What book has influenced you the most?

Well, ok, if you insist We can't let Dr. Bob be one up on us now, can we?

When I was first given my junior sunday school class, I purchased Firm Foundations: Creation to Christ from New Tribes Missions on the recommendation of some missionary friends. There is a book included that is required reading by the one teaching the class. I was told before I bought the materials that just reading the required teachers book would change my life. Boy! Was that ever an understatement! Indeed, I came away a changed Christian! I had been saved for about 7 years or so when I first began to teach this, and I think I grew more, and received a greater understanding of mercy and grace, in thet short time it took to read the book than all the years I had been saved put together.

 

I would have to say "The Journals of Jim Elliot" was a great influence to me. It's shown me what it's like to be living completely for God.

 

I don't know if this was the best book I've ever read, but it certainly has influenced my life the most. J. F. Thornbury wrote a book entitled "God Sent Revival: The story of Asahel Nettleton and the Second Great Awakening." It is a good biography (though probably not as insightful as Bennet Tyler's biography of Nettleton), but, more importantly it is an incredible commentary on the great change that has occurred since the early 1800's on what the ministry is all about (in this way it is similar to Iain Murray's "Revival and Revivalism"). I didn't realize how pragmatic we had become in our methods. We have swallowed Finney's methods and have paid severe consequences. Doctrine has been replaced by pragmatism. Anyway, this book took me through so many emotions, from peace to joy to anger to confusion. It gave me a reality check and solidified my theology.

 

As one who was raised in a legalistic religion background, full of "inspired" books and prophetic wrightings, I made a concious decision, in 1993 to gain my Faith insight ONLY from the word of God. With that decision, I began a discipline of reading the Bible through, cover to cover, at least once each year. Not "piece meal" but cover to cover. I discovered that this precious book is much greater than the "sum of it's parts". For the past several years, I have been blessed to read it through twice each year. I have read it in six recognized translations. The Spirit will speak to you and guide you into truth, iIF you are willing to put away everything you thought you knew, and allow him to really lead you. It takes more than one or two readings before the messasge of the book becomes clear, but He is faithful and will lead you into "all things".

This is my favorite book. It comes in several different veresions. I love them all and respect them all.

 

Lectures to My Students by CH Spurgeon

 

There are two, cant decide between them.
The Transforming Friendship by Weatherhead and Tracks of a Fellow Struggler by Claypool.

 

Robert Thieme Jnr books and tapes
www.berachah.org

 

The book that has had the most influenc on my life was wrtitten by Leonard Ravenhill entitled ;
Why Revival Tarries?

 

Here are several books that have been an influence in my life:

1. The gospel According to Jesus by John
MacArthur
2. Power throuh Prayer by EM Bounds
3. Memoirs and Remains of robert Murray
McCheyne by Andrew Bonar
4. Body of Divinity by Thomas Watson
5. Works of Jonathan Edwards

Several others but dont want to bore you too much

 

Desiring God, by John Piper is right up there.

 

**The God Who Is There, and He is There and He is Not Silent, both by Francis Scaeffer;
**Ashamed of the Gospel, Charismatic Chaos, Our Sufficiency in Christ, Reckless Faith & Vanishing Conscience, all by John MacArthur;
**Self Esteem & The War Within, by Jay Adams;
**Morning & Evening devotional & many sermon books, by CH Spurgeon;
**Trusting God Even When Life Hurts, by Jerry Bridges

...Just to begin with!

 

Knowing God, J.I. Packer.
Grace Unknown, R.C. Sproul.
Let the Nations be Glad, John Piper.
The Bible and the Future, Anthony Hoekema.
The Last Days According to Jesus, R.C. Sproul.
All of Grace, C.H. Spurgeon.
Baptists and the Bible, L.Russ Bush and Tom Nettles.

 

Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire...Fresh Power by Jim Cymbala

Ashamed of the Gospel by John MacArthur

Prayer of Jabez by Bruce Wilkinson

 

What a tough decision, especially with all of the books i have read. How about these:

1.Just Like Jesus by Max Lucado;
2.Every Man's Battle by Stephen Arterburn and Fred Stoeker;
3.Jesus Freaks by VOM and DC Talk (gave me a heart for missions);
4.the writings of William Butler Yeats.

Until Next Post, Adam

 

II Corinthians in the NIV application commentary by Scott Hafemann.

After years of struggling with the issue, I finally understood the relationship between faith and works. It was so incredibly and excitingly freeing!