Every Christian should be a reader—we are after all a people of the Book! So, here are my choices for must-have Christian books for your personal, church or Christian library. These are all the best Christian books (mostly) that I have read and have helped me immensely to think through things from a Biblical worldview and continue to grow and refine my faith.
I hope that you will find them helpful as well. I’ll try my best to update this list as I find more must-reads.
(Feel free to pass along this list to your family, friends, church librarians and pastors!)
Best Christian Books on Family
The family is the building block of society. Where there are strong, healthy families, you will have a vibrant and resilient community. This is why the family has been the prime target of the Devil. It is a shame that many churches do not equip their people well to build strong, Biblical families.
One of the most strategic and fruitful things the church can do is to focus on restoring Biblical teaching and standards for family life. Here are my picks on some books that have been helpful to me as a man trying to faithfully lead my family.
- Family Shepherds: Calling and Equipping Men to Lead Their Homes by Voddie Baucham Jr.
- Family Driven Faith: Doing What It Takes to Raise Sons and Daughters Who Walk with God by Voddie Baucham Jr.
- The Household and the War for the Cosmos: Recovering a Christian Vision for the Family by C.R. Wiley
- For a Glory and a Covering: A Practical Theology of Marriage: A Practical Theology of Marriage by Douglas Wilson
Parenting and education are other areas that is of strategic and utmost importance. We need to raise the next generation of faithful warriors in His Kingdom. Here are a few that impacted me:
- Standing on the Promises: A Handbook of Biblical Childrearing by Douglas Wilson
- Future Men: Raising Boys to Fight Giants: Christian Parenting for Bringing up Boys to be Strong Men of Faith by Douglas Wilson
- Raising Men, Not Boys: Shepherding Your Sons to be Men of God by Mike Fabarez
- The Case for Classical Christian Education by Douglas Wilson
Family worship is one of those key things to building a strong, godly household that is often neglected today. Many parents never experienced it growing up and therefore have no idea where to start or what it should look like. These short books are great primers and how-tos on family worship.
- Family Worship by Donald S. Whitney
- Family Worship Bible Guide by Joel R. Beeke
If we can transform the Christian family, this is perhaps one of the most powerful things we can accomplish for generations.
Must-Have Christian Books for Men & Women
Masculinity has been under attack in our culture. We must regain godly manhood and the masculine nature of the Christian faith. These books have been very helpful for me in thinking through these issues and maturing as a Christian man.
- Masculine Christianity by Zachary Garris
- Honor Thy Fathers: Recovering the Anti-Feminist Theology of the Reformers by Zachary Garris
- It’s Good to Be a Man: A Handbook for Godly Masculinity by Michael Foster
- The Manliness of Christ by Dale Partridge
- The Masculine Mandate: God’s Calling to Men by Richard D. Phillips
Fatherhood is sorely lacking in our days. Many of societies ills can be traced back to the absence of godly fathers.
- Father Hunger: Why God Calls Men to Love and Lead Their Families by Douglas Wilson
- How Should Men Lead Their Families? by Joel R. Beeke
Young men especially need guidance for life and how to become a “real” man.
- Thoughts for Young Men by J.C. Ryle
- Disciplines of a Godly Young Man by R. Kent Hughes
- What He Must Be …If He Wants to Marry My Daughter by Voddie Baucham Jr.
Women also need biblical guidance for their own expression of gendered piety. These two books were great reads with my wife
- Eve in Exile: The Restoration of Femininity by Rebekah Merkle
- Building Her House: Commonsensical Wisdom for Christian Women by Nancy Wilson
Must-Have Christian Books on Defending the Faith (Apologetics)
Throughout life, we’ll inevitably encounter challenges to our faith—from friends, coworkers, relatives and even the family in our own homes. Christians need to be able to make a defense for the reason for their hope (1 Peter 3:15). This is what is known as “apologetics”. It is vital for every Christian to study and prepare themselves to answer the doubts they will face in others, and even in their own hearts.
- Expository Apologetics: Answering Objections with the Power of the Word by Voddie T. Baucham Jr.
- Always Ready: Directions for Defending the Faith by Greg L. Bahnsen
- Total Truth: Liberating Christianity from its Cultural Captivity by Nancy R,. Pearcey
- Against All Opposition: Defending the Christian Worldview by Greg L. Bahnsen
- Apologetics: A Justification of Christian Belief by John M. Frame
- The Defence of the Faith by Cornelius VanTil
A big part of being equipped apologetically is understanding the concept of worldview. These two short books are a great introduction.
- What’s Your Worldview?: An Interactive Approach to Life’s Big Questions by James N. Anderson
- What Is the Christian Worldview? by Philip G. Ryken
For more specific apologetics to various religions, cults and challenges—these books are a wealth of resources!
- The Kingdom of the Cults: The Definitive Work on the Subject by Walter Martin
- The Roman Catholic Controversy by James R. White
- Another Gospel?: A Lifelong Christian Seeks Truth in Response to Progressive Christianity by Alisa Childers
- The Atheist Who Didn’t Exist by Andy Bannister
- Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus by Nabeel Qureshi
Best Books on Theology & Church
Every Christian is a theologian. It’s just a matter of whether they’re a good one or not. The best place to start is with theology proper—the knowledge of God. We cannot worship the God we do not know. Far from being something stuffy and impractical, theology deepens your worship and awe of your Creator.
- Knowing God by J.I. Packer
- The Holiness of God by R.C. Sproul
- Simply Trinity: The Unmanipulated Father, Son, and Spirit by Matthew Barrett
- None Greater: The Undomesticated Attributes of God by Matthew Barrett
- The Forgotten Trinity: Recovering the Heart of Christian Belief by James R. White
Inevitably as one dives deeper into theology, they encounter questions about the sovereignty of God and human responsibility or free will. These are some of the most helpful books on the topic I’ve read.
- What about Free Will?: Reconciling Our Choices with God’s Sovereignty by Scott Christensen
- What about Evil?: A Defense of God’s Sovereign Glory by Scott Christensen
- Willing to Believe: The Controversy over Free Will by R.C. Sproul
- The Sovereignty of God by A.W. Pink
As we continue to grow, we need to systematize our theological beliefs and be able to connect the dots in Scripture. We also need to be able to correctly prioritize and categorize theological issues and disputes.
- Systematic Theology by Robert Letham
- The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith in Modern English by Stan Reeves
- The Shadow of Christ in the Law of Moses by Vern S. Poythress
- The Cross of Christ by John R.W. Stott
- Finding the Right Hills to Die on: The Case for Theological Triage by Gavin Ortlund
- The World is Christ’s: A Critique of Two Kingdoms Theology by Willem J. Ouweneel
Christians also need a good understanding of the church and its sacraments or ordinances, as well as how best to order church life.
- Truth We Can Touch: How Baptism and Communion Shape Our Lives by Tim Chester
- What Is the Lord’s Supper? by R.C. Sproul and the whole Crucial Questions Series from Ligonier. You can download the whole Crucial Questions series FREE as eBooks here.
- The Creedal Imperative by Carl R. Trueman
- Gashmu Saith It: How to Build Christian Communities that Save the World by Douglas Wilson
- Biblical Eldership by Alexander Strauch
- Welcome to a Reformed Church by Daniel R. Hyde
- Why We Love the Church: In Praise of Institutions and Organized Religion by Kevin DeYoung
Best Books on the Bible
Central to the life of the Christian is God’s Word. We must devote ourselves to thoroughly understanding and applying it to our lives. Additionally, we must know why we trust the Bible and what books belong in the Bible.
- A Visual Theology Guide to the Bible: Seeing and Knowing God’s Word by Tim Challies
- Knowing Scripture by R.C. Sproul
- Scripture Alone: Exploring the Bible’s Accuracy, Authority and Authenticity by James R. White
- Canon Revisited: Establishing The Origins And Authority Of The New Testament Books by Michael J. Kruger
- God’s Word Alone—The Authority of Scripture: What the Reformers Taught… and Why It Still Matters by Matthew Barrett
- A Peculiar Glory: How the Christian Scriptures Reveal Their Complete Truthfulness by John Piper
- The Divine Inspiration of the Bible by A.W. Pink
- Can I really trust the Bible? by Barry Cooper
- The Bible Study Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide to an Essential Practice by Lindsay Olesberg
- Joseph and the Gospel of Many Colors: Reading an Old Story in a New Way by Voddie Baucham Jr.
Top Books on Evangelism
The Great Commission is sadly often the Great Omission. Our Sovereign Lord, Jesus commanded us to spread the Good News of the Gospel to the whole world. We go and proclaim the Gospel with confidence of God’s sovereign backing.These books help prepare and equip you to think about and do the work of an evangelist in the areas God has called you to.
- Principles of War: Thoughts on Strategic Evangelism by Jim Wilson
- The Gospel Call and True Conversion by Paul Washer
- Honest Evangelism: How to talk about Jesus even when it’s tough by Rico Tice
- Being the Bad Guys: How to Live for Jesus in a World That Says You Shouldn’t by Stephen McAlpine
- The Walk: Steps for New and Renewed Followers of Jesus by Stephen Smallman
- Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God by J.I. Packer
- The Greatness of the Great Commission: The Christian Enterprise in a Fallen World by Kenneth L. Gentry Jr. Also available on Dr. Gentry’s website.
Christian Books on Culture & Politics
God’s Word and our faith apply to every area of life and culture. Unfortunately, a pietistic faith that only lives between your ears has become popular in Western Christianity. However, we need to think and act Christianly in all of life.
- The Mission of God: A Manifesto of Hope for Society by Joseph Boot. Also available at Ezra Press.
- Five Lies of Our Anti-Christian Age by Rosaria Butterfield
- Strange New World: How Thinkers and Activists Redefined Identity and Sparked the Sexual Revolution by Carl R. Trueman
- Post-Christian: A Guide to Contemporary Thought and Culture by Gene Edward Veith Jr.
- Every Square Inch: An Introduction to Cultural Engagement for Christians by Bruce Ashford
- Shepherds for Sale: How Evangelical Leaders Traded the Truth for a Leftist Agenda by Megan Basham
- God, Greed, and the (Prosperity) Gospel: How Truth Overwhelms a Life Built on Lies by Costi W. Hinn
LBGTQ+ issues are at the top of the list of things that Christians need to be prepared to give an answer for. Yet many Christians are woefully underprepared to talk biblically about sex and gender amongst the confusion of today’s culture.
- God’s Good Design: A Biblical, Theological, and Practical Guide to Human Sexuality by D. Michael Clary
- Love Thy Body: Answering Hard Questions about Life and Sexuality by Nancy R. Pearcey
- The Same Sex Controversy: Defending and Clarifying the Bible’s Message About Homosexuality by James R. White
- It’s Not Like Being Black: How Sexual Activists Hijacked the Civil Rights Movement by Voddie Baucham Jr.
- What the Bible Says about Birth Control, Infertility, Reproductive Technology, and Adoption by Wayne Grudem
- We Cannot Be Silent: Speaking Truth to a Culture Redefining Sex, Marriage, and the Very Meaning of Right and Wrong by R. Albert Mohler Jr.
Wokeness has also become a major challenge that Christians must be prepared to face. The Social Justice Movement has hijacked empathy and compassion, causing much confusion in the culture and church.
- Fault Lines: The Social Justice Movement and Evangelicalism’s Looming Catastrophe by Voddie Baucham Jr.
- Confronting Injustice without Compromising Truth: 12 Questions Christians Should Ask About Social Justice by Thaddeus Williams
Christians also need to be able to think biblically about politics and the role of government.
- Ruler of Kings: Toward a Christian Vision of Government by Joseph Boot. Also available at Ezra Press.
- Slaying Leviathan: Limited Government and Resistance in the Christian Tradition by Glenn S. Sunshine
- Ruler Of The Nations: Biblical Blueprints For Government by Gary DeMar. Also available for FREE as a PDF here.
- Abortion: A Rational Look at an Emotional Issue by R.C. Sproul
Best Books on Eschatology (End Times)
While eschatology (the study of last things) is not a primary doctrine, it also is not an unimportant one. Ultimately, what we believe about how history will end will affect the way we live today and our hopes for tomorrow. Many Christians put off studying this topic because they think it is too complicated or impractical. However, all of God’s Word is profitable and we should not neglect this area. These books obviously reflect my own Postmillennial convictions, but I think they are worth consideration.
- The Last Days according to Jesus: When Did Jesus Say He Would Return? by R.C. Sproul
- Last Days Madness: Obsession of the Modern Church by Gary DeMar. Also available from American Vision.
- He Shall Have Dominion: A Postmillennial Eschatology by Kenneth L. Gentry Jr. Also available at Dr. Gentry’s website or for free as a PDF.
- The Beast of Revelation by Kenneth L. Gentry Jr. Also available at Dr. Gentry’s website or as a PDF for free.
- The Days of Vengeance by David Chilton
- When the Man Comes Around: A Commentary on the Book of Revelation by Doug Wilson
- Victory in Jesus: The Bright Hope of Postmillennialism by Greg L. Bahnsen
- Postmillennialism: An Eschatology of Hope by Keith A. Mathison
- An Eschatology of Victory by J. Marcellus Kik
Best Books on Christian History
Many Evangelical Christians today live as historical islands, unaware of anything that happened before Billy Graham. However, there is a wealth of wisdom and insight to be gained from godly men and women of the past as well as learning from how God has moved in ages past. At the very least, it is an exercise in encouragement at the faithfulness of our God and that He is writing a story bigger than any of our lives.
- How Christianity Changed the World by Alvin J. Schmidt
- The White Horse King: The Life of Alfred the Great by Benjamin Merkle
- The Story of Christianity, Volume 1: The Early Church to the Reformation by Justo L. González. Volume 2 covers from the Reformation to present day.
- The Unquenchable Flame: Discovering the Heart of the Reformation by Michael Reeves
- When a Nation Forgets God: 7 Lessons We Must Learn from Nazi Germany by Erwin W. Lutzer
- Following God Fully: An Introduction to the Puritans by Joel R. Beeke
- Christianity at the Crossroads: How the Second Century Shaped the Future of the Church by Michael J. Kruger
- Know the Creeds and Councils (KNOW Series Book 1) by Justin S. Holcomb
- Church History 101: The Highlights of Twenty Centuries by Sinclair B. Ferguson
- Canada: The Introduction of Christianity in Early Canada by Steven R. Martins
Must-Have Christian Classics
- On the Incarnation by Athanasius
- The Religious Affections by Jonathan Edwards
- The Mortification of Sin by John Owen
- The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan
- The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs
- The Doctrine of Repentance by Thomas Watson
- The Bruised Reed by Richard Sibbes
- Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
- The Weight of Glory by C.S. Lewis
- The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
- The Confessions by Augustine of Hippo
- Life Together: A Classic and Profound Exploration of Christian Fellowship, Ethical Living, and Spiritual Growth Amid the Shadows of Nazi Germany by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
- Biblical Doctrines by B.B. Warfield
- Treasury of David Classic Reflections On The Wisdom Of The Psalms by C.H. Spurgeon
- Christianity and Liberalism by J. Gresham Machen
- Institutes of the Chrisitan Religion by John Calvin
- Bondage of the Will by Martin Luther
- Freedom of the Will by Jonathan Edwards
Best Books on Christian Living
- Living Life Backward: How Ecclesiastes Teaches Us to Live in Light of the End by David Gibson
- Look and Live: Behold the Soul-Thrilling, Sin-Destroying Glory of Christ by Matt Papa
- 12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You by Tony Reinke
- The Ten Commandments: What They Mean, Why They Matter, and Why We Should Obey Them by Kevin DeYoung
- Ploductivity: A Practical Theology of Tools & Wealth by Douglas Wilson
- For the Kingdom of God by Joseph Boot.
- Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament by Mark Vroegop
Great Reads About Christians and Biographies
A good biography is a real gem to find. Here are a few that have impacted me.
- The Legacy of Luther by R.C. Sproul
- The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert: An English Professor’s Journey Into Christian Faith by Rosaria Champagne Butterfield
- Dispatches from the Front: Stories of Gospel Advance in the World’s Difficult Places by Tim Keesee
- A Company of Heroes: Portraits from the Gospel’s Global Advance by Tim Keesee
- Spurgeon: A New Biography by Arnold A. Dallimore
- Jonathan Edwards: A New Biography by Iain Murray
- The Trinitarian Devotion of John Owen by Sinclair B. Ferguson
Best Books on Christian Creativity
As a Christian creative, I’m always considering how my faith impacts my creativity and how to use my gifts for the glory of God. These books have been helpful inspiration to me.
- Images and Idols: Creativity for the Christian Life by Thomas J. Terry
- Art for God’s Sake: A Call to Recover the Arts by Philip G. Ryken
- A Redemptive Theology of Art: Restoring Godly Aesthetics to Doctrine and Culture by David A. Covington
- Rembrandt Is in the Wind: Learning to Love Art through the Eyes of Faith by Ramsey Russ
Best Christian Books for Kids
As a dad, I’ve seen the power of storytelling to teach your kids lessons they would otherwise not grasp as easily. THese are some great ones to add to your shelves!
- Crispin’s Rainy Day by Forrest Dickison. Also available here in Canada.
- Blah Blah Blacksheep by N.D. Wilson. Also available here in Canada.
- The Doctor Who Became a Preacher: Martyn Lloyd-Jones by Rebecca VanDoodewaard
- Dragon in a Dress by Hannah Spuler. Also available here in Canada.
- Jesus and My Gender by Dale Partridge. Also available here in Canada.
- Sir Badalot and the Cranky Danky Dragon by Rachel Jankovic. Also available here in Canada.
- The Church by Devon Provencher
- Creation by Devon Provencher
- Little Pilgrim’s Big Journey: John Bunyans Pilgrim’s Progress Fully Illustrated & Adapted for Kids by Tyler Van Halteren
- The Prince’s Poison Cup by R.C. Sproul
I hope that you find this list helpful and forgive me for any great books I haven’t yet read and added to this list. I’ll do my best to keep it updated going forward and pray that the Lord would use these books powerfully in your life to help shape, refine and grow your faith.
What would YOU add to this list?
Reshare and tag @theotivity to let me know!
Soli Deo Gloria!
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