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In-House Vetted Christian Bookstore
 At Cow Creek we encourage people to read good Christian books. They are written by gifted teachers from the past and present who can help us understand the teaching of Scripture and how it applies to our lives. If read humbly and prayerfully, a good Christian book can be a means by which the Holy Spirit transforms your lives through the renewal of your mind. Some people don't do this because they claim they are not 'readers.' However, we can know this is false because God has given the church a book (the Bible) and called every Christian to read it. So we think that every Christian can and should discipline themselves to read other good Christian books as well. This is not beyond anyone's reach. For instance, just reading 5 pages 5 nights a week would get you through a 200 page book in 2 months and 6 such books in a year! Of course, there are also many books which claim to be Christian but do not contain sound teaching and may end up leading your astray into destructive error. Indeed, such books are so prevalent that they far outnumber the wholesome books available today. Simply googling 'Christian book' on a particular subject and then reading it can be a dangerous thing for your soul! So we recommend books that have been vetted and approved by our elders as largely sound and wholesome in what they teach. Many of these are available on the book rack in our foyer. Of course, no book is perfect, beside the Bible, so even good Christian books must still be read with discernment. Now, take up the challenge and read! Short List of Books Every Christian Should Read
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Book Reviews |
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Are We Together? A Protestant Analyzes Roman Catholicism  Author: R.C. Sproul Review By: Jeremy Twombley As we approach the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation in 2017 we find ourselves amidst a swirling controversy within evangelicalism regarding whether the Reformation was really necessary after all. With high profile evangelical leaders, churches, and organizations declaring that Protestants and Roman Catholics believe the same gospel, the rank and file is left wondering what Luther, Calvin, and Zwingli were making such a big deal out of anyways. R.C. Sproul is an evangelical Protestant scholar who has thought through these matters in great depth. In this book he provides a concise but accurate summary of the issues at stake in the Reformation and demonstrates that they continue to be at stake down to the present. Sproul argues that the Reformation was necessary because whether or not you are Protestant or Roman Catholic is a matter of whether or not you believe the true and saving gospel. |
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Free to Be Holy: The Liberating Grace of Walking By Faith  Authors: Jerry Wragg and Paul Shirley Review By: Travis Payton Jerry Wragg and Paul Shirley have teamed up to address a very important doctrine in Scripture—sanctification. With the resurgence of the church’s emphasis on a clear view of the doctrine of justification: how a sinner is declared righteous before God, and the desire not to bring any component of man’s contribution via works into the marvelous work of God’s grace in salvation, the evangelical church has subsequently experienced substantial confusion in regard to sanctification: how a believer is conformed to the image of Christ in this life. This book is well described in its title. God, in justifying us by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, for His glory alone, has freed us from sin so that we can actively put to death the deeds of the flesh by the Spirit’s power. I found myself repeatedly putting my pen to work in highlighting portions where the authors continually sounded the balanced biblical center in regard to how a believer is to grow in holiness and righteousness. I highly recommend this short book as a resource that provides rich biblical teaching on what could be summarized by the command given by the Apostle Paul in Philippians 2:12-13: “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” |
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Fundamentalism and the Word of God  Author: J.I. Packer Review By: Jeremy Twombley The doctrine of Scripture, that is, what the Bible teaches about itself, has come under attack in every generation of the church. It is no different in our day. Truths such as the Bible's inspiration and inerrancy are constantly in danger of being eroded by the acid of human skepticism. Many evangelical pastors and scholars have written in defense of the Bible but few match the combination of power and brevity that you find in Packer's little book. |
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How Long O Lord? Reflections on Suffering and Evil  Author: D.A. Carson Review By: Jeremy Twombley One of the most difficult subjects Christians can ever consider is the reality of evil and suffering in a world created and ruled over by a perfectly good and all-powerful God. Very few issues are more deeply practical for Christians around the world and in every generation than this one. In this book Don Carson does an excellent job of unpacking and synthesizing what the Bible teaches on this important matter. He deftly weaves together in-depth exegesis of the most important texts as well as helpful treatments of knotty theological and ethical issues. While this book is heavy, it is a must read for any Christian wrestling with how to think about suffering and evil in their lives and the lives of others. |
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Slave  Author: John MacArthur Review By: Mike Foran This book examines the truth about our identity as Christ's slaves. Looking more closely at the reality of some core truths from scripture like, "We have been bought with a price", "We belong to Christ", "We are His own possession". This book will show you the true riches of your salvation in a total new way. |
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What's Best Next  Author: Matt Perman Review By: Craig Johnson Does the gospel really have anything to say about the way you get things done? The premise of Matt Perman’s book, What’s Best Next, is that the gospel transforms productivity. In this book he makes the point that productivity matters and has gospel implications. The ultimate end of gospel-driven productivity is serving others. The strength of Perman’s book is in the area of productivity structures and practices. Perman structured his book around the acronym DARE: Define, Architect, Reduce, and Execute. I found him most helpful in the later three portions, when he described how to create a flexible structure to your routine (Architect), how to Reduce what you are doing to be more effective, and how to manage your work and projects (Execute). Leaders and leaders in training will benefit most from these areas of his book. |
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What is the Gospel?  Author: Greg Gilbert Review By: Jeremy Twombley This book will help an unbeliever understand the Christian gospel for the first time. It will help a new believer understand the Christian gospel better. And it will help a mature believer understand how to share the gospel more effectively in our current cultural context. This is a great book to read and give away to those you are seeking to share the gospel with. |
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Knowing Christ  Author: Mark Jones Review By: Jeremy Twombley This book is truly a modern classic. If you want to plunge deeply into what the Bible teaches about the person and work of Christ and what it means for your life, it's hard to do better than this book. It will challenge you at some points, but the fruit it yields is well worth it. |
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Delighting In the Trinity  Author: Michael Reeves Review By: Jeremy Twombley Michael Reeves is a wonderful teacher, and in this book he uses his gift to help unpack for the average Christian what the Bible teaches about the Trinity. It is short, accessible, but rich with incredible content about what the Trinity is and why it is important for our lives. I highly recommend this book. |
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Uprooting Anger  Author: Robert D. Jones Review By: Jeremy Twombley One of the most common struggles of every Christians is sinful anger. If you are looking to understand that struggle biblically and receive practical help for overcoming it, this is an excellent resource. I highly recommend it. |
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The Gospel Comes With A House Key  Author: Rosaria Butterfield Review By: Jeremy Twombley One of the most practical ways the gospel should transform those who believe it is to make us generous people. And one of the ways this gospel-birthed generosity will manifest itself in the life of Christians is hospitality. This book is a wonderful articulation of that truth that will really challenge us to grow in this area of our spiritual life. |
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The Five Points of Calvinism  Authors: David N. Steele - Curtis C. Thomas - S. Lance Quinn Review By: Jeremy Twombley Understanding the 'Five Points of Calvinism,' or the 'Doctrines of Grace' as they are often called, may not be necessary for salvation, but it is very important for our spiritual health. This is one of the most helpful books available to help you understand what these truths are and where they are taught in Scripture. Every Christian should read this book with a humble spirit and an open mind. |