15 Key Christian Books for Your 2025 Reading List
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning Beautiful Christian Life LLC may get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through its links, at no cost to you.
Kickstart the new year by adding these key books on the Christian faith to your 2025 reading list, and they make great Christmas gifts too! (Click here for the 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, and 2018 lists.)
1. Shepherds for Sale: How Evangelical Leaders Traded the Truth for a Leftist Agenda by Megan Basham (Broadside Books)
As the preacher declares in Ecclesiastes, “There is nothing new under the sun” (1:9). The early church struggled with those who claimed to be God’s shepherds but instead put themselves first over the gospel (e.g., Rom. 16:17-18; Phil. 3:18-19; 2 Pet. 2:1-3; Gal. 1:6-7; 2 Tim. 3:1-5; Col. 2:8), and today the church is faced with an onslaught of leftist advocates who are infiltrating the church via both gullible and knowledgeable leaders at the local and national level.
In Shepherds for Sale: How Evangelical Leaders Traded the Truth for a Leftist Agenda, author and reporter Megan Basham addresses the following leftist ideologies being pushed from the pulpit and Christian media elites, a.k.a. “Big Eva”: climate change activism, illegal immigration, the hijacking of the pro-life movement to push for more social welfare, Covid-19 propaganda, the #MeToo and #ChurchToo movements, and increasing acceptance of LGBTQ beliefs.
But why would influential leaders in the church push for the above agendas? As someone once said, “The answer’s the money. Now what was the question?” According to Basham, huge sums have been spent by leftist organizations to entice Christians to open the door to teachings that may seem loving but at their core deny the whole counsel of God’s word and attack God’s moral law. And we all know that with money comes power. According to Voddie Baucham, bestselling author of Fault Lines and dean of the School of Divinity at African Christian University in Lusaka, Zambia,
Anybody paying attention to the current state of the culture can see that things are in disarray. And many have wondered where Evangelical elites have been. Well, Megan Basham has the answer. She reveals that many of them have served as puppets and pawns of the enemies of the Gospel, and she provides receipts! This book is riveting, and, at times, difficult to read because of the deeds it uncovers. But we must read it. And those exposed within its pages must give an account.
There are people named in the book (and their supporters) who have not agreed with all of Basham’s evidence and conclusions since its publishing date of July 2024. Any author making such claims must be up to the challenge of defending those claims as people’s reputations are on the line, which Basham has worked diligently to do. Yet, as Jesus said in Luke 8:17, “For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light.” It is our duty as Christians to hold our spiritual leaders and trusted Christian influencers accountable for pushing any agenda that takes the focus away from preaching and teaching Christ and him crucified. As Voddie Baucham notes above, Shepherds for Sale isn’t an “easy” read in the sense of what the book reveals, which is all the more reason to add it to your reading list. Click here for Amazon link.
2. The (Not-So-Secret) Secret to Reaching the Next Generation by Kevin DeYoung (Crossway)
Parents worry about their children. Churches worry about their children. Will they travel in their footsteps as faithful followers of Jesus Christ, or will they drift away to be lost in the world without the hope of eternal life? In The (Not-So-Secret) Secret to Reaching the Next Generation, Pastor and theologian Kevin DeYoung provides five clear and “simple” ways to reach the next generation of believers, and they are not worldly gimmicks, edgy programs, or innovations that try to push God’s Word toward irrelevancy. In fact, they focus on Scriptural truth centered on the gospel. The five are: “Grab them with passion; Win them with love; Hold them with holiness; Challenge them with truth; Amaze them with God.”
These five principles grounded in biblical truth are not new, but too often they can get lost in efforts to engage with the culture. DeYoung brings them back into clear focus in the context of how Christians can pass on the truth of the Gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit to the next generation. Surely it is time to be less anxious and instead steadfastly teach and do what God desires as he brings all his people into union with our Lord Jesus Christ. Click here for Amazon link.
3. Praying with Jesus: Getting to the Heart of the Lord’s Prayer by Adriel Sanchez (New Growth Press)
When Christians go to pray, often it is the Lord’s Prayer that first comes to mind. And this is good, as it is the prayer Jesus taught his disciples to pray. Yet, did Jesus mean that we are to stay within the petitions of the Lord’s Prayer when we pray? How should Christians approach praying to God in light of the most famous and beloved prayer ever spoken?
As pastor, author, and Core Christianity podcast host Adriel Sanchez so aptly summarizes, “the source of true prayer is the heart” (p. 14). In his book Praying with Jesus: Getting to the Heart of the Lord’s Prayer, Sanchez encourages us that it’s not about being “super spiritual” when it comes to prayer; rather, it’s about being “poor in spirit” (p. 16). He first takes readers through a general overview of prayer—what it is, the posture of prayer, times to pray, and the impediments that keep believers from enjoying an authentic prayer life, including hypocritical prayers and “spam” prayers (vain repetitions). As Sanchez writes,
God knows what you need better than you do (Matthew 6:8). A simple and short prayer rooted in God’s Word and will is more powerful than ten thousand empty phrases that seek to manipulate God. (pp. 20-21)
Next, Sanchez takes readers through the Lord’s Prayer petition by petition, providing historical, theological, and practical insight. The style is reverent and joyful at the same time, as Sanchez strives—and succeeds—in giving the reader a deeper appreciation for each petition and helpful insight into what the Lord’s Prayer means for believers right now. Sanchez concludes each chapter with a prayer from godly Christians of the past as well as some suggestions for prayer practices.
This isn’t the first book written on the Lord’s Prayer, and we’re quite sure it won’t be the last, but Praying with Jesus: Getting to the Heart of the Lord’s Prayer is one not to be missed by anyone who wants to grow in maturity in their prayer life. It’s also a wonderful gift idea for a brother or sister in Christ who needs encouragement in the area of prayer. Click here for Amazon link.
4. How Bible Stories Work: A Guided Study of Biblical Narrative by Leland Ryken (Lexham Press)
Have you ever wondered what to do with Biblical narratives, the parts of the Bible that are stories? You may have found them interesting (or strange), but wondered what or how you were supposed to learn from them. How Bible Stories Work: A Guided Study of Biblical Narrative by Leland Ryken is the guide you need to go from knowing about a story to understanding and finding the meaning the author intended to pass along to his reader—the meaning that can have a life-changing and spiritual impact.
Some may wonder why God didn’t just give us the Bible in simple, straightforward laws and precepts. Why stories in the first place? Ryken writes,
If ideas are all that matter, the writers of the Bible could have given us a list of ideas. Instead they gave us a book that is predominately more than ideas—stories, for example, and poems made out of images and figures of speech. (p. 25)
This short book, only 126 pages in total, gives readers the necessary tools to approach a biblical narrative and understand what the biblical storyteller would like them to come away knowing and experiencing. There are eight chapters in total, and each chapter focuses on either an aspect of literary analysis or how to understand stories that will help the reader unpack a story well. Ryken stresses understanding the “how” of a storyteller to help one understand “what” is being communicated. Following the explanation of the literary topic for that chapter, Ryken walks readers through an example, showing them how to apply what they have learned. This section is followed by an opportunity for readers to practice what they have learned. He concludes each chapter summarizing his big ideas for the chapter. In each chapter for the practice opportunity, Ryken helpfully includes the Scriptural text so that readers don’t have to put the book down and find their own Bibles to try the exercise.
How Bible Stories Work packs a punch for its small size and is quite dense in the sense that Ryken includes the most important information to understand biblical narratives with no wasted space. The benefits are immediate, however. After reading just the first chapter, you will better understand the purpose of biblical narratives, and after the second, you will begin to see the Bible stories you read in a clearer light. If you want to take your Bible reading from an elementary level of simply reading a Bible story to really understanding the stories on a deeper level, Ryken equips you with the tools to do Bible study without an outside study guide. This book is a treasure and would benefit any Bible study group or individual. In How Bible Stories Work, Ryken wants to move Bible readers from “story to meaning,” and he gives them the tools necessary to make that worthwhile trip. Click here for Amazon link.
5. True for You, Not for Me: Overcoming Objections to Christian Faith by Paul Copan (Bethany House Publishers)
“Who are you to judge others?” “That’s just your opinion.” “You can’t legislate morality. “All religions are basically the same.” “You can’t trust the Gospels—they’re unreliable.” “People claim JFK and Elvis are alive, too!”
Most Christians have encountered some of the above comments, and they can be certain their children will be confronted with similar kinds of pushback to their Christian convictions as they mature and head out into the world. Reading Paul Copan’s True for You, But Not for Me: Overcoming Objections to Christian Faith will give younger and older adults alike facts and reasoning skills to respond in love with sound answers while remaining strong in their faith along the way.
Copan, professor and Pledger Family Chair of Philosophy and Ethics at Palm Beach Atlantic University and author of numerous apologetic books including Is God a Moral Monster? Making Sense of the Old Testament God helps believers untangle the relativist logic of secular approaches to the Bible and Christian morals and take a stand for absolute truth in thirty-three short chapters. Each topic Copan covers can be read quickly and discussed either briefly or in greater depth at home, in Sunday school classes, and book groups. He not only provides helpful facts regarding the reliability of biblical claims but also breaks down relativist arguments that, at first glance, may sound loving and tolerant but are actually moralist positions themselves with underlying value systems that ultimately deny biblical truth.
Parents need to prepare their children for the post-Christian world in which they must live and not assume they will just know what to say or do. Adults as well are bombarded today with moral value claims, such as “Love is love,” that have an appearance of godliness but actually seek to justify behavior that the Bible deems sinful.
True for You, But Not for Me is one of those books Christians will read, be grateful for, and wish they had read when they were younger. This is an excellent gift idea for high school and college students and anyone who wants to be better prepared to defend the faith and God’s moral law in everyday life. Click here for Amazon link.
6. Departing in Peace: Biblical Decision-Making at the End of Life by Bill Davis (P&R Publishing)
With all the medical advances in our world today, making biblically-based decisions at the end of life for both ourselves and those under our care has become increasingly complicated and nerve-wracking. We don’t want to “play God” by giving or withholding life-extending treatment, and we also don’t want to make any mistakes when it comes to life-or-death decisions. Thankfully, Covenant College professor of philosophy and author Bill Davis has written the highly respected Departing in Peace: Biblical Decision-Making at the End of Life to help Christians faithfully approach the frequently complex challenges of end-of-life care. In the preface, Davis emphasizes the book’s focus on Scripture for its central ethical argument:
This book appeals explicitly to Scripture because Bible-believing Christians are too often persuaded that the Bible requires us to use medical means to extend physical life as long as possible. I will be arguing against this supposed requirement. My argument is built both on general ethical principles and on what the Bible teaches. The Bible does not require doing everything as death approaches; instead, the Bible requires something else. This “something else” locates our obligations about end-of-life decisions inside our more general obligation to serve God’s glory and our neighbors’ good in all that we do with our resources of time, energy, opportunity, and wealth. (Preface)
In Departing in Peace, Davis covers fundamental biblical obligations, real-life stories of implementing biblical principles, advance directives, financial considerations, what to realistically expect in hospital settings, and what we can do now to prepare well when it comes to decision making in end-of-life care.
Preparing wisely both for our own eventual death if the Lord tarries and how to best care for those we love who will need our help with managing end-of-life directives will be time well spent. God’s Word has much to say on this important topic, and Davis’s Departing in Peace is a mature and thoughtful resource for making sound judgments in sorrowful times. Click here for Amazon link.
7. The Story Changer: How God Rewrites Our Story by Inviting Us into His by David Murray (Crossway)
We all love stories. Whether it’s a good novel, TV show, biography, or social media clip, a good story draws us in. Perhaps that’s what makes David Murray’s book The Story Changer: How God Rewrites Our Story by Inviting Us into His so attractive. Using the analogy of a story, along with other terms having to do with storytelling (chapter titles include “The Story-Shredder,” “The Failed Authors,” “New Story,” and “Book Club,” to name a few), Murray introduces the reader to the wonderful story of Jesus Christ and how his story changes our own terrible stories.
Murray’s use of the story genre to explain the gospel is helpful and insightful, allowing readers to examine their own lives and look for the answer to their brokenness and sin in the only one who can offer it, Jesus Christ. While this is a short book—less than 130 pages with language that is accessible to teens and adults—you might think this would be a quick read. However, because each chapter includes questions for reflection on your own life and how Jesus’ story impacts you, a thoughtful speed for reflection and application is fitting. After addressing his main topic for each chapter Murray has sections summarizing “Changing Our Story with God’s Story,” which help readers apply what he has said thus far. Murray also closes each chapter with a personal account of how his own story has been changed by the “Story Changer,” further giving examples of how to apply the given topic of the chapter.
The Story Changer is a great read and would be of benefit to any Christian who needs a fresh look at the beauty of the gospel. It is also a thoughtful introduction to an unbeliever who is examining his or her hopeless state and needs to learn more about the only one who can wipe away every tear—for Murray, chapter by chapter, encourages readers to “get to know the Story Changer and how this amazing author can change our story with his Story” (12). Click here for Amazon link.
8. The Reformation as Renewal: Retrieving the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church by Matthew Barrett (Zondervan Academic)
(Written by the Rev. Campbell Markham) The thesis of theologian Matthew Barrett’s The Reformation as Renewal: Retrieving the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church is in the title. Pick up any older church history and the Reformation is presented as appearing as suddenly as Athena stepping from Zeus’s slashed brow as a grown and armored woman ready for war. Yes, we nod to John Wycliffe and Jan Hus and maybe Savonarola as “proto-Reformers,” but Luther arrives on the scene like a bolt of lightning, hammer and 95 Theses in hand, creating a glittering Protestant movement ex nihilo.
Such histories depict the Roman Catholic Church as gargantuan and solid as Europe itself, with a little boat of Protestants setting forth from this continent to settle in a new and different land. The Reformation appears as a fresh start, a new beginning. Barrett teaches how wrong this idea is.
Instead, in Reformation as Renewal Barrett shows us the one, holy, catholic [universal], and apostolic church of Jesus Christ, unfolding through the ages according to the power and plan of Jesus, who promised, “I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18). But Jesus also promised that his church would be viciously persecuted from without, and relentlessly tested from within by temptations and false teachers, so that it would only be at the end of time that he would separate the wheat from the weeds.
It is vital, for the survival and health of the church, that we work to acquire a good grasp of church history. It is especially important for Evangelical Protestants to understand what it means to be a Protestant: we are not an appendix to Jesus’ one holy, catholic, and apostolic church, but the body itself. “You are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it” (1 Cor. 12:27).
Barrett’s opus magnum will bring you to a right view of the medieval period and a good and clear understanding of the Reformation as renewal (click here to read Campbell Markham’s full review of The Reformation as Renewal). Click here for Amazon link.
9. Compel Them to Come In: Calvinism and the Free Offer of the Gospel by Donald Macleod (Christian Focus)
Predestination. It’s in the Bible and yet many Christians don’t want to discuss it. Why? Likely the main reason is that if God predestines some people to eternal life and not others, God doesn’t seem to be fair. And what about the preaching of the gospel? Is it even necessary if God has already chosen who is going to be saved and also does the work of regenerating them to new life by the power of the Holy Spirit? How can we possibly reconcile Bible passages about election/being chosen and passages about the need to repent of our sins and trust in Jesus as our Savior? Is it true, as some claim, that God just “foreknew” but didn’t actually elect those who would come to Christ? We know Bible passages can’t contradict each other, so what’s going on when it comes to the topics of predestination and the free offer of the gospel?
Thankfully, theologian Donald Macleod has written Compel Them to Come In: Calvinism and the Free Offer of the Gospel to winsomely and thoroughly explain how these two seemingly competing biblical truths co-exist in God’s great love for the world.
Macleod first takes readers through common objections to the free offer of the gospel in light of the Bible’s teaching on predestination, covering the following topics:
Man’s spiritual bondage—Do fallen human beings still have the capacity to repent and believe? (p. 12)
God’s sovereignty—Where is man’s responsibility in repenting and receiving Christ as their Savior, and does the free offer of the gospel conflict with God’s sovereignty in a person’s salvation? (p. 30)
Christ’s atoning work—Did Christ die for all or only for the elect? (p. 46)
God’s free offer of the gospel—Does God sincerely desire the salvation of everyone who hears the gospel? (p. 53)
Next, Macleod goes into specifics of how evangelists are to deliver God’s free offer of salvation in Christ and how to be a faithful fisher of men who labors to preach God’s Word authoritatively and wholeheartedly.
Christians don’t need to be confused or embarrassed by the numerous Bible passages about God’s sovereignty, predestination, election, and being “chosen” by God for salvation. God’s Word never contradicts itself, and Jesus meant it when he said, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Readers who are still skeptical about how God’s free offer of the gospel and predestination can possibly both be true, as well as those who want to have better answers when asked about this topic, will find reading Donald Macleod’s Compel Them to Come In time well spent. Click here for Amazon link.
10. The Primary Mission of the Church: Engaging or Transforming the World? (Reformed Exegetical Doctrinal Studies series) by Bryan D. Estelle (Mentor)
Churches can too easily get distracted by the world, but Bryan D. Estelle, professor of Old Testament at Westminster Seminary California, helps bring them back from the brink of worldliness by providing solid biblical teaching and historical context on the primary mission of the church.
Churches need to be on guard against the distraction of trying to reform this world with endeavors that aim at social justice and cultural transformation. In The Primary Mission of the Church: Engaging or Transforming the World? Estelle grounds his exhortation in the gospel teaching of Jesus regarding the kingdom of heaven as distinguished from this worldly kingdom in which we live. The primary mission of the church as an institution is the gospel’s focus on the eternal heavenly kingdom—the spiritual kingdom that Christ Jesus came to inaugurate. On the other hand, individuals in their callings are appropriately involved in cultural endeavors while recognizing that God rules over everything.
Nevertheless, local churches need reminding that, as this world is passing away, their primary effort is to be eternally minded and spiritual, not worldly, for the church is “not of this world.” Estelle does address material matters, though, since the clear teaching of Jesus also addresses loving and caring for others, and also provides extensive historical and confessional background on the primary mission of the church. Readers of The Primary Mission of the Church will be amply edified and encouraged to help churches give important attention to what our Lord teaches is most important for his church. Click here for Amazon link.
11. Church Membership (Blessings of the Faith) by Jonathan Landry Cruse (P&R Publishing)
Membership is a commitment, whether it’s a gym membership, store membership, club membership, or some other kind of organizational membership. Yet, when it comes to church membership many Christians view it as an unnecessary, archaic act from the past. Common thinking among many believers is that just attending a church on a regular basis makes them a member, and some churches don’t even offer membership. Christians may claim that the Bible doesn’t explicitly require membership, but does this mean church membership is a non-issue? According to pastor and author Jonathan Landry Cruse in his recent book, Church Membership,
Before we dive in, let me just say that this is precisely where some people err: they claim that the Bible does not, in actuality, speak to the issue of church membership, and so it cannot be required of a believer. Although I concede that there is no chapter and verse for “Thou shalt join a local church,” this does not mean the Bible is silent on the matter. The God who wrote the Bible gave us the intellect to discern its message, even when some parts of it are not spelled out as clearly as the Ten Commandments. (pp. 35-36)
The Belgic Confession, a historic statement of the Christian faith, states that a true church bears the following three marks: the pure preaching of the Word of God, the pure administering the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and the right exercising of church discipline, and, as Cruse points out, this effort to define what is a “true church” is necessary because of the reality of sin:
Just because a building has a sign that says “church” does not mean that it is a true one. “There will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies,” Peter warns (2 Peter 2:1). As a result, what some call a church, Christ actually calls a “synagogue of Satan” (Rev. 2:9). Thus, these “marks” of a true church ensure that the people who gather there get the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth (see 1 Tim. 3:15). (pp. 27-28)
Cruse conveys essential truths of the Christian faith in an engaging, conversational style, and in Church Membership he goes into depth on the nature, necessity, benefits, and responsibilities of belonging to a local congregation. The book includes helpful study questions at the end of each chapter, which are very handy for group use as well. The final chapter of the book focuses on practical questions regarding church membership, such as how can a Christian know which church to join, do Christians need to join the church closest to them in proximity, and what a Christian should do if there isn’t a faithful church near to where they are moving.
Church membership is not only a wonderful blessing and duty of the Christian life but also something every believer should approach with the utmost seriousness. Reading Cruse’s book is a good step to take in learning more about what it means to belong to Christ’s kingdom and be part of the communion of the saints. Click here for Amazon link.
12. Truths We Confess: A Systematic Exposition of the Westminster Confession of Faith by R. C. Sproul (Ligonier Ministries)
(Written by BCL associate editor Ayrian Yasar) “The Bible is a big book.” This statement was a favorite by a seminary professor of mine and while it seems simplistic, it is exceedingly true. A person can study and study and still have so much to learn of God from his Word. Thankfully, through the ages God has been pleased to gift his church with godly teachers and expositors of the Scriptures so that each new generation can build on the truths unearthed by the previous one.
One of the most thorough expositions of the Bible is found in the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF), a historic confession of the Christian faith that was written in the seventeenth century. Yet, the language and vocabulary of this worthy document are quite foreign to most modern readers. If only these scriptural truths distilled by seventeenth-century churchmen could be explained for a modern audience in a style and vocabulary that was accessible! They took great care in presenting and explaining the Scriptures well, but are we able to learn from them? Yes. Theologian Sinclair Ferguson notes that
R.C.’s [Sproul] passion for the Holy One was expressed in his whole-souled commitment to and his remarkable ability to communicate the truth, power, and life-transforming wisdom of the theology that the Reformers and Puritans had mined from the pages of Scripture. (Foreword)
And Sproul’s Truths We Confess: A Systematic Exposition of the Westminster Confession of Faith does just that. Each of the book’s thirty-three chapters covers a chapter from the Westminster Confession of Faith, which is quite comprehensive (some topics covered in the WCF include Scripture, God and the Trinity, Justification, saving faith, the Law of God, Marriage and Divorce, what happens after death, and the resurrection, to give just a sampling). If you would like to get a firmer grasp on the teachings of the Bible in an orderly way, Sproul’s Truths We Confess is a fantastic resource that you cannot but go right in reading. Click here for Amazon link.
13. Daily Doctrine: A One-Year Guide to Systematic Theology by Kevin DeYoung (Crossway)
A seminary education is most certainly a worthy pursuit, but not everybody has the time and resources to make it a reality. Of course, we can try to study God’s Word at a deeper level on our own, but how do we know if what we are reading is sound doctrine? If you desire to “understand what the Bible teaches, defend what the Bible teaches, and enjoy the God whom the Bible reveals” (p. 27), then you should definitely consider reading pastor, theologian, and author Kevin DeYoung’s recently published Daily Doctrine: A One-Year Guide to Systematic Theology.
DeYoung is senior pastor of Christ Covenant Church (PCA) in Matthews, North Carolina, and associate professor of systematic theology at Reformed Theological Seminary, as well as the author of over twenty books, including The Hole in Our Holiness, Men and Women in the Church, The (Not-So-Secret) Secret to Reaching the Next Generation, and Taking God at His Word.
First, what is meant by the term “systematic theology”? DeYoung explains:
Systematic theology is a specific type of theology, having its own method and structure. If historical theology looks at how doctrine has developed over the centuries, and natural theology examines what can be known about God by reason and observation, and biblical theology traces big themes across the redemptive storyline of Scripture, systematic theology organizes doctrine logically around topics and questions. (p. 33)
DeYoung’s systematic theology brings together teachings throughout the Bible on subjects such as the doctrine of man, the doctrine of God, covenant theology, the Person and work of Christ, the doctrine of salvation (soteriology), the nature, mission, and ordering of the church (ecclesiology), and last things (eschatology). Systematic theology helps us make sense of the Bible as a whole by taking a deep dive into major biblical topics about God, man, and God’s redemptive plan in Christ.
Daily Doctrine can be used as a year-long devotional, a reference tool, or a mini-systematic theology. DeYoung organizes the content into fifty-two weekly sections with five entries for each week, and each entry is comprised of a very readable-in-one-sitting 500 words in length. Everyone wanting to grow in knowledge of the great doctrines of the Christian faith will benefit from owning a copy of DeYoung’s Daily Doctrines. Click here for Amazon link.
14. New Morning Mercies: A Daily Gospel Devotional by Paul David Tripp (Crossway)
With over 11,000 five-star ratings on Amazon, Paul David Tripp’s New Morning Mercies: A Daily Gospel Devotional is a book you won’t want to miss. Pastor and author Paul David Tripp has written a devotional for every morning of the year. Each one is an encouragement for the day, a positive way to begin and to help us focus not on ourselves but on the love and grace of God toward us. Limited to one page per day, each meditation begins with an overarching statement followed by three or four paragraphs to illustrate truth about God—“his plan, and his kingdom, and his glory” (p. 1). Some of the daily devotions will explain a portion of God’s Word, others may have a helpful illustration, while some are written in the first person to lead us to a more personal reflection about God and the love he has given to us through Jesus Christ. At the end Tripp provides a Scriptural reference to serve “for further study and encouragement.” What better way to start the morning than in prayer and meditation about the beauty and glory of God and to be encouraged by him throughout the entire day! Click here for Amazon link.
15. Things Unseen: A Systematic Introduction to the Christian Faith by J. Gresham Machen (Westminster Seminary Press)
Many are familiar with J. Gresham Machen’s classic work, Christianity and Liberalism, which is a must-read for any Christian today. But, what is less well known than his work as a professor of theology in Old Princeton, a founder of Westminster Theological Seminary, and his important influence leading to the formation of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, are a number of sermons, lectures, and radio addresses Machen delivered to a wide audience of students, teachers, and ordinary Christians. In the form of a systematic theology, these writings and presentations have been collected into a single volume, Things Unseen: A Systematic Introduction to the Christian Faith and Reformed Theology.
This valuable book covers the main areas of Reformed theology in three parts: Part 1 is “The Christian Faith in the Modern World,” which includes the authority of Scripture and the doctrines of God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Part 2 is “The Christian View of Man,” which includes the doctrines of creation and providence, predestination, the law of God, and mankind’s sin and redemption by the grace of God. Part 3 is titled “The Final Broadcasts” and includes such varied and critical topics such as creeds; Christ’s three offices of Prophet, Priest, and King; prophecy; and the doctrine of the atonement.
Grounded in Scripture with a particular ability to present the teaching of the Word of God in a clear and understandable way, every one of Machen’s presentations compiled in Things Unseen is valuable for anyone desiring to know God more deeply and intimately. Read this book academically, and—even better—read it devotionally to be encouraged and edified by J. Gresham Machen, one of the most important Christian leaders of the twentieth century. Click here for Amazon link.