Practical Faith

01

Knowing God - J.I. Packer

This is a heavy book - almost textbook-like. But, what a treasure trove of information about God. Packer pulls from all over scripture to show the nature and character of God in one handy volume.

 

02

Mere Christianity - C.S. Lewis

Great for a practical understanding of beliefs commonly held by all Christians. One of Steven's favorite books.

 

03

Celebration of Discipline - Richard Foster

Foster presents 12 disciplines that can radically affect a Christian's life. Great book to read one chapter per month and work on the application of that chapter.

 

04

12 Ordinary Men - John MacArthur

Eden loves character studies. In this book, Dr. MacArthur dissects the utter mundaneness of the 12 apostles and masterfully captures how Jesus turned their weakness and failures into strength and success for the kingdom. They literally changed the world. And they started off just as ordinary and broken as you and me. 

 

05

Systematic Theology - Wayne Grudem

This is beefy. It's as thick as many of these other books combined, but it gives a very in-depth presentation of theological issues. Great go-to reference on everything from angels to the canon of scripture.

 

06

The Knowledge of the Holy - A.W. Tozer

Though as finite beings we can never truly understand our infinite God, this book gives us a great glimpse into His character.

 

07

Great Lives from God's Word - Charles Swindoll

This is a nine-book series where each looks in-depth at the life of a key figure in scripture. Covered are Esther, Job, David, Elijah, Paul, Moses, Joseph, and Jesus. Then last volume, Fascinating Stories of Forgotten Lives, covers 14 more characters that you may, or may not, have heard of before. Reading any book by Chuck Swindoll is like listening to the wise stories of a well-loved friend. His style is easy-to-read and engagingly personal.

 

08

No Wonder They Call Him Savior - Max Lucado

Max is an amazing storyteller and Steven is a huge fan. This is a beautiful look at the death and resurrection of Jesus and brings it to life in a way few others could.

 

09

The Gospel According to Jesus - John MacArthur

MacArthur looks at how Jesus taught the Gospel to his disciples and then compares that to how it is taught in churches today. Finding many teachers moving away from Christ's standards and teaching, MacArthur calls on his readers to remember that following Jesus as LORD is just as important as having faith in Him.

 

10

Trusting God - Jerry Bridges 

Learning to trust God in hard times is a difficult process.  Learning to trust God through the typical heartaches of life isn't easy either, but it too is a process. This book was born out of a long Bible study into God's sovereignty in an effort to strengthen his own trust in God. "It is written from the perspective of a brother and companion to all those who are tempted at times to ask, 'Can I really trust God?'" (taken from the preface).

 

11

Spiritual Depression - Martin Lloyd-Jones

Eden has struggled with depression most of her life.  This book has had a tremendous impact on her perspective, mainly this: allowing depression to rob us of our joy creates a negative testimony for God. Lloyd-Jones carefully and compassionately analyzes the causes and also points the way to the cure. Anytime depression rears its ugly head (and it does), she reaches for this book to keep her out of the emotional mire. It refocuses her perspective and points her back to the reason for joy - the Word of God.

 

12

Gospel Treason - Brad Bigney

When we allow our own desires, goals, and cravings to take precedence over Jesus our Savior, we commit spiritual treason.  Using real-life examples, Pastor Bigney provides a heartfelt and honest look at the devastating effect these idols in our lives create when we don't deal with them the way God wants us to. 

 

13

Every Woman's Battle - Shannon Ethridge

A must-read for every wife - and potential wife. "The only way you as a woman can survive the intense struggle for sexual integrity is by guarding not just your body, but your mind and heart as well." 

 

14

When the Hurt Runs Deep - Kay Arthur 

When life gets desperately hard because of hurt, whether we've brought it on ourselves because of our sin, or whether someone else has wounded us to our core, it helps to know we're not alone.  Kay's uses her own experiences to share 12 key truths about healing and hurt. "Because no matter how deep the hurt, God's love runs deeper still."  For Eden, this book has been like the friend who walks beside her, arm around her shoulders, acknowledging the pain, and sticking with her in the midst of life's toughest, most painful and confusing times.

 

15

My Utmost for His Highest - Oswald Chambers

"This acknowledged classic contains 365 daily readings that take heady doctrine and make it practical, realistic, and intensely personal. With humor and humility, Chambers speaks plainly to the common man struggling with devotion to Christ in daily living. " (Amazon.com review)