8 Books Every Christian Should Read

The other day I was running an errand at the bank, and as I waited for the lady at the counter a thought randomly came to mind: I really love coffee and books. I could almost hear Julia Andrews beginning to sing: “…these are a few of my favorite things.” ( I grew up with The Sound of Music.

Anyway…yes, I love to read. 

Last year I came across 8 books that impacted me in various ways. These 8 I would hope to see in the hands…and before the eyes of every fellow believer. Let me quickly give you each title, a summary, and why I recommend it…we will save best for last.

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8) How Should We Then Live? by Francis Schaeffer (p.275)

I mention this one first, because I have already talked about it in previous posts, yet it still needs to be on this list.

Schaeffer takes the reader on an odyssey from the days and decline of Rome all the way to the twentieth century. He does this in survey fashion, giving you the big picture. In this he helps us see the patterns of history: kingdoms rise; kingdoms fall. And although it may seem like a kill joy, he powerfully demonstrates how Western Civilization in both the eastern and western hemisphere is declining. He gives Rome as a template, then shows the same sequence of events in Europe and America.

The pay off for reading this book is that it helps you understand the days in which you are living. It leads us to think and consider the circumstances we live in, in light of the bigger picture of history. Many people over the past 50 years have benefited greatly from this survey of Western Civilization.

7) The True Bounds of Christian Freedom by Samuel Bolton (p.200)

I was directed to this small book by an acquaintance who knew I was preparing to preach the Ten Commandments. This Puritan work has become a foundation stone for how many protestants understand the Christian’s relationship to the Law of God. This is an area that we can always be sharpening as well as appreciating. God’s gracious gift of the Ten Commandments to his people is a keystone part of the scriptures. We who live in the time of the New Testament need to know how we relate to it. Bolton often helped me say with King David, “I love Your law.”

I confess this read is a little challenging due to the older grammar of this Puritan, but it is very much worth it.

6) Blessed by Nancy Guthrie (p.240) — Revelation 

Earlier this year Hannah and I read this devotional on Revelation.

This book walks through Revelation with special attention given to the various blessing promised in the last book of the Bible. It is practical and informative. It could really be categorized as a Christian living book. However, while it is not a commentary, Guthrie quotes from leading scholars of our day. This book is a must have for any believer who desires to both sharpen their understanding as well as their appreciation of that glorious book (Also see her Podcast “Blessed” by which she talks through the content of this book in interview format).

5) The Things of Earth by Joe Rigney (p.220)

I confess that I did not read this one, but listened to it on my runs last summer. 

Rigney helps us see that the truth from scripture that we can enjoy God by enjoying his gifts. He is very practical. He talks about common scenarios to exemplify what it looks like to enjoy God in the everyday family meal, business meeting, pizza in the park, picnic on a hike, enjoying art on canvas or screen…and so much more.

This book shines light on where joy may be found all around us in “The Things of Earth.” Rigney does this in a manner so engaging that I WANTED to get up before dawn to go run so that I could listen to another chapter.

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4) The Dawning of Redemption by Ian J. Vaillancourt (p.190) — Genesis-Deuteronomy 

Vaillancourt does an amazing job of walking you from Genesis to Deuteronomy showing how these five books comprise one epic narrative. If the first five books of the Bible seem foreign or boring, offensive or irrelevant, I encourage you to pick up his book. It truly is the best introductory book I have ever read on the Torah/Pentateuch.

If you are doing a Bible reading plan this year in which you started Genesis this month, this book would make a fantastic reading companion. As a pastor I felt very informed by it as I preach on the Ten Commandments, yet felt that I could recommend it to members from my church because it was so very accessible. It is much like Guthrie’s book on Revelation: devotional and informative.

3) Sex, Race, and the Sovereignty of God by John Piper (p. 135) — Ruth

This book based on the story of Ruth reads itself. Piper helps the reader see how God’s purposes are fleshed out in even the most difficult of times. He is immensely practical. He not only helps us see how the book of Ruth informs our belief, but also our faithfulness. The brief chapters of this book help us see how the people of God are to live.

My greatest motive in recommending this book is again inline with “Blessed” and “The Dawning of Redemption”…they are informative and practical writings directly tied to the Bible. If the book of Ruth is a personal favorite you will not want to miss this gem.

2) Who Am I? by Jerry Bridges (p.90)

Its all in the title. In this book Pastor Jerry Bridges helps the Christian understand the difference between identity and calling. He uses Romans 1:1 as the template to distinguish these things. He notes how Paul is first a “servant of Christ”, then “called to be an apostle”, and finally “set apart for the gospel of God.” From this, Bridges pursues the much needed work of our day in helping God’s children understand their God given identity. Whats more is how we learn that our identity is not tied to what we do, but what Jesus has done for us to bring us into God’s family.

1) Radically Whole by David Gibson (p. 170) — Epistle of James

Now the one that takes the cake. Radically Whole is yet another Christian living book based upon a book of the Bible. In this Gibson walks the reader through James. This is the book that I truly wish I could put into the hands of every brother and sister in Christ in my life. I read and reread portions of this book. As noted with the books above that are based directly upon books of the Bible, this one also informs and edifies. However, Gibson does not hold back. He holds many mirrors up at many angles helping us see our brokenness and need for God’s redemptive work to make us “Radically Whole.” Don’t miss this gem.

Closing

I hope you will pick one of these books that have so blessed me and add it to your reading for this year. You will not be disappointed.