Realms of Faith


 

Christian Authors Database: Reformed Popular Authors

An increasingly large portion of today's Christian literature comes from Presbyterians and Baptists who hold to Reformed theology. With their focus on God's holiness, freedom, and glory, their writings tend to be doctrinally rich, biblically based, and simultaneously both encouraging and convicting.

Most recommended:

Among these, I'm most drawn to the writings of Bruce & Stan, James Boice, James White (on certain issues), and Don Whitney. Begg and Mohler are best as speakers. Peter Marshall's The Light and the Glory should be required reading for American college students. I would also recommend Kennedy and Lutzer, with some slight reservations on certain issues.


John H. ArmstrongJohn Armstrong (b. 1949) - Reformed evangelical founder of Reformation and Revival Ministries. While he supports the intent of many evangelical ministries, he is critical of parachurch organization and ensures that all his staff are answerable to local churches. His primary concern is that evangelicals have largely lost sight of the authority of Scripture. Armstrong has recently promoted the new perspective on justification. Titles: Can Fallen Pastors Be Restored?; The Catholic Mystery; The Coming Evangelical Crisis (Ed.); The Compromised Church (Ed.); Preparing Your Church for Revival; Reforming Pastoral Ministry (Ed.); Roman Catholicism: Evangelical Protestants Analyze What Divdes and Unites Us (Ed.); The Stain that Stays; This We Believe.
Alistair BeggAlistair Begg (b. 1952) - Reformed evangelical Bible teacher from Scotland; pastors Parkside Church in Cleveland, Ohio, and hosts the radio ministry Truth for Life. He emphasizes the importance of expository preaching, reverence in worship, and intentional evangelism. Begg was recently on the Advisory Council for the ESV. Titles: A Faith that Works; God's Irrefutable Laws for Life; The Hand of God; Lasting Love; Made for His Pleasure; Preaching for God's Glory; What Angels Wish They Knew.
Bruce Bickel and Stan JantzBruce and Stan - Reformed evangelical humorists and writers of devotional and introductory Christian resources. Bruce Bickel is the chair of the board of directors for John Armstrong's Reformation and Revival Ministries. Stan Jantz is a marketing consultant for Berean Christian Stores. Titles: Bruce and Stan Search for the Meaning of Life; Bruce and Stan's Guide to God; Bruce and Stan's Guide to How It All Began; Bruce and Stan's Guide to the Bible; Bruce and Stan's Guide to the End of the World; Bruce and Stan's Pocket Guide to Prayer; Bruce and Stan's Pocket Guide to Sharing Your Faith; Christianity 101; God Is in the Small Stuff; God Said It and Bang! It Happened; Keeping God in the Small Stuff; Knowing the Bible 101; Onyourown.com: E-mail Messages to My Daughter; Real Life Begins After High School; The Survival Guide for Dads; What Ticks God Off; WWJD? The Question Everyone Is Asking. Bruce is not to be confused with charismatic revivalist Mark Bickle.
James Montgomery BoiceJames Montgomery Boice (1939-2000) - former pastor of Tenth Presbyterian Church and teacher on the Bible Study Hour radio program. He was a major figure in the Alliance for Confessing Evangelical and was called a "statesman for Reformed theology." Titles: Christ's Call to Discipleship; The Doctrines of Grace (w/ Philip Graham Ryken); Foundations of the Christian Faith; Here We Stand: A Call from Confessing Evangelicals (Ed.); Parables of Jesus; Renewing Your Mind in a Mindless World; Standing on the Rock; Whatever Happened to the Gospel of Grace?; and expository commentary on Daniel, the Minor Prophets, John, Acts, Romans, Galatians, and Ephesians.
Jerry BridgesJerry Bridges - Reformed evangelical Baptist. Former vice president of the Navigators, with whom he has worked since 1955. He now trains staff for the evangelistic organization. Bridges' focus is the message of Lordship salvation, that saving faith results in and is proven by a holy life. Titles: The Chase; The Crisis of Caring; The Discipline of Grace; The Gospel for Real Life; Growing Your Faith: How to Mature in Christ; I Exalt You, O God; I Give You Glory, O God; The Joy of Fearing God; The Practice of Godliness; The Pursuit of Holiness; Transforming Grace; Trusting God; You Can Trust God.
Robert E. ColemanRobert Coleman (b. 1928) - Reformed evangelical Baptist, and professor at Gordon-Conwell who strongly advocates disciplemaking as opposed to "mere" evangelism. He formerly taught at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, was influential in the development of every-member ministry, and his The Master Plan of Evangelism is a standard for discipling and mentoring work. Other titles: The Coming World Revival; The Disciple-Making Pastor (w/ Bill Hull); The Great Commission Lifestyle; The Master Plan of Discipleship; More God, More Power (w/ Wesley Duewel); Singing with the Angels.
Gary DeMarGary DeMar (b. 1951?) - Reformed Presbyterian author and president of American Vision, which seeks to promote a Christian worldview and an awareness of the Christian elements of American history. He is also a frequent spokesman for evangelical Christianity in the secular media. His primary areas of writing are Christian history and biblical prophecy. DeMar is one of the better known partial preterists. Titles: America's Christian History; Christian Reconstruction; Dave Hunt's Theology of Cultural Surrender; End Times Fiction; God and Government; Is Jesus Coming Soon?; Last Days Madness; The Reduction of Christianity; Ruler of the Nations; Thinking Straight in a Crooked World; War of the Worldviews; You've Heard It Said.
Mark E. DeverMark Dever (b. 1960) - evangelical pastor of Captiol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D. C., and adjunct professor at Beeson and Southern Baptist Theological Seminaries. Dever is also active in the Founders Conference and other church improvement organizations. Titles: Nine Marks of a Healthy Church; Richard Sibbes: Puritanism and Calvinism in Elizabethan and Early Stuart England. (Note: the name Dever rhymes with clever, not cleaver.)
Sinclair B. FergusonSinclair Ferguson (b. 1948) - Reformed Presbyterian pastor from Glagow, adjunct professor at Westminster Seminary. A strong defender of the sufficiency of Scripture. Titles: The Big Book of Questions and Answers About Jesus; Children of the Living God; The Christian Life: A Doctrinal Introduction; Discovering God's Will; Grow in Grace; A Heart for God; The Holy Spirit; John Owen on the Christian Life; Kingdom Life in a Fallen World; The New Dictionary of Theology; Pundit's Folly; and commentaries on Daniel, Mark, Philippians, and the Sermon on the Mount.
Michael Scott HortonMichael S. Horton (b. 1964) - evangelical co-pastor of Christ Reformed Church in Pasadena, and professor at Westminster Theological Seminary. Horton is also founder of Christians United for Reformation and a major figure in the Alliance for Confessing Evangelicals, editing its magazine Modern Reformation. A covenant theologian and advocate of infant baptism. Titles: A Better Way; Covenant and Eschatology; Evangelicals, Catholics, and Unity; Made in America: The Shaping of Modern Evangelicalism; The Law of Perfect Freedom (w/ J. I. Packer); Power Religion: The Selling Out of the Evangelical Church (Ed.); Putting Amazing Back into Grace; Theatre of Grace; We Believe: Recovering the Essentials of the Apostles' Creed; Where in the World Is the Church?.
R. Kent HughesKent Hughes (b. 1942) - pastor of College Church in Wheaton, former senior editor of Christianity Today, and leading figure in the National Association of Evangelicals. Advocates the revival of church discipline and worship that is directed toward and pleasing to God. A powerful preacher, Baptist by conviction. Hughes also helped produce the ESV. Titles: Blessed Are the Born Again; Common Sense Parenting; Disciplines of a Godly Family; Disciplines of a Godly Man; Liberating Ministry from the Success Syndrome; 1001 Great Stories and Quotes; Set Apart; and the Preaching the Word series of expository commentaries.
Donald P. HustadDon Hustad (b. 1918) - professor of church music at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and former organist for the Billy Graham crusades. Hustad takes a very conservative approach to church worship, opposing seeker sensitivity trends and the prevalence of Praise and Worship choruses. Titles: An Anthology on Choral Musicianship; Hymns for the Living Church; Jubilate; Jubilate II; The New Worship; True Worship: Reclaiming the Worship and Majesty; The Worshiping Church: A Hymnal.
Dennis James KennedyD. James Kennedy (b. 1930) - senior minister of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church and host of the show Truths that Transform. A strong promoter of all efforts to make America Christian through evangelism and social/political reform. Developed the witnessing program Evangelism Explosion. Kennedy has come under criticism for teaching that the gospel is hidden in the constellations, although he does not incorporate this into his theology or evangelistic methods. Titles: Firestorm; The Gates of Hell Shall Not Prevail; The Real Meaning of the Zodiac; Solving Bible Mysteries; What If America Were a Christian Nation Again? (w/ Jerry Newcombe); What If Jesus Had Never Been Born? (w/ Jerry Newcombe); What If the Bible Had Never Been Written?; Why I Believe; Why Was America Attacked?.
Frederick S. LeahyFrederick Leahy - evangelical theology and ethics professor in the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland. Leahy believes that errors in the doctrine of God are the root of many modern false teachings. Among other topics, he teaches that Satan was defeated in Christ's work on the cross, and he opposes deliverance ministries. Titles: The Cross He Bore; Great Conversions; Satan Cast Out: A Study in Biblical Demonology; The Victory of the Lamb; and the excellent article The Wrath of God in Relation to the Atonement.
Erwin W. LutzerErwin Lutzer (b. 1941) - Reformed dispensational evangelical, and senior pastor of Moody Church in Chicago, whose sermons air on the radio throughout the American South. Writes apologetics books, doctrinal works, and materials for evangelism, seeking to bridge the gap between scholarly theology and the person in the pew. Lutzer was also on the Advisory Council for the ESV. Titles: After You've Blown It; Christ Among Other Gods; Cries from the Cross; The Da Vinci Deception; The Doctrines that Divide; Hitler's Cross (w/ Ravi Zacharias); How You Can Be Sure that You Will Spend Eternity with God; One Minute After You Die; Putting Your Past Behind You; The Serpent of Paradise; Seven Reasons Why You Can Trust the Bible; Seven Snares of the Enemy; Ten Lies About God; The Truth About Same-Sex Marriage; The Vanishing Power of Death; Who Are You to Judge?; Why Good People Do Bad Things; Your Eternal Reward.
John F. MacArthur, Jr.John MacArthur (b. 1939) - Reformed dispensational evangelical pastor of Grace Community Church since 1969, a Baptist church affiliated with the Independent Fundamentalist Churches of America. He is also founder of The Master's Seminary, and host of the radio program Grace to You. MacArthur is the primary advocate of Lordship salvation among dispensationalists and has also written in defense of young-earth creationism. With verse-by-verse expository preaching, he opposes the infiltration of liberalism, secular psychology, deliverance ministries, and empty worship forms into the church. Titles: Anxiety Attacked; Ashamed of the Gospel; The Battle for the Beginning; Charismatic Chaos; A Faith to Grow On; Found: God's Will; The Glory of Heaven; The God Who Loves; The Gospel According to Jesus; The Gospel According to the Apostles; Hard to Believe; Introduction to Biblical Counseling; The Master's Plan for the Church; The Murder of Jesus; O Worship the King (Ed.); Onward Christian Soldiers' Rediscovering Expository Preaching; Safe in the Arms of God; Saved Without a Doubt; Terrorism, Jihad, and the Bible; Twelve Ordinary Men; and the MacArthur New Testament Commentary series. He also produced the MacArthur Study Bible and a series of Bible studies.
Peter MarshallPeter Marshall (b. 1940) - Reformed evangelical speaker on Christian maturity and American history. Formerly the Presbyterian pastor of East Dennis Community Church in Cape Cod, he was trained at Yale and Princeton. Son of the famous Senate Chaplain Peter Marshall, he has revolutionized Christians' understanding of God's purposes for America with his books. He also works with the global religious liberty organization Voice of the Martyrs. Titles: From Sea to Shining Sea; Sounding Forth the Trumpet (w/ David Manuel); The Light and the Glory; Religious Freedom in the World; Their Blood Chries Out.
Keith A. MathisonKeith Mathison - Reformed evangelical who is one of the leading workers within Ligonier Ministries (including assistant editor of Tabletalk magazine. He teaches standard Presbyterian doctrine and is well known for his criticism of full (or hyper-) preterism (the belief that the return of Christ and the resurrection of the dead have already occurred) and his defense of the Protestant devotion to biblical authority. Cordial and engaging though uncompromising, Mathison's scholarly tone is in sharp contrast with criticisms he receives from those whose views he opposes. Titles: Dispensationalism: Rightly Dividing the People of God?; Given for You; Postmillennialism: An Eschatology of Hope; The Shape of Sola Scriptura; When Shall These Things Be? (Ed.).
R. Albert Mohler, Jr.Al Mohler (b. 1960) - Reformed evangelical theology professor and president of Southern Seminary (that's The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary for all you non-Baptists), and the key figure in making the SBC's conservative resurgence a reality there. Fairly liberal during his seminary training, his conversion to conservatism began through conversations with Carl Henry. He hosts the Albert Mohler Program on radio, often represents Southern Baptists before the press on shows such as Larry King Live, was on the Advisory Council for the ESV, and helped draft the 2000 revision of the Baptist Faith and Message. Mohler has contributed chapters to numerous major evangelical works, such as The Coming Evangelical Crisis, The Compromised Church, and Why I Am a Baptist. Other titles: Feed My Sheep: A Passionate Plea for Preaching; Gods of This Age or God of the Ages? (Ed.); Theological Education in the Evangelical Tradition (Ed. w/; D. G. Hart).
Russell D. MooreRuss Moore (b. 1972?) - Reformed dean of theology at Southern Seminary and head of the Carl Henry Institute for Evangelical Engagement, seen as the protege of Al Mohler. Though young, his writings are already a common sight for SBC pastors. His "Moore to the Point" columns are published in SBC Life and other major periodicals, and he is a skilled debator and defender of theologically robust evangelicalism. With Tom Nettles, Moore co-edited the most recent book titled Why I Am a Baptist, and is becoming a leading authority on the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, of which he is highly critical.
James I. PackerJ. I. Packer (b. 1926) - Reformed Anglican evangelical professor at Regent College. Conservative but mild-tempered, he believes in cooperation with all evangelicals and speaks harshly only on certain issues. Packer, who helped produce the ESV, works to educate the church theologically, as can be seen from his frequent contributions to Christianity Today. Recent remarks of his suggest he may be moving toward inclusivism. Titles: A Concise Theology; Decisions: Finding God's Will; Evangelism and the Soverignty of God; Fundamentalism and the Word of God; Hot Tub Religion; Keep in Step with the Spirit; The Kingdom and the Power; Knowing and Doing the Will of God; Knowing God; The Law of Perfect Freedom (w/ Michael Horton); Never Beyond Hope; One Faith: The Evangelical Consensus (w/ Thomas C. Oden); A Quest for Godliness. He also helped produce the New Geneva Study Bible.
John Stephen PiperJohn Piper (b. 1946) - Reformed evangelical pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church. Claiming as his mentors Daniel Fuller and Jonathan Edwards, Piper focuses on the glorification and enjoyment of God. His church philosophy is the opposite of Bill Hybels''s approach and stresses God-centeredness as opposed to meeting needs. Piper is a prominent figure on the Council of Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, and is cautiously open to possibility that the charismatic gifts may be works of God. Piper was recently on the Advisory Council for the ESV. Titles: Brothers, We Are Not Professionals; Counted Righteous in Christ; The Dangerous Duty of Delight; Desiring God; Don't Waste Your Life; Future Grace; God's Passion for His Glory; A Godward Life; Let the Nations Be Glad; The Passion of Jesus Christ; The Pleasures of God; The Prodigal's Sisters; Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (Ed., w/ Wayne Grudem); Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ; The Supremacy of God in Preaching; Treasuring God in Our Traditions (w/ Noel Piper); What's the Difference?; When I Don't Desire God; and The Swans Are Not Silent biography series.
Philip Graham RykenPhilip Graham Ryken (b. 1966) - Reformed evangelical pastor of Tenth Presbyterian Church, succeeding James M. Boice. Ryken believes that purity and peace in the church are the keys to its return to the Bible. He contributed the closing chapter to Armstrong's The Compromised Church and completed Boice's The Doctrines of Grace after Boice's death. Other titles: City on a Hill; Courage to Stand; Discovering God: Stories from the Bible; Give Praise to God (Ed.); The Heart of the CrossIs Jesus the Only Way?; Jesus on Trial (w/ James Boice); The Message of Salvation; The Tenth Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia: 175 Years of Thinking and Acting Biblically; What Is a True Calvinist?; When You Pray: Making the Lord's Prayer Your Own; Written in Stone. Not to be confused with 19th-century figure J. C. Ryle or dispensationalist C. C. Ryrie.
Robert Charles Sproul, Jr.R. C. Sproul (b. 1939) - Reformed evangelical chair of Ligonier Ministries, professor at Knox Theological Seminary, and host of Renewing Your Mind. A Presbyterian covenant theologian known for his erudite style and his opposition to Arminianism, liberalism, evolution, and full preterism. Titles: Chosen by God; The consequences of Ideas; The Dark Side of Islam (w/ Abdul Saleeb); Defending Your Faith; Essential Truths of th eChristian Faith; Grace Unknown; The Holiness of God; The Intimate Marriage; Knowing Scripture; The Last Days According to Jesus; Lifeviews; Now, That's a Good Question; Pleasing God; Renewing Your Mind; Running the Race; Surprised by Suffering; Willing to Believe; and a commentary on Ephesians. He also helped produce the New Geneva Study Bible.
John R. W. StottJohn Stott (b. 1925) - moderately Reformed evangelical founder and president of the London Institute for Christianity, and head of John Stott Ministries, which trains pastors in third world countries. Stott has been a model of fervor but has always represented a less solid brand of evangelicalism, as indicated by his support for inclusivism, annihilationism, and theistic evolution. Titles: The Authentic Jesus; Basic Christian Leadership; Basic Christianity; The Beatitudes; Between Two Worlds; The Birds, Our Teachers; The Contemporary Christian; The Cross of Christ; The Incomparable Christ; The Message of the Sermon on the Mount; Understanding the Bible; What Christ Thinks of the Church; Why I Am a Christian; Your Mind Matters; and commentaries on Acts, Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, and the Letters of John.
James R. WhiteJames R. White (b. 1962) - Reformed evangelical Baptist and director of Alpha and Omega Ministries. White is both a doctrinal writer and an apologist who defends evangelicalism from attacks on all sides. His books are rigorous and well documented, though sometimes abrasive and not as polished as scholastic works. Titles: Answers to Catholic Claims; Dangerous Airwaves; Drawn by the Father; The Forgotten Trinity; The God Who Justifies; God's Sovereign Grace; Grieving: Our Path Back to Peace; Is the Mormon My Brother?; Jump for Joy; Justification by Faith; The King James Only Controvery; Mary: Another Redeemer?; The Potter's Freedom; The Roman Catholic Controversy; The Same Sex Controversy; What's with the Dudes at the Door? (w/ Kevin W. Johnson); What's with the Mutant in the Microscope? (w/ Kevin W. Johnson). Not to be confused with historian James F. White or pastoral author James Emory White.
Donald S. WhitneyDonald S. Whitney (b. 1954) - Reformed evangelical and recent addition to the faculty of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and important figure in the Founders Conference. He has great admiration for the oft-misunderstood Puritans and is critical of the influence of Quaker and Catholic mysticism in evangelical literature. Whitney makes use of theology to tackle practical matters in the Christian life. Titles: A Heart that Dances; How Can I Be Sure I'm a Christian?; Looking for a Church Home; Simplify Your Spiritual Life; Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life; Spiritual Disciplines Within the Church; Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health.
Edward Joseph YoungEdward J. Young (1907-1968) - Reformed Old Testament professor at Westminster Seminary. Young was a giant of biblical scholarship as well as theology. He was a close friend of John Murray and a bold defender of inerrancy. Titles: In the Beginning; Introduction to the Old Testament; Thy Word Is Truth; The Way Everlasting; and commentaries on Isaiah and Daniel. He was also the original editor for the New International Commentary on the Old Testament. Not to be confused with two contemporary Texas Baptist pastors who are both also named Ed Young.

Contemporary Reformed Writers in Other Categories:

There may be others in this database whose Reformed convictions I am not aware of. See also the section on the more specifically academic Reformed authors.


 

For a statement of my beliefs, see my Declaration of Faith.

 

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