Recommend your Best

[JVAC]

The Davinci Code, by Dan Brown, it has a fun time with heresy and it is a best seller. Look also at Angels and Demons, that is a book you can't put down!

and on every list this christmas...

The Book of Concord, or was that just my list, um other than that, it all depends on the persons tastes

 

[theologia crucis]

De servo arbitrio by Martin Luther, which is contained in Luther's Works, both of which I recommend!

It's only 54 volumes (plus one that's an index)!!!

 

[HumbleMan]

Most of Spurgeons works are good, as are most of Billy Grahams. And I just read a book by Ryan Dobson called "Be Intolerant" that was pretty good. All about staying with Christ while showing love for your fellow man.

Any library needs history books, and I would recommend the writings of Eusebias and Tertulian. Both chronicle early church history and thought at the time.

A library also needs a little fiction. I would recommend anything by Frank Perretti.

 

[Adoniram]

"The New Evidence That Demands A Verdict" by Josh McDowell is a fantastic book on apologetics. Thorough research into the historical records to offer courtroom style evidence that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, and that Jesus is who he claimed to be. Also offers rebuttals to today's nay-sayers. Thomas Nelson Publishers.

 

[Rechtgläubig]

A Summery of Christian Doctrine by Edward W.A. Koehler

 

[EdmundBlackadderTheThird]

The complete works of Dr. Fancis Schaffer is something one should not be without. There is a 5 volume set available that has all 25 of his works, re-edited by Schaffer just 2 years before his death. His work is amazing!

 

[Crazy Liz]

If you're building a library, I would pretty much stay away from current popular fiction in favor of great literature. I agree you need some Lewis and some Tolkien. Also Shakespeare - pick up a copy of his complete works in 1 volume. Dostoevsky - obviously, I like The Brothers Karamazov! - and Kazantzakis are two of the world's greatest Christian novelists. Also Solzhenitsyn.

Renovare has some excellent titles on Christian spirituality, including Spiritual Classics and Devotional Classics that introduce you to the writings and spirituality of great Christians throughout history. Streams of Living Water includes biographical vignettes of many of these and helps make sense out of the different classifications or "streams" of Christian spirituality. Celebration of Discipline is the best introduction to the disciplines of Christian spirituality. After beginning with these, you may want to begin collecting the spiritual writings of great saints of the past. I look for them at used book sales.

If you don't have one already, get an appropriate Book of Common Prayer. Many denominations publish them. If yours doesn't, I would suggest an Anglican one. And don't forget a hymnal or two or three.

I really like Jinkins' Invitation to Theology. It is not a systematic theology, but teaches you how to study theology, with appropriate emphasis on studying it within your community of faith, rather than in abstract isolation. Most excellent!

Back to secular titles, glancing at the reference books on my shelf, The Timetables of History and Bartlett's Familiar Quotations are among the most valuable.

 

[Lotar]

De servo arbitrio by Martin Luther, which is contained in Luther's Works, both of which I recommend!

It's only 54 volumes (plus one that's an index)!!!

You can also get the entire set on cd


Some recent books I've read that were good:
What Luther Says
By Faith Alone - RC Sproul
Commentary on Romans - Martin Luther
The Confessions - St. Augustine

 

[reformedfan]

Regardless of your theological bent, Calvin's Commentaries & his "Institutes of the Christian Religion" has set the gold standard that other commentators struggle to attain. Arminius, Calvin's old nemesis use to encourage his students to study Calvin's Commentaries. Calvin was the one who set forth today 'taken for granted' principles such as let Scripture interpret Scripture; read verses in their context, rather than in isolation; and verse by verse exegesis. Prior to Calvin, commentators would shy away from the 'hard' verses, and John Calvin blazed the trail for those who followed, with his refusal to shrink away from the deeper parts of Scripture. Many other marks of Bible study excellence that today we know how to do, more than likely came from the influence of Calvin on the scene of Biblical exegis & Hermeneutics. Anything you know today about how to study the Bible, more than likely came from one of these Calvin precepts. All you need to do is read the introduction to the "Institutes..." to see this historical fact for yourself. It amazed me the first time I read it. I'd always thought principles like the above were invented somewhere else along the pike, or stuff my pastor learned in seminary. Nope, Calvin set them forth as how to study the Bible correctly, and the entire Christian universe has been blessed as a result.
You will be too if you get & read those books. They have stood the test of time as well, unlike lucado, etc.

 

[Reader Nilus]

Training in Christianity by Soren Kierkegaard
The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Beginning to Pray by Anthony Bloom
The Art of Prayer compiled by Igumen Chariton of Valamo
Bread in the Wilderness by Thomas Merton
Jeff the Finn

 

[EdmundBlackadderTheThird]

I also have to add:

Disciple - Juan Carlos Ortiz This one blew me away, I am on my third reading of it
The Power Of The Blood Of Jesus - Andrew Murray Another amazing must read book

I will probably add more later, but those two are indispensable to me. I have taught many a sermon based on what I learned from them.

 

[Col]

NO COMPROMISE -The Life Story of Keith Green - by Melody Green

 

[PatrickM]

"New Evidence" is a great suggestion.

Also, "Lectures in Systematic Theology" by Henry C. Theissen. It's one volume, concise, and cannot be pidgeon-holed into Calvinism, Arminianism, any "ism". He is a self-confessed modified sublapsarian! You'll have to read his chptr on Election to know what he means

Also, General Intro to Bible, Dr. Norman Geisler. Good material on knowing Bible is Word of God.

 

[HisWordisTruth]

The Methuselah Chronicles
A Very good series by Terry Lee Hamilton.
glorytogloryministries . com


Yaaaa!!!!!!! I've made my first post!!!!!!!!!!!!(go me )

 

[PatrickM]

The Methuselah Chronicles
A Very good series by Terry Lee Hamilton.
glorytogloryministries . com


Yaaaa!!!!!!! I've made my first post!!!!!!!!!!!!(go me )

Ok, I give up!!!!!

How in the world did you get 7,001 blessings without ONE post???!!!

Yes, I am jealous

 

[ChristianRocks]

Oh Goodie, I get to recommend the book that changed my life!

Btw, I am also a Frank Peretti Fan, I loved the Oath
Tolkien and Lewis are also good choices.

But the book that changed my life was a little one called, "The Normal Christian Life" By WatchMan Nee. I can't explain to you the Joy of reading this book and coming to the realizations of God's truths. It is a very practical book. Indeed, for my age of 20, it answered many of the questions I was constantly asking of God. You know what the even better part is? You don't have to buy it to read it! That's right. I found a link that has posted the book for everyone to read, Chapter by Chapter. I often quote it and use it in my discussions. It opened my heart to God and for that, It will always have a place in my heart!

Go read it now, hehe. Or at least bookmark it.
http://www.ccel.org/n/nee/normal/

God Bless!

 

[La Bonita Zorilla]

For an understanding of religion in the public square, try Under God: Religion and American Politics by Garry Wills.

 

[PatrickM]

Oh Goodie, I get to recommend the book that changed my life!

Btw, I am also a Frank Peretti Fan, I loved the Oath
Tolkien and Lewis are also good choices.

But the book that changed my life was a little one called, "The Normal Christian Life" By WatchMan Nee. I can't explain to you the Joy of reading this book and coming to the realizations of God's truths. It is a very practical book. Indeed, for my age of 20, it answered many of the questions I was constantly asking of God. You know what the even better part is? You don't have to buy it to read it! That's right. I found a link that has posted the book for everyone to read, Chapter by Chapter. I often quote it and use it in my discussions. It opened my heart to God and for that, It will always have a place in my heart!

Go read it now, hehe. Or at least bookmark it.
http://www.ccel.org/n/nee/normal/

God Bless!

Amen!!!! How could I have forgot Bro. Nee! Indeed, before I bought the book, I printed (yes the whole thing) his book from that very sight.

Not only the joy, but the freedom from striving his teaching gives! "Not I, but Christ liveth in me!"

 

[BBAS 64]

Ok, I give up!!!!!

How in the world did you get 7,001 blessings without ONE post???!!!

Yes, I am jealous

Patrick

Did you not notice he is 16 and is the Kings kid!

Bill

 

[BBAS 64]

Good day, All

I first would like to thank you all for your imput as I build my libary. While shopping for books over the W/E at borders it occured to me this is going to be quite an expensive undertaking. I do own lots of books that I have gotten over the last 15-20 yrs most are not of a christian type am a big fan of Robin Cook, Dale brown and alike.

Here is what I bought this W/E.

CS Lewis - Mere Christianity
St Augustine - On Christian Doctrine
St Augustine - His Confessions
RC Sproul - Willing to Believe

I have now $100.00 left to buy other books with.


Thank you again,

Bill