And to love to read.
Other than the Bible (it’s # 1), what book has helped you love God more? Driven you to a higher level of spiritual growth? Inspired in you a greater passion to serve others?
Here are ten favorite books among a few of the writers at Do Not Depart (in an incredibly informal poll—sorry, no Barna statistics here).
1. Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth
by Richard J. Foster
A gift from her dad, this is the book that sparked Teri Lynne’s interest in spiritual disciplines and the study of Christian classics. It’s one of my all-time favorite books, too, because of its practical approach listing things we can do to grow spiritually, yet its insistence upon a total dependence on God for that spiritual growth.
2. Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist
by John Piper
Heather says this classic Piper book opened her eyes to a different view of God, how He desires good for us, and how our enjoyment of Him brings Him glory. I agree. It taught me through multiple scriptures that the more I love God, the more joy I have.
3. Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God
by Henry and Richard Blackaby, Claude King
First published in 1990, this book has helped people all over the world listen to God more attentively, and respond to His voice more actively. The more we experience Him, the more we learn to trust and love Him. This is one of Kathy’s favorites.
4. Future Grace
by John Piper
Because I can be a worrier about the future, I re-read this book for a second time last year because of its strong urging to trust God not only for grace in the past, but also for grace in the future. I will continue to turn to its truths for practical scriptural advice on how to overcome a variety of sins and trust God’s grace more. God has, is, and will help us—past, present, and future.
5. The Knowledge of the Holy: The Attributes of God and Their Meaning in the Christian Life
by A. W. Tozer
Perhaps you’re familiar with this quote: “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” It’s from this 1978 book from Tozer about characteristics of God, all of which are worthy of our study and our honor. Learning more about God gives us more reasons to love Him. This is another favorite of mine and Kathy’s.
6. The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith
by Timothy Keller
I’ve yet to read this one (it’s on my list), but Sandra says it was a life-changer for her when she realized that the older brother in the story of the prodigal son was just as sinful as the younger brother. As a good-girl, rule-follower, she says this book showed her she was too much like the Pharisees, and like Paul, was “the chief of sinners.” Discover a message of grace here.
7. The Pursuit of Holiness
by Jerry Bridges
After Julie was given this book in high school, she realized for the first time that God’s Word should impact her thought life first, then everything else would flow from that. Realizing that God’s standard of holiness is a goal to be pursued changed the way she runs her race as a believer.
8. The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment
by Jeremiah Burroughs
Being discontent with your life’s circumstances isn’t just a modern-era problem. Burroughs wrote this as a Puritan in the 1600s but its strong message to find contentment in Christ alone is just as relevant today. I first read it two years ago and immediately felt its judgment in my own life (and I thought I was fairly content already!). It’s a challenging read—both in vocabulary and in conviction—but it is well worth the effort.
9. Respectable Sins: Confronting the Sins We Tolerate
by Jerry Bridges
Sandra and Kathy both were impacted by this book that shines light on the more “acceptable” sins (like unthankfulness, lack of self-control, irritability, judgmentalism). Bridges navigates through these to lead you back around to the gospel message of God’s forgiveness and grace.
10. Spectacular Sins: And Their Global Purpose in the Glory of Christ
by John Piper
This book can help you better appreciate and rely on the beauty of God’s sovereignty in all situations, good and “bad.” Seeing His hand at work through various stories in the Old and New Testaments can strengthen your faith that He is still active in the situations of your own life. Sandra and I both picked this one.
It’s hard to stop at just ten!
Please add your favorites in the comments—what books have influenced your faith?
Disclosure: Some links are affiliate links. Do Not Depart will receive a small percentage of your purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Thank you so much for the list! Can’t wait to put these on my “to get” list!
You’re welcome, Jen. I’m excited to read the ones I haven’t read too. I’m quite a bookaholic. :-)
Thank you so much, Lisa for this list! I have just added several of them to my amazon wish list and purchased the kindle edition of “The Rare Jewel Of Christian Contentment”. I sincerely appreciate this!! God bless you, friend!!
It was a fun list to put together (although hard to narrow down!). I have the paperback of “The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment” but I see that the kindle edition is only $0.99 so I think I’ll click over and join you in buying that version too.
I’ve not read any of these except the Tozer one — I think that was the one I read though it might have been The Pursuit of God. But I have heard of several of these and mean to get to them “some day.”
A few that have had major impacts on me are Changed Into His Image by Jim Berg, What Do I Know About My God? by Mardi Collier, and a number of missionary biographies like Amy Carmichael of Dohnavur by Frank Houghton, Hudson Taylor: The Growth of a Soul, Goforth of China and Climbing by Rosalind Goforth, By Searching and In the Arena by Isobel Kuhn.
I’m feeling guilty looking at your list of biographies, realizing my goal of reading one biography a month this year is NOT happening so far. Kinda bad to fall behind before I ever get started. Maybe I should set a new goal of one biography a quarter. :-)
We have been blesses by these wonderful books. Several years ago, I bought “Celebration of Discipline” for my sons for a co-op, Christian literature class they were talking. The parents were asked to follow along, started reading it, bought one for my husband and he refers to it regularly. I have never read “the Rare Jewel”, but just ordered the Kindle edition, I have several of Jerry Bridges books and currently I am in a group on Face Book going through “Respectable Sins”, Just last week I ordered his book “Gospel for Real Life”. I am reading a book called “The Naked Church” Wayne Jacobsen, A few more that challenge our contemporary thinking of what it is to walk with Jesus, “The Normal Christian Life” Watchman Nee. “the Shepherd’s Look at the 23rd Psalm” Keller, “My Heart Christ’s Home” Munger, “The Secret Life of the Soul” Keith Miller, “Living Close to God” Gene Edwards. I am a bibliophile, I love me books, the are my friends and it is hard to part with them. weird, but true. I have over 1,000 books I need to unload, the house is about to collapse. haha by the Way “the Devine Romance” by Gene Edwards is 99cents for Kindle for Prime members. I have a nook.
You’re speaking my language, all these book titles. They just flow out of us when we love books, huh? I finally read my first Jerry Bridges book in 2009 “The Gospel for Real Life”, then last year I read “Trusting God” and was convinced even more that I need to read more of his books (must get to “Respectable Sins” soon!).
Thanks for adding more great titles to the list! It’ll be nice to have this to refer back to.
What a great list! I’ve read some you’ve listed and have a few others on my 2012 reading list.
I’m sure I’ll die with books still on my reading list. So many books, so little time. ;-)
Oh, I love this list! So many of these are books I see and wonder about reading; I might just have to get started on it.
Oh, and for books that helped me love God more – Knowing God by J.I. Packer. I got this one as a gift in college and it opened my eyes so much.
“Knowing God” is a great addition to the list, Amy. Thanks!
Thanks for the list! I always love to have a long wishlist of books and I’ll add a few of these to the list. : )
I like having a long list of books to read too. It’s amazing how many titles I’ve collected–both old and new–from recommendations from others. I love it.
Waking the Dead by John Eldrege
Thanks for adding this one, Sheila!
Thanks for the great recommendations! I can’t wait to check them out. Some books that have influenced my faith are: Harvest by Chuck Smith. Beautiful in God’s Eyes by Elizabeth George (I love all her books!). Success God’s Way by Charles Stanley. Living Water by Chuck Smith. His Word in my Heart by Janet Pope. The Left Behind series (dramatic audiobooks)
I appreciate you sharing these with us, Brooke. And especially for mentioning audiobooks because that’s another great avenue to get more “reading” done when we don’t have time to sit still and do it.
Actually I prefer to listen to audiobook over traditional reading because I can listen while I go about my day. Reading a book forces me to stop and do nothing else but read. Sometimes my “To Do” list is so long that to read a book is to take valueable time away from more pressing activities. My life is so busy, that I never would have had the time to work my way through the entire Left Behind series had they not been on audio book. And the dramatic audio of that series and the NKJV Word of Promise Bible are so amazing well done. It just pulls me into the text and makes me want more.
And you’ve successfully added EVEN MORE books to my to-be-read list, Lisa. Book recommendations might one of my (many) favorite things about you.
Oh, looky there, this post just got bookmarked.
(Thanks everyone who suggested books for this post and in the comments!!)
I just can’t help myself; I have to recommend books. I don’t know what I did before bloggy world. ha. But it’s definitely contributed to adding more books to my own list too. I’d probably have more time to read actual books if I read less reviews? :-)
I’m very thankful God chose the medium of words as one way to reveal his message to us. I’m definitely blessed through his words and through words others write about him.