I've only listed books that I rate 4 or 5 stars on goodreads.com, because I haven't had time to list anything else and because I want to show you the main books that have had such a positive impact on my life.
Please leave a comment below if you have any questions or would like to add your thoughts. I'd love to hear from you!
Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist by John PiperMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
I am so glad John Piper wrote this book. This is his flagship book. With it he helps us understand not only what the meaning of life is, to glorify God, but also how to bring him the most glory with your life. "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him."
If you go to www.desiringgod.org, you can find a plethora of free resources (i.e., articles, mp3's, videos) to help you enjoy and glorify God.
Or you can buy this book here:
Desiring God, Revised Edition: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist
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Life in the Trinity: An Introduction to Theology with the Help of the Church Fathers by Donald FairbairnMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Fairbairn does the church a wonderful service, by showing in this book that through our union with Christ believers actually have begun to participate in God the Son's own communion with God the Father. It is so helpful! This is the main stuff that makes the gospel good news! I'm so glad my Sys Theo prof recommended it. He gets to the heart of our faith with great clarity (with the help of the church fathers). It's one of those books that helped me so much that I'm surprised that not many people have heard of it.
If you'd like a copy, you can get one here: http://amzn.to/1oNT7Pf
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Delighting in the Trinity: An Introduction to the Christian Faith by Michael ReevesMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Trinity is the glorious alpha and omega of all creation. It is impossible to speak too highly of this triune God. This book takes a glimpse at the infinite, mysterious glory of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; but it does it most winsomely, enjoyably, and, dare I say, practically. Reeves' book is an accessible introduction to this doctrine, with which anyone, regardless of their familiarity with the doctrine, should be able to find Spiritual refreshment. With God's help, you will have fun reading this, learn, and sing the praises of this God who always has been and will be love.
You can find the book here: http://amzn.to/1phSfTC
The reason I bought the book was that I listened to Tony Reinke interview Michael Reeves about this book. You can too here: http://www.desiringgod.org/interviews...
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A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World by Paul E. MillerMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
I loved this book. I've been learning about the truth that we participate in Christ's relationship with God the Father (with the help of this book: Life in the Trinity: An Introduction to Theology with the Help of the Church Fathers
), and this was a lovely application of that truth. That we can enjoy Christ's own fellowship with God as "our Father" in prayer is something I never want to get over. Miller also really helped me learn how to let the real me meet the real God in prayer.
If you'd like a copy, you can get one here: http://amzn.to/1phV5Ib
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Resurrection and Redemption, A study in Paul's Soteriology by Richard B. Gaffin Jr.My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book really served to move my faith from abstract to concrete, as far as understanding what it actually means to be redeemed in Christ. It takes some real careful, prayerful effort to understand some things, but it is worth it. Here are some of the best things I can think of about this book:
1. It is exegetical. Gaffin is showing us what Paul had to say about salvation. Exegesis par excellence. So it helps our faith rest less in the wisdom of men and more in the holy word of God.
2. It is trinitarian. God the Father raised Jesus from the dead and anointed him with the pure Spiritual oil of every blessing, seating him at his right hand far above all.
3. It roots our salvation in the historical cluster of events centered in and with and through Christ's person and work, the same events which Paul said were "of first importance" (1 Corinthians 15:1ff). So Gaffin does not spend his time with any trifle here. This is the good news of Christ! This is the most important stuff to read and teach and live and die for.
4. As a result of point 3, he serves to balance and develop some contemporary teaching that so focuses on Christ's death that it functionally excludes his resurrection. But, like Luther said, our salvation is like a marriage, where Jesus takes all that is ours and we get all that is his. In his obedience unto death he took what was rightfully ours (sin-though he was sinless, suffering, death, shame, curses, wrath, judgment). So now in his resurrection we get to enjoy all that is rightfully his alone (the reward for his perfect righteousness of being blessed as God's righteous, holy, adopted children--blessed beyond probation so that one day we will be able to do only what pleases him...).
If you want to but this book, you can get it here: Resurrection and Redemption: A Study in Paul's Soteriology
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The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism by Timothy KellerMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
A helpful book for skeptics, those who minister to them, for those who doubt, and for those looking to see just how rock solid the Christian testimony to God and the gospel of Christ is. Keller portrays Christianity as rationally credible and existentially satisfying.
I listened to this on an audio book, but I would recommend actually getting the book to read, highlight, and interact with. You can find it here: http://amzn.to/1r7gh1D
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Inside Out by Larry CrabbMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
With Inside Out, Crabb does us a great service connecting the gospel of Christ to our hearts' deepest longings, needs, and motivations. This book is particularly incisive in discovering our hearts' deceitful self-salvation projects. For that reason alone this book is worth 5 stars. It's not perfect though--no merely human book is. Test what he says with Scripture and ask your pastor about what he has to say. For example, he sometimes places a little too much significance in the work we can perform and not enough in the righteousness of Christ. Nevertheless, this is a very helpful book to uncover your sin. Just make sure, as someone has said, that with every look at your sin, take ten looks at Christ.
You can get this book here on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1oavmRO
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God Is the Gospel: Meditations on God's Love as the Gift of Himself by John PiperMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
What I love about Piper's books is that he doesn't waste time dealing with peripheral, tertiary matters. That means reading his books is no waste of time either. He gets to the main stuff quickly and often. And this book is clearly no exception.
He shows that the greatest thing that the gospel gives us is God himself. Christ's bloody death was not meaningless. Its ultimate purpose was to glorify God, and in so doing to bring us to enjoy God as our holy Father (cf. 1 Peter 3:18).
So if you're in need of setting your heart more on God, if you need your chin lifted and your soul righted in a more Godward direction, pick up this book.
God Is the Gospel: Meditations on God's Love as the Gift of Himself
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