Further Resources

Seeing the Design

Bibliography and Resources for Further Study

This resource is not innovative. It finds itself in a long tradition of faithful biblical scholarship. For the usability of this resource as an establishing tool for Christians and churches, we have opted not to include footnotes in the sessions themselves. In lieu of footnotes, we have given reference to pertinent resources in this backend section of the tool. In what follows, there is a list of resources that have been helpful in specific details, general insights, noteworthy observations, or simply as further resources for study as it relates to Christian community. These resources include commentaries that address the particular biblical passage being studied along with other written works that address the specific topic of the session. Many are simply resources for continued reflection on these matters. While not every facet of each resource is recommended, in its own way, each resource contributes to the overall conversation of understanding of Christian community. In this way, the following resource summary represents a blend of aids used in the development of this tool and a bank of resources for further study.

Session 1: The Household

  • Elisabeth, Elliot. The Shaping of a Christian Family: How My Parents Nurtured My Faith. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2021.
  • Hamilton, Victor P. The Book of Genesis, Chapters 1–17. The New International Commentary on the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1990).
  • Köstenberger, Andreas J. and David W. Jones. Marriage and the Family: Biblical Essentials. Wheaton: Crossway, 2012.
  • Mathews, Kenneth A. Genesis 11:27–50:26. The New American Commentary 1B. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2005.
  • Wenham, Gordon J. Genesis 1–15. Word Biblical Commentary 1. Dallas: Word, 1987.
  • Wenham, Gordon J. Genesis 16–50. Word Biblical Commentary 2. Dallas: Word, 1994.

Session 2: The Union

  • Hamilton, Victor P. The Book of Genesis, Chapters 18–50. The New International Commentary on the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1995).
  • Köstenberger, Andreas J. and Margaret Elizabeth Köstenberger. God’s Design for Man and Woman: A Biblical-Theological Survey. Wheaton: Crossway, 2014.
  • Mathews, Kenneth A. Genesis 11:27–50:26. The New American Commentary 1B. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2005.
  • MacArthur, Jr., John. Divine Design: God’s Complementary Roles for Men and Women. Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 2010.
  • Wenham, Gordon J. Genesis 1–15. Word Biblical Commentary 1. Dallas: Word, 1987.
  • Wenham, Gordon J. Genesis 16–50. Word Biblical Commentary 2. Dallas: Word, 1994.
  • Zacharias, Ravi. I, Isaac, Take Thee, Rebekah. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2004.

Session 3: The Offspring

  • Baucham, Jr., Voddie. Family Shepherds: Calling and Equipping Men to Lead Their Homes. Wheaton: Crossway, 2011.
  • Bergen, Robert D. 1, 2 Samuel. The New American Commentary 7. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1996.
  • Klein, Ralph W. 1 Samuel. Word Biblical Commentary 10. Dallas: Word, 1983.
  • Ryle, J. C. “Train up a Child in the Way He Should Go”: A Sermon for Parents. Ipswich: Hunt & Son, 1846.
  • Tripp, Tedd. Shepherding a Child’s Heart. Wapwallopen: Shepherd Press, 1995.
  • Tsumura, David. The First Book of Samuel. The New International Commentary on the Old Testament. Grand Rapids, Eerdmans, 2007.

Session 4: The Bond

  • Beeke, Joel R. and Michael A. G. Haykin. How Should We Develop Biblical Friendship? Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage Books, 2015.
  • Bergen, Robert D. 1, 2 Samuel. The New American Commentary 7. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1996.
  • Holmes, Jonathan. The Company We Keep: In Search of Biblical Friendship. Adelphi: Cruciform Press, 2014.
  • Klein, Ralph W. 1 Samuel. Word Biblical Commentary 10. Dallas: Word, 1983.
  • Lewis, C. S. The Four Loves. New York: Harcourt Brace & Company, 1991.
  • Tsumura, David. The First Book of Samuel. The New International Commentary on the Old Testament. Grand Rapids, Eerdmans, 2007.

Session 5: The Public

  • Augustine. The City of God. Translated by Marcus Dods. New York: Modern Library, 2000.
  • Baldwin, Joyce G. Daniel: An Introduction and Commentary. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries 23. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1978.
  • Goldingay, John E. Daniel. Word Biblical Commentary 30. Dallas: Word, 1989.
  • Kuyper, Abraham. Lectures on Calvinism. New York: Cosimo, 2009.
  • Miller, Stephen R. Daniel. The New American Commentary 18. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1994.
  • Smith, James K. A. Awaiting the King: Reforming Public Theology. Cultural Liturgies Book 3. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2017.
  • Smith, James K. A. How (Not) to Be Secular: Reading Charles Taylor. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2014.
  • Wells, David F. God in the Wasteland: The Reality of Truth in a World of Fading Dreams. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1994.

Session 6: The Work

  • Banks, Robert J. God the Worker: Journeys into the Mind, Heart, and Imagination of God. Eugene: Wipf & Stock, 2008.
  • Breneman, Mervin. Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther. The New American Commentary 10. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1993.
  • Grudem, Wayne. Business for the Glory of God: The Bible’s Teaching on the Moral Goodness of Business. Wheaton: Crossway, 2003.
  • Keller, Timothy. Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God’s Work. New York: Penguin, 2014.
  • Williamson, H. G. M. Ezra, Nehemiah. Word Biblical Commentary 16. Dallas: Word, 1985.
  • Witherington, III, Ben. Work: A Kingdom Perspective on Labor. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2011.

Session 7: The Church

  • Banks, Robert and Julia Banks. The Church Comes Home. Peabody: Hendrickson, 1998.
  • Brooks, James A. Mark. The New American Commentary 23. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1991.
  • Chan, Francis. Letters to the Church. Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 2019.
  • Chester, Tim, and Steve Timmis. Total Church: A Radical Reshaping around Gospel and Community. Wheaton: Crossway, 2008.
  • Guelich, Robert A. Mark 1–8:26. Word Biblical Commentary 34A. Dallas: Word, 1989.
  • Hellerman, Joseph H. When the Church Was a Family: Recapturing Jesus’ Vision for Authentic Christian Community. Nashville: B & H Academic, 2009.
  • Thurston, Bonnie Bowman. Preaching Mark. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2002.

Session 8: The Community

  • Banks, Robert J. Paul’s Idea of Community: The Early House Churches in Their Cultural Setting. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1994.
  • Blomberg, Craig L. Matthew. The New American Commentary 22. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992.
  • Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Christian Community. Translated by John W. Doberstein. New York: Harper Collins, 1978.
  • Bridges, Jerry. True Community: The Biblical Practice of Koinonia. Colorado Springs: NavPress, 2018.
  • Bruner, Frederick Dale. Matthew: The Churchbook, Matthew 13–28. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2004.
  • Hagner, Donald A. Matthew 14–28. Word Biblical Commentary 33B. Dallas: Word, 1995.
  • Schaeffer, Francis A. The Church before the Watching World: A Practical Ecclesiology. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1971.

Session 9: The Commons

  • Blomberg, Craig L. Christians in an Age of Wealth: A Biblical Theology of Stewardship. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2013.
  • Blomberg, Craig L. Neither Poverty nor Riches: Biblical Theology of Possessions. New Studies in Biblical Theology 7. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 2020.
  • Getz, Gene A. A Biblical Theology of Material Possessions. Eugene: Wipf & Stock, 2012.
  • Keener, Craig S. Acts: An Exegetical Commentary: 3:1–14:28. Volume 2. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2013.
  • Marshall, I. Howard. Acts: An Introduction and Commentary. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries 5. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1980.
  • Peterson, David G. The Acts of the Apostles. The Pillar New Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids; Eerdmans, 2009.
  • Polhill, John B. Acts. The New American Commentary 26. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992.
  • Oden, Thomas C. The Good Works Reader. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2007.

Session 10: The Network

  • Keener, Craig S. Acts: An Exegetical Commentary: 15:1–23:35. Volume 3. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2014.
  • Marshall, I. Howard. Acts: An Introduction and Commentary. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries 5. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1980.
  • Marshall, Colin, and Tony Payne. The Trellis and the Vine: The Ministry Mind-Shift That Changes Everything. Sydney: Matthias Media, 2009.
  • Miley, George. Loving the Church, Blessing the Nations: Pursuing the Role of Local Churches in Global Mission. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 2012.
  • Peterson, David G. The Acts of the Apostles. The Pillar New Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids; Eerdmans, 2009.
  • Polhill, John B. Acts. The New American Commentary 26. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992.
  • Smither, Edward L. Christian Mission: A Concise, Global History. Bellingham: Lexham Press, 2019.

Session 11: The Worlds

  • Ashford, Bruce Riley. Every Square Inch: An Introduction to Cultural Engagement for Christians. Bellingham: Lexham Press, 2015.
  • Keener, Craig S. Acts: An Exegetical Commentary: 15:1–23:35. Volume 3. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2014.
  • Marshall, I. Howard. Acts: An Introduction and Commentary. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries 5. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1980.
  • Moore, Russell. Onward: Engaging the Culture without Losing the Gospel. Nashville: B & H Publishing, 2015.
  • Newbigin, Lesslie. Foolishness to the Greeks: The Gospel and Western Culture. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1986.
  • Niebuhr, H. Richard. Christ and Culture. New York: Harper Collins, 1956.
  • Peterson, David G. The Acts of the Apostles. The Pillar New Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids; Eerdmans, 2009.
  • Polhill, John B. Acts. The New American Commentary 26. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992.
  • Schaeffer, Francis A. How Should We Then Live?: The Rise and Decline of Western Thought and Culture. Wheaton: Crossway, 2022.

Session 12: The Other

  • Butterfield, Rosaria. The Gospel Comes with a House Key: Practicing Radically Ordinary Hospitality in Our Post-Christian World. Wheaton: Crossway, 2018.
  • Keener, Craig S. Acts: An Exegetical Commentary: 24:1–28:31. Volume 4. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2015.
  • Marshall, I. Howard. Acts: An Introduction and Commentary. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries 5. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1980.
  • Peterson, David G. The Acts of the Apostles. The Pillar New Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids; Eerdmans, 2009.
  • Pohl, Christine D. Making Room: Recovering Hospitality as a Christian Tradition. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1999.
  • Polhill, John B. Acts. The New American Commentary 26. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992.
  • Wright, N. T. Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2008.

Reading Plan: Meeting God in His Word

Disciplined Scripture reading is a formative habit that assists disciples and churches to grow in Christian maturity. Life transformation occurs when the Holy Spirit applies the truth of God’s Word to the lives of his people. This reading plan organizes biblical passages that correspond with the twelve sessions in this study. Encouraging you to read the Bible (at least) five days per week and lasting a total of 48 weeks, this plan provides an ordered reading arrangement with built-in margin as your church community reads these biblical portions over the course of a year. Each block of four weeks starts with reading the biblical narrative for that session. After reading this passage, you will engage relevant passages across a variety of biblical genres. As you engage each passage (or set of passages), take time to follow a simple process of reflective reading: 1) read the passage, 2) meditate on its teaching, 3) discuss its meaning with others, and 4) pray the passage back to God. We trust that your church community will be edified in “the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27) as you see the beauty of God’s truth expressed across the tapestry of Scripture.

Session 1: The Household

Session 2: The Union

Session 3: The Offspring

Session 4: The Bond

Session 5: The Public

Session 6: The Work

Session 7: The Church

Session 8: The Community

Session 9: The Commons

Session 10: The Network

Session 11: The Worlds

Session 12: The Other