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Featured What non-fiction books on Christianity would you recommend to your congregation?

Discussion in 'Pastoral Ministries' started by annsni, Jun 8, 2015.

  1. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    I'm going to be posting on our church's Facebook page and putting in the bulletin a challenge for our congregation to not just read beach lit this summer but to try to read some of the great Christian non-fiction books out there to increase their learning and understanding of our faith. Of course the Bible is a given and we will encourage personal study as well but what books would you put on a list of maybe not "must reads" but "I really think this is a worthwhile book" list? A few of mine:

    The Holiness of God by R.C. Sproul
    Pilgrim's Progress
    Heaven by Randy Alcorn
    Where is God When It Hurts by Philip Yancy
    The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer
    Finding Truth by Nancy Pearsy (just read this - VERY good)

    So hit me up with what you would love your congregation to read this summer!
     
  2. wpe3bql

    wpe3bql Member

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    As always, another great post from our beloved Hermana Annsi.

    :thumbs:
     
  3. just-want-peace

    just-want-peace Well-Known Member
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    WHAT'S SO AMAZING ABOUT GRACE; Phillip Yancy
     
  4. preachinjesus

    preachinjesus Well-Known Member
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    If one wishes a comprehensive overview...let's all go and get Karl Barth's Church Dogmatics (the whole set) and start on page one....

    but since most people wish to enjoy life, these are generally my recommendations:

    - JI Packer Knowing God
    - John Stott Basic Christianity
    - Justo Gonzalez The Story of Christianity
    - Tim Keller The Reason for God
    - Dietrich Bonhoeffer The Cost of Discipleship

    That usually gets the blood flowing to the brain...which is helpful. :)
     
  5. Deacon

    Deacon Well-Known Member
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    #5 Deacon, Jun 8, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 8, 2015
  6. JonC

    JonC Moderator
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    No One Like Him by John Feinberg
    The Green Letters by Miles Stanford
    The Pursuit of God by Tozer
    Christless Christianity by Michael Horton
    Joe DiMaggio: The Hero's Life by Richard Cramer ......... (all work and no play...)
     
  7. Rippon

    Rippon Well-Known Member
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    God's Way, Not Ours by Dr. D-M-L-J (158 pages)
    The Golden Booklet Of The Christian Life by John Calvin (96 pages)
    Profiting From The Word by A.W. Pink (60 pages)
    Our Sovereign Saviour by Roger Nicole (184 pages)
    Basic Bible Doctrine by Donald S. Fortner (626 pages exclusive of the index)
     
  8. Jerome

    Jerome Well-Known Member
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    You can't go wrong with Crossway's This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness.
     
  9. Crabtownboy

    Crabtownboy Well-Known Member
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    You said fiction, so here is three suggestions:

    The Chronicles of Narnia
    Ben Hur
    The Screwtape Letters

    A great non-fiction book for everyone is:

    The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life
     
  10. wpe3bql

    wpe3bql Member

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    Just curious, but did Joe ever receive Christ as his Savior?

    (None of my admittedly not-always-"reliable" sources say anything [yea or nay] about this.)
     
  11. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    Great books but I did say "non-fiction". I know so many people read novels and stuff during the summer but wanted to get them reading some good theology books to challenge them. I'm going to ask that they pick at least just one. :) Right now I'm reading Counseling the Hard Cases which is really good and I'm not sure what I will read next because I have SO many on my Kindle that are excellent!! :)
     
  12. Crabtownboy

    Crabtownboy Well-Known Member
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    Ah, sorry ... non-fiction.

    OK

    A Shepherd Looks at the 23rd Psalm
    The Company of the Committed
    The New Man for Our Times
    The Case for Christianity
    The Great Divorce
    Living the Sermon on the Mount
    Sanctuary of the Soul
    Christianity for the Rest of Us
     
  13. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    Awesome everyone!! Some of the books I've never heard of and now have on my "look for" list. :)

    Keep-em coming!! I'm thinking of posting this next Monday.
     
  14. Deacon

    Deacon Well-Known Member
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    Wow annsni Finding Truth by Nancy Pearsy was a winner!
    I started it yesterday and couldn't put it down.

    I'll recommend it to my pastor and elders who resonate its message in their leadership of the church.

    I've enjoyed her writing in the past - so readable but well thought out.

    Antidotes, teaching and application flow from each section; Pearsy is an excellent communicator.

    Rob
     
  15. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    Glad you liked it!! I found it a little "heady" and I definitely had to pay attention when I read it but it was excellent and had some great arguments against some of the other belief systems out there!! Man, I'd love to have lunch with Nancy and an atheist and see how the conversation goes! :)
     
  16. Marooncat79

    Marooncat79 Well-Known Member
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    I would start with

    Bitesize Theology
    52 Words Every Christian should Know K Easley
    Public Prayer and the Reading of Scripture
    Luther teaches his Barber to Pray
    The Gospel According to Jesus. J MacArthur
    The Collapse of Evolution S Huse
    The Psalms W Scroggie
    The 1689 2nd London Baptist Confession
     
  17. Marooncat79

    Marooncat79 Well-Known Member
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    I would also add

    Coming to Faith in Christ by John Benton
    Ultimate Questions by John Blanchard

    They explain the Gospel very simply and are great evangelistic tools and cost less than $3./each
     
  18. Marooncat79

    Marooncat79 Well-Known Member
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    After some thought, I would then go with

    The Church by Ed Clowney
    9Marks of a Healthy Church by Mark Dever
    The Holy Spirit by Sinclair Ferguson
    Prayer by JC Ryle
    Baptism of Disciples Alone by Fred Malone
    Biblical Deacons by Alexander Strauch
    The Parables by Simon Kistemaker
     
  19. Jerome

    Jerome Well-Known Member
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    ...but put Pilgrim's Progress in your list.

    :confused:
     
  20. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    I know. I was wondering if anyone would see that. LOL
     
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