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Books Reviewed
For a serious Christian who wants to grow in the faith, there is a very large world of books available on all topics and for all occasions and situations.
We have compiled here a very short list of basic books which we highly recommend. You may order these through Scripture Union Bookstore in Dun Laoghaire or in Dublin. Or you may order them on line through Scripture Union http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/ or through Amazon.co.uk.
(P.S. We've listed the books randomly, and not in any order or preference or value.)
The Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience - Ronald J. Sider
Ever wonder why the church looks so much like the rest of the world. This book takes a hard look at the reality of how evangelicals tend to live versus what the Bible says. Read this book and be prepared to be challenged! But, just to warn you the first chapter is going to seem very American-centric. Don't let that scare you away. The reality of the Internet and our modern wealth means we are only a step away from the Americans, if that.Knowing God - J.J. Packer
Do you know God or do you just know a lot about God? Is he your only God? Does he shine out of your life? How can we really know him? In the last analysis, J.I. Packer says, what matters supremely is that he knows us. "I am graven on the palms of his hands."A lifelong pursuit of knowing God should embody the Christian existence. According to this British theologian, however, we have become enchanted by modern scepticism and have joined the "gigantic conspiracy of misdirection" by failing to put first things first. Knowing God aims to redirect our attention to the simple, deep truth that to know God is to love His Word. Knowing God has become a contemporary classic with more than one million copies sold.
Author Elizabeth Elliot wrote that amid the lofty content, Packer "puts the hay where the sheep can reach it--plainly shows us ordinary folks what it means to know God". Having rescued us from the individual hunches of our ultra-tolerant theological age, Packer points the reader to the true character of God with a theological competence and a compassionate heart. (Review adapted from Amazon.com)
The Return of the Prodigal - Henri Nouwen
Rembrandt's painting of The Return of the Prodigal Son is a moving and vivid depiction of a father embracing a ragged young man who is kneeling in repentance before him. The painting inspired Henri Nouwen, a Dutch Catholic priest who died a few years back, to write a mediation on the parable. He explores the themes of homecoming, affirmation and reconciliation in his own spiritual life in a way that gives us deep insight into our own relationship with the Father. This is a wonderfully incisive and spiritually penetrating book that will challenge, comfort, provoke and guide you into a richer life as a child of God.The Ragamuffin Gospel - Brennan Manning
Brennan Manning is a former priest whose recognition of the ragamuffin state of his life and the unconditional love of God has produced a dangerous book which may transform your life. His writing is simple but often profound. He writes, for example, "Often hobbling through our church doors on Sunday morning comes grace on crutches-sinners still unable to throw away their false supports and stand straight upright in the freedom of the children of God." And so he encourages us, "Simply accept the fact that you are accepted. If that happens to us, we experience grace. . . . You may be insecure, inadequate, mistaken or potbellied. Death, panic, depression and disillusionment may be near you. But you are not just that. You are accepted. Never confuse your perception of yourself with the mystery that you really are accepted."We dare you to read it!
The Discipline of Grace - Jerry Bridges
Grace, Jerry Bridges reminds us, is just as important for growing as a Christian as it is for becoming a Christian. Grace is at the heart of the gospel and without a clear understanding of the gospel of grace, we can easily fall into the trap of depending on our performance in our desire to live the Christian life. So, what is God's role and what is our role in our pursuit of holiness? If you've ever struggled with that question, this book will help you to learn to rest in Christ while pursing a life of holiness. Jerry Bridges is a staff member with Navigators and the author of The Pursuit of Holiness.Celebration of Discipline - Richard Foster
While we recognize that Bible study, meditation, prayer, fasting, worship, confession, service, celebration and solitude don't, in themselves, change our hearts, they are all important disciplines, and it would do us well to practice them as we cooperate with the Spirit in our sanctification. Richard Foster examines all of these and the part they may play in our desire to know God better. How do we explore the inward life? It doesn't come naturally to us in our culture, Foster tells us, but he offer very practical help for those who desire to walk that path.A Long Obedience in the Same Direction - Eugene Peterson
In our world of instant coffee, fast food and television programs that solve problems in 60 minutes, we can easily lose sight of the fact that Christ has asked for a lifetime of obedience and that we are disciples and pilgrims on a long journey. Petersen, now retired, was for many years the professor of spiritual theology at Regent College in Vancouver, Canada. In this book he looks at Psalms 120-134, called the Songs of Ascent, to help us navigate the long journey.Hudson Taylor - A Man in Christ - Roger Steer
Hudson Taylor, an amazing man of faith, was used by God to open the interior of China to the gospel. He was well ahead of his time as a missionary, adopting Chinese dress and crossing denominational lines to build missionary teams. In the last part of the 19th century, he founded the China Inland Mission, whose missionaries were expelled from China when the communists took over in 1950. However, when China opened its windows to the west at the end of the 20th century, the church had survived and grown, much of it on the foundation laid by this man. Billy Graham wrote in the introduction, "The principles of simple lifestyle, well-reasoned obedience, confident prayer and patient endurance . . . in this story compel us to examine afresh what it means to be a man in Christ."What's So Amazing about Grace? - Philip Yancey
This popular book takes grace out of the theology books and puts it squarely in the middle of life. Yancey lets us see what grace can do when we let God let it loose in our lives. From the story of Gordon Wilson who forgave the IRS bombers who killed his daughter to the story of the Polish believers who forgave the Germans, Yancey shows that grace for us is an unnatural act and addresses questions such as "Why forgive?" and "Why not get even?" British author Jill Briscoe wrote, "What a grand investment of time for those of us thirsty to 'know' in reality the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ."Blue Like Jazz - Donald Miller
This is the story of one young man's non-religious but utterly honest journey of faith and his insights into Christian spirituality. Miller is a story-teller with an innate distrust of the institutional church and a deep sympathy for those experimenting with other flavors of spirituality. One reviewer called it "a post-modern riff on the classic evangelical presentation of the Gospel, complete with a concluding call to commitment." The book is for anyone who has ever had doubts about faith or struggled with how we "do church" in our contemporary evangelical culture.© 2005 Hillside Evangelical Church