Very few of my ideas on this blog are original. I have learned a few things about synthesizing ideas into a practical framework but the root of the ideas come from the Bible and the books I have read. I thought it might be interesting for me to make a recommended reading list. Each one of these books I have received tremendous inspiration from. I have reread many of these books one or two times and return to their ideas in the same way you might return home, for comfort and grounding in what really matters. As a matter of organization (yes, I am a librarian), I have grouped these into categories.
Spiritual Formation
Renovation of the Heart – Dallas Willard*
Good and Beautiful Life – James Bryan Smith
Discipleship
Divine Conspiracy – Dallas Willard*
Journey to Jesus – Robert Webber*
Evangelism
Evangelism Without Additives – Jim Henderson*
Prayer
With Christ in the School of Prayer – Andrew Murray*
Divine Hours – Phyllis Tickle
Prayer – Richard Foster
Fixed Hour Prayer
Jesus Creed – Scot McKnight
Forgiveness
The Return of the Prodigal Son – Henri Nouwen
God’s Love
Ragamuffin Gospel – Brennan Manning
Trust
Ruthless Trust – Brennan Manning
Life and Times of Jesus and the New Testament
The Desire of the Everlasting Hills – Thomas Cahill
Life of David
Leap Over A Wall – Eugene Peterson
Balanced Faith
Streams of Living Water – Richard Foster*
Historical Christian Thought
Longing For God – Gayle Beebe and Richard Foster
Spiritual Heritage
Dakota – Kathleen Norris
Overcoming Grief
The Inner Voice of Love – Henri Nouwen
A Room Full Of Marvels – James Bryan Smith
Spiritual Disciplines
Celebration of Discipline – Richard Foster*
A Year With God – Richard Foster, Julia L. Roller
Community
Irresistable Revolution – Shane Claiborne
Blue Like Jazz – Donald Miller
Silence and Solitude
The Way of the Heart – Henri Nouwen*
Beauty of God and Life
Sacred Journey/Now and Then/Telling Secrets – Frederick Buechner
God’s Work In and Through Individuals
Seven Storey Mountain – Thomas Merton
Hannah’s Child – Stanley Haurwas
Diary of a Country Priest – Georges Bernanos
Gilead – Marilynne Robinson
Life Hacking
Four Hour Workweek – Timothy Ferris
Parenting
Revolutionary Parenting – George Barna
Thought Life
Man’s Search For Meaning – Vicktor Frankl
Temptation
Screwtape Letters – C.S. Lewis
God
Good and Beautiful God – James Bryan Smith*
Faith Style
Living On Purpose: Finding God’s Best For Your Life – Thomas Sine
Social Ministry
Radical Compassion – Gary N. Smith
A Framework For Understanding Poverty – Ruby Payne
Eastern Orthodox Spirituality
The Mountain of Silence – Kyriacos C. Markides
Postmodern Christianity
Revolution – George Barna
A New Kind of Christian – Brian Mclaren
Undivided Life
“Divided No More” (Final chapter of The Courage To Teach) – Parker Palmer
*These items are essential reading.
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