Here is a list of my favorite completed books for 2012 (with one exception). They are listed in no particular order:
Total Truth: Liberating Christianity From Its Cultural Captivity by Nancy Pearcey - This book uncovers why we think the way we do, where we've gone wrong, and how to get back to a Christian worldview. I loved Pearcey's chapter on the gender wars. It highlighted, at least to me, the danger of promoting moralism rather than the gospel.
Reformation: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow by Carl Trueman - This is a little book that packs a punch. The cross of Christ, the preaching of the Word, and assurance of salvation were vital to the Reformation and just as important to the church today. Have we lost these essentials?
Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help (And How to Reverse It) by Robert P. Lupton - Are we enabling dependence or rehabilitating towards healthy self-sufficiency? If you give to charities, read this. If you care about mercy ministry, read this. Toxic Charity was a runner up for World Magazine's 2012 book of the year.
John G. Paton, Missionary to the New Hebrides by John G. Paton - This is a long book but worth it. You will be moved by Paton's love for the unreached islanders of the New Hebrides and the power of the gospel. It's riveting without sensationalism. I cried over the story of the sinking of the well on Aniwa and the lives that were saved following that event. It was also fascinating to read his brief account of meeting George Mueller, Charles and Susannah Spurgeon, and even Presidents Harrison and Cleveland. This is my pastor's favorite missionary biography.
My Antonia by Willa Cather - Beautiful writing. I could almost feel the biting prairie wind in winter and smell the scent of grass in summer.
Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin - This is still a work in progress. The Institutes are more readable than I had anticipated. I wouldn't call it easy reading but neither is it incomprehensible unless you have an advanced seminary degree. Calvin's defense against various schools of religious thought/philosophers often go over my head, but despite that, his love for God and the gospel of grace is evident on every page. This is a very rich book which is why I am reading it in small doses.
Update for an addition:
Killing Calvinism: How to Destroy a Perfectly Good Theology from the Inside by Greg Dutcher - Oh my was this convicting! Dutcher lays out eight areas in which we may be harming the theology we love by our arrogance and love for a doctrine, however correct it may be, above God. This should be required reading for every new Calvinist and the old ones too.
What are your favorite books from 2012?
Total Truth: Liberating Christianity From Its Cultural Captivity by Nancy Pearcey - This book uncovers why we think the way we do, where we've gone wrong, and how to get back to a Christian worldview. I loved Pearcey's chapter on the gender wars. It highlighted, at least to me, the danger of promoting moralism rather than the gospel.
Reformation: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow by Carl Trueman - This is a little book that packs a punch. The cross of Christ, the preaching of the Word, and assurance of salvation were vital to the Reformation and just as important to the church today. Have we lost these essentials?
Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help (And How to Reverse It) by Robert P. Lupton - Are we enabling dependence or rehabilitating towards healthy self-sufficiency? If you give to charities, read this. If you care about mercy ministry, read this. Toxic Charity was a runner up for World Magazine's 2012 book of the year.
John G. Paton, Missionary to the New Hebrides by John G. Paton - This is a long book but worth it. You will be moved by Paton's love for the unreached islanders of the New Hebrides and the power of the gospel. It's riveting without sensationalism. I cried over the story of the sinking of the well on Aniwa and the lives that were saved following that event. It was also fascinating to read his brief account of meeting George Mueller, Charles and Susannah Spurgeon, and even Presidents Harrison and Cleveland. This is my pastor's favorite missionary biography.
My Antonia by Willa Cather - Beautiful writing. I could almost feel the biting prairie wind in winter and smell the scent of grass in summer.
Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin - This is still a work in progress. The Institutes are more readable than I had anticipated. I wouldn't call it easy reading but neither is it incomprehensible unless you have an advanced seminary degree. Calvin's defense against various schools of religious thought/philosophers often go over my head, but despite that, his love for God and the gospel of grace is evident on every page. This is a very rich book which is why I am reading it in small doses.
Update for an addition:
Killing Calvinism: How to Destroy a Perfectly Good Theology from the Inside by Greg Dutcher - Oh my was this convicting! Dutcher lays out eight areas in which we may be harming the theology we love by our arrogance and love for a doctrine, however correct it may be, above God. This should be required reading for every new Calvinist and the old ones too.
What are your favorite books from 2012?
1. A Puritan Theology by Beeke and Jones
ReplyDelete2. Delighting in the Trinity by Michael Reeves
3. Correct not Politically Correct by Frank Turek
4. Tactics by Greg Koukl
5. The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness by Tim Keller
6. Killing Calvinism by Greg Dutcher
7. God's War on Terror by Walid Shoebat
Killing Calvinism is in the mail. I'm looking forward to reading that as I still have cage stage moments. I was so tempted to get "A Puritan Theology" but resisted since I have unread Puritan paperbacks.
DeleteYes! Killing Calvinism was a great book!
DeleteI just ordered A Puritan Theology and also Delighting in the Trinity. Thanks for the recommendations.
Some of the books that stand out for me are: The Hiding Place, A Journey In Grace, Loving the Little Years: Motherhood in the Trenches, Christ and the Desert Tabernacle.
ReplyDeleteThe Word-Tilting Gospel by Dan Phillips, Christ and Him Crucified by Jon Cardwell, Shepherding a Childs Heart by Tedd Tripp, Slave by John MacArthur, Concerning Christian Liberty by Martin Luther, Joy at the End of the Tether by Doug Wilson, and (though I haven't quite finished it) The Mystery of Providence by John Flavel. It was a good year of reading!
ReplyDeleteThe World-Tilting Gospel is in my list of favorite books too. And I definitely loved Joy at the End of the Tether. I am so happy to see it among your favorite books, Jessica ;)
DeleteTWTG is my graduation giveaway book and probably my favorite gospel book.
DeleteBecky - My husband read and loved Joy at the End of the Tether and loved it too. It was such a blessing.
DeleteYou are a terrific source for building an edifying book list, Persis. Thanks for sharing your favorite reads from this year. I admire Eddie and Hollie for their ability to list favorites so easily. Grieving, Hope, and Solace was a big encouragement to me at the beginning of the year, and I actually enjoyed some fiction reads this year, especially The Book Thief.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you, Trisha. I was going to leave a comment with my favorite books and it turned out to long that it became a blog post! :)
DeleteI just ordered Grieving, Hope, and Solace for the church library. I keep hearing about The Book Thief. I may have to check that out.
DeleteThat book by Paton sounds good. I haven't heard of that before.
ReplyDeleteI especially liked Paton's no-nonsense, plain speaking when it came to defending the faith. He had to be made of stern stuff to live under the threat of death for so many years.
DeletePersis,
ReplyDeleteSo... My list of my 12 favorite books for 2012 is now on my blog ;)
http://www.beckypliego.com/2012/12/my-favorite-12-books-of-2012.html
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