Name 3 Christian Books you couldn't have survived without.

[Rod]

Okay, just for fun...

Please name 3 Christian books that you couldn't have survived this far without. Please keep it short and sweet.

Here's mine:
1) ESV Study Bible (2008) Red/White/Black edition

This book has made me a theologian.

2) The Bible: A History - the making and impact of the Bible. By Stephen M. Miller & Robert V. Huber

How did the Bible get from Jesus to our hands.

3) The Case For Faith: by Lee Strobel.

This book began my journey into Apologetics and Christian philosophy.

[Graham]

1. I Kissed Dating Goodbye by Joshua Harris. This book spoke to me at a time in my life when I desperately needed to hear it's message and left a strong imprint on me that has served me well ever since.

2. Wild at Heart by John Eldredge. This book was amazing, life changing, one of the most honest and real books I've ever read.

3. Mine - No Way Out But Through. I needed to write this book to get it out of my system and to put closure to a long period in the spiritual wilderness. I don't honestly think I'd still be around if I hadn't written this book.

[Taiwo]

1. Final Quest
2. Born After Midnight
3.School OF the Spirit by Liardon Robert

[Rod]

For a group with hundreds of authors and people begging for attention:

Not alot of deep thinking going on. Strange?! I guess that's the state of Christianity.

[Keleigh]

1. Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
2. The Screwtape Letter by C.S. Lewis
3. The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe by...you guessed it.

Rod, I am going to order, The Bible: A History right now.

[Rod]

Those are three AWESOME books Keleigh. Every Christian should be forced to read them. Just for fun!

I hope you find that book Keleigh. It's a big heavy one. :D - I get tons of use out of it.

[Troy]

With contributors like Wayne Grudem, JI Packer, Thomas R. Schreiner, Mark Dever, John Piper, and R. Kent Hughes, just to name a few, you can't go wrong with the ESV Study Bible.

Read Reflections on the Psalms by CS Lewis. It will blow your mind!

It's hard for me to pick just 3 so here's my essentials list:

ESV Study Bible and NLT One Year Bible (thinline large print)

Basic Christianity by John Stott

How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth by Fee and Stuart

Crazy Love by Francis Chan and Radical by David Platt (read them together for full effect)

Dug Down Deep by Joshua Harris

Don't Call it a Comeback by Kevin DeYoung

Overcoming Sin and Temptation by John Owen

Desiring God by John Piper

Power Through Prayer by EM Bounds

[Jill]

Chosen by God - RC Sproul
Mere Christianity - CS Lewis
Evidence that demands a verdict - Josh McDowell

[Amy]

Made for More--Curtis Martin
What's So Great About Christianity--Dinesh Disouza
Rediscovering Catholicism--Matthew Kelly

I'm really looking forward to reading "Mere Christianity."

[Rod]

Thanks everyone - important books.

Jill I'm glad you mentioned R.C.'s Chosen By God book. (I must go find that.) :D

[Dylan]

Humility - Andrew Murray
Absolute surrender - Andrew Murray
Anything by Douglas Lloyd Jones

[Dylan]

Hahah sorry martyn Lloyd jones. My brain is tired.

[Simona]

How to enjoy the bible. By E.W.Bullinger
Sit Walk Stand. By Watchman Nee
Excited about Ephesians . By Peter Wade

[Natasha]

Spiritual Slavery to Spiritual Sonship by Jack Frost (amazing book about the Father's heart toward us!)
A better Way to Pray
Blessed Child by Ted Dekker (What a way to stir your heart up for miracles!)

[Janet]

Besides the Bible: 66 Love Letters by Larry Crabb, The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence, and Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster. (Dug Down Deep by Joshua Harris and Diamonds in the Dust by Joni Eareckson Tada are up there, too.)

[Lisa]

1) The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom
2) Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
3) The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis

[Jennifer]

Besides the Bible,
1. The Practive of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence
2. Any book by C.S.Lewis
3. The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonheiffer

[Rod]

Some great stuff everyone. Books that every Christian should read.

I'm going to have to find a Ted Dekker book to read.

[Troy]

R.C. Sproul is always amazing, and so is Joshua Harris lately. You can find his new stuff weekly on vimeo.

[Susan]

Just joined and looking forward to reading more this year. Thanks for the insights!

[Wm. Scott]

The Cost of Discipleship, by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Lots of aha moments. And will cement an appreciation of grace that can never be removed.


The Pilgrim's Progress, by John Bunyan. An amazing allegory almost any Christian can identify with regarding their own walk with God.


Foxe's Book of Martyrs, by John Foxe. Lest we forget and grow to comfortable in our air-conditioned churches, with their high-tech sound systems and padded pews.

And a Christian cannot go wrong reading everything he can get his hands on by C. S. Lewis. One author it is impossible to overrate is Lewis.

[Kayla]

1.'The Circle Maker' by Mark Batterson
2.''So Long Insecurity' by Beth Moore
3.'a call to die' by David Nasser

[Diona]

Destined To Overcome by Bill Heimer
Final Quest by Rick Joyner
Experiencing The Depths of Jesus Christ by Guyon

[Bria]

There have been quite a few really...but these three I grew up with and they shaped how I think:

The Singer Trilogy: The Mythic Retelling of the Story of the New Testament

The Pilgrim's Progress

The Bait Of Satan: Living Free from the Deadly Trap of Offense

And honestly, anything by C.S. Lewis. Oh, and I have to include The Garden At The Edge Of Beyond! Ok, I can stop there I think, ha.

[Nicole]

*Besides the Bible*

1.)My Utmost for His Highest - Updated by Oswald Chambers
2.) The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom
3.) Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska: Divine Mercy in My Soul by Faustina Kowalska

[Rod]

Thanks Bria. I really do need to read THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS.

Wow Nicole - it's been decades since I read THE HIDING PLACE. I look forward to meeting Corrie Ten Boom in Heaven. What a lady.

[MaryAnn (EmilyD1037)]

The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a 'Kempis
Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales
A Right to Be Merry by Sr. Mary Francis

Close seconds:
In His Steps by Charles Sheldon
The Cross and the Switchblade
The Pilgrim's Progress

[Colette]

Disciplines for the Inner Life by Robert Benson
The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom
With New Eyes by Margaret Becker

I have 6 others, but won't list them here right now.

[Jade Faith]

1. Battlefield of The Mind by Joyce Meyer
2. Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge
3. Power of A Whisper by Bill Hybels

[Troy]

Again: Joyce Meyer is not a Christian. She teaches many things contrary to the Bible. Look her up on any of the major apologetics and cult watch websites, and you will see this immediately.

[Lori]

1. The Bible of course,
2. The Bait of Satan by John Bevere. this is about getting free from the trap of offense. this book really changed my life and I recommend it to everyone. living life without feeling offended by every little thing is liberating and makes us more like Jesus.
3. the Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren and anything by Joyce Meyer!

[Simona]

Inspired by the Psslms
Elizabeth Nixon

Dominion Surges
Randy Demain

Operation Screwtape
Andrew Farley

any book by CS Lewis

[Pamela]

Christian biography:
1. Heavenly Man by Brother Yun
2. East Wind by Ruth Hunt
3. Living a Life of Fire by Reinhard Bonnke

Christian teaching:
1.Choosing Gratitude by Nancy Leigh DeMoss
2. And God Changed his Mind byBrother Andrew
3. Francis Schaeffer Trilogy

[Henry]

1. The Pilgrim's Progress, by John Bunyan
2. By Their Blood, by James and Marti Hefley; (Foxe's Book of Martyr's --also a great book-- for the 20th century)
3. Faith's Checkbook, by Charles Spurgeon

[Kayla]

Rod wrote: "Okay, just for fun...

Please name 3 Christian books that you couldn't have survived this far without. Please keep it short and sweet.

Here's mine:
1) ESV Study Bible (2008) Red/White/Black editio..."

I wonder if my library would have some of these books

[Charles]

WHO IS THIS MAN by john ortberg
12 Titanic lessons for Christians
THE HOLY BIBLE (KJV)

[Diaxus]

1. HCSB Apologetics Study Bible- Very useful as it combines the most important Book, God's Word, with many and various essays from some some of Christianity's greatest thinkers of the 20th and 21st centuries.

2. Mere Christianity- C.S. Lewis has a way about him in his writing that reminds me of Paul, namely his ability to explore and link together the various facets of morality and tie them all in to God as the source.

3. Beyond Opinion- A collection of essays edited into chapters by Ravi Zacharias. There are answers for a bit of everything.

[Rod]

I am still debating whether to buy the Apologetics Study Bible Diaxus.It's really good. but... I have a whole lot of Bibles and study Bibles around the house. Maybe if they keep revising it.

Everything Ravi writes is worth reading.

[Charles]

Please read 12 TITANIC LESSONS FOR CHRISTIANS (Millennium Vision Press 2014). I would also like to get your feedback on this book. Here is the Link: http://amzn.com/0975949039

The author
Charles C. Hagan, Jr.

[Jeff]

As I thought about the Christian books I've read, and then looked at the many greats I've not yet even touched upon, I feel like such a novice in this field. Even among the relatively few I have read, it's tough to narrow it down, but per the question asked, my top 4 (sorry, I didn't know which one to drop) are (apart from the Bible--a good, literal translation--which is an obvious number 1):

*The Practice of the Presence of God, by Brother Lawrence. This book help me appreciate the possibility, and blessings, of a life in constant communion with God.
*Pleasures Evermore, by Sam Storms. In the vein of John Piper's Desiring God, this book helped me see the abundant joy that can be found in Christ, and the superiority of that joy to anything the world can offer. I chose this over Desiring God simply because it's easier for a limited education reader like me to grasp. :^)
*Screwtape Letters, by C. S. Lewis. Simply a great fictionalized read of someone who read Satan's mail. Read this, & learn how to deal with his wiles.
*The Ragamuffin Gospel, by Brennan Manning. We all fit into this category, and those who think they don't are probably fooling themselves. Manning reminds Christians that, in our flesh, we're all far removed from the perfections of Christ--and that's OK, since He is our life.

[Diaxus]

Rod wrote: "I am still debating whether to buy the Apologetics Study Bible Diaxus.It's really good. but... I have a whole lot of Bibles and study Bibles around the house. Maybe if they keep revising it.

Every..."

I get your conflict all too well Rod. I can say that the Apologetics Bible has one benefit not typically found in others, namely the scholarly level of information in both footnotes and intermittent papers from many capable apologists. Whether or not this is a worthy benefit really depends on one's calling and/or interests. I plan to keep up with revisions as well :-)

Agreed. Ravi is one of the greatest apologists of our time, and has become so because of his humility and gentleness of spirit. God has used him mightily :-)

[Fran]

Wow ! I have just joined this group and reading Christian books, so I'll have a lot to add to my TBR :-)

[Rod]

Thanks Diaxus. If Ravi Zacharias approves of the study Bible then I will check it out again.
(Ravi is just about my favorite person on this planet - Don't tell my Dog, he's very emotional and needy!)

[Rod]

Please add Fran. Great to have you here.

[Jade Faith]

Battlefield of The Mind - Joyce Meyer
Captivating - Stasi & John Eldredge
Extraordinary - John Bevere

[Robert]

1. Why Revival Tarries by Leonard Ravenhill
2. Set thy Trumpet to Thy Mouth by David Wilkerson
3. Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.

[Alexander]

1.Confronting the Cults by Gordon Lewis
2.The Contemporary Christian by John Stott
3.Aunthentic Christianity by Ray Stedman

And of course everything from the pen of Mr Charles Haddon Spurgeon, he's my hero!

[Sheila]

1.The Bible
2. Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young
3.Fasting, by Jentezen Franklin

[Catrina]

1. The Good News Bible
2. Hinds Feet to High Places, Hannah Hurnard
3. Pigs in the Parlor, Frank Hammond

[Dana]

1. One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
2. Lament For A Son by Nicholas Wolterstorff
3. A Grace Disguised by Gerald Sittser

In the Cleft Joy Comes In the Mourning: A Story of Hope After Tragedy