Website and Book Recommendations

Below is a list of ministries to which we look for their dedication to biblical truth. Though no ministry, church, or preacher is perfect, we recognize those on this list as ones who have a long record of Biblical fidelity. These are great resources if you have specific questions or if you'd like to download or purchase material.

  • Nine Marks is a ministry started by Dr. Mark Dever who has identified "Nine Marks" of a healthy Church. This ministry is aimed at pastors and lay leaders to help them pursue biblical church health.

  • Banner of Truth began in 1950s England as several pastors and leaders wanted to initiate a revival in Christian interest in the puritans. They publish all sorts of books, a magazine and articles, and are a great source of sound, Biblical teaching.

  • Keith and Kristyn Getty, along with a few others, have reintroduced American Christians to rich, theologically-deep music. "In Christ Alone," "The Power of the Cross," and "Speak, O Lord" are three among many wonderful songs sung across the English-speaking world today.

  • GotQuestions.org is a ministry that seeks to Biblically respond to the questions we have about Scripture, cults, church, and the Christian life. To date, they have answered close to 600,000 questions.

  • Grace to You is the ministry of Dr. John MacArthur. Dr. MacArthur has been the pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, CA for over 50 years. 

  • Dr. Jason K. Allen is the President of Midwestern Seminary. He is a long-time friend of Makakilo Bible church and has taught here frequently.

  • Ligonier is the teaching ministry of the late R.C. Sproul. Dr. Sproul was a renowned apologist, pastor and author. He was pastor of the St. Andrews Presbyterian Chapel in Sanford, FL.

  • Tim Challies is a beloved friend of MBC and has taught here several times. He is a pastor and author, but is most known for his Christian blog, Challies.com. This is a wonderful resource fo daily encouragement and interesting and uplifting resources.

  • Truth For Life is the teaching ministry of Alistair Begg. Scottish by birth, he moved to the US more than 30 years ago to pastor Cleveland's Parkside Church. His teaching ministry has been one of the most popular but most Biblically sound for many years.

Book Recommendations

*Easier books


Bible Study

*Understanding the Bible – John Stott

*A Basic Guide to Interpreting the Bible – Robert Stein

Interpreting the Pauline Epistles – Thomas Schreiner

The Law and Its Fulfillment – Thomas Schreiner

Exegetical Fallacies – DA Carson

Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament – GK Beale and DA Carson


Study Bibles

The Reformation Study Bible

The ESV Study Bible

The John MacArthur Study Bible

(MBC currently uses the English Standard Version in our ministries)


Worship

Worship Matters – Bob Kauflin

*Worship, The Ultimate Priority – John MacArthur

Worship by the Book – DA Carson

Give Praise to God - Festschrift in Honor of James M. Boice

*Sing! How Worship Transforms your Life, Family and Church – Keith and Kristyn Getty

 

Theology

*Everyone’s A Theologian – RC Sproul

*The Cross of Christ – John Stott

The Foundations of the Christian Faith – James M. Boice

Systematic Theology – Wayne Grudem

*The Holiness of God - R.C. Sproul

The Bondage of the Will – Martin Luther

Pentecost Today? - Iain Murray


Christian History

The Story of Christianity - Justo Gonzalez

*Rescuing the Gospel - Erwin Lutzer

Meet the Puritans - Joel Beeke and Randall Pederson

Revival and Revivalism - Iain Murray (see also, Pentecost Today? above)

The Courage to be Protestant - David Wells (also below)

The Juvenilization of American Christianity - Thomas Bergler

The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self - Carl Trueman


Personal and Devotional Life

*Morning and Evening – Charles Spurgeon

*Voices from the Past (Books 1 and 2) - scriptures and selected puritan readings

Devoted to God – Sinclair Ferguson

*Spiritual Disciplines of the Christian Life – Don Whitney

*Praying the Bible – Don Whitney

*The Pursuit of God – AW Tozer

The Mortification of Sin – John Owen

Pilgrim’s Progress – John Bunyan

*Future Grace – John Piper

*The Gospel According to Jesus – John MacArthur

 

Biographies

George Whitefield – Arnold Dallimore

Here I Stand: A Life Martin Luther – Roland Bainton

Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy – Eric Metaxas

Jonathan Edwards – Iain Murray

*The Passionate Preaching of Martyn Loyd-Jones – Steven J. Lawson


Church and Ministry

*Ashamed of the Gospel - John MacArthur

Revival and Revivalism – Iain Murray

Hard to Believe – John MacArthur

The Courage to be Protestant – David Wells

*The Trellis and the Vine – Marshall and Payne

*Nine Marks of a Healthy Church – Mark Dever

 

Preaching

Preaching and Preachers – Martyn Loyd-Jones

Why Johnny Can’t Preach – T. David Gordon

Dying to Preach – Steven Smith

Christ-Centered Preaching – Bryan Chapell

The Supremacy of God in Preaching – John Piper

Preaching the Whole Bible as Christian Scripture – Graeme Goldsworthy