Devotionals
and Spiritual Classics
*On Loving God –
St. Bernard of Clairvaux
(1090?-1153)
This excellent
work deserves to be absorbed slowly and
prayerfully. It is
saturated with
references to various scriptures (some are apocryphal, but those do not
compromise the integrity of the work) as well as with the meditations
of a
heart that longs after the fullness of God Himself.
(In Bernard of
Clairvaux: Selected
Works, San Francisco, CA: HarperCollins,
2005; ccel)
*The
Imitation
of Christ –
Thomas á Kempis (1379? – 1471) 1427
This
outstanding collection of pithy sayings and
observations by a leader of the Brethren of the Common Life needs to be
read
slowly and prayerfully, otherwise it may come across as a scattered
assortment
of proverbs with little continuity.
Its spiritual
depth and time-tested popularity illustrate why this is a classic in
the
fullest sense of the term.
(North
Brunswick, NJ: Bridge-Logos,
1999; ccel, be, es, olb)
Spiritual
Exercises –
Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556)
Ignatius, the
founder of the order of the Jesuits, places
before us here the pattern by which the members of his order are to
meditate on
their lives and on the events of the life of Christ.
Though some may find it quite maudlin to
dwell so much on one’s own sins (especially emphasized in the
second week),
others will understand these as some of the important components of the
Catholic spirituality of the author’s day.
(New York: P.
J. Kennedy and Sons,
1914; ccel, be)
*The Practice
of the Presence of God –
Brother Lawrence (1605-1691)
This is a
posthumous compilation of his letters along with
recollections of conversations through which he describes his journey
on the
path of the full consecration of his life to the worship of God.
(New
Kensington
PA: Whitaker House,
1982; ccel, be, es)
A Short and
Easy Method of Prayer –
Madame Guyon (1647-1717) 1685
Madame Guyon
was a leading figure and writer in the
controversial “Quietist movement” in seventeenth
century France, which was an
extended form of Christian mysticism.
Some of Guyon’s later writings represent a
more extreme form of this movement,
but this book contains primarily the seminal ideas of dying to self and
of
“inward silence.”
(New York, NY:
Cosimo, Inc, 2007;
ccel)
A Plain
Account
of Christian
Perfection –
John
Wesley (1703-1791) 1767?
From the
founder of the Methodist movement within the
Anglican Church comes this account of his search for a no-holds-barred
“complete
consecration” (which is how he defines
“perfection”) and the influences which
caused him to enter his quest.
(Kansas City,
MO: Beacon Hill Press,
1966; ccel, be)
Morning and
Evening –
Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-1892)
Originally
published as two separate volumes, one for
morning devotions and one for evenings, this ranks among the best-loved
daily
readings ever produced. Spurgeon’s
insights and persuasive abilities have given him a secure place in the
ranks of
the great preachers of the Reformed tradition.
(Wheaton, IL:
Good News Publishers,
2003; be, es, olb; and ccel contains a link to automatic daily postings
from
this collection, as well as 54 of the 62 volumes of his sermons and 13
other
works!)
*The Prayer
Series –
E.
M. Bounds + (1835-1913) 8
books
E. M. Bounds
left training for a legal career to pursue
ministry, later serving as a Civil War chaplain and then as editor of
the
Methodist newspaper The Christian
Advocate. Most
of this foundational
series of eight books on prayer was published posthumously.
(Grand Rapids,
MI: Baker Book House,
1976; ccel, be, es)
*The
Christian’s Secret of a Happy
Life –
Hannah
Whitall Smith (1832-1911) 1875
In this
landmark call to holiness, Smith makes the case for
the pursuit of a life of full consecration to God.
Among its most valuable assets are its
descriptions of the mature Christian attitude and of the character of
those who
are striving to get there.
(New York, NY:
Ballantine Books,
1986; ccel, be)
*With Christ
in
the School of Prayer –
Andrew Murray (1828-1917) 1895
An
accomplished
prayer warrior himself, Murray relates the
effectiveness of disciplined prayer in an encouraging and
Scripture-based
manner. It contains
just the right mix
of teaching, examples, and inspiration to motivate and instruct.
(New
Kensington, PA: Whitaker House,
1981; ccel, be, olb)
*My Utmost
for
His Highest –
Oswald Chambers (1874-1917) 1935
Chambers was a
young convert of C. H. Spurgeon, whose
influence is very clear in this daily devotional, compiled by his wife
after
his death. It is
not surprising that since
its publication this collection of short readings has become an
essential
component of the devotional routine of many thousands of believers.
(Grand Rapids,
MI: Discovery House
Publ., 1963; ccel, olb)
The Cost of
Discipleship –
Dietrich Bonhoeffer + (1906-1945)
1937
This book sets
forth several important ideas (many taken
from an extended unraveling of the Sermon on the Mount) concerning the
meaning
of discipleship in a society that tends to gloss over the concept of
commitment. However,
it is probably best known for coining
and defining the terms “cheap grace” and
“costly grace.”
(New York, NY:
Simon & Schuster,
1995)
The Pursuit
of
God –
A.
W. Tozer + (1897-1963) 1948
All of
Tozer’s writings are exceptionally insightful, but
this one sets the stage for his other works.
His practical warnings against “shallow
lives, hollow religious
philosophies,” and the like apply to all generations of the
Church.
(Harrisburg,
PA: Christian Publ.,
Inc, 1948; be$ as part of a “bundle”, es, also
wikipedia’s Tozer entry has a
link to an online E-text)
*The Normal
Christian Life –
Watchman Nee + (1903-1972) 1957
This book is a
compilation of lectures given by Nee in
England in 1938 and 1939 and compiled by Angus I. Kinnear. Nee gives an easily
understandable account of
the steps along the pathway of spiritual growth; this book also serves
as an
important introduction to Nee’s other works such as The Spiritual Man.
(Fort
Washington, PA: Christian
Literature Crusade, 1963; ccel)
*The Return
of
the Prodigal Son –
Henri J. M. Nouwen + (1932-1996)
1992
This
introspective and soul-revealing work is inspired by
Nouwen’s meditations on the famous parable as well as on the
Rembrandt Peale
painting of the same name. Every
aspect
of the three main characters of the parable is thoroughly explored and
personally applied in ways that can delve deeply into the
reader’s heart.
(London:
Darton, Longman & Todd,
Ltd., 1994)
Theology,
Essays and Sermons
The City of
God –
St. Augustine (354-430)
Augustine
begins by writing this apologetic for Christianity
with a refutation of pagan worship.
Then
in Book XI he begins to unravel a systematic theology which is still
apologetic
in tone while it maintains a clear thread of reason which answers both
the
philosophers and the heretics of his day.
This influential work shaped much of the theological
thought of the Church
in its early days and still has a profound impact.
(On-line at:
ccel, olb)
Summa
Theologica –
St. Thomas Aquinas (1225?-1274)
begun 1265
This work is
of
primary importance for understanding the
theological developments that led up to the middle ages and for setting
the
tone for what was to come.
(Notre Dame,
IN: Ave Maria Press,
1948; see also catholicprimer.org, ccel)
Ninety-five
Theses –
Martin Luther (1483-1546) 1517
Here are the
famous statements which Luther proposed for
theological debate when he nailed them to the door of his church at
Wittenburg,
Germany. Many refer
to that event as the
spark that began the Protestant Reformation.
(On-line at:
ccel)
Institutes of
the Christian Religion –
John Calvin (1509-1564)
1st ed. 1536
This is the
first systematic theology produced by the
Protestant Reformation, and as such lays much of the groundwork for the
movement as it progressed from infancy to a fully developed force in
the West.
(Louisville,
KY: Westminster John
Knox Press, 1960; ccel, be, es)
The
Westminster
Larger Catechism –
Anonymous 1647
This work was
collectively written by the Westminster
Assembly and intended for the instruction of new converts to
Christianity. These
lessons in theology are posed in a
question-and-answer format and intended to be a full introduction to
Christian
belief. There is
also a shorter version
available, and both are teaching supplements to the Westminster
Confession of
Faith.
(On-line at:
ccel [expand
“anonymous”], be$, es)
The Christian
in Complete Armour –
William Gurnall (1617-1679)
This work was
written in three volumes originally published
in 1655, 1658, and 1662 respectively, and is the most complete,
practical, and
inspiring study ever produced on the topic of spiritual warfare. Modern readers may have
problems with the use
of the 17th century English with its run-on sentences and archaic
terms; the
best thing that could be done with this would be if an updated, revised
version
were to be published. Even
so, this is
still an important series to spend time with.
(Carlisle, PA:
Banner of Truth,
1964; ccel)
Sinners in
the
Hands of an Angry God –
Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) 1746
First preached
in 1744 and published later in a collection
of sermons, this is still studied in American Literature classes as a
representative of the religion-inspired writings of that time period. Another of his great works
is Religious Affections, which
deals with
attitudes and right priorities, and is also worth a look.
(New
Kensington, PA: Whitaker House,
1997; ccel—go to “Works—Vol.
II” and open the Table of Contents)
Lectures on
Revival of Religion –
Charles G. Finney (1792-1875)
1835
This series of
twenty-two lectures has pragmatic advice from
an experienced evangelist addressed to those less experienced, but is
presented
in a more formal and homiletic manner.
Preachers of today will find much here that they may
have already
learned instinctively, but there are also many other bits of worthwhile
instruction not to be missed.
(Fenwick, MI:
Alethea In Heart
[a.k.a. Truth in Heart], 2005; ccel)
Systematic
Theology –
Charles G. Finney (1792-1875)
1846
Although some
can’t get past the controversial nature of
some elements of Finney’s evangelistic method or of his
Arminianism, he has
many excellent and instructive things to say and is still seen by many
as an
exemplary teacher and revivalist.
If
your edition has a glossary, keep a finger in it as you read; some of
the
terminology he uses may be unfamiliar or potentially misleading to
modern
readers.
(Minneapolis,
MI: Bethany
Fellowship, Inc., 1976; ccel, be, es)
The
Fundamentals –
ed. R. A. Torrey (1856-1928) 1909
Originally
published as a four-volume collection, Torrey
gathered articles from the best theological thinkers of his day to
explain the
fundamental teachings of the Bible as opposed to the offerings of the
more
liberal “social gospel” movement.
(Grand Rapids,
MI: Baker Books,
2003; there is also an on-line source at a geocities
site—google “torrey
fundamentals” to bring it up)
Knowing God –
J.
I. Packer
This work is
laid out like a study in systematic theology,
yet in style it is very personal and accessible—the reader
may not realize that
what he or she is reading is actually a scholarly exposition of the New
Testament, broken down for the beginner.
Out of the many books available which are aimed at
the introduction of
theological studies to the novice believer, this is one of the more
highly
recommended.
(Downer’s
Grove, IL: InterVarsity
Press, 1973)
Rich
Christians
in an Age of Hunger –
Ron Sider
This work was
highly controversial when it was first
published, yet it may be that Sider’s only
“crime” was being ahead of his
time. In looking
back through it, I see
many things which are common knowledge today but were not so in the
late
1970’s. In
any case, no matter who was
right or when, this book makes it obvious that in terms of the
“modest
proposals” offered as expressions of Godly works, we still
have a long way to
go.
(Downer’s
Grove, IL: InterVarsity
Press, 1977)
*Why Revival
Tarries –
Leonard Ravenhill + (1907-1994)
1979
This is quite
possibly the most stirring call to holiness
ever delivered to a napping church.
Many
outside the holiness tradition may rebuff the ideas that nevertheless
show many
similarities to the preaching of Spurgeon or Edwards, but the penitent
in heart
will see the need for this exhortation and the response it evokes.
(Grand Rapids,
MI: Bethany House
Publ., 1979)
The Purpose
Driven Life –
Rick Warren
In recent
years
Warren has become America’s most prominent
and recognized Christian leader and pastor—and much of the
notoriety of the
early years of this high-profile attention stems from this work and the
variations which have followed.
(Grand Rapids,
MI: Zondervan, 2002)
Biographies
and Testimonies
Confessions –
St. Augustine (354-430) 398
In thirteen
books (my print version only contains the first
ten), Aurelius Augustinus recounts the private struggles of his
oft-tormented
soul. Though we can
all relate to his
great desire for repentance, reading this sometimes-laborious discourse
will
give insight into the influential theologian that Augustine became
during his
days as Bishop of Hippo.
(Nashville,
TN:
Thomas Nelson Publ.,
1983—trans. by E. M. Blaiklock; ccel, be, olb)
Foxe’s
Book of Martyrs –
John Foxe (1517-1587) 1563
This book was
originally titled Actes and Monuments—and
I wondered if I should categorize this as
history rather than testimony, but as I read back through it I decided
that it
was best placed here with the biographies because of the in-depth
accounts of
the deeds of many who died for the faith.
It is inspiring to be sure, but yet a little
disturbing at the same time
because of some of the horrible interrogation methods described.
(Springdale,
PA: Whitaker House,
1981; ccel, be, es)
A Grief
Observed –
C.
S. Lewis + (1898-1963) 1961
This is one of
the most personal, intimate, and revealing
journals ever shared with the reading public, chronicling one
man’s path of
recovery from a time of dire remorse.
And although Shadowlands
is a
great movie, please don’t let seeing it be a substitute for
reading this
book—and no need to bother with the afterword included in
some editions which
is more than half as long as the book itself.
(New York, NY:
Bantam Books, 1976)
*The Cross
and
the Switchblade –
David Wilkerson
This is the
true story of a country preacher who received a
burden from God for the inner city youth of the streets of New York
City. He chronicles
how he patiently gained the
trust of some of the roughest gang members there and soon founded a
successful
ministry to them which came to be known as Teen
Challenge. The
popular 1970 movie
based on this story featured Pat Boone as Wilkerson and a young Erik
Estrada as
Nicky Cruz.
(Grand Rapids
MI: Chosen Books—a
div. of the Baker Publishing Group, 1963)
God’s
Smuggler –
Brother Andrew 1967
Andrew van der
Bijl recounts in this remarkable biography
many of the amazing and miraculous adventures he undertook in
delivering Bibles
and Christian literature to persecuted believers in communist and
Muslim
countries and how he formed the Open Doors ministry which continues the
work
today.
(Grand Rapids,
MI: Chosen Books,
2001—35th Anniversary edition)
*The Hiding
Place –
Corrie ten Boom + (1892-1983) 1971
This is the
very compelling story (made into a movie in
1975) of a Dutch family’s heroism in the face of Nazi
persecution; and proves
beyond a doubt that “no pit is so deep that the love of God
is not deeper
still.”
(Old Tappan,
NJ: Chosen books, 1984)
*Born Again –
Charles Colson + 1975
Colson
probably
knew as he was writing this book that it
would sell well to the general public, so along with the juicy tidbits
about
the Nixon administration and his time of incarceration, Colson very
honestly
and masterfully leads the reader into his conversion story and his
burden for
prison ministry and reform.
(Old Tappan,
NJ: Fleming H. Revell
Co., 1996—20th Anniversary Edition)
Just as I Am:
The Autobiography of
Billy Graham –
Billy Graham +
There are many
good reasons to read this book—some will
likely be interested in the relationships he has had with political
leaders,
some will be fascinated by his travels, and others by the somewhat
personal
details he offers. Read
it for whatever
reason, and enjoy the over-a-cup-of-coffee style by which he presents
his
extraordinary life to us all.
(San
Francisco,
CA: HarperCollins
Publ., 1997)
Church
History
The Writings
of
Josephus –
Flavius Josephus (37-100) 94?
Josephus was
an
important Jewish historian of the first century,
and it is these works from which we get much of our important
background
information on the Romans and their relations with the Jews. Was Antiq.
18.3.3 a genuine testimony of Christian faith?
(Peabody, MA:
Hendrickson Publ.,
1987; trans. by William Whiston; ccel, be, es, olb)
Church History –
Eusebius Pamphilus (263-339) 324?
Eusebius does
an admirable job of using the resources of his
time to construct a stately yet readable work which is scholarly and
apologetic
in tone. This is a
good introduction to
the heroes and heretics of the early church, and in many cases provides
the
only historical insights into who some of them were and what they
accomplished.
(New York, NY:
Penguin Classics,
1990; ccel, be$, newadvent.org)
Christianity
Through the Centuries –
Earle Cairns 1954
This is a
college textbook for a Church History 101-type
class which was a favorite among professors for many years, and still
remains
an excellent reference work. I
happen to
have the second revised edition which is complete with maps, suggested
reading
lists, charts, and Roman numerals at the head of each
chapter’s
subdivisions.
(Grand Rapids,
MI: Academie
Books/Zondervan, 1981)
Why Should
the
Devil Have All the
Good Music? –
Paul
Baker
I must
admit—I included this one for purely nostalgic
reasons. But
seriously, there are few
books which capture the spirit of a genuine renewal like Baker does in
this
largely anecdotal account of the Jesus
Music movement and its impact on the larger church.
(Waco, TX:
Word
Books, 1979)
No Other
Foundation –
Jeremy Jackson
This is one of
those books that doesn’t bog the reader down
with too many facts and figures, but rather tells the stories from a
very human
perspective, examining the motives and attitudes of the times and
placing the
reader right in the middle of the circumstances of the historic events. It’ll make you
wish that more history books
were written this way.
(Westchester,
IL: Crossway Books,
1980)
Church
History
in Plain Language –
Bruce L. Shelley 1982
Don’t
get this book wrong—it’s still very much a Church
history textbook. However,
Shelley
attempts to break the usual tedium of the study of history by giving us
a
narrative style rather than the usual lectures and endless charts and
tables,
presenting only an occasional visual aid and letting the stories do the
rest. His
comfortable approach makes
this book a good introductory work to the topic.
(Nashville,
TN:
Thomas Nelson: 3rd
ed. 2008)
Fiction,
Prose and Allegory
Divine Comedy –
Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) 1308?
Henry
Wadsworth
Longfellow’s English translation of the one
hundred songs which comprise the three poetic works Inferno,
Purgatorio, and Paradiso,
are a noble attempt at capturing the grandeur of the original Italian. But how can any other
language convey the
full impact that Dante’s masterwork has had on Italian
culture? Theologically,
it’s true to the prevalent
ideas in Catholicism on the subjects; however, its greater value lies
in its
splendor and majesty of form, which places it among the premier
literature of
all history.
(New York, NY:
NAL Trade [a div. of
Penguin Books], 2003; ccel, also at everypoet.com)
Ascent of Mt.
Carmel –
St. John of the Cross (1542-1591)
1578?
Along with its
companion work The Dark Night of the Soul,
this is a song of eight stanzas along
with the explanations of the imagery used therein.
Although his exposition never gets past the
third stanza, this obviously seemed to him to be a better way to
describe his
experiences in seeking God than by using theological language. Despite its brevity, it is
excellent prose
which stimulates reflection and meditation.
(Cape Cod, MA:
Paraclete Press,
2002; ccel, be)
Paradise Lost
& Paradise
Regained –
John
Milton (1608-1674) 2 works 1667, 1671
So much more
than just a bad news/good news story, this
grand retelling of the epic of redemption is another of the greatly
renowned
artistic works inspired by the biblical themes it follows. Milton shows us his talent
for letting an
imaginative piece of poetry put the reader “inside the
story” in a way that a
regular narrative cannot—but again, please try not to get
hung up on some of
the archaic language and idioms used here, but let the story carry you
through
to its essential points.
(New York, NY:
Penguin Classics,
2003; paradiselost.org, ccel, be)
*A
Pilgrim’s Progress –
John Bunyan (1628-1688) 1684?
Forget about
the fact that you may have had to read this in
school—it’s worth the time to go back through it
again and take a fresh look at
how the adventures of “Christian” relate to all of
us in our journey of faith.
(Virginia
Beach, VA: CBN University
Press, 1978; ccel, be, olb, es—in the STEP library)
In His Steps –
Charles Sheldon (1857-1946) 1897
Originally
preached from his pulpit the year before it was
published in book form, this is the original “what would
Jesus do?” story which
follows a year in the lives of a group of Christians faced by a
challenge to
spend a full year doing only, as best as they knew how, exactly what
Jesus
would do in whatever situation they found themselves.
(Old Tappan,
NJ: Fleming H. Revell
Co., 1994; ccel, be, es)
*The
Screwtape
Letters –
C.
S. Lewis + (1898-1963) 1941
It is a
dangerous thing to get inside the mind of a devil,
but that is the very viewpoint that this creative collection of
correspondence
brings to the reader, and proves beyond a doubt that understanding
one’s enemy
is the first major step toward defeating him.
(Washington,
DC: Christianity Today,
Inc., 1969—part of a single-volume collection)
The
Perelandra
Trilogy –
C.
S. Lewis + (1898 -1963) 3
books
These three
books, Out
of the Silent Planet (1938),
Perelandra (1943), and That Hideous Strength (1945),
comprise Lewis’ primary foray into the
science fiction genre. Please
keep in
mind the lack of accurate scientific knowledge of the solar system in
the
1940’s, and the obvious (as admitted by Lewis) H. G. Wells
influence.
(New York:
Macmillan Publ. Co. Inc.,
17th printing 1974)
*The
Chronicles
of Narnia –
C.
S. Lewis + (1898-1963) 7
books, completed in 1956
You really
shouldn’t have waited for the movies to start
coming out to familiarize yourself with this excellent series,
patterned after
the great tradition of English children’s literature. The allegories contained
in the story lines
illustrate many of the deeper and greater truths of the Bible
brilliantly set
in a way that children can pick up on the lessons of the spiritual
walk; and
adults can, too.
(New York:
Macmillan Publ. Co. Inc.,
1st Collier Books Ed. 1970)
This Present
Darkness –
Frank Peretti
This
ground-breaking work, along with its sequel Piercing
the Darkness, presents a vivid
and imaginative look into the activities of the unseen realm, with
spiritual
beings as well as humans as integral characters in the story. This perspective helps us
to see ourselves as
Heaven sees us …
(Wheaton, IL:
Crossway Books, 1986)
Apologetics
and Evangelism
The Rise and
Progress of Religion in
the Soul –
Philip
Doddridge (1702-1751) 1745?
Professor
Doddridge was a Puritan hymn writer, pastor,
teacher, and very independent thinker whose great concern for those who
do not
take their faith seriously (or who have no faith at all) shows in these
pages
with a wisdom beyond his years and a genuine concern for the human
condition. Each
chapter begins with an
outline of what is to follow and ends with a suggested prayer.
(Whitefish,
MT:
Kessinger
Publishing, 2003; ccel)
Heretics & Orthodoxy – G. K. Chesterton +
(1874-1936) 2 books 1905, 1908
Perhaps the
hardest thing to believe about these two books
when you first read them is the fact that they were written over a
hundred years
ago; Chesterton’s cultural critique is as relevant today as
apparently it was
in his time, and in the process of reading it one can easily pick up on
the
dry, pithy, subtle, and somewhat sarcastic British wit.
Also, be prepared for engaging commentary on
several of the writers and philosophers of his day.
(Cited as The Collected
Works of G. K.
Chesterton—Ft. Collins, CO:
Ignatius Press, 1986; both are in ccel
&
be, Orthodoxy is also at olb)
*Mere
Christianity –
C.
S. Lewis + (1898-1963)
Referred to by
many as the most readable of all apologetic
writings, this masterwork combines anecdotes, allegories and
apologetics as
Lewis takes the reader along on the journey which led to his departure
from
atheism and into Christianity. It
was
first released in 1942 as The Case for
Christianity then re-released under the present title in 1952.
(San
Francisco,
CA: HarperOne, 2001)
Peace with God –
Billy Graham + 1953
This treatise
by the master evangelist is in effect a
200+-page tract, taking the reader through an analysis of the sin
problem, then
the process of salvation, and introduces the ways, rewards and
responsibilities
of the Christian. It’s
an excellent
summary of the message he preached at his crusades around the world.
(Old Tappan,
NJ: Fleming H. Revell
Co., Spire edition—1968, ccel’s link was not
working at last check)
Basic
Christianity –
John R. W. Stott 1958
The title is a
bit misleading; rather than being a full
treatise on all that Christianity entails, it is restricted to being a
systematic Christology/apologetic.
In
style it is very similar to Packer’s Knowing
God, and is quite useful despite its limitations.
(Grand Rapids,
MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans
Publishing Co., 1981)
Evidence that
Demands a Verdict –
Josh McDowell
Written in
outline form and intended as a reference work,
this is an essential part of any evangelist’s or
apologist’s arsenal. Many
topics are covered—there’s no shortage
of useful material in these pages.
Originally published in two volumes (Volume II came
out in 1975), these
are now available in one combined and updated edition.
(San
Bernardino, CA: Campus Crusade
for Christ Int’l., Vol. I—1972)
Hell’s
Best Kept Secret –
Ray Comfort +
In these
pages,
evangelist Ray Comfort seeks to restore what
he feels to be a significant component missing from modern
witness—the use of
the Old Testament law to bring about a sense of what sin is and how the
sinner
has genuinely transgressed. There
is not
really as much emphasis on a plan or an outline to follow here as there
is on a
way to bring up this element which is intended to stir up repentance in
the
hearer.
(New
Kensington, PA: Whitaker House,
1989)
Exit
Interviews –
William Hendricks
When a person
or family leaves a church, what is the
motivation? What do
they do and where do
they go next? Is
this tendency a way to
measure of the success or failure of the church?
In Exit
Interviews, Hendricks seeks for answers through his
conversations with a
number of former church members who are still Christians, and finds
that there
are no pat answers or easy ways to assign blame.
This frank and instructive book may raise
more questions than it answers—who knows, you may find a
story just like your
own …
(Chicago, IL:
Moody Press, 1993)
The Case for
Christ –
Lee Stroebel +
Stroebel’s
approach in this book and in the series which
follows is that of a journalist investigating a news story. In fact, you get the
feeling throughout that
if he hadn’t found viable answers to the questions he posed
to the various
experts he was interviewing, these books may not have been written at
all. But the result
is the kind of book that can
be handed to a skeptic to show that even if you still don’t
believe, you have
to respect the authenticity of the facts of Christianity.
(Grand Rapids,
MI: Zondervan, 2000)
The
Reliability
of the Gospel
Tradition –
Birger
Gerhardsson +
Although this
book is well written, scholarly (keep a
dictionary handy) yet accessible to the layman, and has the style of a
set of
transcribed lectures, it is not something you can just hand over to a
skeptic
who challenges the veracity of the Scriptures.
It is better if it is digested by the Christian and
used to bolster his
own inquisitive faith. Gerhardsson
has
clearly gone above and beyond the call of duty in doing his homework;
there are
copious references to the original languages, rabbinical writings and
other
apocryphal literature.
(Peabody, MA:
Hendrickson
Publishers, 2001)
Eschatology
and Current Issues
The Late
Great
Planet Earth –
Hal Lindsey
In very plain
and readable fashion, Lindsey expounds the
Book of Revelation and other prophecies and gives a stark comparison to
the
modern world and how such predictions could easily and practically come
to pass
in these last days. His
views of the end
times are compatible with the most popular forms of
pre-tribulationalism as
expressed in the time period in which it was written, which largely
accounts
for the book’s great success.
(Grand Rapids,
MI: Zondervan, 1970)
The Politics
of
Jesus –
John Howard Yoder (1927-1997)
1972
Some may see
this book as little more than an exercise in
proof-texting to show forth a doctrine of Christian pacifism, but
others will
see it as a compelling treatment of the New Testament teachings on the
social
implications of the Gospel. The
second
edition has large sections of added material in the forms of epilogues
and
footnotes to illustrate how this discussion has expanded between the
times of
the two editions.
(Grand Rapids,
MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans
Publishing Co., 2nd ed. 1994)
*How Should
We
Then Live? –
Francis Schaeffer + (1912-1984)
1976
Schaeffer’s
insightful yet brief summary of the history of
Western culture stands as a remarkable analysis of how society was
influenced
through various philosophies to gradually abandon the Christian basis
of its
value system, and then points to the way that a Christian must resist
the forces
that would cause him or her to conform to the world.
(Cited as part
of the five-volume
collection The
Complete Works of Francis Schaeffer: Wheaton, IL:
Crossway
Books, 2nd ed. 1991)
Three Views
on
the Rapture –
Gleason Archer, Paul Feinberg,
& Douglas Moo 1984
This is one of
twenty-two books in the Counterpoints
series which addresses a number of controversial
topics within Christendom and represents a very good approach for a
study of
any complex topic. The
major premillennial
doctrines, “pre-trib, mid-trib, and post-trib”, are
each supported by one of
the three participating scholars by a lengthy article of explanation
and
defense, then each has a chance to examine them all and respond to the
views of
the other two. If
you seek a thorough
and balanced treatment, start here.
(Grand Rapids,
MI: Zondervan, 1996)
The Naked
Public Square –
Richard John Neuhaus + (1936-2009)
1984
Anyone who has
ever read his articles in First Things
magazine will know what to
expect from this book, which is considered the author’s best
work. Even though
it was written at the time of the
early peak of the evangelicals’ emergence as a voting bloc
phenomenon, each
point he makes is timeless enough to be just as applicable today.
(Grand Rapids,
MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans
Publishing Co., reprinted 1997)
Ecclesiology
*The Problem
of
Wineskins –
Howard Snyder +
This is the
first book I ever read that made me think—really
think—about the church and the way we conduct ourselves in
relation to God’s
pattern for our common lives in His Body.
Snyder demonstrates how God did not leave us a
“fill-in-the-blank” Bible
when it comes to local church structure.
(Downer’s
Grove, IL: Intervarsity
Press, 1975)
The Body:
Being
Light in Darkness –
Charles Colson +
In this book
on
the nature and mission of the Church, Colson
draws from not only his extensive on-the-job training in prison
ministry and
his own perceptive and keen mind, but also from a wide range of sources
which
he generously lists in an appendix at the end.
If you can get hold of an original printing, chapter
8 makes it worth
the effort.
(Dallas: Word
Press, 1992)
Rethinking
the
Wineskin –
Frank Viola +
For those of
you expecting me to recommend Pagan
Christianity when you saw the
author’s name, I heartily do.
I mention Rethinking
because it is the first in a
series of five volumes on the topic, and as such is foundational to his
thinking.
(Present
Testimony Ministry, 2001;
see also ptmin.org)
The Emerging
Church –
Dan Kimball
Kimball’s
insightful look into the mindset of the “X-er’s
generation” points out many of the aspects of their spiritual
searching and
then outlines ways that local churches can offer relevance in their
worship and
mission without being formulaic.
(Grand Rapids,
MI: Zondervan, 2003)
Pentecostal/Charismatic
Azusa Street –
Frank Bartleman + (1871-1935)
This
eyewitness
account of the Azusa Street Revival is no
doubt a compilation taken from Bartleman’s original writings,
although the
editor/assembler is not credited.
It
comes across as more of a subjective work rather than an objective
history, but
is nonetheless highly valuable as a report on what transpired in Rev.
Seymour’s
famous meetings.
(Whitaker
House, 2000; ccel has much
from Bartleman, but not this particular book)
God’s
Plan for Man –
Finis Dake (1902-1987)
Dake’s
works are highly influential in certain circles of
Pentecostalism, yet he is hardly known in many others.
This is his systematic theology, arranged in
fifty-two lessons with supplements, and along with his study Bible is
an
excellent standard of exposition of the Pentecostal theology that was
popularly
believed in the formative years of the movement.
(Lawrenceville,
GA: Dake Bible
Sales, Inc., single volume edition – 1949)
Nine
O’Clock in the Morning –
Dennis Bennett (1917-1991)
This highly
personal testimony from a priest in the
Episcopal Church is very typical of the experiences of those who came
to the
forefront of the early charismatic movement.
This is not intended as a theological treatise, yet
enough of the
relevant doctrine is included as the narrative moves along to keep the
reader aware
of how the precepts in the Scriptures are at work in this story.
(Plainfield,
NJ: Logos
International, 1970)
The Holy
Spirit
and You –
Dennis and Rita Bennett 1971
This book
gives
the theological underpinning for the
afore-mentioned Nine O’Clock in the
Morning, and thus provides the other side of the ideas that
gave structure
and impetus to the movement. The
language is simple and readable, and it is obviously intended as a
source book
for those who were new to the charismatic experience.
(Alachua, FL:
Bridge-Logos
Publishers, 1994)
The Happiest
People on Earth –
Demos Shakarian (1913-1993)
This is the
story of the founder of the Full Gospel
Businessmen’s Fellowship, which played a very important role
in the advancement
of the Charismatic movement in the 1960’s and 70’s. The author’s
wonderful personality comes
through in a big way.
(Old Tappan,
NJ: Fleming H. Revell
Co., 1975)
*Call to
Discipleship –
Juan Carlos Ortiz
This is the
story of an Argentinian Pentecostal pastor who completely
restructured his church according to the patterns and ways, as best as
he
understood them, of the New Testament—and, of course, caused
quite a stir in
the process.
(Plainfield,
NJ: Logos
International. 1975)
The Radical
Christian –
Arthur Wallis
The word
“radical” comes from the Latin radix,
which simply means root;
therefore a radical Christian is seen as one who returns to the roots
of the
Bible and to primitive Christian experience as his rule. Similar in several ways to
the writings of
Frank Viola, Wallis calls for an end to compromise in modern Christian
practice
with an eye toward purity and unity.
(Old Tappan,
NJ: Fleming H. Revell
Co., 1981)
Power
Evangelism –
John Wimber (1934-1997) 1986
Wimber
explores
here in testimonial fashion his experiences
with the concept of how signs and wonders accompany the preaching of
the
Gospel. His journey
began by reading the
Book of Acts and then asking his own pastor when their church would
begin to
participate in the miraculous events he saw described there (or
“doin’ the
stuff,” as he puts it).
These ideas
later became foundational for the Vineyard Church movement and then
eventually
grew into that which Peter Wagner termed the “third
wave.”
(London:
Hodder
Headline, 2001)
The Century
of
the Holy Spirit –
Vinson Synan +
Having met Dr.
Synan and heard him give a series of talks, I
can personally attest to the integrity and accuracy of his scholarship. This textbook on
Pentecostal and Charismatic
history is well-documented and vital to the understanding of this
movement.
(Nashville,
TN:
Thomas Nelson, 2001)
Secular
Authors
The Decline
and
Fall of the Roman
Empire –
Edward
Gibbon (1737-1794) 1776?
This is
considered a premier work of English historical
scholarship, although at times I found myself questioning the
author’s objectivity. A
reader has to occasionally wonder whether
Gibbon (who himself was a Deist) was more interested in giving
commentary than
facts; for though he says, “The duty of an historian does not
call upon him to
interpose his private judgment …” some of his
remarks about the early church
certainly come across that way. Or
is he
merely trying to be sympathetic yet honest about the element of human
nature as
it was injected into the Church’s development?
(New York, NY:
Everyman’s Library,
1993 [boxed set]; ccel)
Future Shock –
Alvin Toffler
This often
misunderstood and misrepresented work is really
intended as a treatise not on technological change itself, but rather
an exploration
of how such changes affect a society psychologically and sociologically. The fact that it was
published in 1970 may
cause some to now consider this book outdated, but its real value lies
in its
study of how people react to societal evolution; and from that
perspective, it is
a genuine classic.
(New York:
Bantam Books, 1970)
Generations –
William Strauss & Neil Howe
Preachers,
ecclesiologists and evangelists are perennially
puzzled about how to reach a new generation with the gospel. Therefore, you have
probably encountered many
books and sermon references to the “boomers,”
“GenX,” and the like.
This is the book that mostly sparked the recent
discussions of generational characteristics and their general
interpretation
for today. Many
have criticized the idea
given here or offered their own alternatives, but you would be well
advised to
read this book first as a foundation before you arrive at any
conclusions of
your own.
(New York:
Quill Books, William
Morrow & Co., 1991)
The
Reformation: A History –
Diarmaid MacCulloch
It is helpful
to have at least a fair grip on the geography
and general history of Europe during that period before reading this;
but even
if you do not, it is still another of those rare books that is so well
written
that it makes history make sense.
(New York:
Penguin Books, 2003)
* * * * *
Honorable Mentions
Please allow me to add here some
other authors here whose works come highly recommended to me by others,
but I
have not familiarized myself with them as I probably should. First, consider George
Whitefield, a
contemporary of John Wesley and a leading figure in the Great
Awakening,
available at ccel. Next,
James Arminius
presents a Protestant alternative to Calvinist theology—both
of these are ideas
you should become familiar with—and his works can be found at
both ccel and olb. A.
W. Pink is well known for his expositional
works which can be found at ccel, be, and olb.
Kenneth Scott Latourette is a well respected Church
history scholar and
writer whose work is widely known and often included in required
reading lists
for seminary classes.
As for individual works, The
Theology of the Reformers by Timothy
George is very popular among church history buffs for its insights into
four
different streams of Reformation thought.
John Walvoord has written a number of eschatological
works, and among
the chief of them is The Rapture
Question, which provides a very clear picture of the teaching
of a
pre-tribulation rapture. Peter’s
Wagner’s The Third Wave
gives a
fairly accurate assessment of the background and beliefs of the more
recent
stream of the charismatic/renewalists.
