A Shameless Plug for the Church Library
At the Awana kick off meeting we played a game called would you rather. It is an ice breaker game that gives you two scenarios, and you must pick the scenario you would rather be true. One of the questions was would you rather watch a movie or read a book. I picked watch a movie! Reading has never been my choice of a leisurely activity, so I force myself to do it. You may feel the same way as me. You may hate reading! I would encourage you to discipline yourself to do it. First start with the Bible and make that a priority. If the Bible is priority, then I would encourage you to pick up a good book. I have been blessed by books. I have gleaned wisdom and insight from the books which have helped me better understand scripture and strengthened my faith. This post is simply some of the most impactful books I have read in full of in part. There are many great books out there that I have not read so this is not an exhaustive list of all the good books. I am writing this to help you pick a good book and let you know we have some of these books in our church library.
Bold =Some of my favorites over the last few years
* = Found in the church library
Biographies
Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxes
John Newton: From Disgrace to Amazing Grace by Jonathan Aitken
Night by Elie Wiesel
To the Golden Shore: The Life of Adoniram Judson by Courtney Anderson
Christian Living
*Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God by Francis Chan
*Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper
Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers by Dane Ortlund
Habits of Grace: Enjoying Jesus through Spiritual; Disciplines by David Mathis
Just do Something: A Liberating Approach to Finding God’s Will by Kevin DeYoung
Life Together by Dietrich BonHoeffer
Notes From the Tilt-A-Whirl by N.D. Wilson
The Gospel Comes with a House Key by Rosaria Butterfield
The Things of Earth: Treasuring God by Enjoying His Gifts by Joe Rigney
*The Truth War by John MacAruthur
You are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit by James K.A. Smith
Counseling
A Theology of Biblical Counseling: The Doctrinal Foundations of Counseling Ministry by Heath Lambert
Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament by Mark Vroegop
Deeo Discipleship by J.T English
Diehard Sins: How to fight Wisely against Destructive Daily Habits by Rush Witt
How Does Sanctification Work? By David Powlison
How People Change by Paul Tripp and Timothy Lane
*Instruments in the Redeemers Hands by Paul Tripp
*Pursuing Peace by Robert Jones
Unpacking Forgiveness by Chris Braun
Walking with God in Pain and Suffering by Timothy Keller
*When People are Big and God is Small by Ed Welch
Doctrine
Delighting in the Trinity by Michael Reeves
Future Grace: The Purifying Power of the Promises of God by John Piper
Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin
Kingdom through Covenant by Peter Gentry and Stephen Wellum
Knowing God by J.I. Packer
The Doctrine of God by John Frame
The Knowledge of the Holy by A.W. Towzer
Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine by Wayne Grudem
The Gospel
*God is the Gospel by John Piper
Gospel Fluency: Speaking the Truths of Jesus into the Everyday Stuff of life by Jeff Vanderstelt
The Gospel for Real Life by Jerry Bridges
What is the Gospel? by Greg Gilbert
Marriage
A guide to Biblical Manhood by Randy Stinson and Dan Dumas
The Exemplary Husband by Stuart Scott
The Meaning of Marriage by Timothy and Kathy Keller
Sweethearts for a Lifetime by Wayne and Carol Mack
What did you Expect? by Paul Tripp
Sexuality
Finally Free: Fighting for Purity with the Power of Grace by Heath Lambert
Is God anti-Gay by Sam Allberry
What does the Bible say about Homosexuality? By Kevin DeYoung
Fiction
Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan
Pontius Pilate: A Novel by Paul Maier
*The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis