Learn More About Calvinism or Reformed Theology from John Calvin Himself
I really have enjoyed reading the books of some of the preachers above and currently, I read more of MacArthur's books as I shifted to a more Reformed view of theology. It does however become really weird if somebody is doing some Calvinistic studies with MacArthur, Washer, Piper, Sproul and Comfort or you might add John Bunyan, Charles H. Spurgeon, John Gill, George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards but have you missed John Calvin's writings to get you more into a deeper understanding of Reformed Theology? It is not enough to know about Calvin's lifelong struggle against Jesuit theology by Ignatius of Loyola but to know more about what Calvin taught when he was pastor of Geneva as part of growing deeper roots into Reformed Theology.
I would understand some pastors do reject some of John Calvin's doctrines and beliefs, they are not considered Calvinists but they do still hold a huge degree of respect for Calvinists. They may acknowledge that many hymns were written by Calvinists and the King James Bible was translated by Calvinist scholars but do not necessarily embrace Calvinism but consider the true convert who is a Calvinist as a brother or sister in Christ. It is a shame when some Calvinistic believers have not yet read "The Institutes of Christian Religion" or any of Calvin's writings while non-Calvinistic believers still get meaningful insights from that book.
What does it mean to be once lost but now found? What does it mean to believe in the doctrine of election? What does it mean to believe in the perseverance of the saints and to defend the reality that true Christians will persevere to the end? While the authors I have just mentioned do have that explanation but have you really read Calvin's writings? Have you even read "The Institutes of Christian Religion" for starters? It is really a question for just anybody who says they are into Reformed Theology.