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In John 17, Jesus asks his Father to sanctify--make holy his disciples by his truth. Truth is the primary means God uses to make believers more like Jesus. The main source of truth is the Scriptures and in fact, the profit of any other resources must be measured by how much it increases our love for God and his word. Christian Publishing is a big business and not all publishers are created equal. Because we all have limited time to read Christian books, each month we want to recommend some books that our leadership has found to be both theologically and biblically sound as well as very profitable to read. These books are found in our library and are available for you to check out. In the days ahead, enjoy!

Books of December 2019

Out of the Saltshaker and into the World—Rebecca Manley Pippert

Dozens of books on personal evangelism has been written in the 40 years Rebecca Manley Pippert’s book, “Out of the Saltshaker…” was published.  This book has held up very well, however.  Pippert takes Jesus’ words in Matthew chapter five, “We are the salt of the earth” and applies them to personal evangelism.  Pippert writes with a sense of realism—she knows that Christians and unbelievers “are both uptight about evangelism.”  Pippert’s book is saturated with appropriate scriptural support and is still inspiring believers to relate more redemptively to a lost world.  If you want to get a dose of inspiration for your own efforts (or lack thereof) in personal evangelism, this book can do that.

The Cost of Discipleship—Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Written in 1937, this book continues to be one of the most profound contemporary works on this element of discipleship.  Bonhoeffer’s oft-quoted words, “When Christ calls a man, he bids him to come and die” is central to the theme of this book on what the cross of Christ means for the Christian in daily living.  What has given this book its steadfast readership over 80 years is Bonhoeffer’s personal living out of this book as he himself faced death in a concentration camp for his Christian convictions.  If your spiritual life needs a “jump start,” this book has served that purpose for millions of believers.  It is both a call to discipleship and a wonderful example of an author who lived what he preached for the glory of God.

Sacred Marriage—Gary Thomas

There are dozens of books, many of them good, on Christian marriage.  Perhaps none fills the very important niche this book does, however.  That is—Thomas offers an understanding of marriage as a way that God makes us holy and therefore, happy.  Marriage is a spiritual discipline as well as a means of providing companionship and healthy families.  This book is a gift to any married or single person who wants to see how God uses the marriage relationship in a uniquely powerful way to make us more like Jesus.  This perspective is thoroughly biblical and can breathe new life into both your marriage and your walk with Jesus.

 

Books of October 2019

Heroes of the Faith Series—JONATHAN EDWARDS

This entire series of books on “Heroes of the Faith” is worth reading.  Though written for younger readers, it is very appropriate for all ages.  The church library possesses many of these volumes and they are a wonderful way to introduce yourself to the fascinating area of study of church history.  You will find yourself inspired as you see the many and unusual ways God shapes lives that will ultimately have a profound impact on the church and the world.  This volume on Jonathan Edwards gives a brief but informative study of this great man’s life.  Edwards was an American preacher, author, scholar, theologian, philosopher and the second president of Princeton.  He is one of the pivotal figures of the Great Awakening of the 18th century and his life and his understanding of the glory of God will provide a welcome stimulant to all who desire a deeper, more affectionate walk with Jesus Christ.

 

R.C. Sproul—The Holiness of God

The term “classic” is much overused today, but this book surely qualifies as a contemporary classic of Christian literature.  Explore the fascinating, frightening and worship-inducing subject of the holiness of God.  This book is guaranteed to have you on your knees, pouring out your heart in worship to our God who is filled with majesty and holiness.  R.C. Sproul, in his very appealing and readable style, sets out this crucial doctrine as few have in our modern era.  This is surely must reading for anyone who seeks to know God as he is revealed in the Scripture as our thrice-holy Father.

 

John Piper—A Hunger for God

Fasting is a topic about which most believers know just enough to feel a vague sense of ongoing guilt about.  This very informative and inspirational book by John Piper strips away the veil of uncertainty about this spiritual discipline and gets to the very heart of the matter.  This book is not only assured to cause you to renew your heart and mind, it will also cause you to think deeply about what it is to love God.

Books of September, 2019

Books of September, 2019“Shepherding a Child’s Heart” by Tedd Tripp was perhaps the first Christian parenting book to move away from teaching techniques and proverbial wisdom. Instead, Tripp—who has been followed in his approach to parenting by many other subsequent authors, goes to the heart of the matter. He asks the parent, again and again, to consider what will best help shape a youngster’s heart and the model is nothing less than the heart-transforming gospel of Jesus Christ. As parents follow a shepherding strategy that mirrors the gospel, parents don’t simply turn out “good kids,” but kids that are much more likely to be transformed by the gospel. Whether you are starting out as parents or somewhere further down the line, this book can be of immense benefit to you and your family.

“Let the Nations be Glad” has been a uniquely impactful book on the North American Church and particularly, the missionary endeavor since it was published more than 20 years ago. John Piper, drawing on years of Bible study as well as pastoring a church that has sent out hundreds of missionaries, has arguably written the most influential book on world missions to appear in the last century. Piper works to answer the question, “why send and support missionaries?” Piper takes us back to the Scriptures where he powerfully argues that world missions, like all ministry, is not fundamentally about people and what they need, but about God and his glory. He states and artfully develops the notion—we send out missionaries to create worshippers for God. This God-centered approach to missions has revolutionized many churches’ approach to missions. If you have any interest in this topic or if you would like to be interested in it, this book is for you!

“Nine Marks of a Healthy Church” was written about 15 years ago by Mark Dever and is rooted in his study of the Scripture as well as his experience and fruitful tenure as pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. Many books like this have been written, but Dever is more insightful, impassioned and more faithful to Scripture than many. If you want a quick tutorial on what Christ expects from his church and how to get there, this book will be a great encouragement to you. Dever treats such important marks of a healthy church-like, expository preaching, church government, church membership, discipline in the church and many others. This book would profit anyone in the local church. Those who read it will be much better fitted to help their own local church as they seek to minister within it.

Books of July, 2019

“A Chance to Die: The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael” by Elizabeth Elliot. | “Age of Opportunity: A Biblical Guide to Parenting Teens” by Paul David Tripp | “Pilgrim’s Progress” in Modern English by John Bunyan“A Chance to Die:  The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael” by Elizabeth Elliot.

Be stretched and encouraged as you read this classic missionary biography written by a former missionary, Elizabeth Elliot.  Amy Carmichael grew you in Ireland but spent 53 years giving herself and the gospel to the people in Southern India—without a single furlough.  Never married, Amy gave herself to God and over the decades has shown so many, (in Elliot’s words) “the shape of godliness.”  From time to time, believers need to read the lives of the great saints to see what God will do with people who are sold out to him.  Amy Carmichael is such a person.  You will profit much from reading this amazing story of God’s faithfulness and sufficiency.

“Age of Opportunity:  A Biblical Guide to Parenting Teens”  by Paul David Tripp

Raising teenagers has never been more challenging than in our day where potential spiritual pitfalls lie at every corner.  How can a parent raise a teenager as a devout follower of Jesus today?  Paul David Tripp has written an intensely helpful and insightful book that has blessed so many Christian parents of teenagers.  Rather than view the potential pitfalls as enemies, Tripp urges parents to see them as divinely placed opportunities for teaching and growth and guides you helping you live that out with your teen.  There is such wisdom here.  If you are sincerely seeking to raise your teen for the glory of Christ, this essential reading.

“Pilgrim’s Progress” in Modern English by John Bunyan

There is a reason this is the second best-selling book of all time behind the bible.  It, as much as any book outside the pages of sacred Scripture, has brought more people into the kingdom and taught them how to follow Christ to the “celestial city.”  If you haven’t read this wonderful tale, you simply must.  It continues to bless and open people’s eyes to authentic Christianity nearly 350 years after it was written from John Bunyan’s jail cell.  Imprisoned for preaching the gospel, Bunyan redeemed his time in prison as perhaps no one has since the apostle Paul, producing this glorious literary work.  If it has been over a few years since you have read this book, read it again.  This book defines the word, “classic!”

Books of June, 2019

Trusting God by Jerry Bridges Nav Press, 1988

  • A modern-day classic on what the Bible says about keeping our trust in God when life gets tough. Bridges writes clearly and powerfully on the Scriptural teaching of God’s sovereign control over all of life and this work has helped countless people learn how to see and trust God in all circumstances.

Taste and See by John PiperMultnomah, 2005

  • This is a very encouraging collection of 125 daily devotional readings by one of Christendom’s most powerful voices. Piper’s impassioned, deeply inspirational writings help us see from the Bible that the believer’s joy in God is such a high priority with God because it’s in the joy we have in him that he
    is most glorified in us.

Prayer by Timothy Keller Penguin Book, 2016

  • Keller brings his thoughtful approach to a topic most believer struggle with…prayer. If your prayer life is not where you would like it to be, this book can be a needed “Shot in the arm.” Read this book and rediscover God in prayer.