind to a halt when people don’t know how to relate to their past. Some believe “the past is nothing” and attempt to suppress the brokenness again and again. Others miss out on renewal and change by making the past more important than their present and future. Neither approach moves people toward healing or hope. Pastor and biblical counselor Stephen Viars introduces a third way to view one’s personal history―by exploring the role of the past as God intended. Using Scripture to lead readers forward, Viars provides practical measures to understand the important place “the past” is given in Scripture replace guilt and despair with forgiveness and hope turn failures into stepping stones for growth. This motivating, compassionate resource is for anyone ready to review and release the past so that God can transform their behaviors, relationships, and their ability to hope in a future.

July 2019 | The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
Originally released more than 75 years ago, Lewis’ classic work of satire is written from the perspective of a seasoned demon to his younger demon on how to corrupt a new Christian. Using humor and wit, Lewis sheds light on the reality of spiritual warfare, temptation, and good and evil.

June 2019 | The Believer’s Bible Commentary by William MacDonald
It is important for Christians to grow in biblical knowledge, however, the word “commentary” can be intimidating. The second edition of Believer’s Bible Commentary,Thomas Nelson’s best-selling commentary, is specifically designed as a user-friendly tool for believers wanting to better understand the Bible but aren’t sure where to begin. The commentary, written by the late William MacDonald, explores all 66 books of the Bible and tackles controversial issues from a theologically-conservative standpoint while also presenting alternate views.  Believer’s Bible Commentary is a great introduction to Bible study, giving clarity and context to scripture in easy-to-understand language and practical application.

May 2019 | Missions: How the Local Church Goes Global
Jesus ends Matthew’s gospel with a call to make disciples of all nations. That is a call to missions. But how does the local church play a role in worldwide missions? How can our church be involved in raising up, sending, and supporting missionaries? This straightforward book by Andy Johnson provides a Biblical framework for missions and practical wisdom for carrying it out.

April 2019 | Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald Whitney
Do you want to grow in your relationship with Christ but sometimes you aren’t sure what to do next? Whitney’s book will walk through key spiritual disciplines to help you take the next steps toward spiritual maturity. He covers expected topics like scripture reading, prayer, and worship, but he also digs in to overlooked practices like stewardship, serving, and journaling.

March 2019 | Big Truths for Young Hearts by Bruce A. Ware
Do you ever struggle to answer your kids’ questions about God or the Bible? Do you ever struggle with your own questions related to the nature of God, humanity, sin, the Trinity, or the Bible? Bruce Ware wrote Big Truths for Young Hearts to be a tool for parents to use in explaining theology to their kids. But it’s also a great resource for anyone who wants an introductory explanation of theology in down-to-earth language.

February 2019 | Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges
Have Christians become so preoccupied with the major sins of society that we have lost sight of our need to deal with our own more subtle sins? In this book Jerry Bridges addresses specific “acceptable” sins that we tend to tolerate in ourselves – such as jealousy, anger, pride, unthankfulness, and judgmentalism. While bringing the weight of conviction, Bridges also weaves a message of hope in the profound mercy of the gospel and the transforming grace of God as the means to overcome our subtle sins.

January 2019 | New Morning Mercies by Paul David Tripp
In this 365 day gospel centered devotional, Paul Tripp provides a readable and encouraging daily meditation that connects the gospel to everyday life.  This resource equips readers with the good news that they can trust in God’s goodness, rely on His grace and live for His glory – day in and day out.

December 2018 | Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan
For more than 300 years only the Bible has sold more copies than The Pilgrim’s Progress. John Bunyan’s classic, first published in 1678, quickly became a hallmark among English readers and beyond, enduring down to our day as a unique resource for spiritual edification. Using the language of allegory steeped in Biblical references, Bunyan helps the Christian consider his or her spiritual journey.

November 2018 | The Holiness of God by R.C. Sproul
R.C. Sproul, in this classic work, puts the holiness of God in its proper and central place in the Christian life. He paints an awe-inspiring vision of God that encourages Christians to become holy just as God is holy.

October 2018 | Church History in Plain Language by Bruce Shelley
Shelley’s one volume overview of church history is concise and readable. He treats history as the story of people – their motivations, the issues they grapple with, the decisions they make – and the result is that his historical accounts read like a story.

September 2018 | Reasons We Believe by Nathan Busenitz
Reasons We Believe confirms and strengthens the faith of believers by demonstrating the reliability of the twofold authority on which Christianity rests: the Word of God and the person of Jesus Christ. Reasons builds a biblical foundation for the authority of the Bible and then shows how extra-biblical evidence corresponds with and supports what the Bible claims. This study seeks to reinforce the faith of Christians while also providing them with a straightforward evangelistic tool for reaching non-Christians.

August 2018 | If God is Good by Randy Alcorn
Alcorn addresses the issue of suffering as a theologian, pastor, and fellow-sufferer. This lengthy volume skillfully combines satisfying answers and practical application to help us process the pain of life in a broken world. The format of the book makes it easy to use as a reference tool to look up certain topics for those who may not want to read straight through it.

July 2018 | The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom
Follow the courageous true story of Corrie ten Boom and her family as they hide Jewish people from Nazi forces during WWII in the Netherlands. For more than 45 years her story has encouraged believers in dark times that they should “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” 

June 2018 | Humility by C.J. Mahaney
James 4:6 tells us that “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” C.J. Mahaney describes pride and humility in vivid terms and gives practical steps to grow in the virtue of humility.

May 2018 | Knowing God by J.I. Packer
For over 40 years, J. I. Packer’s classic has been an important tool to help Christians around the world discover the wonder, the glory, and the joy of knowing God. Explaining both who God is and how we can relate to Him, Packer divides his book into three sections: The first directs our attention to how and why we know God, the second to the attributes of God, and the third to the benefits enjoyed by a those who know Him intimately. This guide leads readers into a greater understanding of God while providing advice to gaining a closer relationship with Him as a result.

April 2018 | Pleasing People by Lou Priolo
Do you ever feel controlled by the desire to please others? Do you find yourself living for the approval of others? Lou Priolo shows the being an “approval junkie” is essentially at the heart of what the Bible refers to as the fear of man. In a winsome and clear style, Priolo helps the reader identify the fear of man in his or her own life and work towards a liberating, Biblical solution.

March 2018 | The Man Christ Jesus by Bruce Ware
The Bible teaches that Jesus is fully God and fully man. What are the implications of His humanity? Bruce Ware explores the significance of Christ’s humanity and helps us learn, by the power of the Spirit, to follow in Jesus’s steps.

February 2018 | Valley of Vision
Do you ever wonder what to pray or feel like your prayers are shallow? This collection of classic prayers from the puritans is a great resource to spur your own prayer life.

January 2018 | Anger and Stress Management God’s Way by Wayne Mack
Anger and stress may be commonplace, but they are still destroyers that will cause devastating harm if left unchecked. By God’s grace, however, no one needs to be overcome by ungodly anger or stress. Wayne Mack shows how to apply God’s Word to finding true and authoritative help, explaining principles that can be adopted for lasting positive change.

December 2017 | Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones
Written in a captivating style with beautiful illustrations, The Jesus Storybook Bible helps children and adults see the big picture behind the key stories of the Bible.

November 2017 | Hymns of Grace by The Master’s Seminary Press
Featuring many classic and modern hymns, Hymns of Grace is a great resource for individuals and families. You will find many of the songs we sing at UBC contained inside. Consider picking up a copy and incorporating it into your personal or family devotions!

October 2017 | Unquenchable Flame by Michael Reeves
The Unquenchable Flame, an accessible introduction to the Protestant Reformation, brings to life the movement’s most colorful characters – Luther, Zwingli, Calvin, the Puritans – and examine their ideas, showing the profound and personal relevance of Reformation thinking for Christians today.

September 2017 | Faithful Parent by Scott and Peace
The goal of a Christian parent is to be faithful to God’s Word in their parenting. The hope is that God will use our faithful, though imperfect, efforts to work in our children. This book gives a helpful overall perspective on parenting as well as detailed application to each stage of your child’s development.

August 2017 | Resolving Everyday Conflict by Ken Sande
If you have relationships with people then you experience some conflict. How do you work through conflict in a Biblical way? What if you are willing to reconcile but the other person is not? Ken Sande’s book will provide a framework for conflict resolution and specific steps to apply the framework to different situations.

July 2017 | Trusting God, Even When Life Hurts by Jerry Bridges
Is God really in control? If He is, how can I trust Him when life is hard? Jerry Bridges walks you through the scope of God’s power over nations, nature, and the detailed lives of individuals, helping you see God’s good hand at work in the world. And as you come to know Him better, you’ll find yourself trusting Him more completely—even when life hurts.

June 2017 | Spiritual Reformation by D.A. Carson
This powerful and clear book on prayer mixes commentary on the prayers of Paul with practical suggestions for personal growth in prayer.