Books
RENOVATION OF THE HEART
by Dallas Willard
This book is our favorite concerning the church wide call to "discipleship". What does it mean to an apprentice or student of Jesus?
While it's not written academically, we suggest reading this book slowly. Don't rush. Dallas is guilty of packing a lot life changing, transformative content into a single paragraph.
THE PURSUIT OF GOD
by A.W. Tozer
"If I could recommend only one book on the basic, counter-culture nature of being a follower of Jesus, this would be it!" -Michael
HOW GOD BECAME KING
By N.T. Wright
This is a great invitation to see the story of scripture through the lens of the Kingdom and God's rule. If you've ever thought, "what on earth am I doing with my life?" or if you've ever wondered what Jesus taught about the gospel, this is a good place to start.
Buy it on AMAZON
THE UNSEEN REALM
By Michael S. Heiser
This is a must read for anyone serious about the biblical languages, context and underlying story: God, gods, divine counsel, idols, angles, demons and every strange section of the bible you've ever encountered, there's actually a reason for it. It will change the way you think about "the problem of evil" and what God is doing about it.
The writing style leans academically, but the average reader will still manage.
KNOWING GOD
By J.I. Packer
For over 40 years, J. I. Packer's classic has been an important tool to help Christians around the world discover the wonder, the glory and the joy of knowing God. Written in an engaging and practical tone, this thought-provoking work seeks to transform and enrich the Christian understanding of God. Explaining both who God is and how we can relate to him, Packer divides his book into three sections: The first directs our attention to how and why we know God, the second to the attributes of God and the third to the benefits enjoyed by a those who know him intimately.
INSTRUMENTS IN THE REDEEMER'S HANDS
By Paul David Tripp
We might be relieved if God placed our sanctification only in the hands of trained professionals, but that is not his plan. Instead, through the ministry of every part of the body, the whole church will mature in Christ.
Paul David Tripp helps us discover where change is needed in our own lives and the lives of others. Following the example of Jesus, Tripp reveals how to get to know people, and how to lovingly speak truth to them.
THE PRODIGAL GOD
By Timothy Keller
Keller takes his trademark intellectual approach to understanding Christianity and uses the parable of the prodigal son to reveal an unexpected message of hope and salvation.
Within that parable Jesus reveals God's prodigal grace toward both the irreligious and the moralistic. This book will challenge both the devout and skeptics to see Christianity in a whole new way.
EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY SPIRITUALITY
By Peter Scazzero
Peter Scazzero outlines a roadmap for discipleship with Jesus that is powerfully transformative. He unveils what's wrong with our current definition of "spiritual growth" and offers not only a model of spirituality that actually works, but seven steps to change that will help you experience authentic faith and hunger for God.
MARRIAGE MATTERS
By Winston T. Smith
This book offers a simple, yet powerful prescription for changing marriages one ordinary moment at a time. Change begins with understanding how and why small disagreements evolve into major problems, taking practical steps to love one another more effectively, and learning how to take those same steps over and over again. Interactions that used to devolve into pointless annoyances and fights can become opportunities for God's love to become increasingly evident and powerful.
THE REASON FOR GOD
By Timothy Keller
Timothy Keller, the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, addresses the frequent doubts that skeptics, and even ardent believers, have about religion. Using literature, philosophy, real-life conversations, and potent reasoning, Keller explains how the belief in a Christian God is, in fact, a sound and rational one. To true believers he offers a solid platform on which to stand their ground against the backlash to religion created by the Age of Skepticism. And to skeptics, atheists, and agnostics, he provides a challenging argument for pursuing the reason for God.
HEARING GOD
By Dallas Willard
This book was extremely helpful as I began to practice listening prayer- allowing room for the Holy Spirit to speak. It's a fantastic book for the realist and/or skeptic. It's an invitation into a daily ongoing relationship with the living God.
I also think this will help Redeemer's Church wade deeper into the waters that allow The Spirit to move and speak in our gatherings.