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As a Christian, what books do find most spiritually useful?

26 replies

Sausagenbacon · 25/10/2024 08:40

Apart from the Bible of course
I love Unapologetic by Frances Spufford, but have lent it to friends who really don't get on with it.
I also have Reading Genesis by Marilynne Robinson, which I like, but simultaneously find hard to read - very opaque.

OP posts:
1WanderingWomble · 25/10/2024 10:23

I also liked Unapologetic, and a book called 'How to be a Bad Christian' by Dave Tomlinson, although I'm a bit more of a traditional Christian it was a good reminder of the different ways we can approach God.
I'm sure others will suggest these as well but pretty much all the CS Lewis books - The Great Divorce and Screwtape Letters particularly.

I'm currently reading The Little Way by St Therese of Lisieux. It's lovely in the way it encourages you to love God in the little things and be totally trusting in Him.

AlteredStater · 25/10/2024 10:32

I'm currently reading The Non-Prophet's Guide to the End Times by Todd Hampson. It's a very digestible book about prophecy and the end times (the Book of Revelation in particular, but also including a smattering of Daniel and Isaiah. It's certainly de-mystified Revelation for me. It's really clear and has a lot of illustrations to help.

Also reading Amir Tsarfati's Bible Prophecy: the Essentials, which is formatted as a series of questions and answers about the end times and Israel. Have started The Dragon's Prophecy by Jonathan Cahn, he is a messianic Jew and is quite remarkable with the way he interprets the Bible and prophecies. As you can see I am quite 'into' the prophetic at the moment. 😅

Sausagenbacon · 25/10/2024 10:39

Thanks, of course I forgot CS Lewis - I enjoy both of those.
I can't work out why, but I have an aversion to St Teresa of Lisieux, I find Teresa of available much more inspiring.

OP posts:
1WanderingWomble · 25/10/2024 11:00

Sausagenbacon · 25/10/2024 10:39

Thanks, of course I forgot CS Lewis - I enjoy both of those.
I can't work out why, but I have an aversion to St Teresa of Lisieux, I find Teresa of available much more inspiring.

Of Avila? 😊 I'm planning to read 'Interior Castle' next so will share my thoughts in due course (could be a while as I'm an easily distracted reader!)
I think with St Therese of Lisieux I can see why it might come across as almost a little saccharine - is that what you mean? I had that thought but then I decided it's partly the time it was written in and also that she was so young and lived quite a 'small' or sheltered life but then that was the basis of her spirituality, that you can be just a young girl or an ordinary person but live quite radically within that (IYSWIM). I really like it but we all find different things helpful.

I've just remembered another book I found incredibly inspiring after reading it some time ago, although the subject matter (the Rwandan genocide) is very difficult: 'Left to Tell' by Immaculee Ilibagiza.

Sausagenbacon · 25/10/2024 15:48

That's about it.
I enjoyed The Eagle and The Dove by vita sackville west about them both.

OP posts:
FuzzyPuffling · 25/10/2024 16:40

I really enjoyed Rob Bell's "Love Wins". So much of it reassured me, especially when going through a difficult time at church. The notion that I could do the things I love now, caring for God's creation through gardening and cat-care, in the New Creation, I found a really calming and joyous idea.

1WanderingWomble · 25/10/2024 18:06

That's lovely @FuzzyPuffling ❤️

IntoTheArk · 25/10/2024 18:10

I really liked "Lost Scriptures" which was a book all about the "other" books that didn't make it into the official version of the bible when they were compiling the first one, long before the East-West Schism, and which most versions of Christianity have not carried forward.

I also really liked "The Case for A Creator" which was an excellent book about all those little things in the world/universe that add up to a very compelling case that the universe was created on purpose.

Sadly, I lent both to a student at CU when I was training as a teacher, and she disappeared a few weeks later and never returned them.

I'm open to more suggestions. The most recent one I read was The Authority of the Believer but I'm not sure how on board I am with it or how well I understand what it's saying.

AgileGreenSeal · 26/10/2024 00:22

I keep returning to The Normal Christian Life - Watchman Nee which I listen to on audio, rather than read. It’s a classic.

AgileGreenSeal · 26/10/2024 00:29

Also anything by AW Tozer is hugely worthwhile.
The Pursuit of God is astounding.

AgileGreenSeal · 26/10/2024 00:35

AlteredStater · 25/10/2024 10:32

I'm currently reading The Non-Prophet's Guide to the End Times by Todd Hampson. It's a very digestible book about prophecy and the end times (the Book of Revelation in particular, but also including a smattering of Daniel and Isaiah. It's certainly de-mystified Revelation for me. It's really clear and has a lot of illustrations to help.

Also reading Amir Tsarfati's Bible Prophecy: the Essentials, which is formatted as a series of questions and answers about the end times and Israel. Have started The Dragon's Prophecy by Jonathan Cahn, he is a messianic Jew and is quite remarkable with the way he interprets the Bible and prophecies. As you can see I am quite 'into' the prophetic at the moment. 😅

Edited

If you’re into prophecy you might find Joel Richardson’s Mideast Beast worth reading.
You can download it for free along with all of his other work from his website

joelstrumpet.com/

AlteredStater · 26/10/2024 10:11

AgileGreenSeal · 26/10/2024 00:35

If you’re into prophecy you might find Joel Richardson’s Mideast Beast worth reading.
You can download it for free along with all of his other work from his website

joelstrumpet.com/

Thanks very much, I will check his books out! 🙂

VincitVeritas1 · 26/10/2024 11:47

@AlteredStater I love Jonathan Cahn and follow Amir Tsarfati on YouTube too!

AlteredStater · 26/10/2024 12:07

VincitVeritas1 · 26/10/2024 11:47

@AlteredStater I love Jonathan Cahn and follow Amir Tsarfati on YouTube too!

High five! 😄

VincitVeritas1 · 26/10/2024 12:18

AlteredStater · 26/10/2024 12:07

High five! 😄

🖐😄

MoyoGaza · 26/10/2024 12:43

1.The Reformed Pastor by Richard Baxter (good audio version available on audible- this is pure gold - get it!)
2.Sermons on gospel themes by Charles Finney (good audiobook available)
3.any books you can find by AB Simpson
4.EM Bounds on prayer
5.Are you being converted by Alexander Penrose Forbes (maybe a little hard to find)
6.The Christian in complete armour by William Gurnall (absolutely excellent!!!)
7.Sermons on some words of Christ by H.P Liddon (pure gold!)
8.George Muller of Bristol (the autobiography of George Muller) plus anything you can find by this great saint of God - grab it!!
9.Action in waiting by Christoph Blumhardt (great book!)
10.Lectures on revivals by Charles Finney (good audio version available)
11.My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers (classic daily devotional - great book)

I can recommend more but let me know if any of these tickle your fancy

God bless you and guide you on your pilgrimage; and edify you unto good works and more faith.
Grace and peace to you.

Notquitegrownup2 · 30/10/2024 10:43

The hiding place by Corrie ten Boom is one I return to again and again.

AgileGreenSeal · 30/10/2024 20:42

Notquitegrownup2 · 30/10/2024 10:43

The hiding place by Corrie ten Boom is one I return to again and again.

Corrie ten Boom - such a wonderful woman of God. I always am blessed by any of her stuff. She has some good interviews on YouTube.

CharlotteCollinsneeLucas · 30/10/2024 20:53

I read a biography of George Muller when I was a teenager, great suggestion, really impressive life he led.

I'm reading Knowing God by J Packer. At times I find it hard going and at other times I can't get enough. It's best in small doses, for me, though, and I sometimes wonder if by the time I finish it I'll just go back to the beginning and start again!

I also like Richard Foster's books.

mostlydrinkstea · 01/11/2024 13:09

Falling Upward by Richard Rohr which is about navigating the spiritual challenges of midlife.

MovingCrib · 02/11/2024 21:12

mostlydrinkstea · 01/11/2024 13:09

Falling Upward by Richard Rohr which is about navigating the spiritual challenges of midlife.

Oooh thanks - I'll look up that

Justmerach · 29/11/2024 10:29

For me there I think has been three standout books I have really liked.

The first book I read as a teen and it was a beautiful story about healing through the Holy Spirit, but I just cannot remember the name of the book. I wish I could find it again. I read it in my late teens and I am 51 now and it has had a lasting impact on me.

Also Saints with disabilities by Pia Matthews has been very helpful to me. I have endured disability and ill health and it helped me come to acceptance and look at the world in a different light.

I have also enjoyed reading All the Women of the Bible by Herbert Lockyear. I really enjoyed learning about the female prophets in the Old Testament.

MargaretThursday · 29/11/2024 20:38

Notquitegrownup2 · 30/10/2024 10:43

The hiding place by Corrie ten Boom is one I return to again and again.

I first read that when I was about 6 or 7, or rather a shortened version that somehow had got mixed up with the Ladybird books on the shelves, and I was looking for something to read.
I can't remember what point I realised it was real, not a story, but I do remember dm's horrified look as I asked questions you don't really want to answer from your rather sensitive small dd.

She hid the book after that, and I've never read it again, but there's two parts that really stayed with me.
One was when she was released, and makes her way to a house and asks for help. The people there give her just a biscuit to eat at first, because they say that her stomach won't be able to cope with rich food, and Corrie realises that they are people who are caring for her.

The second one was she was preaching after the war about forgiveness. And at the end a man came up and thanked her for her talk and held out his hand to shake hers. She looked into his eyes and realised it was one of the SS men from the camp. And she shook his hand.

Both those made me cry at the time, and still make me cry now.
I don't know if I want to read it again, because it had such a big impact on me at the time.

For me it depends on the time. I've found some of Colin Urquhart books really helpful when I've been going through difficult times. There was one called "Anything I ask", which helped me a lot. I really wanted to meet him, but never managed it.
Sometimes the books where people see miraculous events time and time again. I enjoy them when I'm in a good place. If I'm in a bad place I want to (as Adrian Plass once put it) "kick them very hard between miracles" 😂 because it feels like everyone else in the world has someone come up at just the right time and have a word from a random person that is just right, except me...

PraiseHim · 12/01/2025 16:33

1WanderingWomble · 25/10/2024 10:23

I also liked Unapologetic, and a book called 'How to be a Bad Christian' by Dave Tomlinson, although I'm a bit more of a traditional Christian it was a good reminder of the different ways we can approach God.
I'm sure others will suggest these as well but pretty much all the CS Lewis books - The Great Divorce and Screwtape Letters particularly.

I'm currently reading The Little Way by St Therese of Lisieux. It's lovely in the way it encourages you to love God in the little things and be totally trusting in Him.

The Word of God

LadeOde · 13/01/2025 21:09

@PraiseHim What's the point you are trying to make by your post, 'Word of God'?

Memorable books for me include- 'Basket of flowers' by Christoff Von Schmid. Surprisingly available on Amazon. At 9yrs the story made me cry and i think was my first awareness of how cruel and unfair humans could be.
Love the story of Corrie Ten Boom and infact was my Christmas present to DN just Xmas gone.
Smith Wigglesworth i think was his autobiography.
God's generals (Why they succeeded and why some failed) by Robert Liardon- Short accounts of famous names like Katherine Khulman, William Seymour, John G Lake, William Branham etc.

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