Let your prayer life be enriched through this devotional classic that takes the reader to the starting line of helplessness and faith. Hallesby describes prayer as a "resting place" and a "workshop," involving both utter dependence upon God and energetic wrestling with God. Includes study questions for each chapter.

Fall '24
Recommended FLBC textbook for Spiritual Disciplines course taught by Pr. Adam Osier, Dean of FLBC.

Fall '18
Required AFLBS textbook for Prayer course taught by Pr. Jerry Moan, Professor of New Testament.

Required reading option in Category B for FLS interns.

How do you know if you?re ready to marry? What are the signs that a man and a woman are heading in the same direction and are right for each other? In this booklet a biblical counselor and a pastor team up to offer five pertinent questions that will help couples decide whether to commit themselves to each other for life. These questions bring to light basic convictions, assumptions, expectations, priorities, and more. As couples think through and discuss them, they will get to know themselves and each other better-a wise investment toward building a marriage on a solid foundation, with Christ at the center.

Spring ’20 J-Term

Required FLBC textbook for J-Term: Relationships and Marriage course, taught by Pr. Brett Boe.

The book Preach The Gospel offers even the seasoned pastor an excellent refresher course in the art of preaching. This book discusses the purpose, construction, and delivery of sermons. Each chapter includes summaries and study questions. Sample text analyses, sermon outlines, and two complete sermons also enhance this volume.

Fall '20
Required FLS textbook for Expository Preaching II course, taught by Pr. Steven Mundfrom, Professor of Systematic Theology.

Fall '19
Required FLS textbook for Expository Preaching II course, taught by Pr. Steven Mundfrom, Professor of Systematic Theology.

At first glance, preaching and advertising seem worlds apart from one another. One tries to proclaim love of God and neighbor; the other tries to sell you something that you may or may not need. Yet both must compete with other ways we receive and process information in an increasingly distracted world. While most of the time preaching simply tries to muddle through this situation, advertising knows that it must continually relearn how to reclaim its audience's attention-and keep it.

Believing that preaching can benefit from advertising's laser focus on how to make its message stick, O. Wesley Allen, Jr. (a preaching professor) and Carrie La Ferle (a professor of advertising) have written this first-of-its-kind book on what preachers can learn from advertising.

Examples of these lessons include:

- Sharpening one's analysis to understand the congregation better

- Encoding a message so that listeners can decode it for their individual lives

- Understanding how the form of the sermon leads to greater or lesser effectiveness

- Building the sermon around imagery and narrative

Spring '23
Required FLS textbook for Expository Preaching 3 course taught by Dr. Nathan Olson, Professor of New Testament and Systematic Theology.
You will need either this or The Homilectical Beat: Why All Sermons Are Narrative.

Spring '22
Required FLS textbook for Expository Preaching 3 course taught by Dr. Nathan Olson, Professor of New Testament and Systematic Theology.

Arguing for the need both to preach Christ in every sermon and to preach regularly from the Old Testament, Sidney Greidanus develops a christocentric method that will help preachers do both simultaneously.

Greidanus challenges Old Testament scholars to broaden their focus and to understand the Old Testament not only in its own historical context but also in the context of the New Testament. Suggesting specific steps and providing concrete examples, this volume provides a practical guide for preaching Christ from the Old Testament.

Fall '25
Required FLS textbook for Expository Preaching 3 course taught by Dr. Brent Olson, Professor of Old Testament.

Fall '24
Required FLS textbook for Expository Preaching 3 course taught by Dr. Brent Olson, Professor of Old Testament.

Fall '22
Required FLS textbook for Expository Preaching 2 course taught by Dr. Brent Olson, Professor of Old Testament.

Fall '21
Required FLS textbook for Expository Preaching 2 course taught by Dr. Brent Olson, Professor of Old Testament.

Spring '21

Required FLS textbook for Expository Preaching 2 course taught by Pr. Steve Mundfrom, Professor of Systematic Theology.

Spring '20

Required FLS textbook for Expository Preaching 2 course taught by Pr. Steve Mundfrom, Professor of Systematic Theology.

Spring '19

Required FLS textbook for Expository Preaching 3 course taught by Dr. James Molstre.

Preaching Christ from the Old Testament is a must for pastors interested in preaching the Old Testament. Greidanus begins by explaining the necessity of preaching Christ from the Old Testament, and then gives a thorough history of this type of preaching. But the greatest value of this book will be found in the last half as Greideanus explains how this is done. He takes the reader step by step through the process necessary to preach the Old Testament as God’s redemptive history, and not a series of morality plays. Experienced pastors will find this book helpful and may transform their Old Testament preaching to the powerful preaching of Jesus Christ.
—Dr. James Molstre

Most Christians—including pastors—struggle to talk about their faith in a way that applies the power of the Christian gospel to change people’s lives. Timothy Keller is known for his insightful, down-to-earth sermons and talks that help people understand themselves, encounter Jesus, and apply the Bible to their lives. In this accessible guide for pastors and laypeople alike, Keller helps readers learn to present the Christian message of grace in a more engaging, passionate, and compassionate way.

Spring '26
Required FLS textbook for Expository Preaching 6 course taught by Dr. James Molstre, Dean of FLS.

Spring '25
Required FLS textbook for Expository Preaching 6 course taught by Pr. Adam Osier, Dean of FLBC.

Fall '20
Required FLS textbook for Expository Preaching III course taught by Pr. Robert Lee, Professor of Historical and Practical Theology.
Recommended FLS textbook for Hermeneutics and Expository Preaching I course taught by Pr. Jerry Moan, Professor of New Testament.

Christian preaching need not be tedious or predictable. The very nature of the Gospel itself is enough to motivate our best efforts to present it creatively. Beloved professor of preaching, Francis Rossow, provides help for preachers looking to be more creative in their preaching, showing hot varied literary constructions and parallels open numerous, often overlooked, doors to creative preaching.

Spring '21

Required FLS textbook for Expository Preaching 2 course taught by Pr. Steve Mundfrom, Professor of Systematic Theology.

Spring '20

Required FLS textbook for Expository Preaching 2 course taught by Pr. Steve Mundfrom, Professor of Systematic Theology.

To communicate God's Word effectively in the twenty-first century, you need to know how to connect with and confront an audience of postmodern listeners. With this book, you'll learn how to change your style of preaching without compromising the substance, take advantage of new opportunities provided by the cultural shift, and show an inattentive society the relevance of God's truth.

Fall '20
Recommended FLS textbook for Hermeneutics and Expository Preaching I course taught by Pr. Jerry Moan, Professor of New Testament.

Required reading option in Category A for FLS interns.

The church in America is part of a changing culture, and today's preachers must be prepared to engage the unique issues of our postmodern age.

Editor Scott M. Gibson has skillfully combined the works of many well-known preachers, including Haddon Robinson and Bryan Chapell, into one practical guide written for present and future church leaders. Including questions for reflection and suggestions for further reading, this helpful resource addresses important topics such as preaching to a postmodern audience, pluralism, and the intersection of preaching and psychology.

Spring '26
Required FLS textbook for Expository Preaching 4 course taught by Dr. Nathan Olson, Professor of New Testament and Systematic Theology.

Spring '25
Required FLS textbook for Expository Preaching 4 course taught by Dr. Nathan Olson, Professor of New Testament and Systematic Theology.

This new isagogics textbook examines and explores each book of the Old Testament, preparing students of the Bible to read Israel’s texts with understanding and insight. It helps answer questions such as “What is helpful and what is detrimental to evangelical faith?” and “How do conservative scholars respond to critical views of the Old Testament?” The book interacts with scholars in a respectful way while providing evangelical assessments that foster historical and theological confidence in the Old Testament.

Fall '25
Required FLS textbook for Major Prophets course taught by Dr. Brent Olson, Professor of Old Testament.

Spring '24
Required FLS textbook for Historical Books course taught by Dr. Brent Olson, Professor of Old Testament.

Spring '23
Required FLS textbook for Historical Books course taught by Dr. Brent Olson, Professor of Old Testament.

Spring '22
Required FLS textbook for Historical Books course taught by Dr. Brent Olson, Professor of Old Testament.

Spring '21
Required FLS textbook for Historical Books course taught by Dr. Brent Olson, Professor of Old Testament.

Spring '20
Required FLS textbook for Historical Books course taught by Dr. Brent Olson, Professor of Old Testament.

Spring '19
Required FLS textbook for Historical Books course taught by Dr. Brent Olson, Professor of Old Testament.

Lessing and Steinmann’s Prepare the Way of the LORD is the best recent graduate-level survey of the entire Old Testament from a Lutheran perspective. Each chapter deals concisely with the literature, history, and theology of an Old Testament book. The theology sections are especially noteworthy for their inclusion of topics emphasized in Lutheran theology, namely, “Christ in ” and “Sin and grace in .”
—Pr. Brent Olson

Start planning now for life together after the cake is cut and the guests head home. That is when the real adventure begins--the adventure of creating an intimate, lasting, and biblical marriage!

This third edition of the FamilyLife classic has been restructured and refreshed for today's couples. Centered around essential conversations about finances, sex, family, faith, and more, Preparing for Marriage is a fun, romantic study that will help you target areas for growth in your relationship. You can work through the book as a couple, with a pastor or premarital counselor, or with a small group.

Don't just prepare for your wedding . . . prepare for your marriage!

Summer Institute of Theology 2020

Textbook for Prepare/Enrich course taught by Pr. Rich Carr.

The Pevensie siblings travel back to Narnia to help a prince denied his rightful throne as he gathers an army in a desperate attempt to rid his land of a false king. But in the end, it is a battle of honor between two men alone that will decide the fate of an entire world.

Prince Caspian is the fourth book in C. S. Lewis's classic fantasy series, which has been drawing readers of all ages into a magical land where animals talk and trees walk for over sixty years.

Spring '26
Required FLBC textbook for C. S. Lewis & Friends course taught by Mrs. Madison Trost.

Spring '25
Required FLBC textbook for C. S. Lewis & Friends course taught by Miss Madison Greven.

Princess Irene lives in a castle in a wild and lonely mountainous region. One day she discovers a steep and winding stairway leading to a bewildering labyrinth of unused passages with closed doors - and a further stairway. What lies at the top? Can the ring the princess is given protect her against the lurking menace of the boglins from under the mountain?

Spring '26
Required FLBC textbook for C. S. Lewis & Friends course taught by Mrs. Madison Trost.

Spring '25
Required FLBC textbook for C. S. Lewis & Friends course taught by Miss Madison Greven.

How does the AFLC engage the vital mission of evangelism? Written by Dr. Francis W. Monseth, this study focuses on three themes; Our Heritage of Evangelism, Our Theology of Evangelism, and Our Ministry of Evangelism.

Fall '25
Required FLS textbook for Evangelism and Apologetics course taught by Dr. James Molstre, Dean of FLS and Dr. Jason Gudim, professor of Practical and Systematic Theology.

Fall '24
Required FLS textbook for Evangelism and Apologetics course taught by Dr. James Molstre, Dean of FLS.

The author uncovers the essential message of Jesus, locked inside His most familiar parable. Within that parable, Jesus reveals God's prodigal grace toward both the irreligious and the moralistic. This book will challenge both the devout and skeptics to see Christianity in a whole new way.

Fall '25
Required FLBC textbook for Luke and Acts course taught by Dr. Nathan Olson, Professor of New Testament and Systematic Theology.

Fall '24
Required FLBC textbook for Luke and Acts course taught by Dr. Nathan Olson, Professor of New Testament and Systematic Theology.

Fall '23
Required FLBC textbook for Luke and Acts course taught by Dr. Nathan Olson, Professor of New Testament and Systematic Theology.

Fall '22
Required FLBC textbook for Luke/Acts course taught by Dr. Nathan Olson, Professor of New Testament and Systematic Theology.

Fall '20
Required FLBC textbook for Synoptic Gospels course taught by Pr. Adam Osier, Dean of FLBC.

Fall '19
Required FLBC textbook for Synoptic Gospels course taught by Pr. Adam Osier, Dean of FLBC.

A transcript of Walther's Friday evening "Luther Hour" lectures. Explains 25 statements regarding the necessity of law and gospel in Lutheran preaching and teaching, counseling, and evaluating the mission of the church.

Spring '26
Required FLS textbook for Hermeneutics/Expository Preaching 2 course taught by Dr. Jason Gudim, Professor of Practical and Systematic Theology.

Spring '25
Required FLS textbook for Hermeneutics/Expository Preaching 2 course taught by Dr. Jason Gudim, Professor of Practical and Systematic Theology.

SIT 2023
Recommended SIT textbook for The Systems of Systematic Theology session taught by Dr. Jason Gudim.

Fall '22
Required FLS textbook for Soteriology course taught by Pr. Steve Mundfrom, Professor of Systematic Theology and Church History.
You will need either this or Law & Gospel: How to Read and Apply the Bible - Reader's Edition.

Fall '20
Required FLS textbook for Soteriology course taught by Pr. Steve Mundfrom, Professor of Systematic Theology and Church History.

Spring '19
Required FLS textbook for Soteriology course taught by Pr. Steve Mundfrom, Professor of Systematic Theology and Church History.

While reading Psalms, it is common for commentaries to focus on Old Testament meaning, without connecting it deeply to Christ’s fulfillment in the New Testament. By studying Scripture this way, believers miss out on the fullness of God’s word. The key to experiencing authentically Christian worship is learning a Christ-focused approach to praying and singing the Psalms.

SIT 2025
Recommended SIT textbook for Session A.
Psalms: Prayerbook of Jesus (Dr. Brad Pribbenow)

Jesus died with a psalm on his lips. For millennia, humans have been shaped by the Psalms. And before the Nazis banned him from publishing, German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer published this book on the Psalms.

What comfort is found in the Psalter? What praise, and what challenge? What threat? In the pages of Psalms: The Prayer Book of the Bible, discover the richness this book of Scripture held for Bonhoeffer, and learn to pray psalms along with Christ.

First published in 1940, this classic reveals how the Psalms are essential to the life of the believer and offers Bonhoeffer's reflections on psalms of thanksgiving, suffering, guilt, praise, and lament. Now with an introduction by Walter Brueggemann and excerpts from the Psalms, Bonhoeffer's timeless work offers contemporary readers ancient wisdom and resources for the living of these days. Includes a biographical sketch of Bonhoeffer written by his friend and biographer Eberhard Bethge.

Spring '26
Required FLS textbook for Poetical Books course taught by Dr. Brent Olson, Professor of Old Testament.

SIT 2025
Recommended SIT textbook for Session A.
Psalms: Prayerbook of Jesus (Dr. Brad Pribbenow)

Fall '24
Required FLS textbook for Poetical Books course taught by Dr. Brent Olson, Professor of Old Testament.

Fall '22
Required FLS textbook for Poetical Books course taught by Dr. Brent Olson, Professor of Old Testament.

Fall '20
Required FLS textbook for Poetical Books course taught by Dr. Brent Olson, Professor of Old Testament.

Through a series of brief chapters, this booklet traces some of the links between the AFLC and the LFC in an attempt to help us better understand our common heritage. Born as a result of Georg Sverdrup and Sven Oftedal's undying passion to build "a free church in a free land," the Lutheran Free Church was established in the late nineteenth century, and its principles and practices continue to guide the AFLC today. This book is a compilation of articles that first appeared in The Lutheran Ambassador.

Spring '23
Recommended FLS textbook for Lutheranism in America course taught by Dr. James Molstre, Dean of FLS.

This classic writing on sanctification shows how far self-salvation and moralism have spread in the teachings of the Christian Church and warns against the secularizing of the Gospel.

Fall '24
Required FLS textbook for Soteriology course taught by Pr. Steve Mundfrom, Professor of Systematic Theology and Church History.

Fall '22
Required FLS textbook for Soteriology course taught by Pr. Steve Mundfrom, Professor of Systematic Theology and Church History.

Summer Institute of Theology 2021
Textbook for Ethics and the Followers of Christ course taught by Dr. Nathan Olson.

Fall '20
Required FLS textbook for Soteriology course taught by Pr. Steve Mundfrom, Professor of Systematic Theology and Church History.

Spring '19
Required FLS textbook for Soteriology course taught by Pr. Steve Mundfrom, Professor of Systematic Theology and Church History.

You don't need to memorize evangelical formulas or answers. You just have to be willing to ask.

There was something different about the way Jesus communicated with the lost: He didn't force answers upon people, He asked questions. So why don't we?

Following Christ's lead, Randy Newman has been using a questioning style of evangelism for decades. In this provocative book, he provides practical insights to help Christians engage others in meaningful spiritual conversations. He challenges us to examine how we think about people, their questions, and our crucial message.

Fall '25
Required FLS textbook for Evangelism and Apologetics course taught by Dr. James Molstre, Dean of FLS and Dr. Jason Gudim, professor of Practical and Systematic Theology.

Fall '23
Required FLS textbook for Evangelism and Apologetics course taught by Dr. James Molstre and Dr. Jason Gudim.

Fall '21
Required FLS textbook for Evangelism and Apologetics course taught by Dr. Wade Mobley and Dr. James Molstre.

We need more God in our lives, not more to-dos!

When we mistake spiritual disciplines for to-dos, time slots on our schedule, or Instagram-able moments, we miss the benefits of Christ’s continual and constant work for us. We begin to feel weary and disappointed in ourselves, and we begin to believe we are bad Christians.

In Ragged, Gretchen Ronnevik aims to reclaim spiritual disciplines as good gifts given by our good Father instead of heavy burdens of performance carried by the Christian. Only when we recognize our failure to maintain God’s commands do we also realize the benefit of our dependence on his promises. Gretchen uses this distinction of law and gospel, presented throughout Scripture, to guide readers through spiritual disciplines including prayer, meditation, Scripture reading, and discipleship among others. Despite our best efforts, the good news is that spiritual disciplines have less to do with what we bring before God and more about who Christ is for us, not only as the author but also as the perfector of our faith.

Stop trying to obtain perfection in your habits. Begin recognizing your dependence on God and what He has done for you, and begin flourishing in your relationship with God.

Fall '24
Required FLBC textbook for Spiritual Disciplines course taught by Pr. Adam Osier, Dean of FLBC.

Many Christians today long to become reacquainted with their ancient ancestors in the faith. They see a deeper worship and devotion in the prayers and hymns of the early church. And they believe that the writings of the early church can shed new light on their understanding of Scripture.

But where and how do we begin? Our first encounter with the writings of the church fathers may seem like visiting a far country where the language, assumptions, concerns and conclusions are completely unfamiliar to us.

In Reading Scripture with the Church Fathers Christopher Hall helps us through this cultural confusion, introducing us to the early church, its unique world, and the sights and sounds of Scripture that are highlighted for them. As Hall points out, the ancient fathers hear music in Scripture where we remain tone-deaf. Despite their occasional eccentricities, theirs is a hearing refined through long listening in song, worship, teaching, meditation and oral reading. And like true masters they challenge and correct our modern assumptions as they invite us to tune our ears to hear the divine melodies of the Bible.

Reading Scripture with the Church Fathers is an exceptional guide. Hall provides a warm, winsome, informative and indispensable introcution to who these leaders and scholars were, how they read and interpreted Scripture, and how we might read Scripture with them for all its worth.

Fall '23
Required FLS textbook for General Church History course taught by Pr. Andrew Kneeland.

The General Epistles covered in this volume are: James, 1 & 2 Peter, 1, 2, & 3 John, and Jude. These books speak on an amazing range of topics that are still wonderful guides for today’s issues that plague society. Some of these topics include: the role of a Christian in society, responsibilities toward others, elections, the fall of the angels, and far more. Do not shy away from these books. Instead, dive into them with faith and see the beauty that each Epistle holds.

Spring ’26
Required FLBC textbook for Pastoral Epistles course taught by Dr. Jason Gudim, Professor of Practical and Systematic Theology.

The great reformers’ influence upon the Bible’s interpretation and application could not help but revitalize the Church. This is as true today as it was five hundred years ago. The reformers taught with special insight due to their constant reading, study, translating, and preaching of the Sacred Scriptures. This commentary series shares with readers today insights from the reformers and faithful commentary that stems from their heritage. Similar to the NIV People’s Bible Commentary Series, this lay-level commentary allows readers to study the Word in a deep and meaningful way with devotional warmth and readability. The Reformation Heritage Bible Commentary Series provides readers with an insightful New Testament commentary in the English Standard Version translation. This new series is perfect for church workers, Bible class teachers, or anyone interested in learning more about the Bible. The series’ unique layout features both the English Standard Version and King James Version; the complimentary versions and parallel format allow readers to see both the classic and modern translations side by side. Through both broad contexts and specific verses, these historical, cultural, and doctrinal insights will surely lead readers to a sound interpretation and application of the biblical text.

Spring ’26
Required FLBC textbook for Pastoral Epistles course taught by Dr. Jarrod Hylden, Professor of New Testament.

The four letters in this volume are written to individuals: Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. They were church leaders that needed guidance and assurance in their ministry. Yet, these letters are for the entire Church. The Church can see and hear God’s loving-care in these letters, each one pointing to Jesus. While the teachings in these letters can, at times, seem counter cultural, you can be assured that they are indeed the inspired Word of God, and they are written in love for all who read them.

Spring ’26
Required FLBC textbook for Pastoral Epistles course taught by Dr. Jarrod Hylden, Professor of New Testament.

Spring '25
Required FLBC textbook for Pastoral Epistles course, taught by Dr. Jarrod Hylden, Professor of New Testament.

This book goes behind the scenes and uncovers the human side of the larger-than-life Reformers through user-friendly narrative stories on the Reformation.

Spring ’24
Optional* required FLBC textbook for History of Christianity course, taught by Pr. Steven Mundfrom, Professor of Systematic Theology and Church History.
* One out of a choice of six optional books will be required reading.

Beginning in the late 19th century, many intellectuals began to insist that scientific knowledge conflicts with traditional theistic belief—that science and belief in God are “at war.” Philosopher of science Stephen Meyer challenges this view by examining three scientific discoveries with decidedly theistic implications. Building on the case for the intelligent design of life that he developed in Signature in the Cell and Darwin’s Doubt, Meyer demonstrates how discoveries in cosmology and physics coupled with those in biology help to establish the identity of the designing intelligence behind life and the universe.

Meyer argues that theism—with its affirmation of a transcendent, intelligent and active creator—best explains the evidence we have concerning biological and cosmological origins. Previously Meyer refrained from attempting to answer questions about “who” might have designed life. Now he provides an evidence-based answer to perhaps the ultimate mystery of the universe. In so doing, he reveals a stunning conclusion: the data support not just the existence of an intelligent designer of some kind—but the existence of a personal God.

Fall '25
Required FLS textbook for Evangelism and Apologetics course taught by Dr. James Molstre, Dean of FLS and Dr. Jason Gudim, professor of Practical and Systematic Theology.

Fall '23
Required FLS textbook for Evangelism and Apologetics course taught by Dr. James Molstre and Dr. Jason Gudim.

One of the greatest challenges facing Christians today is the powerful influence of secular thinking. From all directions we’re fed a constant barrage of persuasive—yet unbiblical—worldviews. This makes it difficult to know where to stand on today’s most talked-about issues.

The leadership team at Grace Community Church, along with their pastor, John MacArthur, provide much-needed discernment and clarity in the midst of rampant confusion. Using the Bible as the foundation, you’ll learn how to develop a Christian perspective on key issues. Also included is a topical reference guide of Bible verses that address key concerns—a guide that will arm you with right thinking and biblical answers to challenging questions.

Spring '19 J-Term

Required AFLBS textbook for J-Term: Virtue Ethics course, taught by Dr. Nathan Olson.

While there are a number of things that John MacArthur and I disagree on (e.g. Sacramental Theology, Soteriology, Eschatology, etc.), one of the things that he provides in his book Right Thinking in a World Gone Wrong is a helpful framework and launching point for a discussion about the intersection of the Christian life with a number of current and controversial ethical discussions. Throughout this work, the Christian reader will be confronted with a biblical reaction to topics such as God-honoring romance and Christian boundaries, the right to life, gender identity, political interaction, and the problem of suffering. It’s my hope that this book causes you to think critically about these issues and to honestly evaluate what the Bible has to say about them.
—Dr. Nathan Olson