Christian Classics discussion
Top 3 books that most influenced your spirituality?
date
newest »
newest »
Mod
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).
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.
Classic Christianity by Bob GeorgeHow Big is Your God by Ed Bulkley
Seduction of Christianity by Dave Hunt
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.
The Historical Reliability of the Gospels by Craig BlombergThe Jesus I Never Knew by Phil Yancey
The Practice of Godliness by Jerry Bridges
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
Hmm...The Bible, of course.
Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan
The Mortification of Sin by John Owen
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
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).
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.
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. ;-)
(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
Well, I def like a bunch of books by Ted Dekker. Have any of you read the Martyr's Song?
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.
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.
Seven Storey Mountain by Thomas Merton
My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers
Letters from a Skeptic, Gregory Boyd
My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers
Letters from a Skeptic, Gregory Boyd
Revolution Within by Dwight EdwardsJesus 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.
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.
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
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?
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)
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!
Poiema wrote: BTW--nice to meetcha!Back atcha! =)
"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
The Companion Bible by E.W BullingerPurpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
Late Great Planet Earth by Hal Lindsey
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.
What's So Amazing About Grace by Philip YanceyCost 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.
My best books are all by A.W. Tozer1. 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/
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
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).
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
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
Traci wrote: "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"I'm a fan of AW Tozer's Tragedy in the Church, too.
Every Young Womens Battle. Datable. and the Bible of course :)
Captivating.The Purpose Driven Life
The Bible
Never give up Joyce meyersBattlefield of the mind Joyce Meyers
The purpose driven life
1. The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom 2. Mere Christianity3. Crazy Love by Francis Chan
1. Journey into Godf by Delia Smith - Amazing2. Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster
3. God in All things by Gerard Hughes - this is a particularly good one
Haha, I just gave the same answer on another thread:- Knowing God, JI Packer
- Desiring God, John Piper
- The Cross of Christ, John Stott
(This topic would make a great listopia list, anyone want to make one?)
Sorry I have 4 not 3 These I would say have been life changingThe Cost of Discipleship - Bonheoffer
The Pursuit of God - Tozer
My Utmost for His Highest - Chambers
The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse - Johnson & VanVonderen
The Institutes by Calvin is by far the most used- binding is now broken and cover is loose. Changed everythingBut "three" others
Knowledge of the Holy - Tozer
Changed and broadened my view of God
Idols for Destruction - Schlossberg
Changed my world-view and outlook
That You May Prosper - Ray Sutton
Christ of the Covenants - O. Palmer Robertson
Changed my views of Scripture unity and eschalogy
Last two read at the same time.
Not counting the Bible, here are my three:1--Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ by Jeanne Guyon
2--The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence
3--Driven by Eternity by John Bevere
1) The Disciplines of Grace by Jerry Bridges2) The Prodigal God by Timothy Keller
3) The Holiness of God by RC Sproul
Landmarks by Margaret Silf
A Journey into God by Delia Smith
The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren