Grow Deep

“…blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water… Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7-8

If we’re deeply rooted in Christ we can have peace through the storms of life. We’ve compiled a few resources to help us wrestle with the big questions we have and to grow our roots deep into the Saviour who loves us and is working all things together for our good.

Resources for all ages and stages of life

Kids Youth Parenting Marriage Singleness Men & Women Sexuality

Big Picture Family Devotional – David Helm
If you want to make regular devotions part of your family life but don’t know where to start, pick up this easy-to-use resource and start teaching your kids about the big picture of the Bible today!

Beginning with God – Reading the Bible with pre-school children
Provides a simple and fun way to start your child in a regular habit of reading God’s word and growing to know God, who loves them. Use with The Beginner’s Bible.

Table Talk: Bible reading notes for families
Designed to form the basis for a short family Bible time or devotions—maybe just five minutes at a mealtime. Aimed at ages 7-10 but younger kids can join in. Also available as a subscription.

The Big Picture Bible YouTube channel
Created to help parents share the most important lessons from the greatest stories ever told, bringing the true wonder and joy of the Bible to life.

Little Black Book Series by Scott Petty
Not too big, not too fancy, and not at all boring, each book gets straight to the point, applying solid Bible truth to tricky topics. For ages 14-20.

How do we know Christianity is true? by Chris Morphew
Explains why we can trust the Gospels as real historical documents and walks through the evidence for Jesus’ resurrection. Pithy, fun and fast-paced for tweens and teens.

Why does God let bad things happen? by Chris Morphew
Puts the problem of suffering in the context of the Bibles big story, and encourages readers to see that whatever theyre facing, Jesus is with them. Pithy, fun and fast-paced for tweens and teens.

What happens when we die? by Chris Morphew
Tackles common fears and stereotypes about the afterlife, and will excite readers about the promise of the new creation. Pithy, fun and fast-paced for tweens and teens.

Frog and the Fish: Reflections on Work, Technology, Sex, Stuff, Truth and Happiness by Chris Parker
Helps older teens think critically about the world around them in contrast to the goodness of the Christian life. Written for young adults transitioning to life beyond high school.

5 things to pray for your kids by Melissa B Kruger
A little book that will help you to pray ‘big’ prayers for your kids fuelled by scripture.

Birds and Bees by the Book by Patricia Weerakoon
A set of books to help parents have those important conversations about sexuality with their kids. Beautifully illustrated and gospel-centred.

Big Truths for Young Hearts by Bruce A. Ware
Equips parents to guide their children (ages 6-14) through all major doctrines in an understandable, chapter-a-day format.

Big Picture Parents: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Life by Harriet Conner
An easy read providing a great biblical framework for understanding children, ourselves and the world.

Shepherding a Child’s Heart by Tedd Tripp
Written for parents with children of any age, this insightful book provides perspectives and procedures for shepherding your child s heart into the paths of life.

Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles that can radically change your family by Paul David Tripp
Shows how we need the rescuing grace of God – grace that has the power to shape how we view everything we do as parents.

Parenting: A 14 Day Devotional by Paul David Tripp
Aimed at enabling you to embrace the gospel for help in parenting your children.

Gospel Centred Family by Tim Chester
How does the gospel shape parenting and family life? Applies the gospel to the everyday specifics.

Gospel Centred Marriage by Tim Chester
A great book to read with your spouse on how the incredible news of Jesus shapes our everyday interactions with our spouse.

Marriage Connections video series with Colin and Joy Montiford
Eight-part series of short videos sharing tips to strengthen the bond with your spouse and to help you have a marriage that not only lasts the distance but does so with ever-deepening respect and love for each other.’

The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Marriage with the Wisdom of God by Tim Keller
Looks at themes of friendship and commitment; the completion of men and women in each other; singleness, sex and divorce; and ministry and discipleship within the context of marriage.

Married for God: Making Your Marriage the Best It Can Be by Christopher Ash
This book will help men and women experience the joy and fulfillment that result when a husband and wife focus on loving and serving God first and foremost.

If Only: Finding contentment in the face of lack and longing by Jennie Pollock
Helps readers to trust in Gods plan for their lives and enjoy true contentment in knowing Jesus is better than even our most keenly-felt hopes and longings for this life.

Singleminded Community
Australian website with singleness conference talks and resources.

7 Myths about singleness by Sam Allberry
Looks at how the Bible paints the picture of singleness as a positive gift and blessing from God.

The Path of Loneliness: Finding Your Way Through the Wilderness to God by Elisabeth Elliot
Gives hope to the lonely through tender reflections on God’s love for us and his plans to bless us through all the different seasons of our lives.

Women in the Bible: Kenneth Bailey videos
Discusses the topic of women in the New Testament with the view that The Bible correctly interpreted does not restrict women from being ministers.

Women & God: Hard questions, beautiful truth by Kathleen Nelson
Looks at the hard questions about the role of women in marriage and in the church, consistently pointing us to God’s word and his perfectly created order.

Disciplines of a Godly Woman by Barbara Hughes
The true heart of spiritual discipline is a relationship with God. As you grow in that relationship, embracing your heavenly Father and his ways, you discover that discipline is your lifeline to him.

God’s Good Design: What the Bible Really Says About Men and Women by Claire Smith
Looks closely at seven key Bible passages about men and women and how they should relate together in God’s purposes.

Embracing Complementarianism: Turning Biblical Convictions into Positive Church Culture by Tooher & Beynon
Encourages a church culture where men and women truly partner togetherembracing their privileges and responsibilities, and maximizing their gifts, in joyful service of Gods kingdom.

What God Has to Say about Our Bodies: How the Gospel Is Good News for Our Physical Selves by Sam Allberry
Offers biblical guidance for living, including understanding gender, sexuality, and identity; dealing with aging, illness, and death; and considering the physical future hope that we have in Christ.

Is God anti-gay? (Questions Christians Ask) by Sam Allberry
Aims to help Christians understand what God has said about sexuality in the scriptures, and offers a positive and liberating way forward through the debate.

Gay Girl, Good God: The Story of Who I Was, and Who God Has Always Been by Jackie Hill Perry
Jackie shares her own story, offering practical tools that helped her in the process of finding wholeness.

EV Church sermons on Marriage, Gender and Sexuality

The Gender Revolution: A biblical, biological and compassionate response by Patricia Weerakoon, Robert Smith and Kamal Weerakoon
Provides the biblical basis for a contemporary Christian response to the complicated feelings and experiences of gender dysphoria.

More Than a Battle: How to Experience Victory, Freedom, and Healing from Lust by Joe Rigney
Offers hope for Christian men who are seeking to live with integrity and faithfulness in the face of the sexual temptation around them.

Fortify (online program)
Science-based (secular) support for lasting healing from sexual compulsivity.

Recommended Christian books and podcasts

Gospel & Evangelism Spiritual growth Christian living Podcasts

Evangelism in a Skeptical World: How to Make the Unbelievable News about Jesus More Believable by Sam Chan
Field-tested and filled with unique, fresh, and creative insights, this book will equip you to share the gospel in today’s world and help as many people as possible hear the good news about Jesus.

Learn the Gospel by Tony Payne
Learn the key components of the gospel of Jesus Christ and what are their implications for our lives with this book and accompanying video course.

The Christian Gospel: A short account of the momentous news about Jesus Christ by Tony Payne
An evangelistic book based on Two Ways to Live and able to be given to just about anyone.

Two Ways to Live online
Online presentation of the gospel (easy to share with friends and family)

Life five-week video series
Five 30-minute sessions presented by Joel Fletcher

God’s Big Picture by Vaughan Roberts
One of the best and easiest reads to get a handle on how the Bible is one unified story that all points to Jesus.

Enjoying God by Tim Chester
We love Him, serve, glorfy, and trust Him, can we enjoy Him? Experiencing the joy of being in relationship with God in everyday life.

Hole in Our Holiness by Kevin DeYoung
This book calls us to care about holiness as much as God does. It is challenging without being a “guilt trip”. Instead, DeYoung brings rich theological truths that will encourage you in the daily fight, as well as plenty of practical wisdom.

Knowing God by J.I. Packer
Revealing the wonder, glory and the joy of knowing God.

Praying with Paul: A Call to Spiritual Reformation by D. A. Carson
Shaping our prayer life needs to deal with our heart and values. Paul shows us what matters by what he prays and this book invites you to change your heart and your prayers.

Gentle and Lowly by Dane C Ortlund
Jesus said he is “gentle and lowly in heart.” This book reflects on these words, opening up a neglected yet central truth about who he is for sinners and sufferers today.

Prayer by Timothy Keller
This is a book that will teach you to pray – and in doing so, will change your life.

The Cross of Christ by John Stott
There is no better book to help you see what the Bible says about the cross, the centre of our faith, and its significance. “There are not many must read books… but this is one of them” (D. A. Carson)

The Unquenchable Flame by Michael Reeves
In this lively, accessible book, Michael Reeves introduces readers to the colourful characters and gripping historical drama of the Reformation. Discover what the great reformers were like, what motivated them, and the core content of their ideas, which still shape our faith today!

Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for the World’s Largest Religion by Rebecca McLaughlin
This book shows how current psychological and scientific research actually aligns with teaching from the Bible.

12 ways your phone is changing you by Tony Reinke
A short book on how our phones shape our spiritual health for better and for worse.

A Life of Generosity sermon series by Dave Sheath

The Generosity Project by Tony Payne & Geoff Robson
Learn, pray and work together to become the big-hearted people God calls us to be. Includes free online videos.

Together Through the Storm: A Practical Guide to Christian Care by Sally Sims
A very practical guidance for Christian care that is based in the word of God and in Christian hope.

If I were God, I’d end all the pain by John Dickson
Compelling answers to the big questions we have about suffering and pain.

Letters to Emma: A memoir of grief and God’s love by Lee Carter
A personal account of living through grief in the light of God’s love.

When the Noise Won’t Stop: a Christian guide to dealing with anxiety by Paul Grimmond
An in-depth consideration of how the Bible forms and addresses our understanding of anxiety, including personal teaching and wisdom for those dealing with anxiety themselves.

Sickness by J.C. Ryle
Describes some of the ways that God uses sickness for good and the special duties that its prevalence requires, concluding with some words of practical application.

At a time like this: some answers for loss and grief by Simon Manchester
A short booklet for those whose grief may have caused them to think about what is beyond this life.

Celebrate Recovery
A Christ-centered recovery program for anyone struggling with a hurt, habit or hang-up of any kind. Runs for three terms annually at The Lakes, click here to contact the program coordinator.

The following links go to Spotify or you can find these podcasts in your favourite podcast app…

The Lakes Church weekly sermons

Unsung Stories with Laura Smith
Unsung Stories interviews regular mums living out the gospel in regular, everyday life.

Simply Put with Barry Cooper
Sheds light on a different biblical or theological term, using helpful illustrations to apply it to your life.

Knowing Faith with Jen Wilkin, JT English and Kyle Worley
A podcast exploring how our faith is founded upon Scripture.

Lift Your Eyes with Lionel Windsor
This podcast will take you deeper into every sentence of Ephesians, lifting your eyes and raising your sights to love and enjoy God more.

Undeceptions with John Dickson
Exploring some aspect of life, faith, history, culture, or ethics that is either much misunderstood or mostly forgotten.

The Pastors Heart with Dominic Steele
Christian leaders join Dominic Steele for a deep-end conversation about our hearts and different aspects of Christian ministry.