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Recommended Books for New Believers.

Mikey

Mikey

Active Member
Imagine that you are able to give 10 books for free to a new believer, what books would you chose?

For the sake of the thread assume that the believer has a bible and is of average intelligence/ability.


My choices:

1) Basic Christianity - John Stott
2) Enjoying God - Tim Chester
3) God's Plan For Salvation(GPS) - Allan Chapple
4) God's Big Picture - Vaughan Roberts
5) True Spirituality - Vaughan Roberts
6) Sola Scriptura - James White
7) The Radical Disciple - John Stott
8) Rooted(History of the Church) - Edwards Rhodes
9) Holiness - J.C. Ryle
10) Essential Truths of the Christian Faith - R.C. Sproul

My thinking is to have books covering a wide range of topics; Church History, Doctrine, Holy Living, Biblical Theology.
 
KenH

KenH

Well-Known Member
1. The Sovereignty of God by Arthur W. Pink
2. The Death of Death in the Death of Christ by John Owen
3. Rightly Dividing the Word by Bill Parker
4. To My Friends: Strait Talk About Eternity by Randy Wages
5. What is Salvation by Bill Parker
6. Unabridged Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible
7. With New Testament Eyes: Genesis to Job by Henry T. Mahan
8. With New Testament Eyes: Psalms to Malachi by Henry T. Mahan
9. The Poor Man's Morning and Evening Portions by Robert Hawker
10. Through Baca's Vale by J.C. Philpot
 
37818

37818

Well-Known Member
In general I would recommend books by Ron Rhoades. (I am not pre-trib, he is. So there are some teachings I might not agree on.)
 
Mikey

Mikey

Active Member
KenH said:
1. The Sovereignty of God by Arthur W. Pink
2. The Death of Death in the Death of Christ by John Owen
3. Rightly Dividing the Word by Bill Parker
4. To My Friends: Strait Talk About Eternity by Randy Wages
5. What is Salvation by Bill Parker
6. Unabridged Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible
7. With New Testament Eyes: Genesis to Job by Henry T. Mahan
8. With New Testament Eyes: Psalms to Malachi by Henry T. Mahan
9. The Poor Man's Morning and Evening Portions by Robert Hawker
10. Through Baca's Vale by J.C. Philpot
Click to expand...

Interesting, I only recognise a few of those. I'll checkchout the others. I was also thinking of adding a commentary.
 
R

RipponRedeaux

Well-Known Member
KenH said:
4. To My Friends: Strait Talk About Eternity by Randy Wages
Click to expand...
The above is the only book/author I haven't heard of before. The rest of your recommendations are excellent, with some qualifications. Generally (there will be an exception in my list) the books should be slim. Remember, we're speaking of a new believer.
Instead of The Sovereignty Of God, which I highly value, I would suggest another book by A.W. Pink --The Attributes Of God. It's 92 pages.
Instead of The Death Of Death In The Death Of Christ, I would suggest Life By His Death which is an abridged version of the John Owen classic. It was prepared by H. J. Appleby. It is 87 pages. Or the booklet by J.I. Packer which was the introductory essay by Packer published by Banner Of Truth.
The Pundit's Folly by Sinclair B. Ferguson. It's 88 pages.
The Milk Of The Word by Peter Barnes. It's 79 pages.
The Golden Book Of The Christian Life by John Calvin. It's 96 pages.
The Plight Of Man And The Power Of God by Dr. M-L-J. 94 pages.
The Thought Of God by Maurice Roberts. 230 pages.
The Wonder Of Grace by Herman Hoeksema. 127 pages.
John Calvin's Institutes Of The Christian Religion edited by Tony Lane and Hilary Osborne. It's an abridgement of course at merely 271 pages. Even though Lane studied under T.H.L. Parker, he and Hilary based their work on Henry Beveridge's edition of The Institutes.
All right. The big exception to my rule is Basic Bible Doctrine by Donald S. Fortner (1950-2020)The text clocks in at 626 pages.

Above all, the new believer who comes from an unchurched background should probably get an NLT Bible.
 
M

Marooncat79

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Gonna go under $100 here. Just for fun

1. Everyone’s a Theologian RC Sproul $13
2. Galatians Founders. $7.50
3. Ephesians Founders. $7.50
4. Psalms Stev Lawson $20 used both Vols
5. The Collapse of Evolution Scott Huse. $15
6. Illustrated Guide to Bible History Ken Easley. $12 used on Abe
7. Law and Gospel Ernie Reisinger. $13
8. Whatever Happened to Hell $5
9. The Gospel According to Jesus J MacArthur $5
10. Romans RC Sproul $10
11. Who is the Holy Spirit $5
12. Acts Founders $7.50

bonus booklets
1. Preaching for Gods Glory. A Begg $5
2. The Centrality of Preaching A Mohler $5
3. Reading the Bible and Praying in Public Stuart Olyott $5
4. Prayer Derek Prime $8


Super deduper bonus
What do the Parables Mean? RC Sproul. $8
 
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A

AustinC

Well-Known Member
A new believer?

They need to immerse themselves in the Bible. Read it from cover to cover a couple times before going to any other source.

Galatians 1:11-18
For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days.
 
kathleenmariekg

kathleenmariekg

Active Member
Mostly reference books. These would depend on the Bible translation and academic background of the individual.

Probably a dramatized audio BIble and some type of reading plan to guide the person to READ the BIBLE.

Probably some type of timeline, again chosen according to the specifics of this person. I don't think we know dates for facts, but I think reading the Bible with a consistent time reference aids a person to READ the BIBLE.
 
Deacon

Deacon

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
1. Pilgrims progress, Bunyan (novel, Christian lifestyle, dealing with trials)

2. The Lion, the witch and the wardrobe, Lewis (novel, basic christology)

3. Purpose driven life, warren (life style)

4. Navigators Bible study (John) (beginning bible study)

5. How to study the Bible for all its worth, fee (learning to study the Bible)

6. None greater, Barrett (character of God, systematic theology)

7. Eternity in their Hearts, Robertson (missions, evangelism)

8. Calvin’s Institute’s (just kidding)

Rob
 
M

Marooncat79

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
AustinC said:
A new believer?

They need to immerse themselves in the Bible. Read it from cover to cover a couple times before going to any other source.

Galatians 1:11-18
For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days.
Click to expand...


As I tell everyone, when you read the OT 3 times and the NT 5 times, you are ready to start learning the WOG
 
B

Bassoonery

Active Member
Lots of good suggestions here. I haven't seen a missionary biography yet. Loads of classics to choose from but there are some great recent additions to the genre too that might be more engaging for new believers. I recently read 'Utterly Amazed' by OMF missionary to Japan, Miriam Davis, published 2021.

Some further ideas:
1. Know the Truth, Bruce Milne
2. Poems of George Herbert
3. The Balanced Christian Life, Watchman Nee (easier to read than the Normal Christian Life)
4. Morning and Evening, Spurgeon
 
Mikey

Mikey

Active Member
Bassoonery said:
Lots of good suggestions here. I haven't seen a missionary biography yet. Loads of classics to choose from but there are some great recent additions to the genre too that might be more engaging for new believers. I recently read 'Utterly Amazed' by OMF missionary to Japan, Miriam Davis, published 2021.

Some further ideas:
1. Know the Truth, Bruce Milne
2. Poems of George Herbert
3. The Balanced Christian Life, Watchman Nee (easier to read than the Normal Christian Life)
4. Morning and Evening, Spurgeon
Click to expand...

Good point. A Christian biography would be be a great choice, showing how how God uses us for for others and the hardships that a christian life has.
 
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