What non-fiction books on Christianity would you recommend to your congregation?

[annsni]

I'm going to be posting on our church's Facebook page and putting in the bulletin a challenge for our congregation to not just read beach lit this summer but to try to read some of the great Christian non-fiction books out there to increase their learning and understanding of our faith. Of course the Bible is a given and we will encourage personal study as well but what books would you put on a list of maybe not "must reads" but "I really think this is a worthwhile book" list? A few of mine:

The Holiness of God by R.C. Sproul
Pilgrim's Progress
Heaven by Randy Alcorn
Where is God When It Hurts by Philip Yancy
The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer
Finding Truth by Nancy Pearsy (just read this - VERY good)

So hit me up with what you would love your congregation to read this summer!

 

[wpe3bql]

As always, another great post from our beloved Hermana Annsi.

:thumbs:

 

[just-want-peace]

WHAT'S SO AMAZING ABOUT GRACE; Phillip Yancy

 

[preachinjesus]

If one wishes a comprehensive overview...let's all go and get Karl Barth's Church Dogmatics (the whole set) and start on page one....

but since most people wish to enjoy life, these are generally my recommendations:

- JI Packer Knowing God
- John Stott Basic Christianity
- Justo Gonzalez The Story of Christianity
- Tim Keller The Reason for God
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer The Cost of Discipleship

That usually gets the blood flowing to the brain...which is helpful.

 

[Deacon]

Finding Truth by Nancy Pearsy (just read this - VERY good)

annsni, I was looking at that a few days ago - I'll definitely put it on my list now!

I'll add a new one:

Seven Arrows: Aiming Bible Readers in the Right Direction by Matt Rogers

...and an old one:

The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis (not exactly non-fiction though :-Q)


Rob

 

[JonC]

No One Like Him by John Feinberg
The Green Letters by Miles Stanford
The Pursuit of God by Tozer
Christless Christianity by Michael Horton
Joe DiMaggio: The Hero's Life by Richard Cramer ......... (all work and no play...)

 

[Rippon]

God's Way, Not Ours by Dr. D-M-L-J (158 pages)
The Golden Booklet Of The Christian Life by John Calvin (96 pages)
Profiting From The Word by A.W. Pink (60 pages)
Our Sovereign Saviour by Roger Nicole (184 pages)
Basic Bible Doctrine by Donald S. Fortner (626 pages exclusive of the index)

 

[Jerome]

You can't go wrong with Crossway's This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness.

 

[Crabtownboy]

You said fiction, so here is three suggestions:

The Chronicles of Narnia
Ben Hur
The Screwtape Letters

A great non-fiction book for everyone is:

The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life

 

[wpe3bql]

Joe DiMaggio: The Hero's Life by Richard Cramer ......... (all work and no play...)

Just curious, but did Joe ever receive Christ as his Savior?

(None of my admittedly not-always-"reliable" sources say anything [yea or nay] about this.)

 

[annsni]

You said fiction, so here is three suggestions:

The Chronicles of Narnia
Ben Hur
The Screwtape Letters

A great non-fiction book for everyone is:

The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life

Great books but I did say "non-fiction". I know so many people read novels and stuff during the summer but wanted to get them reading some good theology books to challenge them. I'm going to ask that they pick at least just one. Right now I'm reading Counseling the Hard Cases which is really good and I'm not sure what I will read next because I have SO many on my Kindle that are excellent!!

 

[Crabtownboy]

Great books but I did say "non-fiction". I know so many people read novels and stuff during the summer but wanted to get them reading some good theology books to challenge them. I'm going to ask that they pick at least just one. Right now I'm reading Counseling the Hard Cases which is really good and I'm not sure what I will read next because I have SO many on my Kindle that are excellent!!

Ah, sorry ... non-fiction.

OK

A Shepherd Looks at the 23rd Psalm
The Company of the Committed
The New Man for Our Times
The Case for Christianity
The Great Divorce
Living the Sermon on the Mount
Sanctuary of the Soul
Christianity for the Rest of Us

 

[annsni]

Awesome everyone!! Some of the books I've never heard of and now have on my "look for" list.

Keep-em coming!! I'm thinking of posting this next Monday.

 

[Deacon]

Wow annsni Finding Truth by Nancy Pearsy was a winner!
I started it yesterday and couldn't put it down.

I'll recommend it to my pastor and elders who resonate its message in their leadership of the church.

I've enjoyed her writing in the past - so readable but well thought out.

Antidotes, teaching and application flow from each section; Pearsy is an excellent communicator.

Rob

 

[annsni]

Wow annsni Finding Truth by Nancy Pearsy was a winner!
I started it yesterday and couldn't put it down.

I'll recommend it to my pastor and elders who resonate its message in their leadership of the church.

I've enjoyed her writing in the past - so readable but well thought out.

Antidotes, teaching and application flow from each section; Pearsy is an excellent communicator.

Rob

Glad you liked it!! I found it a little "heady" and I definitely had to pay attention when I read it but it was excellent and had some great arguments against some of the other belief systems out there!! Man, I'd love to have lunch with Nancy and an atheist and see how the conversation goes!

 

[Marooncat79]

I would start with

Bitesize Theology
52 Words Every Christian should Know K Easley
Public Prayer and the Reading of Scripture
Luther teaches his Barber to Pray
The Gospel According to Jesus. J MacArthur
The Collapse of Evolution S Huse
The Psalms W Scroggie
The 1689 2nd London Baptist Confession

 

[Marooncat79]

I would also add

Coming to Faith in Christ by John Benton
Ultimate Questions by John Blanchard

They explain the Gospel very simply and are great evangelistic tools and cost less than $3./each

 

[Marooncat79]

After some thought, I would then go with

The Church by Ed Clowney
9Marks of a Healthy Church by Mark Dever
The Holy Spirit by Sinclair Ferguson
Prayer by JC Ryle
Baptism of Disciples Alone by Fred Malone
Biblical Deacons by Alexander Strauch
The Parables by Simon Kistemaker

 

[Jerome]

Great books but I did say "non-fiction".

...but put Pilgrim's Progress in your list.

 

[annsni]

...but put Pilgrim's Progress in your list.

I know. I was wondering if anyone would see that. LOL