I spent the other day writing down some of my favorite books. The list, of course, is not exhaustive, as much of it came off the top of my head. Let’s just say this: I love everything by C.S. Lewis, Henri Nouwen, N.T. Wright, Frederick Buechner, and Gerald May, even if I’ve neglected to include them in certain areas. They may be my top 5, no matter what they write on. But here are some of my favorite practical works by topic. I’ve intentionally excluded academic works.
Understanding God’s Story and Yours – The Narrative of Scripture
The True Story of the Whole World: Finding Your Place in the Biblical Drama, Michael Goheen and Craig Bartholomew
A Walk Through the Bible, Lesslie Newbigin
To Be Told, Dan Allender
Understanding Your Place in God’s Mission
The Mission of God’s People, Christopher Wright
Surprised by Hope, N.T. Wright
The Bible and Mission: Christian Witness in a Postmodern World, Richard Bauckham
The Open Secret: An Introduction to the Theology of Mission, Lesslie Newbigin
Introduction to Theology
Theology: The Basics, Alistair McGrath
Mere Christianity, CS Lewis
Understanding your Idols and the Attachments of Your Heart
Breaking the Idols of Your Heart: How to Navigate the Temptations of Life, Tremper Longman/Dan Allender
Idols of the Heart: Learning to Long for God Alone, Elyse Fitzpatrick
Counterfeit Gods, Tim Keller
The Last Addiction, Sharon Hersh
Understanding the Nature of Sin: Personal and Systemic
Not the Way It’s Supposed to Be: A Breviary of Sin, Cornelius Plantinga
The Seven Deadly Sins, Graham Tomlin
Exclusion and Embrace, Miroslav Volf
Hope in Troubled Times, Bob Goudzwaard
Subverting Global Myths: Theology and the Public Issues Facing Our Time, Vinoth Ramachandra
Prayer
The Lord and His Prayer, N.T. Wright
With Open Hands, Henri Nouwen
Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home, Richard Foster
The Practice of the Presence of God, Brother Lawrence
Awed to Heaven, Rooted in Earth, Walter Brueggeman
Belief/Apologetics in a Postmodern World
Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense, N.T. Wright
The Reason for God, Tim Keller
Who Gets to Narrate the World: Contending for the Christian Story in an Age of Rivals, Robert Webber
Foolishness to the Greeks: The Gospel and Western Culture, Lesslie Newbigin
Proper Confidence, Lesslie Newbigin
Evil and the Justice of God, N.T. Wright
Understanding and Engaging Culture
Desiring the Kingdom, James KA Smith
To Change the World, James Davidson Hunter
Everyday Theology: How to Read Cultural Texts and Interpret Trends, Kevin VanHoozer
Work and Vocation
Work in the Spirit: Toward a Theology of Work, Miroslav Volf
Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation, Parker Palmer
Responsive Labor: A Theology of Work, David Jensen
The Call: Finding and Fulfilling the Central Purpose of Your Life, Os Guiness
Grief/Suffering
The Healing Path: How the Hurts in Your Past Lead You to a More Abundant Life, Dan Allender
Stumbling Toward Faith, Renee Altson
Finding God, Larry Crabb
The Wounded Heart, Dan Allender
A Grief Observed, CS Lewis
Shattered Dreams, Larry Crabb
A Grace Disguised: How the Soul Grows Through Loss, Gerald Sittser
Walk On: Life, Loss, Trust, and Other Realities, John Goldingay
Marriage
Safe Haven Marriage, Archibald Hart and Sharon Hart-Morris
Intimate Allies: Rediscovering God’s Design for Marriage, Dan Allender and Tremper Longman
Bring Yourself to Love, Mona Barbera
Hold Me Tight, Sue Johnson
The Intimate Mystery: Creating Strength and Beauty in Your Marriage, Dan Allender and Tremper Longman
The Mystery of Marriage, Mike Mason
Marital Betrayal
Torn Asunder: Recovering from an Extramarital Affair, Dave Carder
Shattered Vows: Hope and Healing for Women Who’ve Been Sexually Betrayed, Debra Laaser
Raising Children/Parenting
Talking to Your Kids About Sex, Mark Laaser
Parenting with Love and Logic, Foster Cline
How Children Raise Parents: The Art of Listening to Your Family, Dan Allender
Mom, I Hate My Life: Becoming Your Daughter’s Ally During the Emotional Up’s and Down’s of Adolescence, Sharon Hersh
Mom, Sex is No Big Deal: Becoming Your Daughter’s Ally in Developing a Healthy Sexuality, Sharon Hersh
Mom, I Feel Fat: Becoming Your Daughter’s Ally in Developing a Healthy Body Image, Sharon Hersh
Mom, Everyone Else Does: Becoming Your Daughter’s Ally in Responding to Peer Pressure (Sex, Drugs, Alcohol), Sharon Hersh
Understanding Yourself and Your Relationships
Bold Love, Dan Allender
Practicing the Presence of People, Mike Mason
Understanding Who You Are, Larry Crabb
The Gift of Being Yourself, David Benner
The Cry of the Soul: How our Emotions Reveal Our Deepest Questions about God, Tremper Longman/Dan Allender
The Seven Desires of Every Heart, Mark and Debra Laaser
Understanding your Sexuality
Sex and Love in the Home: A Theology of the Household, David McCarthy
Sex and the Soul of a Woman, Paula Rinehart
When Two Become One: Enhancing Sexual Intimacy in Marriage, Chris McCluskey
Women
What’s He Really Thinking?: How to Be a Relational Genius with the Man in Your Life, Paula Rinehart
Bravehearts: Unlocking the Courage to Live with Abandon, Sharon Hersh
Redeeming Eve, Heather Webb
When Life and Beliefs Collide, Carolyn James
The Allure of Hope, Jan Meyers
Strong Women, Soft Hearts, Paula Rinehart
Men
Healing the Masculine Soul, Gordon Dalbey
The Masculine Journey, Robert Hicks
Father and Son, Gordon Dalbey
The Silence of Adam, Larry Crabb
Christian Spirituality & Spiritual Growth
Devotional Classics, Richard Foster
Creating a Life with God: The Call of Ancient Prayer Practices, Daniel Wolpert
Surrender to Love: Discovering the Heart of Christian Spirituality, David Benner
Return of the Prodigal Son, Henri Nouwen
The Journey: A Pilgrim in the Lands of the Spirit, Alistair McGrath
Let Go, Francois Fenelon
Abba’s Child, Brennan Manning
Space for God, Don Postema
The Divine Embrace: Recovering the Passionate Spiritual Life, Robert Webber
Water from a Deep Well: Christian Spirituality from Early Martyrs to Modern Missionaries, Gerald Sittser
Loved the list. I most especially loved the Gift of Being Yourself. Glad to see it’s someone else’s favorite too.
Just bought Vinoth’s last book after having found it on here. Thanks!
Mike W.
I just started reading Gerald May. May i ask what are your favorite books of his?
Addiction and Grace
The Awakened Heart
Dark Night of the Soul