Books Worth Adding to your Reading List in 2011

Posted January 5, 2011 by Jeremy Gwaltney in Pastors' Blog

The turn of the year is always a time when we think about life improvement – how can I get better? Usually we think in terms of weight and exercise, but its also a great time to think about our spiritual health. I wasn’t a natural reader growing up (in fact my parents usually were either bribing me or enforcing me to read). But over the years, and especially after seminary, I’ve grown to love reading and increasingly see the value of good books in my life. I would encourage you to do the same.

Here are a list of books in different topic interests (with price points) that is worth adding to any reading list. Pick one or two, and make it a resolution this year to read one.

Christian Classics ($10-$20 price range):

The Cross of Christ – John Stott
I’ve often said you should read anything written by John Stott. He’s loving called the protestant Pope in academic circles. This is his best. Few books describe the necessity of Jesus’ death and its application to all the universe as well as this book. Its a must read for any Christian, and a book that will be read by many Christians 100 years from now.

Knowing God – J. I. Packer
This is a great read for someone looking to increase their knowledge and relationship with God, but don’t feel attracted to a formal theology book. It is simple and easy to read, but profound and deep in its content. Like “The Cross of Christ” above, it is a must read and a book that will be read 100 years from now.

Modern and Simple Theological Reads ($9-$20 range)

Pleasures Evermore – Sam Storms
This book has probably done more to impact my spiritual thinking than any other book outside of the Bible. It explains how our relationship with God is primarily about our pleasure because “God is most glorified when we are most satisfied in him.” Yes, it is theological, but it is accessible and easy to read.

What Jesus Demands of the World – John Piper
In this book Dr. Piper examines every command of Jesus in the New Testament. The result is a well-rounded perspective of the Son of God. Any misunderstandings of exactly what Jesus demands, what he offers and how it impacts our lives are gone after reading these pages. As a plus, the chapters are usually only 4-10 pages long, so it makes for very accessible reading; especially for people who might only have a few minutes a day to read.

The Calvary Road – Roy Hessian
I read this book every two years or so. It has a simple message on how Jesus’ life and death is to impact our lives. Pride, self-centeredness, stubbornness, and sin will all be confronted but in a loving and positive way that makes you eager to become more like Jesus. As a bonus, the book is less than 150 pages.

Modern Life-Changers ($10-$15)

Radical Reformission – Mark Driscoll
“We are all missionaries, the question is are we a good or bad one.” This book by Driscoll really challenges the notion the evangelism is something we do, instead of an outworking of who we are. Driscoll discusses how the Gospel is supposed to affect the whole person so that we can’t help but be engaged in the mission that God has called his people to. It is challenging, insightful and practical in its application. Driscoll is both an edgy and funny author, and the book is a lot of fun to read.

Crazy Love – Francis Chan
When we’ve really been impacted by the crazy love of God – one where God’s Son leaves the glories of heaven to die the most brutal death possible for his enemies, us – how can we not respond with crazy love for Christ? In this book, Chan confronts many of the conflicts between normal Christianity and the cultural American dream. However, Chan does it in a gracious way that always keeps the attractiveness of the glory of God as the main focus. Worth the read, but your life can’t help but change if you do.

Intense Theological Reads ($25-$40 range)
NOTE – these books are not for the faint of heart. While a theological education is not necessary to grasp onto the powerful theological truths in their pages, a deep and abiding interest in God’s Word and ways is necessarily to make it through the 500 plus pages of often meticulous details. Very worth the read, but it is reading that is work.

The Mission of God – Christopher Write
This is quickly becoming a theological classic among scholars. It’s central focus is concerning the universal nature of the Gospel. God’s mission was written in His character, and the Gospel is about the redemption of man first and the redemption of the world as a result. Write walks his thesis through both the Old and New Testaments in great details, and then spends a number of chapters applying the Mission of the Gospel of God not only to our personal redemption, but also to issues of social justice, environmentalism, ethics, etc. Great read.

The Meaning of the Pentateuch – John Sailhamer
This is one of the most comprehensive books about the first five books of the Bible available. While it is not a commentary, it goes into great detail about the history of interpretation, the composition, and the theology of the books of Moses. Sailhamer’s treatment of the Law, Covenant, Sacrifices, and the coming Messiah has been revolutionary to modern Old Testament studies. While the book is technical and very detailed, John has an amazingly easy writing style that is very pleasant to read — all 620 pages of it!