1.The Bible
I’ve read this book several times and I’m still learning new things and being challenged. There’s nothing worse than those ‘super spiritual’ Christians who don’t even know their Bible. Don’t be one of these. Read your Bible.
2. John Bunyan ‘Pilgrim’s Progress’
You probably already own this book, and have already read it, but I couldn’t leave it off the list. A true classic. Very helpful and relevant.
3. C.H. Spurgeon ‘Morning and Evening’
This is probably one of the best daily devotional books you’re going to get. It’s successfully stood the test of time and continues to be read and enjoyed by countless believers all over the globe. It’s also available for free on Google Play.
4. Graeme Goldsworthy ‘According to Plan’
What is the Bible? How does it all fit together? How do I make sense of the Old Testament? If you’ve ever found yourself asking these kinds of questions, this book is for you! Goldsworthy basically walks you through the covenants of God made throughout scripture and shows you how salvation through Jesus Christ was God’s plan for his people all along.
5. J.I. Packer ‘Knowing God’
Who is this God that we worship? Unfortunately most people picture God as just a larger version of themselves or some angry man in the sky. The real God is anything but. Knowing God is a great outline for anyone wanting to know more about what God is really like: His majesty, His wisdom, His love, His grace, His goodness and severity and his jealousy.
6. John Stott ‘The Cross of Christ’
There is no other object in the universe that is packed with more meaning and significance than the cross of Christ. But what does it mean and why is it so significant? Why is this the greatest gift God gave us? What does it do? In this volume Stott employs his dazzling intellect to bring you the most detailed insight into the centerpiece of Christianity – and the universe.
7. Driscoll and Breshears ‘Doctrine’
Don’t have time to read John Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian religion? Don’t worry. This book is basically a good enough summary. Driscoll and Breshears basically give a good outline of everything that Christians should believe based on what the Bible teaches. (It even has pictures)
8. John Owen ‘Overcoming Sin and Temptation’
This volume is actually three books: Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers, Of Temptation: The Nature and Power of It, and Indwelling Sin. Kapic and Taylor have done a great job putting together this volume, and in modern English too! Although this book is still a difficult read, I would certainly say it’s a mine filled with glittering gold. To dig it out requires hard work, but the rewards are well worth it! A great read for anyone struggling with sin. So basically everyone.
9. D.A. Carson ‘How Long, O Lord?’
If God is so good, why does he allow suffering? If you struggle with under-age attraction, you’ve probably asked yourself this question as well. We suffer, and in a way that few people understand. This book looks at the nature of suffering and looks at the God behind it all.
10. John Foxe ‘The Foxe’s Book of Martyrs’
Persecution seems to be a missing element in modern Christianity. Yet as we sit in safety the net is slowly being dragged around us. This book is the account of those who surrendered their lives for the cause of Christ. They refused to bend the knee to pagans, popes, communists and imams. They were imprisoned, tortured, raped and killed. And now, they reign with Christ in heavenly glory.
So there you have it, my top 10 Christian books. Buy them. Read them. They’re all great. If you want to read even more than this you can check out these honourable mentions that (although brilliant and helpful books) didn’t make the list.
- A.W. Tozer ‘The Knowledge of the Holy’
- A.W. Tozer ‘The Pursuit of God’
- Brother Yun ‘The Heavenly Man’
- Dave Breese ‘7 Men Who Rule the World From the Grave’
- Francis A. Schaeffer ‘How Should We Then Live?’
- Graeme Goldsworthy ‘The Goldsworthy Trilogy’
- Graeme Goldsworthy ‘Gospel-Centered Hermeneutics’
- John Piper ‘The Hidden Smile of God’
- Paul Washer ‘Ten Indictments against the Modern Church’
- Paul Copan ‘Is God a Moral Monster?’
- Philip J. Sampson ‘6 Modern Myths About Christianity and Western Civilization’
- R. C Sproul ‘The Holiness of God’