—president emeritus, Wheaton College.
Knowing God, J. I. Packer (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1973). I have found this book to be both informative and inspiring. Packer has a gift of presenting biblical truth in a most engaging way. What he has written merits re-reading.
—CEO, God’s World Publishing, Inc.; publisher, WORLD magazine.
Trinity Hymnal (Philadelphia: Great Commission Publications, 1961). This is a book I turn to every single day. It encourages me, instructs me, warns me, lifts me, humbles me, cheers me, chastens me, reminds me, and much else. I cannot imagine being without it.
*The Westminster Confession of Faith, Douglas Kelly, ed. (1646; Signal Mountain, TN: Summertown Texts, 1992)
The Westminster Shorter Catechism, Douglas F. Kelly, Philip B. Rollinson, Frederick T. Marsh, Eds. (Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed Pub. Co., 1986). Although 350 years old, they helped organize my thinking for all of life. They remind me of what is important in both belief and behavior.
—Bishop of Lewes, Diocese of Chichester, The Church of England.
If I had to go to a desert island the following three books would be included in my top ten!
Knowing God, J. I. Packer (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1973). A biblical handbook of applied evangelical theology, which combines clarity of biblical thought with puritan pastoral passion.
Dynamics of Spiritual Life, Richard F. Lovelace (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1979). An excellent historically oriented study of the essentials of renewal and survival.
*Death in the City, Francis A. Schaeffer (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1969). Helped me to understand Romans and contemporary culture, and encouraged me to teach the former with faithfulness and confidence into the latter situation.
—calligraphic artist and book designer; books include Doorposts, Windsongs, Messiah, and Botts Illustrated Bible.
One book rises above all the others for me:
The God Who is There, Francis Schaeffer (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1968). It took me a whole semester in college to get through it, but it helped me to think critically about what I was learning at the university. It was the first time I had read a Christian analysis of the field of art I was studying, yet it affirmed my gift.
—professor of Systematic Theology, Fuller Theological Seminary.
All reading requires the fusion of horizons—the mutual interaction of the world of the text and the world of the reader’s perceptions, values, emotions, and habits. Without this interaction, reading can bring no new insights or changes of heart and mind. But there are two kinds of reading—passive reading and active reading.
Passive reading is like catching a plane in Los Angeles and flying to New York. On a clear day you might see the Grand Canyon, the Rocky Mountains, and endless plains. Great sights have passed before your eyes and you may have been impressed, but you cannot claim to have studied the geography of America. Passive reading is okay for a long flight or a book at bedtime, but it does little to stimulate the mind. Active reading is different. It means coming to the text with questions. What is it saying? Is it persuasive? It also means being open to the text challenging our thinking and way of life.
Whenever I am asked what books have influenced me most, I have to admit that it is the books that I have written myself. This is not a judgment about the quality of the books I have read or written. It is simply the acknowledgment that reading with a view to answering questions and solving problems makes a deeper and more lasting impact than passive reading.
What other books have influenced me? They are too many to number. But the more I read, the more I am convinced that it is how we read that really matters.
—chairman, International Coalition; coordinator, Denominational Track; chairman, Mission America 2000 & U.S. Lausanne Committee.
Prayer, O. Hallesby (Minneapolis, Minn.: Augsburg Fortress Publishers, 1931).
With Christ in the School of Prayer, Andrew Murray (London: James Nisbet, 1888).
The Cost of Discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1937 in German; New York: The Macmillan Co.; 1949).
—on staff with Ravi Zacharias International Ministries; visiting associate professor at Trinity International University; author of True for You, But Not for Me and That’s Just Your Interpretation.
The writings of John Stott:
John Stott, both in his person, taped lectures, and writings, has compellingly exhibited a thoughtful godliness, which first attracted me as a young Christian in college. Whether writing books on the church and the Christian in society or various biblical commentaries, Stott displays a biblical soundness, rich wisdom, and probing insight.
Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis (New York: MacMillan Publishing Company, 1960). I first read Lewis in high school, and his insights into the human condition, his astute answers and perspectives on the Christian faith, and his inimitable ability to express them were all eye-opening and refreshing.
Knowing God, J. I. Packer (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1973). This is a book that I’ve read and referred to repeatedly over the years since I was a freshman in college. It never fails to inspire me toward God-centeredness and the pursuit of the lofty vocation of glorifying and enjoying Him forever.
—professor of Philosophy and Religion, Taylor University.
The Lord used three books to bring about a deeper understanding of my faith while I was in college.
Know Why You Believe, Paul Little (Wheaton, IL: Scripture Press, 1967; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000). Showed me that I can accept my Christian beliefs with a clear, rational mind. It first set me on the path towards apologetics.
*In Understanding Be Men, T. C. Hammond (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1956). While reading this I came to realize that if my salvation truly is the work of God’s grace, then it must be his doing entirely from beginning to end.
Pages from God’s Casebook, John Hercus (Conrad, Mont.: Send the Light, 1996). Hercus taught me to read the Bible three-dimensionally, to see how God works out his divine sovereignty in the lives of individuals, both in judgment and in grace.
These three little works have set an agenda for my life ever since.
—Research Professor of Philosophy, Talbot School of Theology, Biola University.
An Introduction to Christian Apologetics, Edward John Carnell (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 1948; Lebanon, TN: Green Leaf Press, 1997). First sparked my interest in apologetics as a senior at Wheaton College and gave me a model to emulate.
*The Resurrection of Theism, Stuart C. Hackett (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker, 1982). Stunned me by its demonstration that there really are good arguments for the existence of God and shaped my own approach to natural theology.
The Nature of Necessity, Alvin Plantinga (Oxford, U.K.: Clarendon Press, 1989). A modern philosophical masterpiece that provides a standard of clarity and rigor to aspire to in philosophical theology.
—co-founder, Amway Corp.
The Power of Positive Thinking, Norman Vincent Peale (New York: Prentice-Hall, 1952). The way you look at life determines how you feel, how you perform, and how well you get along with other people. The Power of Positive Thinking helped me determine that I would live life as an optimist. I would be positive about all things and make the most out of each challenge.
How to Win Friends and Influence People, Dale Carnegie (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1936). Dale Carnegie’s book How to Win Friends and Influence People, as well as his seminar, polished my skills and made me a better communicator. During the course of my life, I’ve had the marvelous opportunity to motivate millions of people worldwide, and Carnegie deserves much of the credit for my effectiveness and impact.
—professional illustrator; co-author of the best selling Tell Me Series; author of Beyond Words; founder, Art2see.
Pilgrim’s Progress, John Bunyan (1678; New York: Dodd, Mead, & Co., Inc., 1979). I so identified with Christian as he navigated this life that at times I felt like I knew what the next sentence was going to be before I read it. To think he wrote this while in prison staggers me!
The Knowledge of the Holy, A. W. Tozer (New York: Harper & Row, 1961). During a recuperation from heart surgery four years ago I dove into the writings of people that I wouldn’t normally have read. I can honestly say that this book forever has changed the way I see and think about God. His majesty comes through on most every page, and certainly shakes a casual concept of God into a holy one!
In Light of Eternity, Randy Alcorn (Colorado Springs: WaterBrook Press, 1999). To have, and keep, an eternal perspective while in this life is a daily challenge. After reading this book, I constantly remind myself that this is not home, but an "inn on the way there," as Charles Spurgeon put it. It has been a great deprogrammer for me!
—president, Union University; author or editor of twenty books, including Christian Scripture, Biblical Interpretation Then and Now, The Holman Bible Handbook, and Theologians of the Baptist Tradition.
Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis (New York: MacMillan Publishing Company, 1960). The best and most significant exposition of the essence of the Christian faith.
Knowing God, J. I. Packer (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1973).
The Knowledge of the Holy, A. W. Tozer (New York: Harper & Row, 1961). Both books literally lifted me into the presence of God— marvelous devotional thoughts about our Great God.
—professor of Religion, Whitworth College.
The Greek New Testament and the Hebrew Old Testament are the most formative books in my life. Next to them, my two most important sources of spiritual and theological insight have been Augustine’s Confessions (New York: Viking Press, 1979) and John Milton’s Paradise Lost (1667; New York: Penguin USA, 2000). The single most important author in my life has been C. S. Lewis, whom I venerate as more than any author.
—counselor; co-pastor; author of Wounded Workers: Recovering from Heartache in the Workplace and the Church.
The Divine Conspiracy, Dallas Willard (San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1998). This book gave me the greatest understanding and appreciation of the Sermon on the Mount I have ever had. Plus, Willard’s conception of disciple making is the most complete I have ever seen.
Reaching Out: The Three Movements of the Spiritual Life, Henri J. M. Nouwen (New York: Doubleday, 1975). Nouwen enveloped me in the beauty of the spiritual life. His conception of Spirit-guided movement within our innermost realities, our receptivity to others, and our relationship with God is truly inspired.
The Unsettling of America: Culture & Agriculture, Wendell Berry (New York: Avon, 1978). Berry provided me with a framework for understanding that enough is enough and small is beautiful. His conception of the crisis of character throughout modern culture—from ecology to the economy—is profound.
—Navigator staff with her husband, Roger; author of A Mother’s Heart, Finding Focus in a Whirlwind World, and Feeding Your Soul.
The two books that impacted me most deeply early in my Christian life were:
Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret, Howard and Geraldine Taylor (Chicago: Moody Press, 1932).
Shadow of the Almighty, Elisabeth Elliot (San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1989).
Both gave me models of vigorously surrendered lives. In later years, anything by John Henry Jowett. His books communicate the love and grace of God to me more tenderly and powerfully than any other writer.
—professor emeritus of Philosophy, Wheaton College; author and editor of some twelve books, most recently Building the Christian Academy.
Confessions, St. Augustine (New York: Viking Press, 1979). His restless love for God combined with a passion for truth and goodness shaped a thousand years of Christian learning—and inspires me to this day.
*Remaking the Modern Mind, Carl F. H. Henry (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 1948). The author’s critical thinking about the past and his lifelong vision for the future gave direction to my own life’s work.
Christ and Culture, H. Richard Niebuhr (New York: Harper & Row Publishers, Inc., 1951). By providing a framework for understanding different Christian traditions, it helped me see Christ as the transformer of both human lives and human culture.
—professor emeritus of Preaching, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School; author of The Company of the Preachers and The Company of the Creative.
The Christ-Life for the Self-Life, F. B. Meyer (Chicago: Moody Press, 1897). This book, given to my mother by her Sunday school teacher for Christmas, deeply moved me in my early teens. I realized for the first time that Christianity went beyond conversion to the Spirit-filled life.
Hidden Life of Prayer, David M. M’Intyre (Darlington, U.K.: Evangelical Press, 1991). Beyond any other book on prayer, this little volume opened the doors of mystery and miracle in the life of believing prayer.
Our Mutual Friend, Charles Dickens (London, U.K.: Oxford University Press, 1974). My choice of the complete works of Dickens willed to me by my grandfather in my teens. Dickens has modeled for me how to make characters come alive and the focus on specific societal ills and their alleviation.
—professor of New Testament and Archeology, Wheaton College; author of Archaeology and the New Testament.
I think the book I have consistently used the most has been The Oxford Bible Atlas, Herbert Gordon May, ed. (London, U.K.: Oxford University Press, 1985). I keep it at my side with my Bible and refer to it constantly as I contextualize passages of the Bible in their Mediterranean and Ancient Near Eastern settings. I can’t imagine studying the Bible, which has been my lifelong passion, without the atlas and its helpful comments. As an archaeologist, deeply involved with the geographical settings of biblical events, this book has been my constant companion.
—vice president and Chief Academic Officer, Asbury Theological Seminary; author of Invitation to a Journey and Shaped by the Word.
The New Man, Thomas Merton (New York: Farrar, Straus & Cudahy, 1961). This book provided the most comprehensive perspective on the "false self" and its role in the spiritual journey.
Experiencing God, Kenneth Leech (New York: Harper & Row, 1985). The most comprehensive study of the spiritual life I have found.
To Know as We Are Known, Parker J. Palmer (San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1983). A paradigm-shifting perspective on the nature of education.
—president, Evangelical Christian Publishers Association.
Preaching the Word Series, R. Kent Hughes (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books). I have used these commentaries from Acts, James, Ephesians, Colossians and other books of the Bible in my Sunday school teaching responsibilities. They are tremendous resources and provide a practical direction for any Sunday school teacher working with adults.
Decision Making and the Will of God, Garry Friesen (Portland, Ore.: Multnomah Publishers, 1980). This is the most practical book on discovering and understanding the will of God that I have ever read.
—general director, SEND International.
The Knowledge of the Holy, A. W. Tozer (New York: Harper & Row, 1961). Reading this book stirred a lifelong pursuit to know and love our great God!
Missionary Methods: St. Paul’s or Ours? Roland Allen (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 1962). This book and its companion volume helped crystallize a theology of mission, which emphasizes the Word and the Holy Spirit as foundational in the life of new churches.
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels (4 vols.), J. C. Ryle (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Books, 1990). I have often studied through the gospels using this excellent exposition. Ryle’s application of Biblical truth has challenged, corrected, and inspired me to follow Christ.
—president, Wycliffe Associates.
The Jesus I Never Knew, Philip Yancey (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 1995). Yancey's writing challenged me to a deeper personal relationship with God through a new understanding of Jesus’ divinity and humanity.
*And the Word Came with Power, Joanne Shetler with Patricia Purvis (Portland, Ore.: Multnomah, 1992). This account of the impact of God’s Word on the Balangao tribe in the Philippines inspired in me a greater appreciation for the transforming power of God's Word for individual lives and communities, and renewed my personal commitment to helping get God's Word to those without it.
—professor of English, Concordia University-Wisconsin; author of a dozen books on Christianity and culture, including Postmodern Times, Reading Between the Lines, and Spirituality of the Cross.
Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis (New York: MacMillan Publishing Company, 1960). This book showed me that Christianity had an intellectual content, and, at a time when I was immersed in secular liberalism, that it had a good claim of being true.
The Temple, George Herbert (New York: Paulist Press, 1981). The most satisfying of all Christian poets showed me that Christianity could inspire the highest, most creative, and most imaginative artistic expressions.
Luther on Vocation, Gustaf Wingren (1942 in Swedish; Philadelphia: Muhlenberg, 1957). This book transfigured my everyday life and my work, in unfolding how God works through ordinary people and through me.