Trinity Annual Conference

CORE MODULES

Understanding the Old Testament
(Required resources)

• Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart, How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth (Compulsory pre-reading for the course, except for NT Chapters 3,4,6,7,8,13)
• J. Drane, Introducing the Old Testament (Oxford: Lynx, 1987)
• W. Dumbrell, The Faith of Israel (London: Apollos, 1989).
• Tremper Longman III and Raymond B. Dillard, An Introduction to the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006, 2nd ed)
• William Sanford Lasor, David Allan Hubbard, Frederic William Bush, Old Testament Survey: The Message, Form, and Background of the Old Testament 2nd Edition
• Bruce K. Waltke and Charles Yu, An Old Testament Theology: An Exegetical, Canonical, and Thematic Approach

(Additional Resources)

• Fredrick Carlson Holmgren and Walter Brueggemann, The Old Testament and the Significance of Jesus: Embracing Change -Maintaining Christian Identity
• Gordon Wenham, The Psalter Reclaimed: Praying and Praising with the Psalms
• David Noel Friedman, The Unity of the Hebrew Bible (The Distinguished Senior Faculty Lecture Series)

Understanding the New Testament
(Required resources)

• David Wenham and Steve Walton, Exploring the New Testament (Volume 1): The Gospel and Acts, 3rd Edition
• Howard Marshall, Stephen Travis and Ian Paul, Exploring the New Testament (Volume 2): The Letters and Revelation, 3rd Edition
• Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart,  How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth (only the Chapters on interpreting the NT, viz. 1,,2,3,4,6,7,8, & 13)

Methodist Studies
(Required resources)

• The Scripture Way of Salvation, Kenneth J. Collins. Nashville, Abingdon, 1997. 
• Wesley and the People Called Methodists, Richard P. Heitzenrater. Nashville,      Abingdon Press, 1995. 
• “Christianity in Malaysia”:A denominational history, Robert Hunt et. al. (ed.), Petaling Jaya, Pelanduk Publications 1992 (On Methodist History only – chapter can be downloaded at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1U8iSorrA-Sdi5TtAxjQzgOFbdkHW2IDu/view?usp=sharing )
• The Methodist Book of Discipline 2022

Spiritiuality & Discipleship
(Students are required to read any of the following TWO books)

• Ajith Fernando, Discipling in a Multicultural World. Crossway: Illinois. 2019.
• Bill Hull, The Complete Book of Discipleship - On Being and Making Followers of Christ. NAV Press, 2006.
• Bill Hull, The Disciple-Making Church: Leading a Body of Believers on the Journey of Faith. Updated Edition. Baker Books: Grand Rapids. 2010.
• David Watson, Discipleship. Hodder & Stoughton. 1983. 
• Dallas Willard, The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives. Paperback Edition. HarperCollins Publishers: New York. 1991.
• Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life in God. HarperCollins Publishers: New York. 1997.
• Dallas Willard, Renovation of the Heart – Putting on the Character of Christ. IVP. 2002. 
• Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship. Macmillan Pub. Co. 1963.
• Edmund Chan, Mentoring Paradigms: Reflections on Mentoring, Leadership and Discipleship. Covenant EFC: Singapore. 2014.
• Larry Kreider, Authentic Spiritual Mentoring. Regal: California, USA. 2008.
• Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline – the Path to Spiritual Growth. Third Edition. HarperCollins Publishers: New York. 1998.
• Robert M. Solomon, Apprenticed to Jesus: Learning from Him, Living like Him. Genesis Books: Singapore. 2014.
• Ruth Haley Barton, Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership. Second Edition. InterVarsity Press: Downers Grove. 2018.

Introduction to Christian Doctrine
(Required resources)

• Philip Yancey, The Jesus I Never Knew (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002).
• Bruce Milne, Know the Truth—A Handbook of Christian Belief, 3rd ed., (Nottingham & Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 2009/2014).
• James I Packer, Knowing God, 3rd ed. (London: Hodder/John Murray, 2005). 
• John Stott, Through the Year with John Stott: Daily Reflections from Genesis to Revelation (Monarch, 2015).

(Some helpful texts)

• John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, Vol. I & II, ed. J. T. McNeil (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1960).
• David Edwards, with John Stott, Essentials--A Liberal-Evangelical Dialogue (London: Hodder, 1988).
• Wayne Grudem, Bible Doctrine: Essential Teachings of the Christian Faith (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1999).
• Hwa Yung, Mangoes or Bananas? The Quest for an Authentic Asian Christian Theology, 2nd ed. (Oxford: Regnum, 2014).
• Robin Keeley, ed., An Introduction to the Christian Faith, (Oxford: Lynx, 1992).
• Thomas C. Oden, Classic Christianity: A Systematic Theology, One Vol. Ed. (New York: HarperCollins, 2009).
• Some Books on Methodist Theology:
  • Paul A. Mickey, Essentials of Wesleyan Theology: A Contemporary Affirmation (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1980).
  • Thomas C. Oden, John Wesley’s Scriptural Christianity: A Plain Exposition of His Teaching on Christian Doctrine (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1994).
  • Albert C. Outler, ed., John Wesley (New York: Oxford University Press, 1964).
  • William Abraham & James E. Kirby (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Methodist Studies (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009).
• Dictionaries and Encyclopedias:
  • Geoffrey W. Bromiley, ed., International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, rev. ed., Vol.1-4 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1979-88).
  • I. H. Marshall, et. al., eds., New Bible Dictionary, 3rd. ed. (Nottingham & Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1996).
  • Martin Davie, et. al., eds., New Dictionary of Theology: Historical and Systematic, 2nd ed., (Nottingham & Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 2016).

Homiletics
(Students are required to read any of the following TWO books)

• Chapell, Bryan, Christ-Centered Preaching (Baker Books, 1994)
• John Wesley’s Forty-Four Sermons, (Epworth Press)
• Killinger, John, Fundamentals of Preaching (Fortress Press, 1985)
• Lloyd-Jones, Martin, Preaching and Preachers (Zondervan, 1971)
• Robinson, Haddon W. Expository Preaching (IVP, 1986)
• Stott, John, I Believe in Preaching (Hodder, 1982)        
• The Pastor’s Guide to Effective Preaching (Beacon Hill Press, 2003)

ELECTIVE MODULES

Youth Ministry
(Students are required to read any of the following TWO books)

• DeVries, Mark. Family-based Youth Ministry. Downers Grove: IVP, 2010.
• Joiner, Reggie et al. When Relationships Matter: Making Your Church A Place Where Kids & Teenagers Belong. USA: Orange, 2019.
• Oestreicher, Mark, ed. Youth Ministry In This Season Of Disruption. USA: The Youth Cartel, 2020
• Housman, Brian. Tech-Savvy Parenting. 2nd ed.  Randal House Publishers, 2019.

Church History
(All resources can be found at https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1sR8Pmj5baJfXqxdBzebWs6HOOk7QH5WT?usp=drive_link)

Worship & Liturgy
(Required resources)

• Robert E. Webber, The Complete Library of Christian Worship, Vol. 1. Nashville: Abbot Martin Press, 1993. (Chapters 1, 2, 5 to 9)
• Jeffrey A Truscott, Twelve Whys of Worship: How All the Actions of Our Worship Glorify God, Singapore: Genesis Books, 2018.
• James K.A. Smith, You are What You Love: the Spiritual Power of Habit, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Brazos Press, 2016.

(Additional Resources)

• Constance Cherry, The Worship Architect: A Blueprint for Designing Culturally Relevant and Biblically Faithful Services, 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2021.
• Hoyt L. Hickman, ed. Worship Resources of the United Methodist Hymnal. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1989.
• Marva Dawn, A Royal "Waste" of Time: The Splendor of Worshiping God and Being Church for the World. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1995.
• Jeffrey Truscott, Worship: A Practical Guide. Singapore: Genesis, 2011.

Marriage Ministry
(Required resources)

• John Piper, This Momentary Marriage: A Parable of Permanence. Illinois: Crossway Books, 2009. (Can be found at https://document.desiringgod.org/this-momentary-marriage-en.pdf?ts= 1439242071)
• Randy Pope, Finding Your Million Dollar Mate. Chicago: Northfield Publishing, 2004.

(Additional Resources)

• Tim LaHaye & Beverly LaHaye, The Act of Marriage: The Beauty of Sexual Love. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1998.
• John Gray, Men, Women and Relationships: Making Peace with the Opposite Sex. New York: Harper Paperbacks, 2002.
• Henry Cloud & John Townsend, Boundaries in Marriage: Understanding the Choices That Make or Break Loving Relationships. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002.

An Introduction to Mentoring & Coching in Ministry
(Students are required to read any of the following TWO books)

• Ajith Fernando, Discipling in a Multicultural World. Wheaton: Crossway, 2019.
• Peter Scazzero, The Emotionally Healthy Leader. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2015.
• Jenny Rogers, Coaching Skills: The definitive guide to being a coach. Milton Keynes: Open University Press, 2016.
• Marcia Reynolds, Coach the Person, Not the Problem. Oakland: Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2020.

Biblical Interpretation
(Required resources)

• J. Scott Duvall, and J. Daniel Hays. Grasping God’s Word: A Hands-On Approach to Reading, Interpreting, and Applying the Bible. 4th ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2020.
• Gordon Fee, and Douglas Stuart. How to Read the Bible for All its Worth. 4th ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2014.

Spiritual Leadership
(Recommended reading)

• Sanders, J. Oswald. Spiritual Leadership: Principles of Excellence for Every Believer. Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2007.
• Blackaby, Henry T., and Richard Blackaby. Spiritual Leadership: Moving People on to God’s Agenda. Rev. and expanded ed. Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2001.
• Clinton, J. Robert. The Making of a Leader: Recognizing the Lessons and Stages of Leadership Development. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2012.
• Watson, Kevin M. The Class Meeting: Reclaiming a Forgotten (and Essential) Small Group Experience. Wilmore, KY: Seedbed Publishing, 2014.
• Wesley, John. The Journal of John Wesley. Edited by Nehemiah Curnock. London: Epworth Press, 1909. Reprint, Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1998.
• Maddox, Randy L. Responsible Grace: John Wesley’s Practical Theology. Nashville: Kingswood Books, 1994.
• Foster, Richard J. Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth. 40th anniversary ed. New York: HarperOne, 2018.
• Thompson, Andrew C. The Means of Grace: Why I Am a Methodist and an Evangelical. Wilmore, KY: Seedbed Publishing, 2015.
   

Archive

LPL BOOK LIST updated 2026 (download DOCX)

LPL Reading List for 2018 (download PDF)

LPL Reading List for 2017 (download PDF)

LPL Reading List for 2015-2016 (download PDF)

LPL Interaction Form 2015-2016 (download DOCX)