Occasionally I share what’s on my reading table as a way to encourage (maybe even entice) those who like to read to consider adding to their own list some works that I have found particularly helpful and/or challenging. Although I recognize that not everyone has a passion for reading, I do feel that, if we are going to challenge ourselves to grow in our faith in a holistic manner, reading good Christian books is a boon to our growth and comprehension of that faith. I supplement my “Christian” reading with good books that simply enhance my grasp of the world, with occasional classics that allow me to engage intelligently in conversations about matters that have captured the imaginations of men and women for hundreds of years. With this being said, here are some books that I have read and enjoyed in the past few months:

*The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs: This Puritan preacher understood the Christian faith and how we as Christ-followers find our hope and contentment in him. Get a good modern translation…then enjoy.

*The Great Gain of Godliness by Thomas Watson: Another classic from the Puritans. I read through this with a friend and benefited greatly.

*A Third Testament: A Modern Pilgrim Explores the Spiritual Lives of Augustine, Blake, Pascal, Tolstoy, Bonhoeffer, Kierkegaard, and Dostoevsky by Malcom Muggeridge: Wonderful overview of the lives of these spiritual pilgrims.

*Leadership and Emotional Sabotage by Joe Rigney: Important yet brief work addressing anxiety that oftentimes grips the lives of believers.

*Beyond the Wager: The Christian Brilliance of Blaise Pascal by Douglas Groothuis: Pascal was a genius, and a godly man. Wonderful look at his life.

*The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War by Erik Larson: If you know me, you know I usually have a book on my reading shelf involving military history—the best of which is the American Civil War. An almost perfect read for a history lover.

*Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis: Needed to give it another read. Have you read it? What?! Jump on the bandwagon.

*Flight of the Enola Gay by Paul W. Tibbets: Fascinating read about the life of Tibbets, who captained the B-29 Superfortress that dropped the first atomic bomb on Japan.

*Philosophy in Seven Sentences: A Small Introduction to a Vast Topic by Douglas Groothuis: Just what it sounds like.

*Jesus Contradicted: Why the Gospels Tell the Same Story Differently by Michael Licona: I just finished this one and enjoyed it greatly.



*Orbiting Jupiter by Gary Schmidt: This novel is not for the faint of heart, nor is it for children. It is, however, wonderfully narrated. The story of a foster boy who comes to live with a new family, befriends the son in the family, and teaches him valuable life lessons.

I’ve read other books with our Pastoral Residents, as preparation for sermons and for simple enjoyment, but these are a few that stood out to me.

The average reader can handle all these works with a little bit of effort. If you are new to the faith (or reading), I might suggest: Basic Christianity by John Stott; How to Read the Bible for All It’s Worth by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart; The Story of Reality by Greg Koukl and God’s Big Picture by Vaughn Roberts.

For mature believers who want to stretch themselves, these books (in modern English translations, and even in a good, abridged edition) are classics: Confessions by St. Augustine; Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton; Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer; The Bondage of the Will by Martin Luther; and The Mortification of Sin by John Owen.

If you are reading to children, you cannot go wrong with The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis; The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones; Christie’s Old Organ by Mrs. O.F. Walton, and The Biggest Story: How the Snake-Crusher Brings Us Back to the Garden by Kevin DeYoung.

Don’t forget our Bible Reading Plan. A great way to start your day in 10 minutes (or less). Call the church office for more information.

Grace and peace,

Pastor Jym

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