By Jeremy Myers Filed Under Books I'm Reading Written on May 12, 2011

The Best Books Every Christian Should Read

Have you ever read a book that set your mind and heart on fire? That radically changed the way you viewed life, read Scripture, or interacted with God and others? All of the books below did this for me.

I have previously called them “Burning Books,” not because they must burned, but because they branded themselves into my mind. They set my mind on fire and my heart ablaze. The ideas they contain smolder in my bones, shed light on the Scriptures, and help bring life to the world.

If you underline books and scribble in the margins while you read, these books have marks on nearly every sentence. They answer a question you have always had, solve a dilemma you have faced, or help with an issue in a way you have not found anywhere else. These books change the way you think, ignite your passion for a purpose, and gave you an “Aha!” moment that sends you in a new direction.

The books below have done all these things for me. These are some of the book that have helped form and change my theology. These are the books I recommend most.

Note: more books will be added to the list as I think of them (or read them). If you have one you think should be on the list, let me know in the comment section below.

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Check out these related posts on Scripture, Theology, and Church:

Best Books from 2011

The Human Faces of God

Toppling the Domination System

Toward a New View on Biblical Inerrancy

Unmasking the Powers

Want to read more about Bible and Theology? Try one of these:

http://solstallings.wordpress.com/ Sol

For me one is “He Loves Me” by Wayne Jacobsen. The shame and guilt was wiped away that I had been holding because of my drill sergant type view of God. With my background, obedience was really pushed (not that that is entirely bad), but without an understanding of grace.

Those feelings of guilt and shame have popped up again lately, but I am almost finished reading it a second time, kind of refreshing that “Aha!” moment.

One more was “Fasting” by Scot McKnight.

http://www.tillhecomes.org Jeremy Myers

I just recently read “He Loves Me.” It was good, but didn’t make it onto my Burning Books list.

I have not read Fasting, but if I get a chance, will give it a read.

Thanks!

http://www.graceground.com/ Sam

Thank you for sharing this list. You obviously like NT Wright! I do also, but I haven’t read as many of his books as you have. I also like Ellul.

And Frost. Have you read “Exiles” and especially “Rejesus”? I love ReJesus. His bud, Alan Hirsch has a couple I like, “Untamed” and “The Forgotten Ways”. (Alan lives near here.) Then there are Brian McLaren’s books. We may not agree at all points with his creative thinking, but he has some real gems and reading him may help us understand the thinking of the folks who read him.

Michael Spencer’s “Mere Churchianity” is a special book, Michael’s one and only before he died. Michael has a pretty firm grasp on focusing on Jesus. (If it weren’t for Jesus I’d chuck the rest of Christianity. I kinda have anyway.)

At the top of my list is my favorite author, Donna VanLiere. I like her Christmas series, starting with “The Christmas Shoes” (the series is fiction) and probably my favorite book is her “Sheltering Trees” (Hardcover with enclosed CD), which is not fiction.

http://www.tillhecomes.org Jeremy Myers

Yes, I like Wright. He has turned my world upside down. I have several more by Ellul, but have not read them yet.

I should probably add the others by Frost and Hirsch, and they are all excellent.

And I really debated Brian McLaren. I remember being challenged by his books, but they apparently didn’t make a lasting impression on me, because I can’t remember much about them. So I left them off the list.

I do not have those other books you mentioned, and so will add them to my Amazon wish list. Thanks for the recommendations!

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=612591777 Matthew Aznoe on Facebook

For me, one that definitely stands out is “Why Revival Tarries” by Leonard Ravenhill.
http://www.believe-only.blogspot.com Diane

Hi Jeremy,

It’s amazing how many books you’ve read~!!! I’m right now reading… “The Dark Side Of Calvinism” by Bryson, but it takes me so long to get through even one chapter. But I keep poking along, and it’s been good.

I noticed you don’t have any book listed under “End Times.” I LOVE John Claeys’ book… “APOCALYPSE 2012 The Ticking of the End Time Clock”… “What does the Bible say?” I like it because it’s convincing me based upon scripture.

And of course you know I love ALL of Zane Hodges’ books. I see you’ve listed “James” by him. Yes, that’s a GREAT book. “Harmony With God” is another master piece in my opinion.

Thank for your list of books. YOU ARE A THINKER~!!!

God’s best to you and your beautiful family,
Diane

http://www.tillhecomes.org Jeremy Myers

Thanks Diane.

Yes, I average about one book per week. Some are longer, some are shorter, but over all, I end up reading about 50 books per year. That is my goal and so far, I’ve been keeping it.

Some of these books on this list may actually get a second or third read.

Regarding Zane’s books, I love them too, but I have always leaned toward books that really focused on individual texts and passages of Scripture and explained them in detail. Zane was more of a topical writer. Dillow made the list, of course. I think if I was going to include more FG books, I might put Wilkins’ on before I put on Zane’s (of course, neither one would be too happy that I put Greg Boyd or NT Wright on this list…but oh well…it my list! ha ha.)

http://www.godmessedmeup.blogspot.com Pam Hogeweide

Love this post and your play on words about burning books. Nicely done!

Top Five Books that Left Me Burning:

1. The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning.
It’s Brennan Manning! Need I say more?

2. The Road my Cormac McCarthy
Fiction is the lie that tells the truth truer (a quote by Portland novelist, Tom Spanbauer) The Road is a meditative, dark read with a thin thread of light shining from first to last page. That thread is the masterpiece of this Pulitzer winning book. I read it once a year, and yes, I saw the movie. Brutal like the book, yet that thread of light in the boy shines and shines.

3. Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
Compelling account of a renowned psychologist who survived a Holocaust concentration camp. Absolutely compelling, a deep look at the dark abyss that is found in the human soul, and the flicker of hope that keeps a man from getting lost in it. Damn good book. I reviewed it at my blog a while back.

4. Why Not Women? by Loren Cunningham
I have been a longtime supporter of women and equality in the church, but kept it on the downlow for such a long time for all kinds of reasons. Cunningham and his cowriter, David Hamilton, wrote a supreme treatise on why not women indeed! Presented with theology and narrative integrated together, this book made my heart and mind soar that no, my tension with gender inequity is not “my thing” but is a real, pulsing beast of injustice. I have given five copies of this book away to date.

5. The Pleasures of Loving God by Mike Bickle
This book deeply affected my perception of how to relate to God. The strongest takeaway I got from this book was that God doesn’t just love me (and I so him in return) but God actually likes me, and this liberates me to like me, too. Simple, profound, totally set my mind and heart on fire.

Bless ya Jeremy!
(btw, my son’s name is Jeremy and I’m married to Jerry! Love this name!)

http://www.tillhecomes.org Jeremy Myers

I have Ragammuffin Gospel, but have not yet read it. It is in my “To Read” pile.

I saw the movie “the Road” which was brutal, as you said. However, I remember sitting there stunned about the truths in the movie. I’m sure the book is better?

I think I also have Man’s Search for Meaning, by Fankl. Not sure. I will have to look around for it.

The other two I have not heard of. Thanks for the suggestions!

http://www.godmessedmeup.blogspot.com Pam Hogeweide

I had a stomach ache the entire time I watched the film and don’t know if I’ll ever watch it again. Brutal like Passion of the Christ brutal. But a masterpiece nonetheless.

Love your blog, btw, and have subscribed. See ya around the blogosphere!

http://www.tillhecomes.org Jeremy Myers

Thanks Pam. I am looking forward to your new book “Unladylike” coming out later this year. Is the manuscript finished?

http://chickchaotic.wordpress.com/ Elizabeth Chapin

I noticed you don’t have any burning books in your parenting category yet. I also noticed you said you have girls. Growing Strong Daughters by Lisa McMinn was a life changing book for me. It may not be a burning book for you, but if you haven’t read it, I highly recommend it.
http://chickchaotic.wordpress.com/ Elizabeth Chapin

Oh, and Pam’s book is already available!
http://www.tillhecomes.org Jeremy Myers

Elizabeth,

I have not read that book by McMinn. I will look into it!

And I am excited to read Pam’s book! Have you read it?

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Greg D

For some reason this list doesn’t show up in my browser. It only shows the different categories, but not the actual books or titles. Am I missing a certain plug-in?

http://www.tillhecomes.org Jeremy Myers

Hmmm. I see it fine. Which browser are you using?

Greg D

I’m using Google Chrome. But, I have also tried this on Firefox and Safari. No list on any of these browsers. I wonder if it’s an international thing. I’m in Albania. Is the list using another online system like Amazon or Barnes and Noble?

http://www.tillhecomes.org Jeremy Myers

Yes, it is using iframes from Amazon.com

Jason Reimer

Two books that had a major impact on my life”

The Trouble With Jesus by Joseph Stowell

The Barbarian Way by Erwin McManus

http://www.tillhecomes.org Jeremy Myers

Jason,

I have both of those, but have not read them yet.

http://rochow.ca Will Rochow

Thanks for that, Jeremy. I’m always interested to see what others are reading and what they’re recommending. Some of these are going onto my “wish list” right away, and just in time for my next Amazon order. Blessings

http://www.tillhecomes.org Jeremy Myers

Let me know if you have read any good books recently!

http://poweractivism.wordpress.com/ Micael Grenholm

Nice list! Boyd and Claiborne are personal favorites of me as well, nd eveb though I have not read so much by Wright yet, I’ve heard many Good things about him.

I see that you don’t have a book about the Holy Spirit yet though. Perhaps it is because you aren’t a Charismatic (but here I want to point out that Boyd, Wright and Claiborne believe that God can perform miracles today, I recommend you seeing the film Furious Love sometime where Boyd is present). I have some recommendations on books representing, in my view, good and sober theology about the Holy Spirit, får from Benny Hinn, close to Scripture. I recommend you to look them up and see if they may get as burning as the books above. For me, they almost burned off my hands:

Surprised by the Power of the Spirit by Jack Deere. Deere, a Presbyterian professor of the Old Testament, here presents how he as a cessationist had to turn his theology around when the power of the Holy Spirit simply jumped in front of his face. With ambitious Scriptural support he argues for a Charismatic theology that avoids the many pitfalls that Charismatics often has fallen into. I cab also recommend his sequel Surprised by the Voice of God that deals with the prophetic gift (which I also quoted in a post åt Grace Ground recently, http://www.graceground.com/sweden/holy-spirit-activism/is-the-church-of-acts-abnormal/ )

Power Evangelism by John Wimber. In this quite Classic book, Wimber outlines his Kingdom theology and his idea of spreading the Gospel in the power of the Spirit, which bitter the Vineyard movement of which he is seen as the founder of. As a former cessationist, he combines evangelical and charismatic theology and point out the problems with denying the present work of the Spirit while he keeps away from the hysteria, authoritarianism and prosperity preaching that often characterises traditional Pentecostals. His main thesis is that miracles are strongly connected to Jesus’s message about the Kingdom of God, and they are powerful tools for evangelism (see Mark 16:20, Acts 14:3), thus they cannot have ended since we still are to spread the Kingdom and the Gospel also when we have the Bible.

So, please check these books out and see if they can be something. God bless you!

Micael

http://poweractivism.wordpress.com/ Micael Grenholm

I have to excuse my bad spelling, the phone I’m writing on automatically corrects to Swedish words (e.g. so that far becomes får, which means sheep).

Another book I can recommend on the same topic is Naturally Supernatural by Gary Best. Best is the leader of Vineyard Canada and a personal friend to both Wimber and Deere. He writes about striving for a sober Charismatic theology in a more light-weighted style than them, with many accounts of his personal failures and angers along with the breakthroughs and signs and wonders. With a lot of humour as well as wisdom, he writes about how to become naturally supernatural – a wonderworking disciple that doesn’t fall for crazy Charismania. I recommend you to start with Deere and Wimber, and if you got interested, you’ll probably get out something from Best as well.

Again, God bless you!
http://www.tillhecomes.org Jeremy Myers

Yes, I have read “Surprised by the Power of the Holy Spirit” by Jack Deere. That is a very good book. Maybe I should put it on my list here…. I was also encouraged and instructed by some of what RT Kendall has written about the Holy Spirit. Have you read much from him?

http://helapingsten.wordpress.com/ Micael Grenholm

Oh, great! I’m glad you enjoyed it, I think I got the wrong impressions of your views before, sorry for that. I haven’t read Kendall yet unfortunately but I’ve heard a lot of good things about him, I defenitely like his idea of combining the Word and the Spirit.

If you liked Deere I’m sure you’ll like Wimber and Best as well, not to mention Deere’s sequel Surprised by the Voice of God.

God bless you!

Micael

http://antwrites.com Ant Writes

May I add a book for your parenting book?
“What He Must Be if He wants to marry my Daughter”
by Voddie Baucham
He’s a quiverfull homeschooler and what he said shot me right between the eyes. I’ve become a better parent because of it.

He has a few more older titles that I’m fixin’ to get my hands on.

http://www.tillhecomes.org Jeremy Myers

Voddie is great. I have not read that book, and will put it on my list!

http://antwrites.com Ant Writes

I can lend it to you if you’d like.

http://www.tillhecomes.org Jeremy Myers

Nah. I like to write and scribble in my books. Thanks though!

http://antwrites.com Ant Writes

I am so NOT that. My books are pristine. The only thing I do is dog-ear which my wife hates

The Best Books Every Christian Should Read