Two Types of Small Group Participants “The men who read the book chapter we study before they come to our small group are growing, and those who don’t read it are stagnant. The stagnant ones just can’t understand why their lives are not changing.” — How God Makes Men, p. 178

• Prepared: They take initiative and prepare for life to happen.

• Passive: They wait for life to happen to them.

Fee, Gordon D., and Douglas Stuart. How to Read the Bible Book by Book: A Guided Tour. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002.
This book is my go-to tool for teaching or studying any book of the Bible. It helped me in seminary to quickly grasp author, audience, context, and outline—moving me from devotional reading to exegetical depth.

Keller, Timothy. Romans 1–7 for You. The Good Book Company, 2014.
———. Romans 8–16 for You. The Good Book Company, 2014.
Keller’s commentary on Romans helped me understand both the structure and purpose of this foundational theological letter. He captures Reformed depth with pastoral warmth and provides discussion questions that make it ideal for small groups.

Keller, Timothy. Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope That Matters.New York: Dutton, 2009.
Keller exposes the subtle idols that compete for our hearts—approval, safety, and comfort—through powerful biblical stories. It helped me see how our core struggles often stem from misplaced worship, and how Christ alone reorders our loves.

Morley, Patrick. How God Makes Men: Ten Epic Stories. Ten Proven Principles. One Huge Promise for Your Life.Colorado Springs: Multnomah, 2013.
Morley brings ten biblical men to life, connecting their struggles with those men face today—fear, lust, pride, and faith. It’s an accessible, Scripture-rooted resource that makes the men of the Bible relatable and transformational.

-Here is a study guide I wrote to go along with How God Make’s Men.

Thune, Bob, and Will Walker. The Gospel-Centered Life: Study Guide with Leader’s Notes. Greensboro: New Growth Press, 2011.
This study lays out how the gospel changes us by deepening our dependence on grace rather than shrinking our sin. It’s a strong framework for small groups, fostering honesty, repentance, and relational depth.

Crabb, Larry, and Don Hudson, with Al Andrews. Men of Courage: God’s Call to Move Beyond the Silence of Adam. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1992.
Crabb challenges men to confront the fear and passivity inherited from Adam and to reclaim godly courage. It’s best for personal reflection or small group study, as it gets beneath the surface of deeper issues.

Simmons III, Richard E. The True Measure of a Man: How Perceptions of Success, Achievement, and Recognition Fail Men in Difficult Times. Birmingham: Lighthouse Publishing, 2013.
Simmons reframes success through a biblical lens, reminding men that worth is found in grace, not performance. It’s a concise, convicting read that helps men ground their identity in Christ rather than achievement.