Training
Commentaries I Use
Commentaries I reach for
Where I go once I have done my own reading of the passage.
Warren W. Wiersbe · The "Be" series
My first stop on almost any book. Warm, clear and always pastoral.
D. A. Carson and others · New Bible Commentary
A light, trustworthy read on the whole passage.
Craig S. Keener · The IVP Bible Background Commentary
The cultural background a modern reader misses.
John MacArthur · The MacArthur New Testament Commentary
Verse-by-verse depth on the New Testament.
William Barclay · The Daily Study Bible
Word pictures and history that bring a passage to life.
James Montgomery Boice · Boice Expositional Commentary
Sermon-length exposition from a careful preacher.
David Guzik · Enduring Word Bible Commentary
Free online, every book, quick to scan.
N. T. Wright, Douglas J. Moo, Ben Witherington III · On Romans
When I need to go deep on one verse in Romans.
G. K. Beale · The Book of Revelation
The deep commentary for Revelation.
John H. Walton and Bruce K. Waltke · On Genesis
The deep commentaries for Genesis.
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Reference and theology
For background, word studies and checking a doctrine.
Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible
Setting, date and the argument of the whole book before I start.
The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary
When I need more depth on a person, place or word.
Wayne Grudem · Systematic Theology
Checking what the church has believed on a doctrine.
Sam Storms · On the gifts of the Spirit
Solid, Bible-first teaching on spiritual gifts.
Michael S. Heiser · The Unseen Realm
The Old Testament's spiritual world.
BibleProject (Tim Mackie)
Seeing a book's big shape, and great for teams and groups.
Logos
My Bible software, with my library in one place.
Bible Gateway · biblegateway.com
Free and fast for reading a passage in several translations.
Different translations · CSB and NLT
Read side by side to catch what one translation hides.
BestCommentaries.com
Ranked commentaries for every book, so I know which one to buy.
TheosU
Online seminary-level classes for going deeper.
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Preachers I learn from
Communicators I study for how they bring the text to the room.
Rich Wilkerson Jr.
Application and sticky lines.
Tony Evans
Application, illustration and clarity.
Craig Groeschel
Clarity and leadership.
Tim Keller
Preaching to skeptics and the city.
Jon Tyson
Depth and cultural insight.
Steven Furtick
Passion and conviction in delivery.
Matt Chandler
Passion and conviction in delivery.
Nathan Finochio
Exegesis, treatment and finding your voice.
Chad Veach
Joy, faith and a pastor's heart for the room.
Jonathan "JP" Pokluda
Straight talk to young adults about real life.
Ed Newton
Clear, practical Bible teaching.
Skip Heitzig
Verse-by-verse teaching through whole books.
Study Bibles I love
The study Bibles I keep within reach, each for a different job.
Life Application Study Bible
Practical notes that keep application in view.
Spirit-Filled Life Bible
Notes on the Holy Spirit and the gifts from a Spirit-filled perspective.
Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible
Word studies on the original languages, right on the page.
Church Fathers Study Bible
How the early church read the passage.
Chronological Study Bible
Reading the story in the order it happened.
Maxwell Leadership Bible
Leadership lessons from the people of the Bible.
CSB Study Bible
My preaching translation with solid, readable notes.
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Voices from church history
The people I quote most from the generations before us.
Charles Spurgeon
The prince of preachers.
C. S. Lewis
Clear thinking about faith.
Martin Luther, Augustine, John Wesley
Grace, the heart and holy living.
A. W. Tozer and Oswald Chambers
Devotion and the presence of God.
Billy Graham and D. L. Moody
The evangelist's heart.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
The cost of following Jesus.
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Put them to work on your sermon
Sermon Feedback points you to the right ones for your passage, in the order to use them, when you have time before you preach.
I don’t agree with every one of these voices on everything. They are where I go to be sharpened, not a list of endorsements.