I'm always attracted to "top ten" (or 20 or 50) lists of books that authors, theologians, pastors, or scholars give as recommended reading. Each year at the Basics Pastors' Conference at Parkside Church, Alistair Begg gives his current list of top ten books. Here's the list for 2016, and his notes:A Body of Divinity, Thomas Watson, Banner of Truth.
Based on the Westminster Assembly’s Shorter Catechism, this book deals with the foremost truths of the Christian faith. Watson conveys his knowledge of the truth in an original, concise, pithy and illustrative style.
Confessing the Faith, Chad Van Dixhoorn, Banner of Truth.
The Westminster Confession of Faith finds itself in the first rank of great Christian creeds. In this book, Dixhoorn seeks to deepen our understanding of each paragraph of the Confession. Challenging hearts and minds, Confessing the Faith hopes to edify and instruct both advanced and general audiences.
Heroes, Iain Murray, Banner of Truth.
The Bible no more knows a separate class of heroes than it does of saints. Yet grace so shines in some, that it lightens the path of many. As A.W. Tozer could write, “Next to the Holy Scriptures, the greatest aid to the life of faith may be Christian biographies”. In this book, Murray sheds light not only on some well known figures in church history but also on some of those who are not so well known, encouraging readers to see what Christ did “yesterday” and be energized to trust and serve him today.
Honest Evangelism, Rico Tice, Good Book Company.
Hostility and hunger—that’s the response to the message of Jesus. The first is painful, the second is wonderful, and Rico Tice is honest about both. Short, clear, realistic and humorous, this book will challenge you to be honest in your conversations about Jesus, help you to know how to talk about him, and thrill you that God can and will use ordinary people to change eternal destinies.
How the Church Can Change Your Life, Josh Moody, Christian Focus.
Google books on church, there will be no shortage of choice. Some will be helpful, others less so. So why another book on church? Josh Moody is asking a very different question: why should I go to church at all? Filled with practical advice, this book will help you address questions you should know the answers to and others you never knew to ask.
Isaiah by the Day, Alec Motyer, Christian Focus.
These daily devotionals are birthed from a lifetime of study on the prophecy of Isaiah. Day by day, readers are provided with passages from Isaiah and an opportunity to explore them further.
Morning and Evening, Charles Spurgeon, Crossway.
For over one hundred years, Christians have treasured Charles Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening devotional. With a reading for the beginning and end of each day throughout the year, this book helps the reader appreciate Spurgeon’s emphasis on the importance of abiding in Christ and meditating on God’s
Word. His wisdom and counsel provide a timeless guide through the trials and triumphs of the year.
The Gagging of God, D.A. Carson, Zondervan.
Is Jesus the only way to God? This clear, scholarly response to that question affirms the deep need for the Gospel’s exclusive message in today’s increasingly pluralistic global community. The Gagging of God offers an in-depth look at the big picture, showing how the many ramifications of pluralism are all parts of a whole, and then provides a systematic Christian response.
The Whole Christ, Sinclair Ferguson, Crossway.
Since the days of the early church, Christians have wrestled with the relationship between law and gospel. Sinclair Ferguson shows us that the antidote to the poisons of both legalism and antinomianism is one and the same: the life-giving gospel of Jesus Christ, in whom we are simultaneously justified by faith, freed for good works, and assured of salvation.
Remaking a Broken World, Christopher Ash, 10 of Those.
The thing about Christianity – for many today – is not whether it is true or false, but that it is simply irrelevant. In a sweep through the whole Bible story, this book shows that the ordinary local Christian church, if it is faithful to the Bible, is the most significant happening in the world. Here are the beginnings
of the remaking of a broken world. This – in spite of appearances – really is “where it happens”. Anyone interested in the Christian faith will be stimulated and provoked by this fresh Bible overview.
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