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topic: Top 3 books that most influenced your spirituality?


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message 1: by Katie (new)

67900 Mine are - in no particular order (and excluding the Bible obviously):-
Landmarks by Margaret Silf
A Journey into God by Delia Smith
The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren


message 2: by Jared (new)

44648 Mine would probably be: A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life, by William Law; No Compromise: The Life Story of Keith Green, by Melody Green; and George MacDonald, An Anthology, by C.S. Lewis.


message 3: by deleted member (new)

Greetings, mine would be: Soul Survivor by Philip Yancey, Honest to God by John A. T. Robinson (not that I adopt his thinking, but his reflection and honesty, well, inspire me to other directions), and the Orthodox-Heretics volumes by G. K. Chesterton (I can't bring myself to choose one of the two).


message 4: by Jana (new)

391789 Besides the Bible, I would have to say Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby, The Battle Belongs to the Lord by Joyce Meyer and Lord, I Want to be Whole by Stormie Omartian.


message 5: by Lori (new)

389386 Classic Christianity by Bob George
How Big is Your God by Ed Bulkley
Seduction of Christianity by Dave Hunt



message 6: by Llama (new)

403014 Obviously besides the Bible, ummm ....
I would say Elyse Fitzpatrick's Idols of the Heart, Paul Tripp's Instruments in the Redeemer's Hand and Jerry Bridges Trusting God.





message 7: by Jafortiori (new)

Nophoto-m-25x33 The Historical Reliability of the Gospels by Craig Blomberg

The Jesus I Never Knew by Phil Yancey

The Practice of Godliness by Jerry Bridges



message 8: by Heather (new)

70756 Definitely tough to choose. I think....
Disciplines of Grace by Jerry Bridges
The Cross-Centered Life by C.J. Mahaney
Knowing God by J.I. Packer


message 9: by Coyle (new)

433617 Hmm...
The Bible, of course.
Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan
The Mortification of Sin by John Owen



message 10: by Angie (new)

527330 This is tough but I would have to choose:
He chose the nails by Max Lucado
Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
The secret power of speaking God's word by Joyce Meyer


message 11: by deleted member (new)

There are so many great ones! My all-time favorite (I own two dogeared copies) would be The Imitation of Christ (Thomas a Kempis). The other two are significant for me mostly because of timing (they were just what I needed at the time): Revelations of Divine Love (Julian of Norwich) and Crisis of Faith, Crisis of Love (Thomas Keating).


message 12: by Jana (new)

391789 I've finished reading an excellent fantasy novel called "The Restorer" by Sharon Hinck. It is AMAZING! I highly recommend it. It's a page turner.


message 13: by Sylvia (new)

680114 The Bible is, of course, the obvious one. Others that have been incredibly influential have been The Catechism of the Catholic Church, Divine Mercy in My Soul: The Diary of St. Faustina Kowalska, and The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis. I am in the process of reading those three, but they have all made a huge impact on my spiritual life. I'm glad that they're long enough to last me for a long time.

Others that deserve honorable mention are The Confessions of St. Augustine, Go in Peace by John Paul II, Miracles by C.S. Lewis, Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila, The Spirit of the Liturgy by Cardinal Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI), and I have to add Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss. I have always loved it and it has inspired me in so many different ways.

Hehe...I couldn't possibly restrict myself to only three. ;-)


message 14: by Skylar (new)

710201 (1) Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis, which, next to the Bible, is the book most responsible for my conversion to Christianity
(2) Death on a Friday Afternoon by Richard John Neuhaus
(3) Seven Storey Mountain by Thomas Merton




message 15: by Merry (new)

709841 Well, I def like a bunch of books by Ted Dekker. Have any of you read the Martyr's Song?


message 16: by Karen (new)

979933 Of course, first is the Bible.
Second, I'd have to say "Become a Better You" by Joel Osteen.
Third, "Rebel With a Cause" by Franklin Graham--it's his autobiography which made me aware of the Samaritan's Purse ministry which I began to support after reading this book and also increased my faith by introducing me to the "God Room" principle.




message 17: by Edwin (new)

537265 The book that defently influenced me is "A body of Divinity" by Thomas Watson. helped me to see attributes of God and how it effects my life. a theological and practial approch to holliness of God. the books i read are varied in themes but the books written about Gods Character(atributes) leave me with some changes in my character.
A w tozer (knoweldge of the holy" is a must read as well.


message 18: by deleted member (new)

Seven Storey Mountain by Thomas Merton
My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers
Letters from a Skeptic, Gregory Boyd


message 19: by Laura (new)

2085746 Revolution Within by Dwight Edwards
Jesus the One and Only by Beth Moore
Our Covenant God by Kay Arthur
Abide in Christ by Andrew Murray

Not all classics, but Revolution Within was the book that first led me to get and explore the Bible. Jesus the One and Only helped me get to know Christ. Our Covenant God brought together an understanding of God in the OT and NT. Abide in Christ is a classic reminding me of the prominance of grace, joy and freedom in Christ.


message 20: by Poiema (new)

1524767 Hi, I'm new and thought I'd jump in on this conversation.
My 3 most influential books are:
*Gospel of John-love, love the concept of Word become flesh
*Lord of the Rings- brilliantly captures the unseen world in which we journey
*The writings of A.W. Tozer- who writes with piercing insight into the modern mind.



message 21: by Jana (new)

391789 I'd have to say:
Lord I Want to be Whole by Stormie Omartian
The Battle Belongs to the Lord by Joyce Meyer
Handle with Prayer by Charles Stanley


message 22: by Laura (last edited Mar 10, 2009 07:11PM) (new)

2085746 Poiema wrote:
The writings of A.W. Tozer- who writes with piercing insight into the modern mind.


Hi, Poiema-
Any particular favorite of Tozer's? What title would you recommend reading first?


message 23: by Sam (new)

606205 hi, my top 3 would be:

-KJV Bible
-Brokenness, Surrender, Holiness - Nancy deMoss
and
-The Worship Driven Life - A.W Tozer (which i would recommend reading if you're after some Tozer)


message 24: by Poiema (new)

1524767 Laura wrote: "Poiema wrote:
The writings of A.W. Tozer- who writes with piercing insight into the modern mind.

Hi, Poiema-
Any particular favorite of Tozer's? What title would you recommend reading first?"


Hello,
I like _The Root of the Righteous_, but really you can't go wrong with any of his titles. There are quite a few devotional books now that have excerpts that would be a good starting point, too. BTW--nice to meetcha!




message 25: by Laura (new)

2085746 Poiema wrote: BTW--nice to meetcha!

Back atcha! =)




message 26: by Judah (new)

2489211 "Mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis,
"He is There and He is Not Silent" By Francis Schaeffer,
"If Prison Walls Could Speak" by Richard Wurmbrand


message 27: by Jerry (new)

2156599 The Companion Bible by E.W Bullinger
Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
Late Great Planet Earth by Hal Lindsey


message 28: by Judah (new)

2489211 Jared wrote: "Mine would probably be: A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life, by William Law; No Compromise: The Life Story of Keith Green, by Melody Green; and George MacDonald, An Anthology, by C.S. Lewis."

Nice. I've never read Law, although I've got a copy, I know Lewis recommended him highly but said he was "too puritanical in parts"
And No Compromise it truly great. It almost made it into my top three.


message 29: by David (new)

502680 What's So Amazing About Grace by Philip Yancey
Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Jesus and the Victory of God by NT Wright

Hard to pick only three, but these 3 authors (along with CS Lewis, the early church fathers and some others) have certainly influenced me most.


message 30: by Bode (new)

2616499 My best books are all by A.W. Tozer
1. The Pursuit of God
2. I talk back to the devil
3. Tragedy in the Church

These have influenced my Christian life and my own writings...see my blogsite
http://recessionproofchristianlife.com/


message 31: by Rhonda (new)

1128567 I find the state of my own heart has a lot to do with how the book resonates with me.

Besides the Bible:
Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis
Grace Awakening by Chuck Swindoll
Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World by Joanna Weaver


message 32: by Ltcomdata (new)

Nophoto-u-25x33 The Business of Heaven (a compilation of passages from C.S. Lewis).

Mere Christianity (by C.S. Lewis)

The ScrewTape Letters (by C.S. Lewis).


message 33: by Traci (new)

1875191 Hmmm, I am going to have to buy Mere Christianity now after seeing its influence...anyways, the first book that ever inspired and motivated me was Dr. Lester Sumralls book about his supernatural conversion and walk with the Lord. It is called "Adventuring with Christ". The next book that actually started me on my "heaven and hell" quest was Rebecca Springers "Within Heavens Gates". This book gave me a hunger to find others experiences with heaven and hell and search the scriptures on this. Recently I have found the author Mary K. Baxter and she has more insight on the subject than anyone else I have found.
In Christ, Traci Jones, CA


message 34: by Traci (new)

1875191 Ive also noticed a lot of AW Tozer fans. I have a few of his books but the ones I really received from are the attributes of God books. I just ordered another one from amazon.com


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