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Faith Alone by R.C. Sproul – This is not a recent book. In fact, many people may consider it to lack contemporary appeal because it was written in reply to a document that was generated over 20 years ago. The document, entitled “Evangelical and Catholics Together” was the subject of some controversy and in Faith Alone Sproul provides his response to the publication, as well as to the subsequent debate. Despite the fact that few readers may still remember the original document, Faith Alone still has relevance today. Sproul not only provides an overview of the core issues that were the subject of the Reformation in the 16th century, but he also discusses the current doctrinal differences between the Catholic and Evangelical communities and details why these differences are important. He focuses specifically on the doctrine of justification, and he examines the topic in detail so as to faithfully recount the understanding of history and the perspectives of contemporary theologians. Even though the document that was the impetus for the book may have faded from memory, Faith Alone can continue to enrich and teach those who read its pages. 

Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God by J.I. Packer – Evangelism is often a difficult subject for Christians. It is one of those things that we know we should do more regularly, and many of us desire to do so, but our actions don’t often match our conviction. Many evangelism books focus on effective tactics for reaching the lost, and these volumes have their benefits. Packer’s book, however, is not in this vein. Instead, the renowned theologian and scholar wrestles with the difficult topic of the relationship between God’s sovereignty and Christians’ responsibility to share the Gospel. It is a subject that Packer tackles with his well-known deliberateness and candor. Although it is obvious that the author has thought deeply about the subject and has a wealth of biblical knowledge, he never makes it difficult to understand his meaning – even when discussing such heady topics as the differences between an antimony and a paradox.  Reading this book will not only help a believer carefully think through how God’s sovereignty and our responsibility to evangelize coexist with one another, but it will likely further deepen a believer’s desire to evangelize regularly and purposefully. One of my favorite parts of this book is when Packer discusses the importance of personal evangelism, with a reminder that the most effective evangelism efforts will likely be the result of a shared relationship between a believer and someone who hasn’t yet put their faith in Christ. This book examines a weighty subject, and yet the reader will leave with a greater appreciation for the magnitude of God’s majesty and with a renewed commitment to tell more people about Him. 

George Müller: Delighted in God by Roger Steer – This book tells the story of George Mueller – an evangelist and preacher who is most often renowned for his abiding commitment to prayer. Mueller, as Steer shares, established numerous homes for disadvantaged children and youth, and he made it his practice to pray for the financial needs to be met, rather than launching a fundraising initiative or even making personal requests. Despite personal loss and professional challenges, Mueller held steadfast in his belief that God would sovereignly provide, and that it was his job to bring his petitions before the Heavenly throne room; it was God’s job to work in the hearts of those He desired to give. While the writing style was not always engaging, the story remained so. Anyone who wants to be encouraged to pray more frequently and more earnestly would be encouraged by Mueller’s life. 

The God Who Is There by Francis Schaeffer – There is a reason this is a classic. In this book, Schaeffer provides a historical review to detail how presuppositions about the world had changed by the end of the 20th century. Written as a defense for the existence of God, the book is fairly philosophically minded, and some readers may therefore find it dense. However, for those who want to understand Christianity and its relationship to intellectual thought, it is a good read. One insight that I found particularly noteworthy is that there is an important difference between feeling guilty and being guilty Many people feel guilty, but it is only in recognizing that we are guilty that we come to understand our need for a Savior.

All the books below deal with a very difficult subject: the problem of suffering and pain.

Suffering Is Never for Nothing by Elisabeth Elliot – If you know even a little bit about Elisabeth Elliot’s life, you probably know that she dealt with (from a human perspective) more than her fair share of loss. However, in this book she reminds her Christian brothers and sisters that the suffering God allows in our lives is always used by Him to bring about our good and His glory. Our pain is never wasted in God’s economy, and even when we don’t understand what possible good God may be achieving through our heartache, we can trust that He is at work.

Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy by Mark Vroegop – Lament is not something we often talk about but that is not true of the Bible. There is a whole book named after the practice (Lamentations) and there are even songs of lament captured in the book of Psalms. Throughout Scripture we see biblical figures in periods of lament as they mourn loss and deal with grief. In this book, Mark Vroegop helps modern readers learn how to lament in a way that brings our pain and petitions before the throne room of God. Our Father is big enough to handle our questions and our grief. While it may seem like a book on lament would be discouraging, on the contrary, I found that seeing lament from a biblical perspective renewed my sense of comfort and confidence in our good and gracious God.

Lament for a Son by Nicholas Wolkerstorff – There is no way around it; this book is heartbreaking. It provides a real and raw look of grief as the author, a renowned philosopher, walks through the unexpected death of his adult son. If you have never experienced a searing loss, but know someone who has, this book may give you a better understanding of the pain they are going through. If you have gone through loss, this book may help you experience the comfort of knowing someone who has walked the road you are on. One caution – if you are in the throes of grief and your heart is tender, wait to read this until the initial shock has abated.

Suffering and the Goodness of God edited by Christopher Morgan and Robert Peterson – First a disclaimer, Chris is a colleague and a friend. However, he is also a world-class theologian. In this book, he, Robert Peterson, and a host of contributors help the reader wrestle through how the Bible handles the seeming paradox of our pain and God’s goodness. This book is detailed and at times intellectually intense, examining what both the New and Old Testament teach us about this subject. However, it also includes contributions from those who have suffered deeply, helping ensure that the discussions therein are not just philosophical in nature. If you want to have a clearer understanding of how to address the problem of pain from a biblical perspective (and we all can probably benefit from being able to do that), this book will greatly help you in that endeavor.