Here is a list of some of our favorite Christian resources, including our favorite Bible translations, Christian speakers, clean books and movies and more!
In several recent shows, we have been asked about our Christian walk and also about Bibles, how to study the Bible and more. We have decided to post this resource guide to share some of our favorite Christian resources, including our favorite Bible translations, Christian speakers we like, clean books and movies and more! I hope this is helpful to you! If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask!
We will likely add more to this page as more things come to mind!
Also, Check out our YouTube Channel, Healing Scriptures and Bible Verses here!
Bibles We Recommend
I have heard it said that the best Bible translation is the one you will read, which is why I so highly recommend the New Living Translation.
If you have never read the Bible, we recommend reading the book of John first, because John explains the basics of the Gospel (the “Good News”) and tells all about Jesus, who He is, what He said, why He came and why that is wonderful news for us! Then we recommend reading the book of Acts because it talks about the early church, what they believed and how they lived life in light of the fact that many of them knew and met Jesus personally and witnessed firsthand the things He said and did. (If you start reading at the beginning of the Old Testament (Genesis) the first time you read the Bible, it gets difficult to follow in the 3rd book (Leviticus) and it becomes easy to get frustrated.)
Also, as you’re considering Bibles, you can get most of these translations as a “reading” Bible, with only the Bible text, or as a “study” Bible, which includes footnotes and indexes to help explain anything you might find confusing and refer you to related passages.
New Living Translation (NLT) – Mike’s most recommended reading Bible. Accurate and super easy to read and understand. If you have trouble reading the Bible or if you’re new to reading the Bible, this translation will reveal the life in the text better to you. If you have read the bible a lot over the years but your Bible reading has stalled, this translation will bring new life to the familiar text and help you discover things you probably overlooked before.
New American Standard (NASB) -Mike’s favorite translation for advanced study. Literal translation that is very precise, but a little harder to easily read; great for study. Probably the most accurate literal English “word for word” translation.
English Standard Version (ESV) – Good literal translation; good for study
New King James (NKJV) – Good literal translation; Variation on the King James translation, but updated to try to make the language a bit less cumbersome and he concepts easier to understand for a modern English speaker – good for study, but still somewhat difficult to read.
New International Version (NIV) – Good translation, but focuses on trying to convey the meaning of a section of verses rather than an exact word for word translation. This makes it fairly easy to understand but not as easy as NLT.
Other Helpful Study Resources
Bible Gateway – A great web resource and app for seeing the Bible text in different translations, audio Bibles, Bible studies and reading plans. I often use this to look up verses and see how they read in different translations.
Blue Letter Bible – Another great web resource and app for seeing the Bible text in different translations, audio Bibles, Bible studies and reading plans. The phone app has options to download one or more Bible translations so if you don’t have an Internet connection, you can still read them. Also, there is an easy “interlinear” option, where you can look at any verse in the original language to help you understand it better.
Church Locator
If you’re having a hard time finding a good Bible-believing church, you might find some help in this church locator!
Pastors
Charles Stanley – We all love Dr. Stanley and he is my (Mike’s) favorite teaching pastor. He has much Bible wisdom and speaks as a wise loving father or grandfather coming alongside you.
Jack Hibbs – Very down to Earth and a great Bible teacher.
Chuck Swindoll – Chuck is very insightful and easy to understand. He is one of the earliest teaching pastors I (Mike) listened to and listening to him brought me great understanding of the Bible.
David Jeremiah – Good Bible teacher with a big focus on prophesy.
Greg Laurie – Good Bible teacher with a gift for connecting Bible teachings with action in real life.
Joyce Meyer – A Bible teacher especially helpful in encouraging women and addressing women’s issues.
Ed Taylor – Ed is a wonderful teacher from Calvary Aurora with a calming, down to Earth style and great Bible insight. He speaks as a close friend or mentor and is very good and teaching at a level anyone can understand.
J.D. Farag – He is very compassionate and knows his Bible but is especially good with prophesy and explaining history and customs of the Middle East. Another of Jill’s favorites. His YouTube Channel is here.
Behold Israel – A teaching ministry from Amir, an Israeli believer in Israel, who shares news and current events happening in Israel and explains how these current events relate to Bible prophesy.
In several of our videos we talk about how you should stop watching the news and junk on TV like crime and horror shows. They just discourage you more and make you more anxious. The problem is you need to fill that void with something better. Here is a list of books, movies and tv shows that we like to watch that are clean, funny and uplifting.
Books
Authors:
**For some of the author links, Amazon includes “sponsored” ads at the top that are NOT the books from the listed authors and books that we might not recommend, so make sure the books you see are actually from the listed author.
TV Shows
Father Brown (a few episodes are not so clean. They have some sexual themes.)
Newhart (both old 1960’s and new 1980’s but I like the 1980s series best.)
Psych (Some shows have some mild sexual content and there are a few “dark” episodes, but most are ok.)
**Some of these links are affiliate links: When you order something from Amazon with one of these links, a small portion goes to us at no cost to you, and we use it to bring you more recipes tips and ideas! Thanks for your support!
Also, if you do get bogged down reading a book of the Bible, consider taking a Bible Study at a local Church. They can be incredibly helpful.
A few shows I like on tv are gunsmoke savoring our faith is a cooking show on ewtn Matlock and monk if u have Netflix stairway to heaven is a good show too
Thank you so much for this! I have really love and appreciate these types of discussions, It’s so good to be reminded that there are still like-minded believers elsewhere in the world.
If I could make some suggestions also: Corrie ten Boom is my new favourite author and speaker, I have been so encouraged by her messages, which range from forgiveness to authority over demons, and so many other practical lessons. I also like David Wilkerson, who leaves no room to be comfortable in our sins. for tv, Road to Avonlea, which sort of ties in with the Anne of Green Gables series, and Wind at my Back are good too.
God bless you all, and thank you again for all your wonderful work!
Justine
Love Anne of Green Gables and Wind at my Back. What I always found fascinating about Anne of Green Gables was I was at a women’s retreat once with older women, 5-6 yr old girls and every age in between. One day we put on Anne of Green Gables and everyone of us stayed glued to the tv watching. Didn’t matter our age we all loved it. Oh love Corrie ten Boom too. My best friend named her daughter after her.
I wanted to thank you for sharing your book with us all. I got unemployed this year due to the pandemic. I read your book and during the time back around December my kitchen floor decided to fall in in the middle of the house . I then got hit with a 3500.00 tax bill where I withdrew my 401k at work to help my family. It was a loan at the time , it became taxable after the hospital went into bankruptcy . I prayed alot and followed some of your directions. I’m thankful for God helping us. I think knock on wood it’s paid off. I wanted to say Thank you .
You are so welcome Shannon. Sounds like you are doing a great job with God’s help of getting things done. Way to go. We love it when you guys tell us your stories like this because we feel like a proud teacher with really good and hard working students. : ) : ) I love hearing the excitement and relief in your comment too. It takes a lot of hard work and stick to itness to pay off debt and not all can do it.
I know most of the Bible teachers you recommend and would agree that they are helpful, but I would warn against Joyce Meyers who preaches a prosperity gospel.
Be careful about what you hear on the internet. Tawra and I both have watched Joyce for 20 yrs (on a daily basis too) and I have never once heard her teach prosperity gospel. It is getting scary the garbage that is being put out there about many Christians that is so wrong. They even will take a sentence or 2 out of context and twist what is being said and the meaning. Joyce also says many many many years ago she did teach a couple of things that later she found out not to be true and has taught against them now. I have learned things and taught things differently after being a Christian myself for 60 yrs but one thing she, I and others have never wavered in and that is what Jesus has done for us by dying on the cross and how much God loves us.
We try to be very careful about saying negative things about other Christians (using their names etc) unless we are specifically asked about them. We do not go to different websites, facebook, youtube etc and make negative comments about another Christian no matter how much we disagree with them because slandering a person’s name is just as bad as what we are accusing someone of doing.
I thank you for offering a free Bible at least one I can understand it’s so hard sometimes for me to understand
So thanks you from the bottom of my heart ❤️
Oh Patricia you are so welcome.
I was thrilled to see your mention of Grace Livingston Hill. I grew up on her books and have at least one copy of every title…well loved and worn. I would like to recommend two other authors that I think you would love…..
Emilie Loring – more suspense-type stories, but good and wholesome
Agnes Sligh Turnbull – absolute favorite, beautiful writing and a little more sophisticated than GLH… “The Bishop’s Mantle” “Gown of Glory” “Two Bishops” “The Wedding Bargain” “The Rolling Years” “The Golden Journey” “Many a Green Isle” (she is an older author, now deceased, but quickly became one of my all time favorites) Thanks, as always!!
Thanks for the suggestions. I am always looking for new authors to read.
Thankyou so much !
New Viewer
I admire the work your doing.. your show, your testimony, giving Bible and you follow up with great work for the Lord. Sincerely Jan Walls
Thank you Jan for letting us know. We do appreciate it. So glad you have joined us too.
Thankyou so much !
Seeing you list many of the Christian speakers that I also love to hear just brings me in a closer fellowship to you and your family. Thank you for the encouragement you are for God and for helping us to become better stewards with our resources.
You are so welcome Lori and thank you for taking the time to let us know.
Hi, I am from Romania 🇷🇴,
I listen your shows on YouTube and I feel like we are friends. I am thinking everyday about you and what you might be doing.
I also am a very realistic person, naturally frugal, living on an income, we made our way out of debts and am passionate about family life.
I also have a great appreciation for your living faith, which we also share.
I hug you all and pray for you!
Thank you so much!
Gilbert Morris!!! My mother and I thoroughly loved ALL of his book series. We read them together and always learned a little something along with being very entertained!
And we didn’t have to buy any of them as my Mom’s church was Bellevue…Dr. Adrian Rogers was Pastor. It is such a large church that they have an extensive lending library. Both paper and e-books!!
My mother has passed from my arms to those of Jesus Christ our Savior and I miss her greatly every day but having the memories of reading these books together makes my heart smile. Oh! And Jan Karon too! The Father Tim series. My brother and his wife read these books TO each other!! Isn’t that a wonderful picture of a Godly happy marriage?
I love you all and learn new things from y’all every week!!
Some of the author names on this list made me remember my late mother. She dearly loved her Harlequin Romances. Her two favorites were Betty Neels and Essie Summers. She had a very large collection, many without covers. My Dad was warehouse manager at a large department store in the 1960s. Books that didn’t sell had the covers ripped off and the books were thrown away. But the book department head had seen my Dad looking for books for my Mom. He was always embarrassed to be looking through the romance section so she took pity on him and asked him if he would like to take them for his wife. My relieved Dad brought home a huge box of books and Mom acted like she had just met Santa! Just talking about it bring back happy memories and points out how much I miss both of my parents. Your story reminded me.
Thanks for the memories as they say!
Oh what a nice story Shirley. I do so relate to what your mom must have felt like. I loved Betty Neels but Essie Summers was my all time favorite. I can’t find many of her books now which I hate – so wish I had saved them years ago.
That is so neat of you to write that memory you have of them. God bless you & yours in Jesus Christ!!
hi Tara
Just started following you on YouTube. You are much more entertaining than what is on TV today. We share a lot of your favorite shows and a lot of your favorite bible resources. You have inspired my husband and myself to watch out budget better – especially food and eating out.
I’m still working and making a decent pay. I’m also 71 so I collect social security and so does my husband. Regarding budget, LOL, I like how you budget. I’ve tried so many times to write out a paper budget and I never can figure it out. We are just trying to save my entire pay and live on social security. After all, one day we will be there so I figure I better buckle down now. It’s been easy to say – I make a decent pay, we can just go out to eat.
So, it’s been a week since I’ve been watching you. My husband had a medical procedure yesterday and while he was having the procedure done, I went to the hospital cafeteria and bought lunch. It wasn’t that expensive, just $6.99 – BUT it was cold. I could have made myself a cold cut sandwich for free and bought fruit. Anyways.. one week of NOT eating out and all I spent at the grocery store this week was $49.00.
Thanks for having a YouTube Channel.
God bless you and your family
Donna I hope your husband is doing ok. What a nice comment from you and it sounds like you guys are really on a roll. Sometimes when I read a comment I can tell when things have just clicked and fallen into place for someone and they really start working hard at controlling their money and it sounds like you guys are doing so good at it. Way to go. I am with you on writing a budget and they really never seem to work for most people. The secret is more just controlling your money in different ways like you are doing. Thanks again for the great comment and letting us know. Jill
I’m so glad I “reconnected” with you guys. I really enjoy all the down to earth suggestions, my husband is LOVING the recipes I’ve been using, and it’s like icing on the cake that you believe in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as we do. Thank you for all you are doing , what a ministry you have!
Thank you so much Roxanne for taking the time to touch base with us and we are so glad to have you back. Even better that hubby is enjoying his food. LOL You know the old saying “the way to a man’s heart.” : ) : ) I was sitting here this morning wishing I could some how make it known to our viewers who love the Lord, how much you guys and your prayers mean to us. I don’t want this to sound trite but sometimes your prayers and words of encouragement are the things that keep us going and able to hang in there. We will never be able to truly thank you enough until we get to Heaven and get to see each other. The rewards you guys will get in Heaven because of your prayers and encouraging words will be so many. Oh dear there I go rambling on but thank you so much again Roxanne.
I just started watching your show and am so glad to now know that you are also Christ followers! praise God for brining your show to my attention. I really appreciate your tips and now this list of books and shows; several years ago now, God put it on my heart to cancel cable and stop watching tv. I do watch Foyle’s War (an older BBC series), Band of Brothers and Downton Abbey quite regularly. Have you watched those shows?
I have an autoimmune disorder called Hashimoto’s and it has caused a lot of food sensitivities (gluten, grain, dairy, corn, beans, soy, food additives, tomatoes, caffeine & a few others) so I’m very limited on what I can eat and am nervous about what to do when there is a disaster, etc. After watching some of your shows, I did stock up on sardines, canned salmon and tuna; also I take a lot of minerals and supplements which help keep the Hashimoto’s symptons from getting really bad, so I have started purchasing 2 bottles of a supplement/mineral/herb, rather than buying only one bottle once I use one up… And, now that you have helped get my thoughts geared toward stockpiling, I am going to continue working on this project. I mostly eat local and organic fruit, veggies and meat from our local farmers and ranchers (I live on the Central Coast of Calif) so have started to freeze some of these items. Also need to purchase a generator.
Thank you for all of your service and effort that you’ve put into your work. It’s encouraging that you are giving out bibles and to be a part of your community. Just lifted you up in prayer. Here’s a verse for you: Isaiah 41:10. May the Lord bless you and keep you and make His countenance shine upon you.
Thank you Lorelei for your encouraging words. We do so appreciate our viewers I always say that you all will never know fully until we get to Heaven how much your encouraging words and your prayers mean to us. Thanks again.
r I am Catholic And though, i do enjoy your tips . THE CHOSEN, IS very good viewing.
If I may, some other amazing preachers: Paul washer, John macarthur, voddie baucham, and Steve lawson are strong biblical teachers. For women: Susan heck, Martha peace, and Nancy guthrie are great.
For fiction: elizabeth prentiss’ books really have encouraged me as a Christian.
I really like watching your family on YouTube :)
Thank you Elaine. I have watched some of those preachers but have not read any elizabeth prentiss books so will have to try them
Read Prentiss’ “Stepping Heavenward,” Jill! :) It’s really is a wonderful story about living the life as a godly Christian woman in the midst of suffering (real and imagined).
Also, Elisabeth Elliot is one of my favorite Christian women as well. I’m sure y’all know her and appreciate her.
Thank you Sarah. Yes I do like Elisabeth Elliot.
Thank you, just received my bible… goin to start with reading it when I need to & daily. God bless you all 💖
Oh my gosh! I agree with every last one of your recommendations here and thank you so much. I don’t feel so alone when I read your articles. I shared that I am recovering from cancer and it’s only been a month since my last treatment but it seems like years. This place is going to see me through! I love my DOAD cookbook I bought in the ‘90’s and I’ve always loved your channel on YouTube but reading this article made me feel like I’m part of a real family of believers. I haven’t been anywhere except to a doctor in a long time. Love you all so much! And the NLT is the Bible I devoured as a new Christian it’s all marked up and underlined. When my ex husband left me and the 5 kids I slept with it. Just being able to touch it at night comforted me. God bless you all! And thanks for everything!
I’ve slept with my bible too before. It made me feel less alone. I hope you are doing better.
Do you have a article or video of your trip to Europe? I’d love to read about it and see the places you went! Thanks
here are a couple of videos Tacy
href=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKGGDJNqdLY&ab_channel=LivingOnADimeToGrowRich
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8nhBFQhlq4&ab_channel=LivingOnADimeToGrowRich
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeUgQLbjr9c&ab_channel=LivingOnADimeToGrowRich
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8nhBFQhlq4&list=RDCMUCRa5x3hEOmufj1P1jafv-Cw&index=1&ab_channel=LivingOnADimeToGrowRich
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsZP-YP6Bnw&t=35s&ab_channel=LivingOnADimeToGrowRich
Karen Kingsbury is a really good christian author. :)
Thank you for all you do. Your videos are inspirational and educational. Right up my alley. I’m a Christian but consider myself a beginner ” elementary level” with no formal education so when you apply the bible teaching with life teaching that is a win win for me. Thanks again.
You are welcome Debbie. We love to hear from you guys and about your faith. If ever you have a question holler. We don’t have all the answers but maybe we can help.
I would recommend starting with Mark first since it is shorter, to the point and the easiest to read out of all the Gospel accounts whereas John can be difficult to read esp. for new Christians or seekers with all the context needed from the Old testament. Also, its good to read Luke then Acts because Acts is a basically a continuation of the account of Luke. Just a thought :) John is great with so much depth. Awesome that you guys give out free bibles.
Take care!
I agree with starting with John, as it emphasizes the deity of Christ best. I started with Matthew, myself, though, and a KJV bible and audio bible played every night, which actually helped me memorize quite a bit of Jesus and Paul’s verses.
If any of you are like me and can’t always make it to local church due to health, or know anyone who has recently got out of the hospital, off of drugs or otherwise just needs to study and pray with others via Zoom or FB, I highly recommend a ministry to you that we recently discovered called Overcome Church. Been getting together every weeknight with them. Thanks for all you do Tawra, Jill and family. I recommend y’all to everyone I meet.