Your best three books (other than the Bible)

[evangelist6589]

What three books (other than the Bible) have most influenced you and why?

Mine

The Truth War--John MacArthur.

Radical--David Platt.

Until Christ Returns Dr. David Jeremiah.

Truth War is all about fighting for the truth and defending it against the false teachers like Bill Johnson, Osteen, and may others. Its all about standing for Christ in the day we live in and fighting against PostModernism which has GREATLY impacted the church. Many these days want to hide behind their church walls, hide in their small groups, and never engage in spiritual warfare on the streets of their cities or in their lives. They are afraid to engage the false teachers and help the innocent. When one takes this kind of a stand Satan will be on him, and both unbelievers and Christians will engage in the criticism of the truth loving believer.

Radical is all about living for Christ and the book emphasizes his lordship and describes that true believers, or better yet obedient believers will subscribe to the Lordship of Christ.

Until Christ Returns is also very applicable but it nails prophecy on the head, a subject Ron Rhodes writes much on. The book is good because its very application based from the Olivet Discourse.

 

[Deacon]

Books that have most influenced me recently:

The Bible Made Impossible;:Why Biblicism is Not a Truly Evangelical Reading of Scripture nonfiction theology by Christian Smith (2012)

This book has changed how I approach scripture and softened my understanding of theology. A truly mind-bending re-examination of what conservative biblical interpretation means.
​

Atlas Shrugged a novel by Ayn Rand (1957)

One of my goals for the year was to read this book. An amazingly accurate prediction of how liberal political policy has shaped our destiny. Reaffirms my tendency to bend towards libertarianism.
​

The Complete Calvin and Hobbes graphic art by Bill Watterson (2005)

What a genius that Calvin is. What a friend Hobbes is.
Imagination makes life worth living.
What a joy to read this collection!
​

Rob

 

[Scarlett O.]

"The Call of the Wild" - It introduced me years and years to ago to classic literature. I read it almost every year to my students as a book that hopefully will do that for them. I practically have it memorized. Honorable mention here would be the original and unabridged "Tarzan".

"Bloom County Babylon: Five Years of Basic Naughtiness" (not a naughty book) - A wealth of comedy genius.

"Breaking Free" and "When Godly People Do Ungodly Things" by Beth Moore. If you need freedom from bondage and need a push in the right direction - these two books are laden with scripture, testimonies, and biblical insight like I've never seen. Both of these books opened my eyes lies/shame/oppression that Christians believe and live with. Both books changed me.

"Mere Christianity" - C.S. Lewis just solidifies things so succinctly to me.

 

[Scarlett O.]

The Bible Made Impossible;:Why Biblicism is Not a Truly Evangelical Reading of Scripture nonfiction theology by Christian Smith (2012)

This book has changed how I approach scripture and softened my understanding of theology. A truly mind-bending re-examination of what conservative biblical interpretation means.​

This description makes me want to read this book.

​

The Complete Calvin and Hobbes graphic art by Bill Watterson (2005)

What a genius that Calvin is. What a friend Hobbes is.
Imagination makes life worth living.
What a joy to read this collection!​

It's my favorite. I enlarged and water color-painted five of his "math struggles" and have them hanging in my classroom.

 

[Yeshua1]

What three books (other than the Bible) have most influenced you and why?

Mine

The Truth War--John MacArthur.

Radical--David Platt.

Until Christ Returns Dr. David Jeremiah.

Truth War is all about fighting for the truth and defending it against the false teachers like Bill Johnson, Osteen, and may others. Its all about standing for Christ in the day we live in and fighting against PostModernism which has GREATLY impacted the church. Many these days want to hide behind their church walls, hide in their small groups, and never engage in spiritual warfare on the streets of their cities or in their lives. They are afraid to engage the false teachers and help the innocent. When one takes this kind of a stand Satan will be on him, and both unbelievers and Christians will engage in the criticism of the truth loving believer.

Radical is all about living for Christ and the book emphasizes his lordship and describes that true believers, or better yet obedient believers will subscribe to the Lordship of Christ.

Until Christ Returns is also very applicable but it nails prophecy on the head, a subject Ron Rhodes writes much on. The book is good because its very application based from the Olivet Discourse.

Mere Christianity
Knowing God
Institutes of the Christian religion

 

[evangelist6589]

Mere Christianity

Knowing God

Institutes of the Christian religion

Good picks

 

[evangelist6589]

Books that have most influenced me recently:

The Bible Made Impossible;:Why Biblicism is Not a Truly Evangelical Reading of Scripture nonfiction theology by Christian Smith (2012)

This book has changed how I approach scripture and softened my understanding of theology. A truly mind-bending re-examination of what conservative biblical interpretation means.
​

Atlas Shrugged a novel by Ayn Rand (1957)

One of my goals for the year was to read this book. An amazingly accurate prediction of how liberal political policy has shaped our destiny. Reaffirms my tendency to bend towards libertarianism.
​

The Complete Calvin and Hobbes graphic art by Bill Watterson (2005)

What a genius that Calvin is. What a friend Hobbes is.
Imagination makes life worth living.
What a joy to read this collection!
​

Rob

That book on the Bible what does it say? Is it advocating liberal theology in sock of a Christian book? I don't know but felt uneasy with the amazon description.

 

[RLBosley]

These two for sure:

Radical by David Platt

New Covenant Theology by Tom Wells and Fred Zaspel

 

[RLBosley]

There is a toss up for third place so I'm going to have to list two more:

The Law of Christ by Charles Leiter


A Theology of the New Testament by George Ladd

(I'm not sure what was going on but I had to split up my post, I kept getting an error message when it was all together. )

 

[preacher4truth]

The Pilgrim's Progress - John Bunyan

Knowing God - J. I. Packer

The Religious Affections - Jonathan Edwards

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

Robinson Crusoe - lessons on salvation and contentment

Uncle Tom's Cabin - being faithful to God no matter what the circumstances

Les Miserable - law and grace

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

These two for sure:

Radical by David Platt

New Covenant Theology by Tom Wells and Fred Zaspel

Haven't seen Fred Zaspels name in years. Is this the same Dr Zaspel that preached in the South in the 70s?

 

[RLBosley]

Haven't seen Fred Zaspels name in years. Is this the same Dr Zaspel that preached in the South in the 70s?

Not sure. This is the Zaspel that wrote NCT:

Fred Zaspel has been pastoring at RBC since July 2008. A second-generation pastor, he holds a Ph.D. from the Free University of Amsterdam, and is a graduate of Bob Jones University (B.A., M.A.) and Biblical Theological Seminary (M.A., Th.M.). He is the author of The Theology of B.B. Warfield: A Systematic Summary, from Crossway books, and author of numerous other articles and booklets and is co-author with Tom Wells of New Covenant Theology. He and his wife Kim have two grown children. His favorite recreational activities include motorcycling and boating with his family. He also has a very nice Taylor guitar that, judged by his playing abilities, he really does not deserve.
http://www.rbcfranconia.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=65&Itemid=60

 

[evangelist6589]

There is a toss up for third place so I'm going to have to list two more:

The Law of Christ by Charles Leiter


A Theology of the New Testament by George Ladd

(I'm not sure what was going on but I had to split up my post, I kept getting an error message when it was all together. )

I do not agree with Ladd but at least he is biblical. However Leiter I hear is a good author. Washer has endorsed him.

 

[evangelist6589]

The Pilgrim's Progress - John Bunyan

Knowing God - J. I. Packer

The Religious Affections - Jonathan Edwards

Very very good. Deeper reads than mine no doubt.

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

Gotta be a son. Name is too unique.

 

[evangelist6589]

Robinson Crusoe - lessons on salvation and contentment

Uncle Tom's Cabin - being faithful to God no matter what the circumstances

Les Miserable - law and grace

Robinson Crusoe is a christian book? I have heard of Uncle Tom's Cabin but I was not aware of it being christian or is it? Les Miserable with Liam Neeson?

 

[asterisktom]

Haven't seen Fred Zaspels name in years. Is this the same Dr Zaspel that preached in the South in the 70s?

I think you are referring to Fred's father, James (I believe that was his name). In the late 70s/early 80s Fred was a fellow student with me at BJU. We went out together on extension ministries. If memory serves David Jeremiah was also on this same extension. Interestingly, two very different theological perspectives - three, counting mine - possibly on the same ministry.

FWIW

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

Small world. I am pretty sure he pastored the church in Huntsville that later became my home and sending church.

 

[asterisktom]

What three books (other than the Bible) have most influenced you and why?

Good OP. Hard to choose but maybe I would go with:
1. Today's Gospel: Authentic or Synthetic (Chandry) - the first inkling that the consensus view on Christianity bears closer inspection.
2. Christologia (John Owen) - wonderful, perceptive - and wordy! exposition of the person and mission of Christ. Though I don't agree with all of his views Owen midwifed a lot of meditation on God's attributes and a desire to know God better.
3. Annals (Ussher, edited by Pierce) - the original work as well as the very careful editorial glosses and appendices of Pierce.