Click through to the Resurgence if you can't see the video.

In this short interview clip, Pastor Mark asks bestselling author Randy Alcorn what people should read if they've never read any of his books and want an introduction to his writings.

Here are the books he mentioned:

Nonfiction:

• The Grace and Truth Paradox: Responding with Christlike Balance (Randy's favorite)
• Heaven (Pastor Mark calls it "the standard on the subject")
• If God Is Good: Faith in the Midst of Suffering and Evil
• Money, Possessions, and Eternity

Fiction:

• Safely Home
• Deception

For Children:

• Heaven for Kids

See all the parts of this interview posted so far.

ESV Study Bible

The ESV Study Bible is our Bible of choice. To show how good the notes are, we’ve posted some free study notes on the Trinity. Read them here.

Thanks to everyone who responded and told us about a book that helped you understand the Bible better. We got hundreds of awesome responses. Here are the 6 we picked to win a free copy of the book Christian Theologies of Scripture:

Knowing God

"For me most recently, Knowing God by J.I. Packer really rocked my world. Being in youth ministry it is very easy to fall into the trap of being quite pragmatic in our approach to and relationship with God. Packer encourages deep, organic, real relationship with the God of the Bible rather than gaining facts and head knowledge."
-Jon Wolfinger
Chino Valley, Arizona

Desiring God

"John Piper's Desiring God changed my entire frame of thinking. I was a prosperity gospel believer and didn't know it. I was man-centered and didn't know it. I misinterpreted Scripture and didn't know it. It was through the words of that book that God has shown me himself and who he is in the Bible. I am still in awe of God's sovereignty and the miracle of salvation. The Bible is not a collection of stories about how to make our lives better. The Bible is God revealing himself to man, and through that revelation God graciously allows us to enjoy his glory. I am forever thankful to God for using John Piper to reveal truth about the glory of God. In my life Desiring God isn't just a book. It was one of the tools that God used to save me."
-Jason Wallace
San Marcos, Texas

Mere Christianity

"I have been saved for about a year and a half, and with all of the different books out there that misrepresent the person and work of Jesus, I was blessed to be given a copy of Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. It helped me to better understand the Bible by showing the rationality of the faith (at a time when this was being challenged left and right), explaining 'The Great Sin' of pride, and furthering my understanding of biblical grace—saving grace. It is an incredible read (with the Word of God as the foundation, of course) for new believers, and the Lord used it in a huge way in my life."
-Tyler Howell
Loveland, Colorado

The Holiness of God

"One book that really put Scripture and God into a correct view is R.C. Sproul's Holiness of God. It was one of the first books I read as a Christian and it really forced me to read Scripture and study for myself. So instead of borrowing others' faith, I really came to understand what God requires of us as Christians. Ever since reading Sproul my interest in theology has exploded and really helped me understand the God we serve."
-Lucas Hillman
Palm Harbor, Florida

Van Til's Apologetic

"Van Til's Apologetic by Greg Bahnsen helped me understand the necessity of God's revelation in human knowing. This gave me a greater confidence in the Bible. Bahnsen shows the presuppositional charter beliefs and worldviews and how God's revelation through his Word answers the philosophical questions that man can't answer on autonomous presuppositions. The Christian worldview built on God's revelation in Scripture accounts for realities we take for granted such as ethics, reason, and science, and all so-called autonomous worldviews destroy these realities. This gave me greater insight into Romans 1:18-25."
-David Fassett
Cary, Illinois

The Church Before the Watching World

"The Church Before the Watching World by Francis Schaeffer has been very helpful in its encouragement toward doctrinal purity in contrast to theological liberalism. It influenced my everyday reading of the Bible as truth, when so many other authors say things like, 'It doesn't really matter if there was a real guy named Job...'. It absolutely matters. Schaeffer describes the difference between spiritual adultery and spiritual purity: 'The real chasm is between those who have bowed to the living God and thus also to the verbal, propositional communication of God's Word, the Scriptures, and those who have not.'"
-Jude Michael Ross
The Woodlands, Texas

Read Some Free Chapters

If you didn't win Christian Theologies of Scripture, you can still get part of it for free.

You can read the introduction by Resurgence Director Justin Holcomb as a free PDF here.

You can also read Michael Horton’s chapter, "Theologies of Scripture in the Reformation and Counter-Reformation", for free online.

Resurgence Literature

We believe God uses good books to change lives. Re:Lit publishes a growing line of books to fuel the Resurgence. Find out more.

We’re giving away 6 free copies of Christian Theologies of Scripture, which is edited by Justin Holcomb, the academic dean of Re:Train, and includes a chapter by Michael Horton.

For a chance to win the book, go to our Facebook page and tell us one book you've read that helped you understand the Bible better, and why.

Read Some Free Chapters

You can read the introduction by Justin Holcomb as a free PDF here.

You can also read Michael Horton’s chapter, "Theologies of Scripture in the Reformation and Counter-Reformation", for free online.

Free Posters

Download free posters explaining key theological ideas like Expiation, the Incarnation, and the sinlessness of Jesus. Get the posters here.

In a recent post on the Mars Hill Blog, Pastor Mark shared the books his family is reading. We've got those books listed for you below.

• The First Step Bible (Alexie, age 6)
• The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name (Calvin, age 8)
• Ten Boys Who Changed the World (Zac, age 10)
• Faith Alone: A Daily Devotional (Ashley, age 12)
• Finally Alive (Grace)
• Luther and His Katie (Grace)

Leaders Who Last

Too many Christian leaders stumble, burn out, or veer off track. Learn how to endure from a seasoned pastor and leadership coach in Leaders Who Last.

Faith

• How People Change, Timothy S. Lane and Paul David Tripp
• Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands, Paul David Tripp
• The Pursuit of God, A.W. Tozer
• Renovation of the Heart: Putting On the Character of Christ, Dallas Willard
• Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth, Richard Foster
• The Knowledge of the Holy, A.W. Tozer
• Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, Donald S. Whitney

Priorities

• Eat That Frog! 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time, Brian Tracy
• Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity, David Allen
• The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen R. Covey

Health

• Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial, and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives, Richard A. Swenson, M.D.
• The Overload Syndrome: Learning to Live Within Your Limits, Richard A. Swenson M.D.
• Is It Worth Dying For? How To Make Stress Work For You—Not Against You Dr. Robert S. Eliot and Dennis L. Breo
• Fit for Life, Harvey Diamond, Marilyn Diamond, and Kay S. Lawrence

Family

• Love That Lasts: When Marriage Meets Grace, Gary Ricucci, Betsy Ricucci, C. J. Mahaney, and Carolyn Mahaney
• Sacred Marriage, Gary Thomas
• The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate, Gary Chapman
• Shepherding a Child’s Heart, Ted Tripp
• Grace-Based Parenting, Tim Kimmel

Friends

• Men Without Friends: A Guide to Developing Lasting Relationships, David W. Smith
• The Friendship Factor: How to Get Closer to the People You Care For, Alan Loy McGinnis

Finances

• The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness, Dave Ramsey
• Financial Peace, Dave Ramsey
• Debt Free Living, Larry Burkett

Service

• Go Put Your Strengths to Work: 6 Powerful Steps to Achieve Outstanding Performance, Marcus Buckingham
• Now, Discover Your Strengths, Marcus Buckingham

Ministry Vision and Ministry Plan

• Ministry Nuts and Bolts: What They Don't Teach Pastors in Seminary, Aubrey Malphurs
• Simple Church: Returning to God's Process for Making Disciples, Thom S. Rainer and Eric Geiger
• Church Unique: How Missional Leaders Cast Vision, Capture Culture, and Create Movement, Will Mancini
• Missional Renaissance: Changing the Scorecard for the Church, Reggie McNeal
• Developing a Vision for Ministry in the 21st Century, Aubrey Malphurs
• Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done, Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan
• Leading Change, John P. Kotter
• Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die, Chip Heath and Dan Heath
• Making Vision Stick, Andy Stanley
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable, Patrick Lencioni

Leadership and Coaching

• Becoming a Coaching Leader: The Proven Strategy for Building Your Own Team of Champions, Daniel Harkavy
• Leading with Questions: How Leaders Find the Right Solutions By Knowing What To Ask, Michael J. Marquardt
• Leaders Who Last, Dave Kraft
• Transformissional Coaching: Empowering Leaders in a Changing Ministry World, Steve Ogne and Tim Roehl
• Spiritual Leadership: Principles of Excellence for Every Believer, J. Oswald Sanders
• The Leadership Challenge, James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner

For more good books, check out the Recommended Reading page.

Mars Hill Global

Serving the church and spreading the gospel. Help support this effort by giving to the Global Fund. More info at MarsHillGlobal.com.

Ok, if you can find something else, let us know.

Books by John Piper

• Love Your Enemies: Jesus' Love Command in the Synoptic Gospels and the Early Christian Paraenesis (Cambridge University Press, 1980; Baker, 1991).
• The Justification of God: An Exegetical and Theological Study of Romans 9:1-23 (Baker, 1983; 2nd edition 1993).
• Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist (Multnomah, 1986; 2nd edition, 1996, 3rd edition, 2003).
• The Supremacy of God in Preaching (Baker, 1990, 2nd edition, 2003).
• The Pleasures of God: Meditations on God's Delight in Being God (Multnomah, 1991; Expanded edition, 2000).
• Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (Co-editor) (Crossway, 1991).
• Let the Nations Be Glad! The Supremacy of God in Missions (Baker, 1993, 2nd Edition 2003).
• A Hunger for God: Desiring God Through Fasting and Prayer (Crossway, 1997).
• A Godward Life: Savoring the Supremacy of God in All of Life (Multnomah, 1997, 2nd Edition 2001).
• God's Passion for His Glory: Living the Vision of Jonathan Edwards (Crossway, 1998, 2nd Edition 2006).
• The Innkeeper (Crossway, 1998).
• The Dangerous Duty of Delight (Multnomah, 2001).
• The Misery of Job and the Mercy of God (Crossway, 2002).
• Brothers, We Are Not Professionals: A Plea to Pastors for Radical Ministry (Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2002).
• Counted Righteous in Christ: Should We Abandon the Imputation of Christ's Righteousness? (Crossway, 2002).
• Beyond the Bounds: Open Theism and the Undermining of Biblical Christianity (co-editor) (Crossway, 2003).
• Don't Waste Your Life (Crossway, 2003).
• Let the Nations Be Glad! 2nd Edition (Crossway, 2003).
• Pierced By the Word: Thirty-One Meditations for Your Soul (Multnomah, 2003).
• The Prodigal's Sister (Crossway, 2003).
• The Passion of Jesus Christ (Crossway, 2004). Also released under title "50 Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die"
• When I Don't Desire God: How to Fight for Joy (Crossway, 2004).
• Life As a Vapor: Thirty-One Meditations for Your Faith (Multnomah, 2004).
• Taste and See: Savoring the Supremacy of God in All of Life (Multnomah, 2005).
• Future Grace (Multnomah Books, 2005).
• God Is the Gospel: Meditations on God's Love as the Gift of Himself (Crossway, 2005).
• Sex and the Supremacy of Christ (w/ Justin Taylor, Crossway, 2005).
• Contending for Our All (Crossway, 2006).
• The Legacy of Sovereign Joy (Crossway, 2006).
• Suffering and the Sovereignty of God (Crossway, 2006).
• What Jesus Demands from the World (Crossway, 2006).
• When the Darkness Will Not Lift: Doing What We Can While We Wait for God--and Joy (Crossway, 2007).
• Battling Unbelief: Defeating Sin with Superior Pleasure (Multnomah, 2007).
• The Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World (co-editor w/ Justin Taylor, Crossway, 2007).
• The Hidden Smile of God (Crossway, 2008).
• Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ (Crossway, 2008).
• Spectacular Sins: And Their Global Purpose in the Glory of Christ (Crossway, 2008).
• John Calvin and His Passion for the Majesty of God (Crossway, 2008).
• This Momentary Marriage: A Parable of Permanence (Crossway, 2009).
• Velvet Steel: The Joy of Being Married to You: Selections from the Poems of John Piper (Crossway, 2009).
• Finally Alive (Christian Focus, 2009).
• Filling Up the Afflictions of Christ (Crossway, 2009).

Everything else by John Piper is available at Desiring God.

Recommended Books:

A collection of fantastic reading material on various important topics, used and shared by Pastor Mark Driscoll. Find out more.

Grace and I have personally benefitted from the following books; they are easy to read and are among the best in their areas of instruction. We have recommended these books many times over the years and have purchased many copies for our friends.

Spiritual Disciplines
Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life (NavPress, 1991) by Donald S. Whitney

Christian Living
Desiring God: Meditations by a Christian Hedonist (Multnomah, 2003) by John Piper
Keep in Step with the Spirit: Finding Fullness in Our Walk with God (Baker, 2005) by J. I. Packer

For those of you wanting to dig deeper and find books in particular areas of study, especially biblical study, you would benefit from bookmarking http://www.bestcommentaries.com. For those looking to purchase a Bible, the ESV Study Bible is the new standard for study Bibles. Also great for personal reading and note-taking is the ESV Journaling Bible, patterned after the Moleskine.

Recommended Books:

A collection of fantastic reading material on various important topics, used and shared by Pastor Mark Driscoll. Find out more.

Grace and I have personally benefited from the following books; they are easy to read and are among the best in their areas of instruction. We have recommended these books many times over the years and have purchased many copies for our friends.

Bibles and Bible Study

Children's Bible
The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name (Zondervan, 2007) by Sally Lloyd-Jones

Inerrancy
God Wrote a Book (Crossway, 2004) by James MacDonald

Bible Study
Reading the Bible with Heart and Mind (NavPress, 1996) by Tremper Longman III

Theology

God
The Knowledge of the Holy (HarperOne, 1978) by A. W. Tozer

Theology
Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (Zondervan, 1995) by Wayne Grudem

Biblical Theology
According to Plan: The Unfolding Revelation of God in the Bible (InterVarsity Press, 2002) by Graeme Goldsworthy

Spiritual Warfare
Three Crucial Questions about Spiritual Warfare (Baker, 1997) by Clinton E. Arnold

For those of you wanting to dig deeper and find books in particular areas of study, especially biblical study, you would benefit from bookmarking http://www.bestcommentaries.com/. For those looking to purchase a Bible, the ESV Study Bible is the new standard for study Bibles. Also great for personal reading and note-taking is the ESV Journaling Bible, patterned after the Moleskine.

The Harry Potter books are an extraordinary success story in the publishing world. Over the past few years they have aroused much interest and excitement not only in the original English language editions, but also around the world as they have been translated into many other languages. Their translation into Chinese was reported to be the biggest publishing even in China's history. The Harry Potter books strike a chord with both children and adults, and the Harry Potter movie has recently been released to packed theaters. The fourth book in the series had an initial print run in the U.S.

The following essay is now dated in certain ways. Ayn Rand died March 6, 1982. There are numerous works about her that have appeared since I wrote this in 1979, including James T. Baker's Ayn Rand (1987); and Barbara Branden's, The Passion of Ayn Rand (1986). The substance is still relevant since it deals with abiding philosophical and theological reality.

In this essay my goals are to introduce Ayn Rand, to describe briefly her impact as a novelist and philosopher and to assess her ethical theory from a Christian perspective. Cogent Christian responses to Ayn Rand are few. Positive assessments are almost non-existent. I aim for this treatment to be both Christian and primarily positive, even though Ayn Rand is an atheist and outspokenly anti-Christian. I trust I will be forgiven the presumption of stepping outside my own specialty: my field is neither literary criticism nor philosophy, but biblical studies. I write this because I take pleasure in extending to others the delight I have had in learning from Ayn Rand.