Nov

17

Good Books to Give or Get as Gifts

Filed Under Books, Christian Living, Family, John Bunyan, Music, Reading 

That time of year is approaching where we, in recognition of the tremendous gift of redemption we have received in Jesus Christ, give gifts to one another. In may be that your more planned out family and friends are asking what you would like to receive for Christmas. To that end let me suggest a few books that you’ll find great to give or receive.

  • The ESV Bible - Phillip, Grant, and I use and love this translation. Don’t worry, you don’t have to feel disloyal to your translation of choice. I suggest everyone have one or two different translations they read from in addition to their favorite one. It keeps the text fresh. You’ll find the ESV to be on a higher reading level than the NIV and less wooden than the NAS.
  • Calvin’s Institutes - This is the classic summation of Reformed Theology. Get the Ford Lewis Battles translation only. Some of it is going to be over your head but the majority of it is quite honestly the best devotional material ever written.
  • Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress - If you don’t think you need to read this book, just ask someone who has attended our lecture series this fall. By most accounts this is the most popular book in history behind the Bible.
  • Ryle’s Holiness - This book rocked my spiritual world when I read it first in seminary. I’ve reread it many times and used it in small group settings. Ryle is so Biblically honest and insightful about Christian living you are constantly in a state of conviction over your sin and encouragement over the promises held out in the gospel.
  • Piper’s Desiring God - John Piper, in this book, elaborates on the first question of the Shorter Catechism, especially emphasizing our duty to enjoy God forever. If you think of Christianity as plan B drudgery full of sack cloth and weeping, this book will rock you back on your heels. Get it and find out what Piper means by “Christian hedonism.”
  • Elizabeth Prentiss’s Stepping Heavenward - For you ladies, this is a “girl book.” Generations of women have found this fictional diary of a woman’s growth in Christ to be both searching and encouraging to their own walk with Christ. For you hymnologists out there, Elizabeth Prentiss also wrote the hymn, More Love to Thee, O Christ.
  • The Trinity Hymnal - Every family should own a Trinity Hymnal. It is indispensable in conducting family worship in your home. It is also a tremendous aid in devotions as you read through hymnody, the devotion book of Christian history. As and added bonus you also pick up the Apostles’ Creed, Nicene Creed, Westminster Confession, and Shorter Catechism as items included in the appendix.
  • Terry Johnson’s The Family Worship Book - More than any other book this book helped me form the thought and practice behind how we do family worship in our home. It is intensly practicaly, providing the how-to’s that most fathers crave. If you’ve struggled to lead your family in worship, this will be a huge encouragment and help to you.

There are tons more that I could add but I’ll stop here for now. If Phillip, Grant, or you want to add to the list, simply leave a comment below.

Comments

Leave a Reply