A professor of mine from Whitworth College once said something to the effect of, “it’s not important how many books you read, but how many quality books you know deeply.” I have tried to take this into account for both my sanctification and personal walk with the Lord as well as to have a great impact on my educational and professional stature. Here is a list of books that I deem worthy, both through an incredible witness of the Spirit in my own life as well as those that have proven the test of time, to be read over and over again, once a year if possible:
The Essentials:
St. Athanasius: On The Incarnation
St. Augustine: Confessions
Karl Barth: Kirkliche Dogmatische
John Calvin: Institutes of the Christian Religion
Thomas Kempis: Imitation of Christ
Brother Lawrence: Practice of the Presence of God
C.S. Lewis: Four Loves, Mere Christianity and The Weight of Glory
Martin Luther: Bondage of the Will and Freedom of the Christian
J.I. Packer: Knowing God
John Piper: Desiring God and Legacy of Sovereign Joy
Jerry Sittser: When God Doesn’t Answer Your Prayers
Gary Thomas: Sacred Marriage
This list is not exhaustive and is not set in stone. Neither do I actually read every book on this list every year but find it very important to supplement reading new material with combing through the old greats that God has used so masterfully to shape and correct my life. I am indebted to the way God has used these author’s to touch and transform my life. While these texts may continue, on a cyclical basis, to be transforming, there are still quite a few others that should be read, however they are not on my short list of writings that I spend most of my time re-absorbing. Here are the other recommendations for going deeper still.
Systematic Theology:
Thomas Aquinas: Summa Theologica
Karl Barth: Kirkliche Dogmatische
Louis Berkhof: Systematic Theology and Introductory Volume to Systematic Theology
John Calvin: Institutes of the Christian Religion
Wayne Grudem: Systematic Theology
Charles Hodge: Systematic Theology
Alister McGrath: Christian Theology: An Introduction
Henry Thiessen: Introductory Lectures in Systematic Theology
Classic Theological Works:
Saint Augustine: Confessions, Enchiridion, City of God, The Spirit and the Letter
Jonathan Edwards: Freedom of the Will, The Religious Affections
Martin Luther: Bondage of the Will, Freedom of the Christian, Commentary on Galatians
J.I. Packer: Knowing God, Praying
John Piper: Desiring God, Future Grace, The Swans Are Not Silent (Biographical Series)
Biographical and Historical Works:
Homiletics:
Biblical Studies:
Marriage and Family:
The Christian Life:
