Recommended Reading
Sermons
Sermons given by Pastor Crippen at Christ Reformation Church (video, audio and PDFs)
Wise as Serpents — A Practical Theology of Evil (26 part sermon series by Pastor Crippen)
Domestic Violence and Abuse — The Psychology and Methods of Sin (21 part sermon series by Pastor Crippen)
First John Bible Study (24 lessons by Pastor Crippen)
Recommended Books (*see below for Amazon Affiliate disclaimer)
Our Books
Light for Dark Times: An Arsenal of Truth to Expose Domestic Abuse This book is a kind of arsenal. Battle armor, you might say, to be used defensively and offensively against evil, and specifically against the evil we call abuse.
In My Father’s House: God’s Redemptive Plan from Genesis to Revelation (book by Pastor Crippen based on his sermon series by the same title posted at sermon audio.)
Unholy Charade: Unmasking the Domestic Abuser in the Church (by Jeff Crippen with Rebecca Davis
Here is a link to a review by Persis Lorenti at The Aquila Report
A Cry for Justice: How the Evil of Domestic Abuse Hides in Your Church (by Jeff Crippen and Anna Wood)
Here is a link to a review by Ps Dave Orrison
Who is a Christian?* (28 page booklet by Pastor Crippen. A valuable tool for evangelism.)
Biographies
George Whitefield: The Life and Times of the Great Evangelist of the Eighteenth-Century Revival (by Arnold A. Dallimore)
Two-volumes: Volume 1 and Volume 2
Arnold Dallimore has provided us with a very valuable resource by writing George Whitefield: The Life and Times of the Great Evangelist of the 18th Century Revival. I read this two-volume set to our entire congregation about 10 years ago during our mid-week meetings, with great profit. I am currently re-reading it to our Wednesday women’s study group. I can say without exaggeration that I learned more sound theology, practical pastoral theology, and church history from these volumes than I ever did in seminary. The reader will profit by learning how the enemy opposes the preaching of Christ all the while disguised as “the clergy.” The mighty power of the Holy Spirit in effecting real revival is wonderfully described, and the Lord’s ability to transform entire nations through the power of the gospel preached by a handful of His servants serves as a great encouragement to us in these dark days. These volumes are certainly a “must read” for every Christian.
J.C. Ryle: Prepared to Stand Alone, by Ian H. Murray
If you want to see a true pastor in action, standing against all kinds of religious evil, then here is a biography for you. Ryle’s life is an example of a genuine Christian leader, humble, courageous, with a real heart for the salvation of the lost. The books he wrote are still in print today and are at the top of my list of must reads.
Other books by J.C. Ryle (all of these are on Amazon with a description of the contents.)
Old Paths (note: small print)
Christianity
Birthright: Christian, Do You Know Who You Are? by David Needham
Resources/Study Tools
Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament by G.K.Beale and D.A. Carson
Readers of the New Testament often encounter quotes or allusions to Old Testament stories and prophecies that are unfamiliar or obscure. In order to fully understand the teachings of Jesus and his followers, it is important to understand the large body of Scripture that preceded and informed their thinking. Leading evangelical scholars G. K. Beale and D. A. Carson have brought together a distinguished team to provide readers with a comprehensive commentary on Old Testament quotations, allusions, and echoes that appear from Matthew through Revelation. College and seminary students, pastors, scholars, and interested lay readers will want to add this unique commentary to their reference libraries.
Revelation: A Shorter Commentary by G.K. Beale
G. K. Beale’s monumental New International Greek Testament Commentary volume on Revelation has been highly praised since its publication in 1999. This shorter commentary distills the superb grammatical analysis and exegesis from that tome (over 1,300 pages) into a book more accessible and pertinent to preachers, students, and general Christian readers.
The Story Retold: A Biblical-Theological Introduction to the New Testament by G.K. Beale
New Testament introductions fall into two categories: those that emphasize the history behind the text through discussions of authorship, dating, and audience, and those that explore the content of the text itself. Few introductions weave the Old Testament into their discussions, and fewer still rely on the grand narrative of the Old Testament. But the New Testament was not written within a vacuum. Rather, it stands in continuity with the Old Testament. Israel’s story is the church’s story. In The Story Retold, the authors explore each New Testament book in light of the broad history of redemption, emphasizing the biblical-theological themes of each New Testament book. Their distinctive approach encourages readers to read the New Testament in light of the Old, not as a new story but as a story retold
The New International Greek Testament Commentary: The Book of Revelation by G.K. Beale
This commentary series is established on the presupposition that the theological character of the New Testament documents calls for exegesis that is sensitive to theological themes as well as to the details of the historical, linguistic, and textual context. Such thorough exegetical work lies at the heart of these volumes, which contain detailed verse-by-verse commentary preceded by general comments on each section and subsection of the text.
We Become What We Worship: A Biblical Theology of Idolatry by G.K. Beale
The heart of the biblical understanding of idolatry, argues Gregory Beale, is that we take on the characteristics of what we worship.Employing Isaiah 6 as his interpretive lens, Beale demonstrates that this understanding of idolatry permeates the whole canon, from Genesis to Revelation. Beale concludes with an application of the biblical notion of idolatry to the challenges of contemporary life.
Justice Keepers Publishing (JKP)
JKP was established by Ps Jeff Crippen to facilitate publishing books through Amazon’s Kindle Direct self-publishing tool. Click here for information on these books.