100+ Book Recommendations for Christians

After being asked repeatedly for book recommendations on assorted topics, I decided to create a one-stop-shop list of recommended books for Christians. Many of these books have shaped my faith and literally changed my life. I pray that these recommendations, like this blog, would deepen your grasp of Scripture and your love for the God of the Scriptures.

A few thoughts on this non-exhaustive list:

Books are generally accessible for all. More advanced books will be marked accordingly.
I share links to free books and resources whenever possible.
My top picks are marked with a *.
I share many affiliate links, meaning I earn a few cents on the dollar of purchases at no extra cost to you. (This helps me cover blogging expenses.)

If you have books that you would add, let me know on Facebook or Twitter.

100+ Recommended Books for Christians

Apologetics

C.S. Lewis: Mere Christianity
Greg Kokul: Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions
Josh McDowell: More than Carpenter and Evidence that Demands Verdict
Lee Strobel: The Case for Christ: A Journalist’s Personal Investigation of Evidence for Jesus
Timothy Keller: The Reason for God and Making Sense of God
William Lane Craig: On Guard: Defending Your Faith with Reason and Precision and Reasonable Faith: Christian Truth and Apologetics (textbook)

Bible Study

A good study Bible

Grasping the Bible Story

Colin Smith: The Unlocking the Bible Story 4-Volume Set (or on UnlockingtheBible.org)
Mark Dever: The Message of the Old Testament and The Message of the New Testament
Michael Williams: How to Read the Bible through the Jesus Lens: A Guide to Christ-Focused Reading of Scripture
Vaughan Roberts: God’s Big Picture: Tracing the Storyline of the Bible

Growing In Your Bible Study Skills

40 Questions about Interpreting the Bible by Robert Plummer
Dig Deeper: Tools for Understanding God’s Word By Nigel Beynon, Andrew Sach
How to Read the Bible for All It’s Worth by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart
New Bible Dictionary (IVP) edited by Marshall, Millard, Packer, Wiseman (reference)
Women of the Word: How to Study the Bible with Both Our Hearts and Minds by Jen Wilkin

Tools — Bible Commentaries

Sharing the best commentaries for each book of the Bible is beyond the scope of this post. But I will recommend each of the following series that are helpful for a lay or pastoral audience:

Christ-Centered Exposition Series from B&H Publishing
Expositor’s Bible Commentary Set — set for preachers (see my review of the Logos Version)
The Bible Speaks Today Series (edited by John Stott)
The Preaching the Word Commentary Series from Crossway

Tools — Bible Study Guides

Bible Study Resources from St. Helens Bishopsgate (free PDFs)
I’ve found the God’s Word for You series from The Good Book Co helpful for leading Bible studies. (See my review of Tim Keller’s Romans 8-16.
Interactive Bible Studies from Matthias Media

Tools — Biblical Theology Resources: See Theology: Biblical Theology

Biographies (Christian and Other)

Also see my list of 100+ of the Best Christian Biographies

Charles Colson: Born Again
Charles Spurgeon: A New Biography by Arnold Dallimore
David Brainerd: The Life and Diary of David Brainerd by Jonathan Edwards
Deitrich Bonhoeffer: Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas
D.L. Moody: A Passion for Souls: The Life of D.L. Moody by Lyle Dorsett
George Muller: The Autobiography of George Muller
George Whitefield: God’s Anointed Servant in the Great Revival of the Eighteenth Century by Arnold Dallimore
Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret by Dr. Howard Taylor
Jim Elliot: Shadow of the Almighty: The Life and Testimony of Jim Elliot by Elizabeth Elliot
Jonathan Edwards: A Life by George Marsden
Keith Green: No Compromise: The Life Story of Keith Green
Louis Zamperini: Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand
Martin Luther: Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther by Roland Bainton
Martyn Lloyd-Jones: The Life of Martyn Lloyd-Jones by Iain Murray
Nabeel Qureshi: Seeking Allah Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters Christianity
Ravi Zacharias: Walking from East to West
Rosaria Butterfield: The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert
Tom Carson (Don Carson’s father): Memoirs of an Ordinary Pastor by D.A. Carson

If you’re into theology, you will probably like Crossway’s Theologians on the Christian Life series.

Children’s Bibles / Books

The Big Picture Story Bible by David Helm
The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones
Man on the Run! By Tim Augustyn

Church History

Church History in Plain Language by Bruce Shelley. Many consider this the best one-volume introduction to Church History.

Devotionals

See my 20 recommended devotionals or a few favorites below:

Colin Smith and Tim Augustyn: The One Year Unlocking the Bible Devotional
D.A. Carson: For the Love of God (volume 1 and volume 2)
John Stott: Through the Bible, Through the Year: Daily Reflections from Genesis to Revelation
Paul Tripp: New Morning Mercies: A Daily Gospel Devotional
Puritans: The Valley of Vision
Tim and Kathy Keller: The Songs of Jesus: Devotions in the Psalms (my review)

Evangelism

J.I. Packer: Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God
Mark Cahill: One Thing You Can’t Do in Heaven
Mark Dever: The Gospel and Personal Evangelism
Ray Comfort: The Way of the Master and The School of Biblical Evangelism

The Gospel

Colin Smith: Heaven, How I Got Here: The Story of the Thief on the Cross (my review for TGC)
Greg Gilbert: What is the Gospel?
John Piper: 50 Reasons Jesus Came to Die
John Stott: The Cross of Christ
Mark Dever: The Gospel and Personal Evangelism (9Marks)
Michael Horton: Christless Christianity: The Alternative Gospel of the American Church
Timothy Keller: The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith

Holiness

J.C. Ryle: Holiness
Jerry Bridges: The Pursuit of Holiness and The Discipline of Grace: God’s Role and Our Role in the Pursuit of Holiness
John Owen: Overcoming Sin and Temptation
Kevin DeYoung: The Hole in Our Holiness
R.C. Sproul: The Holiness of God (also check out 22+ free Sproul Kindle books)

Leadership

Albert Mohler: The Conviction to Lead: 25 Principles for Leadership that Matters by Albert Mohler
Craig Hamilton: Wisdom in Leadership: The How and Why of Leading the People You Serve (my review)
J. Oswald Sanders: Spiritual Leadership: Principles of Excellence for Every Believer

Marriage and Relationships

Dave Harvey: When Sinners Say I Do: Discovering the Power of the Gospel in Marriage
Francis Chan: You and Me Forever: Marriage in Light of Eternity (free PDF)
John Piper: This Momentary Marriage
Paul Tripp: What Did You Expect? Reedeeming the Realities of Marriage
Timothy Keller: The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God

Ministry

Colin Marshall and Tony Payne: The Trellis and the Vine: The Ministry Mindshift That Changes Everything (Audio Resource)
Colin Marshall and Tony Payne: The Vine Project: Shaping Your Ministry Culture Around Disciple Making (see my review on The Gospel Coalition or this video resource)
John Piper: Brothers: We Are Not Professionals: A Plea to Pastors for Radical Ministry (free PDF)
Mark Dever: 9 Marks of Healthy Church. You can’t go wrong with any book from 9Marks!
Paul Tripp: Dangerous Calling: Confronting the Unique Challenges of Pastoral Ministry
R. Kent Hughes: Liberating Ministry from the Success Syndrome (see summary)

Missions

Coming Soon.

Money

Dave Ramsey: The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness
Larry Burkett: Money Matters: Answers To Your Financial Questions
Randy Alcorn: The Treasure Principle: Unlocking the Secret of Joyful Giving
Randy Alcorn: Money, Possessions, and Eternity

Politics

Jonathan Leeman: How the Nations Rage: Rethinking Faith and Politics in Divided Age

Prayer

10 Recommended Books about Prayer (with a few free books)

Shameless plug alert: When Prayer Is Struggle: A Practical Guide for Overcoming Obstacles in Prayer by Kevin P. Halloran

Charles Spurgeon: Encouraged to Pray: Classic Sermons on Prayer
D.A. Carson: Praying with Paul
John Calvin: The Chief Exercise of Faith (Calvin’s chapter on prayer from Institutes)
John Piper: A Hunger for God: Desiring God Through Fasting and Prayer (free PDF)
John Woodbridge and Collin Hansen: A God-Sized Vision: Revival Stories that Stretch and Stir
Puritans: The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions
Scotty Smith: Everyday Prayers: 365 Days to Gospel-Centered Faith
Timothy Keller: Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God

Productivity

Matt Perman: What’s Best Next: How the Gospel Transforms the Way We Get Things Done
Tim Challies: Do More Better: A Practical Guide to Productivity

Sexuality & Sexual Purity

Heath Lambert: Finally Free: Fighting for Purity with the Power of Grace
Sam Allberry: Is God Anti-Gay?
William Struthers: Wired for Intimacy: How Pornography Hijacks the Male Brain

Suffering

See more recommended books on suffering or a few top picks below:

C.S. Lewis: A Grief Observed
Jerry Bridges: Trusting God: Even When Life Hurts
Nancy Guthrie: Hearing Jesus Speak Into Your Sorrow
Timothy Keller: Walking with God in Pain and Suffering

Technology

Andy Crouch: The Tech-Wise Family
John Dyer: From the Garden to the City: The Redeeming and Corrupting Power of Technology
Tim Challies: The Next Story: Faith, Friends, Family and the Digital World
Tony Reinke: 12 Ways Your Phone is Changing You (my review)

Theology

Biblical Theology

Graeme Goldsworthy: According to Plan: The Unfolding Revelation of God in the Bible
Jim Hamilton: God’s Glory in Salvation Through Judgment
Various: The New Dictionary of Biblical Theology ed. By Rosner, Alexander, Carson, and Goldworthy (my review)
Vaughan Roberts: God’s Big Picture: Tracing the Storyline of the Bible (free video series)

For books on specific biblical theological themes, see Short Studies in Biblical Theology Series from Crossway (lay level) or New Studies in Biblical Theology from IVP (scholarly but accessible).

Historical Theology