Have you ever asked or been asked these questions?
- How do I forgive those who hurt me?
- How do I seek forgiveness from those I wronged?
- Why do friendships fall apart?
- Are relationships supposed to be difficult?
- How do I rebuild trust in a relationship?
- What does it mean to be a man? What does it mean to be a woman?
- What does the Bible say about dating?
- Why am I stuck being single?
- What does the Bible say about living together and sex before marriage?
- How can my fiance and I use our engagement to get ready for marriage?
- How can my spouse and I build a strong marriage?
- How do I deal with a difficult marriage?
- How can my spouse and I strengthen our sexual intimacy?
- What does the Bible say about divorce and remarriage?
- How many children should we consider having?
- What does the Bible say about birth control?
- How should we prepare for a new baby?
- How do we face infertility?
- How do I deal with an unplanned pregnancy?
- How can I be faithful as a single parent?
- How can I get help raising a child with special needs?
- What are acceptable schooling options?
- How should we explore adoption or foster care?
- What is family worship?
- How do I discipline my young children?
- How should I talk to my children about sex?
- How can I prepare my children for adolescence?
- How can I deal with a difficult teen?
- How do we transition to an empty nest?
- How can I influence my grandchildren?
- How do I care for an aging loved one?
- How do I grieve the loss of a loved one?
- How can I deal with stress, worry, and anxiety?
- Where can I get help to recover from addiction?
These are important questions! We want to help you find biblical solutions and articulate biblical answers to these real-life struggles.
Below is a brief list of recommended books we believe will help you grow in your understanding and practice of marriage, family, gender, sexuality, and biblical counseling. Many of these books are available at the Book Nook at Arlington Baptist Church.
*A recommendation does not mean we agree with everything in the book or with the author's total theology. We believe we can learn from other brothers and sisters even though we may disagree on secondary or tertiary matters. We encourage everyone to follow the example of the Bereans (Acts 17:11) and test everything by Scripture and hold fast to what is true (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
CHRISTIAN RELATIONSHIPS
Marriage
- When Sinners Say "I Do": Discovering the Power of the Gospel for Marriage by Dave Harvey
- This Momentary Marriage: A Parable of Permanence by John Piper
- Love That Lasts: When Marriage Meets Grace by Gary and Betsy Ricucci
- The Exemplary Husband: A Biblical Perspective by Stuart Scott
- The Excellent Wife: A Biblical Perspective by Martha Peace
- The Intimate Marriage: A Practical Guide to Building a Great Marriage by R. C. Sproul
- What Did You Expect? Redeeming the Realities of Marriage by Paul David Tripp
Family
- Walking through Infertility: Biblical, Theological, and Moral Counsel for Those Who Are Struggling by Matthew Arbo
- The Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in Its Proper Place by Andy Crouch
- This Changes Everything: How the Gospel Transforms the Teen Years by Jaquelle Crowe
- Give Them Grace: Dazzling Your Kids with the Love of Jesus by Elyse M. Fitzpatrick & Jessica Thompson
- Glimpses of Grace: Treasuring the Gospel in Your Home by Gloria Furman
- Treasuring Christ When Your Hands are Full: Gospel Meditations for Busy Moms by Gloria Furman
- The Big Picture Story Bible by David Helm
- Child Proof: Parenting by Faith, Not Formula by Julie Lowe
- Making Him Known Series by Sally Michael
- Adopted for Life: The Priority of Adoption for Christian Families and Churches by Russell Moore
- Before I Was Born: God Knew My Name by Carolyn Nystrom
- Growing Up God’s Way for Boys by Chris Richards and Liz Jones
- Growing Up God’s Way for Girls by Chris Richards and Liz Jones
- God With Us: A Journey Home by Jeremy Pierre
- The Faithful Parent: A Biblical Guide to Raising a Family by Stuart W. Scott and Martha Peace
- Little Pilgrim’s Progress by Helen Taylor
- Age of Opportunity: A Biblical Guide to Parenting Teens by Paul David Tripp
- Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles that Can Radically Change Your Family by Paul David Tripp
- Shepherding a Child’s Heart by Tedd Tripp
- It's All About Jesus Bible Storybook by The Gospel Project
Gender & Sexuality
- 7 Myths about Singleness by Sam Alberry
- Is God Anti-gay? by Sam Alberry
- Made for More: An Invitation to Live in God’s Image by Hannah Anderson
- Tying the Knot: A Premarital Guide to a Strong and Lasting Marriage by Rob Green
- Sex, Dating, and Relationships by Gerald Hiestand and Jay Thomas
- Men of God: Becoming the Man God Wants You to Be ed. by Trevor Archer and Tim Thornborough
- Men and Women in the Church: A Short, Biblical, Practical Introduction by Kevin DeYoung
- What Does the Bible Really Teach About Homosexuality? by Kevin DeYoung
- A Man’s Greatest Challenge: How to Build Self-control that Lasts by Dai Hankey
- God’s Design for Man and Woman: A Biblical-Theological Survey by Andreas J. Köstenberger and Margaret E. Köstenberger
- Finally Free: Fighting for Purity with the Power of Grace by Heath Lambert
- Transgender by Vaughan Roberts
- The Porn Problem by Vaughan Roberts
- Thoughts for Young Men by J. C. Ryle
- The Gospel and Sexual Orientation by
- The Big Fight: Christian Men vs. The World, Flesh & Devil ed. by Tim Thornborough and Richard Perkins
Biblical Counseling
- All That’s Good: Recovering the Lost Art of Discernment by Hannah Anderson
- Unpacking Forgiveness: Biblical Answers for Complex Questions and Deep Wounds by Chris Brauns
- The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs
- Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices by Thomas Brooks
- Idols of the Heart: Learning to Long for God Alone by Elyse Fitzpatrick
- Anger: Calming Your Heart by Robert D. Jones
- Am I Really a Christian? by Mike McKinley
- Christians Get Depressed Too by David Murray
- Chasing Contentment: Trusting God in a Discontented Age by Erik Raymond
- 12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You by Tony Reinke
- The Bruised Reed by Richard Sibbes
- How Can I Be Sure? And other questions about doubt, assurance, and the Bible by John Stevens
- Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands: People in Need of Change Helping People in Need of Change by Paul David Tripp
- War of Words: Getting to the Heart of Your Communication Struggles by Paul David Tripp
- Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament by Mark Vroegop
- Depression: Looking Up from the Stubborn Darkness by Edward T. Welch
- Running Scared: Fear, Worry, and the God of Rest by Edward T. Welch
- Side by Side: Walking with Others in Wisdom and Love by Edward T. Welch
- A Small Book about a Big Problem: Meditations on Anger, Patience, and Peace by Edward T. Welch
- When People are Big and God is Small: Overcoming Peer Pressure, Codependency, and the Fear of Man by Edward T. Welch
To see more recommended reading, check out our book lists for Christian Beliefs and Christian Living.