My home bookshelves are overflowing, and one of my goals for 2026 is to downsize and organize my library into meaningful categories. But where do you even start?

To figure it out, I sat down with Heather, and together we came up with a plan for the books we most often refer to year after year—those that shape gospel centered habits, help us live on mission, and equip us to make disciples. We created this list for as we call it the “ordinary, everyday disciple maker.” All of these easy to read books can be used in discipleship and to create a Loved Bible. We hope to do a post in the future including some of these books and others that you would find on Pastor Scott’s (Heather’s husband) bookshelf.

If you are looking to start your library, you will see an asterisk by the book/s we suggest you purchase first.

Attributes of God

• In His Image: 10 Ways God Calls Us to Reflect His Character by Jen Wilkin
• The Attributes of God by The Daily Grace Company
• None Like Him: 10 Ways God Is Different from Us (and Why That’s a Good Thing) by Jen Wilkin (*)
• Fix Your Eyes: How Our Study of God Shapes Our Worship of Him by Amy Gannett
• Our Highest Good: 90 Days of Knowing and Loving God by Mary Wiley (*)

The Bible

• Women of the Word: How to Study the Bible with Both Our Hearts and Our Minds by Jen Wilkin
• The Bible Handbook by The Daily Grace Company
• Understanding God’s Word: An Introduction to Interpreting the Bible by Jon Nielson
• The Doctrine of Scripture: An Introduction by Mark D. Thompson
• Literarily: How Understanding Bible Genres Transforms Bible Study by Kristie Anyabwile (*)
• Help for the Hungry Soul by Kristen Wetherell
• Dig Deeper: Tools for Understanding God’s Word by Nigel Benynon
• How to Read the Bible: A Simple Guide to Deeper Intimacy with God by David Platt (*)

Change/Santification

• How to Grow: Applying the Gospel to All of Your Life by Darryl Dash
• How People Change by Paul David Tripp (*)
• Fruitful: Cultivating a Spiritual Harvest That Won’t Leave You Empty by Megan Hill
• 8 Habits for Growth: A Simple Guide to Becoming More Like Christ by Darryl Dash

Church

• Nine Marks of a Healthy Church by Mark Dever (*)
• The Soul-Winning Church: Six Keys to Fostering a Genuine Evangelistic Culture by J.A. Medders
• Serve: Loving Your Church with Your Heart, Time and Gifts by Steve Robinson
• Love Your Church by Tony Merida (*)
• Welcome: Loving Your Church by Making Space for Everyone by Jen Oshman
• A Place to Belong: Learning to Love the Local Church by Megan Hill

Discipleship

• Deep Discipleship: How the Church Can Make Whole Disciples of Jesus by JT English (*)
• Discipling: How to Help Others Follow Jesus by Mark Dever
• Growing Together: Taking Mentoring beyond Small Talk and Prayer Requests by Melissa Kruger (*)
• How Do I Disciple Others? by Garrett Kell
• Gospel-Centered Discipleship by Jonathan Dodson (*)
• The Imperfect Disciple: Grace for People Who Can’t Get Their Act Together by Jared Wilson
• Life with Jesus: A Discipleship Course for Every Christian by Tim Chester
• Follow Me: A Call to Die. A Call to Live by David Platt

Gospel

• Gospel Formed by Jeff Medders (*)
• Gospel Fluency: Speaking the Truths of Jesus into the Everyday Stuff of Life by Jeff Vanderstelt
• Preaching the Gospel to Yourself by The Daily Grace Company
• The Gospel Centered Life by Bob Thune (*)
• This Changes Everything: How the Gospel Transforms the Teen Years by Jacquelle Crowe
• The Explicit Gospel by Matt Chandler
• The Gospel Way Catechism: 50 Truths That Take On the World by Trevin Wax
• Gospel: Recovering the Power that Made Christianity Revolutionary by JD Greear

Identity

• Identity Theft: Reclaiming the Truth of our Identity in Christ by Melissa Kruger & Jen Wilkin (*)
• Worthy: Embracing Your Identity in Christ by The Daily Grace Company

Life on Mission

• The Simplest Way to Change the World: Biblical Hospitality as a Way of Life by Dustin Willis (*)
• The Gospel Comes with a House Key by Rosaria Butterfield
• Life on Mission: Joining the Everyday Mission of God by Dustin Willis

Marriage

• Marriage: 6 Gospel Commitments Every Couple Needs to Make by Paul David Tripp (*)
• 5 Things to Pray for Your Spouse: Prayers That Change and Strengthen Your Marriage by Michael and Melissa Kruger
• The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God by Timothy Keller

Parenting

• Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family by Paul David Tripp
• Family Discipleship: Leading Your Home through Time, Moments, and Milestones by Matt Chandler (*)
• The One Year Praying through the Bible for Your Kids by Nancy Guthrie (*)
• 5 Things to Pray for Your Kids by Melissa Kruger
• Good News for Parents: How God Can Restore Our Joy and Relieve Our Burdens by Adam Griffin
• Every Hour I Need You: 30 Meditations for Moms on the Character of God by Katie Faris

Prayer

• Prayer: How Praying Together Shapes the Church by John Onwuchekwa
• Praying the Bible by Donald S. Whitney (*)

Spiritual Disciplines

• A Short Guide to Spiritual Disciplines: How to Become a Healthy Christian by Mason King (*)
• Habits of Grace: Enjoying Jesus through the Spiritual Disciplines by David Mathis
• Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald Whitney

Story of Scripture

• Remember and Rehearse: An Invitation to Participate in God’s Story by JT English (*)
• Come and See: The Journey of Knowing God through Scripture by Jonathan Pennington
• The One Year Discovering Jesus in the Old Testament Devotional by Nancy Guthrie
• Jesus on Every Page: 10 Simple Ways to Seek and Find Christ in the Old Testament by David Murray
• From Garden to Glory: How Understanding God’s Story Changes Yours by Courtney Doctor
• From Beginning to Forever by Elizabeth Woodson

Suffering/Caring for Others

• He Will Be Enough by Katie Faris
• What Grieving People Wish You Knew about What Really Helps (and What Really Hurts) by Nancy Guthrie (*)
• Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament by Mark Vroegop
• Hope When it Hurts by Kristen Wetherell
• Being There: How to Love Those Who Are Hurting by Dave Furman (*)
• I’m Praying for You: 40 Days of Praying the Bible for Someone Who is Suffering by Nancy Guthrie

Theology

• Everyday Theology by Mary Wiley
• You Are a Theologian: An Invitation to Know and Love God Well by Jen Wilkin (*)
• Daily Doctrine: A One-Year Guide to Systematic Theology by Kevin DeYoung

Union with Christ

• Home with God: Our Union with Christ by Kyle Worley (*)
• Saved to Sin No More: How Union with Christ Empowers a Life of Holiness by Brad Wetherell (*)