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Recommended Resources

The Pastor-Elders at The River are passionate about recommending quality resources to The River as a form of equipping the saints (Eph. 4:12). This is done primarily through our Books of the Month and Artist Spotlights: featured books and musicians, respectively, promoted at our Sunday service for a time. Now you can find them all here below in a helpful list format with included links to Amazon (books) and Spotify (artists). They are presented in, roughly, the chronological order they were recommended. Books in bold are especially recommended.
Book of the Month
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Artist Spotlight
Artist Spotlight Jonathan Ogden-1.jpg
Previous Books
Previous Artists

  1. Love the Ones Who Drive You Crazy by Jamie Dunlop

  2. How Can I Love Church Members with Different Politics? by Jonathan Leeman and Andy Naselli

  3. Deacons: How they Serve and Strengthen the Church by Matt Smethurst

  4. Truth for Life: 365 Daily Devotions (Vol. 1) by Alistair Begg

  5. Repeat the Sounding Joy: A Daily Advent Devotional on Luke 1-2 by Christopher Ash

  6. Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis

  7. Corporate Worship: How the Church Gathers as God's People by Matt Merker

  8. Newton on the Christian Life by Tony Reinke

  9. Family Worship: In the Bible, In History, and In Your Home by Donald Whitney

  10. The Garden, the Curtain, and the Cross by Carl Laferton

  11. The Friend Who Forgives by Dan Dewitt

  12. Do More Better: A Practical Guide to Productivity by Tim Challies

  13. Praying the Bible by Donald Whitney

  14. Salvation Belongs to the Lord: An Introduction to Systematic Theology by John M. Frame

  15. New Morning Mercies: A Daily Gospel Devotional by Paul David Tripp

  16. The Weary World Rejoices: Daily Devotions for Advent by Melissa Kruger (ed.), et al.

  17. What is the Gospel? by Greg Gilbert

  18. The Relentless Encourager: Bringing Life to Others through What We Say by Mark Hallock and Scott Iken

  19. Rediscover Church: Why the Body of Christ is Essential by Collin Hansen and Jonathan Leeman

  20. The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions by Arthur Bennett (ed.)

  21. The Final Days of Jesus: The Most Important Week of the Most Important Person Who Ever Lived by Andreas J, Köstenberger, et al.

  22. Life in Community: Joining Together to Display the Gospel by Dustin Willis

  23. Bible Doctrine: Essential Teachings of the Christian Faith by Wayne Grudem

  24. Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers by Dane Ortlund

  25. Habits of the Household: Practicing the Story of God in Everyday Family Rhythms by Justin Whitmel Earley

  26. Come, Let Us Adore Him: A Daily Advent Devotional by Paul David Tripp

  27. Nine Marks of a Healthy Church by Mark Dever

  1. Jonathan Ogden - Amazing artist and passionate Christ-follower, he spans many genres with excellent music that often has lyrics pulled straight from Scripture. Also the former frontman of Rivers & Robots.

  2. Antoine Bradford - American artist with a beautiful, soulful voice often set to simple instrumentation with vulnerable lyrics.

  3. Future of Forestry - Best known for Advent music with a rock feel, both originals and covers of classics.

  4. Sandra McCracken - Veteran indie artist whose music is Scripture-saturated. Great for country/folk music fans.

  5. Darla Baltazar - Indie artist out of the Philippines who has a refreshingly different lo-fi, almost R&B sound with profound lyrics.

  6. Beautiful Eulogy - Gospel-soaked spoken word artists based out of Portland, OR.

  7. The Gray Havens - Husband and wife acoustic pop duo who write evangelistic music that presents the Gospel in unique ways.

  8. Poor Bishop Hooper - Another husband and wife duo who are best known for writing a song for every psalm in the Psalter.

  9. Andrew Peterson - A fantastic veteran Christian indie musician, famous for the song "Is He Worthy?" and for his authorship of The Wingfeather Saga.

  10. Matt Boswell and Matt Papa - Both are modern hymn writers who have excellent solo works in addition to their collaborations.

  11. Shai Linne - Fantastic spoken word artist, known for his theology-filled rhymes.

  12. LOVKN - An amazing performer and person, he writes upbeat, acoustic pop music with thoughtful, honest lyrics. He'll make you want to dance!

  13. John Van Deusen - An incredible songwriter with melodic hooks and deep lyrics. Songs range from soft acoustic ballads to rock anthems.

  14. Citizens - A Christian indie rock band that manages to express biblical lament, praise, doubt, wonder, and hope in powerful, unique ways and have been doing so for years. 

  15. Chris Renzema - A prolific songwriter who writes beautiful, honest lyrics in addition to memorable melodies.

  16. The Oh Hellos - A "folk punk" band whose lyrics strike deeply of Christian faith and themes. Their composition is utterly incredible, especially their Christmas album.

  17. Rivers & Robots - An English worship band who, while together, managed to write some of the most worshipful albums we've heard, with many lines plucked straight from Scripture.

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