Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. (1 Pet. 2:2-3)
BOOKS TO READ. As Christians, it should be our practice to read from the Bible daily. In addition, there are books that can deepen our understanding of Jesus, bring clarity on how we should live our lives, and strengthen our relationships with others.
Even the Apostle Paul, the primary author of the New Testament, read books. While in prison awaiting trial in Rome, he asked Timothy to “Bring the books, especially the parchments” (2 Timothy 4:13). We should take every opportunity to deepen our knowledge of God. We recommend the following titles (click on links for more information).
The Giant David Could Not Kill (Bob Mitchell). In a fascinating look at David’s journey, pastor Bob Mitchell reveals the tasks that David could not do alone and the lessons we can learn from them, as they are the moments in which relationships play a crucial role in David’s life.
Which god is God? A Lawyers Look at God and Religion. Attorney Adrian Adams provides an easy to understand guide about God's existence and how to separate truth from speculation offered by Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, the New Age Movement, Islam, Judaism, and Christianity.
The One Year Chronological Bible. This is ideal for anyone who wants to take a fresh look at the Bible by reading it in the order that events actually happened. You can read the entire Bible in 15 minutes a day.
The Purpose Driven Life (Rick Warren). To discover the meaning and purpose of your life, we must begin with God, our Creator, and his reasons for creating us. Rick Warren explains God's plan for you.
The Gospel According to Jesus (John MacArthur). Too many Christians do not know what it means to be saved. John MacArthur writes that the Christian faith is much more than a one-time decision. If there is no fruit from the decision someone has made, are they truly a believer?
Where Is God When It Hurts? (Phillip Yancey). Yancey uses examples from the Bible and his own experiences to explain why we suffer physical, emotional, and spiritual pain.
My Utmost for His Highest (Oswald Chambers). This daily Christian devotional is considered one of the most popular religious books ever written, inspiring people such as columnist Cal Thomas and President George W. Bush.
IN-DEPTH RESOURCES. For those who want to conduct in-depth studies, the following resources are excellent.
Strong's Concordance and Vines Expository Dictionary. This valuable tool combines the two most popular word study tools into one manageable volume. This multi-purpose language reference contains all the essentials you need to study the biblical text without having to know Hebrew or Greek.
Study Bible. A Study Bible is a must. They contain thousands of notes on Bible passages, topical articles, full-color maps, charts, diagrams, subject index, book introductions, outlines, and background information for each book of the Bible. They are available in different translations. The link to this one is NIV large print.
Systematic Theology (Wayne Grudem). Grudem provides clear explanations of the scriptural basis of Biblical doctrines. The book's clarity and accessibility make it an ideal textbook.
Christian Apologetics (Norman Geisler). This is one of the most widely read and used books on apologetics available today. Geisler addresses issues such as Deism, Theism, Christ's authority, and inspiration of the Bible.
Heaven (Randy Alcorn). Our understanding of heaven is often quite limited, even though the Bible has a lot to say about it. For those who want their eyes opened about life after this life, "Heaven" is a must-read.
