Contributors’ Recommendations
for
Spiritual Growth
The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence
The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis
The Confessions of Saint Augustine
Peace of Soul by Fulton J. Sheen
The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola
The Rule of St. Benedict
The Collected Works of St. John of the Cross
Abandonment to Divine Providence by Jean-Pierre de Caussade
The Seven Storey Mountain by Thomas Merton
Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
Jesus Calling by Sarah Young
Come Away My Beloved by Frances Roberts
Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
Discerning the Voice of God by Priscilla Shirer
Hiding Place and Tramp for the Lord by Corrie Ten Boom
God Encounters by Elmer Towns
Save Me From Myself by Brian “Head” Welch
Becoming Fire by Jeanie Miley
Captivating by John and Stasi Eldridge
A Year With Thomas Merton: Daily Meditations from His Journals by Jonathan Montaldo
New Seeds of Contemplation by Thomas Merton
Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
No Man Is An Island by Thomas Merton
The Imitation of Christ by Thomas aKempis
The Call by Os Guinness
The Seven Story Mountain by Thomas Merton
The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence
The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning
Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands by Paul David Tripp
Lord of the Impossble by Lloyd John Ogilvie
The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
My Utmost for his Highest by Oswald Chambers
The Oxford Book of Prayer, general editor, George Appleton
Transformed Intimacy with God by Fischetto
How Now Shall We Live? by Colson
The Jesus Touch by Anderson
Broken off Flowers and Blown Out Candles by Deason
Conspiracy of Kindness by SjoGren
Afterlife – Smith
The Great Divorce -by C. S. Lewis
This short work of fiction is a delightful and powerful read. It chronicles a man’s journey through Heaven, which is described in the most sublime language, capturing and focusing the message of the Gospel in a way that might surprise many readers, Christian and skeptic alike. Word for word, this book packs more theological punch into a relatively small space than most treatments of Christianity, and it does so in a way that will keep you mightily entertained for the few short hours it takes to complete the book.
Relativism: Feet Firmly Planted in Mid Air by Greg Koukl and Francis Beckwith
Relativism is the air we breathe in today’s post-modern culture, but few of us feel equipped to respond to the relativist’s charges of intolerance or closed-mindedness. In a down-to-earth and easily comprehendable volume, this book exposes the logical flaws and inconsistencies with relativism and equips Christians to make an impact on the way the culture views truth and reality. This book really takes apologetics and brings it from the university level down to the street and coffee shops, giving the average layman tools to contend for the faith.
Darwin On Trial by Philip Johnson
Johnson treats of the evolution debate as if it were a court case. With a background in law and a wealth of knowledge on the evolution debate, which he studies as a personal hobby, Johnson takes a step back and looks at all the evidence with a lawyer’s keen insight. He covers all the major problems with naturalistic, Darwinian evolution as an explanation for the diversity of life on earth. A compelling read. This book should be on every Christian apologist’s bookshelf.
The Faith: Understanding Orthodox Christianity by Clark Carlton
In recent times, Eastern Orthodox Christianity has seen a major surge in the West. Because of its unique history and theology, Eastern Orthodoxy brings to the table many resources for dealing with and resolving problems that Western theologians have struggled with for centuries. Agree or disagree with its take on Christianity, Orthodoxy is making a major splash on the global religious scene and well-educated Christians would be well-advised to learn and understand the basics of this unique and rich tradition’s views.
Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J. R. R. Tolkien
If you haven’t read J. R. R. Tolkien’s masterpiece-made-cinematic-success, you are missing out! An epic work of the 20th century, these novels reverberate with Christian themes and motifs, yet in a subtle and beautiful way. The purpose of these books is not didactic- they are not designed to convert you if you are a skeptic or to teach you more about your faith if you are a Christian, but rather to glory in Tolkien’s vision of the epic fight between Good and Evil, wherein Love, Hope, Beauty, and Truth conquer Hate, Despair, Ugliness, and Lies. Good wins. Evil loses. Period. Excellent read.
The Barbarian Way by Erwin McManus
Born After Midnight by A.W. Tozer
Celebration of Discipline by Richard J. Foster
Prayer by Richard J. Foster
Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald S. Whitney
The Signature of Jesus by Brennan Manning
They Smell Like Sheep by Dr. Lynn Anderson
The New Inductive Study Bible by Precept Ministries International
Spiritual Leadership by J. Oswald Sanders
Cool, now my stack is four times bigger…but no doubt even better! Thanks for sharing. Bryan
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