We’re aware that the vast majority of those reading this post will not be in attendance at this weekend’s Desiring God National Conference.

However, even though this recommended list is especially for those shopping the conference bookstore, we’ve provided links for those who are keeping score (looking for good books to buy) at home online. (And we’d love to have you experience our bookstore in person next year, or at our upcoming Pastors Conference!)

For those here in Minneapolis, yes, this is our biggest and best bookstore yet. With over 20,000 square feet and some serious deals on some of the hottest titles, you’ll be glad you made the trek, whether from Nantucket, Albuquerque, Punta Gorda, Baja, Fargo, or St. Paul.

All the getting should be good, but here’s a few particular titles to keep your eyes peeled for, and bring home as souvenirs.

Top Recommendations

First, all Crossway titles are 30% off. This is big news. Season after season, Crossway puts together one of the strongest catalogues in Christian books, and perhaps some of the titles you’re most interested in come from this Wheaton, Illinois, publisher.

Rescuing Ambition by Dave Harvey (Crossway). Dave’s a great writer, and believe it or not, an even better conversationalist in person. He’s the real deal, and has some real good things to say about sanctifying your God-given ambition and channeling it for gospel advance and divine glory.

Church Planter: The Man, the Message, the Mission by Darrin Patrick (Crossway). We’ve been eagerly awaiting this one for a while. Darrin’s preface alone is worth the price of the book. The title can be a tad deceiving; it’s not just for church planters, but for anyone in ministry—and anyone leading others in gospel advance.

Collected Writings on Scripture by D. A. Carson (Crossway). This is a steal at the 30%-off Crossway price. I don’t know if there’s anyone I recommend more highly and more often than The Don. This book in particular is more for the fairly well-read leader and academic. But his new (and very important) The God Who Is There: Finding Your Place in God’s Story (Baker) is for all readers—and we have it for a serious deal at the conference bookstore (more than 40% off), along with the accompanying leaders guide for small group study.

Speaking of resources for small group study, Tim Keller’s Gospel in Life is outstanding. Hundreds at Bethlehem are going through Keller’s study this Fall in small groups or during the church’s midweek gathering. We have the DVD and accompanying study guide. (Props to the Desiring God media team who filmed and prepared the DVD!)

Another widely read and referenced book at Bethlehem recently has been The Trellis & the Vine: The Ministry Mind-Shift That Changes Everything by Colin Marshall and Tony Payne (Matthias). Mark Dever, of course, has spoken very highly of the book. We have both the softcover and hardcover versions available at sale prices. (For those interested, here’s a review.)

The Manager’s Specials

Bookstore manager Matt Lund is virtually a bibliophilic phenom. It’s amazing what he does year after year for our Desiring God conferences (and week after week at our church bookstore). Matt adds these three titles to our list…

We also have many varieties of the ESV and ESV Study Bibles (various colors and covers), all 30% off.

The Piper Is Calling You to Reason

We do indeed have copies, hot off the press, of Think: The Life of the Mind and the Love (Crossway), the book the conference is named for.

Also available is the new Jesus: The Only Way to God—Must You Hear the Gospel to Be Saved? (Baker) which is a stand-alone publication, with a new introduction and conclusion, of chapter 4 from Let the Nations Be Glad (available now in its new 3rd edition).

With Calvin in the Theater of God: The Glory of Christ and Everyday Life is newly published and ready to go as well. It’s a very good book (despite Piper’s co-editor). The chapters by Doug Wilson and Marvin Olasky alone are well worth the book’s price. And it’s a Crossway title and 30% off at the conference bookstore.

Finally, all Piper DVDs are on sale for $9.99 (with accompanying study guides $5.99), including the new Gravity and Gladness study on corporate worship.


Previous DG Conference Recommended Lists

David Mathis (@davidcmathis) is an elder at Bethlehem Baptist Church, Twin Cities, and works as executive pastoral assistant to John Piper. He and his wife Megan have twin sons (Carson and Coleman) and live in Minneapolis. David is co-editor (with John Piper) of Thinking, Loving, Doing, most recently, and Finish the Mission, forthcoming. Yep, he plays rec softball and went yard in his last game.