Your favorite book(s): suggested reading.

What books have really moved you? Maybe opened your eyes or brought you closer to Christ? How about a better understanding of some theological issue?

Biographies, devotionals, and commentaries list any and all, just name it and why.

I have saved a few pennies and would like some suggestions before I purchase.

God Bless

TJ

Well, the one book I relentlessly endorse is [i]The Christian in Complete Armour[/i] by William Gurnall. It is widely acknowldeged as the greatest treatise on spiritual warfare ever penned. It has been lavishly acclaimed by Ryle, Spurgeon, Ravenhill, Newton, Wilkerson. I am not hyperbolizing when I say that almost [i]every sentence[/i] is redolent of deep wisdom and divine truth. Since spiritual warfare is such a major part of the Christian's life, a proper understanding of this topic is of the utmost importance to every saint. In this spiritual battle manual, Gurnall totally unmasks Satan's schemes, tactics, plots,and traps in a brilliantly epigrammatical and understandable English style. But he doesn't stop there - he teaches how to fight back and drench your sword in demonic blood. The book will bring you to your knees in awe of the wisdom God gave to this man.

Another life-transforming book is [i]The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life[/i] by a Quaker lady named Hannah Whitall Smith. Don't let the title fool you - it's not a "warm and fuzzy" book. This is an instruction manual on the topic of the blessedness found in the eternal principles of absolute surrender, an awesome truth also propounded by Andrew Murray. I think this book was written back in 1870. If you are able to grasp its simplicity, it will change your life forever.

There are so many other books I can recommend, but these two stand out like twin, towering peaks amidst a mountain range of godly books. These two have impacted my life in the greatest way imaginable, and the Lord has used them both to touch something in that mysterious [i]inner part[/i] where only He can enter and change.

Hope this helps!

Brother Paul

The attributes of God,The Knowledge of the Holy and the Pursuit of God all by A.W Tozer.These books leave me hungry and thirsty for God Hope you enjoy them!!

Brother Paul

How much, if any, is lost in the modernized version of The Christian in Complete Armour?

God Bless

TJ

How much, if any, is lost in the modernized version of The Christian in Complete Armour?

TJ, I'm glad you asked! :-)

I own both versions. The modern, abridged version is put out in three volumes by Banner of Truth, and is, actually, a good abridegment in my judgment. It's much better than what they did to Henry's commentary or probably John Owen's [i]Mortification of Sin[/i]. If you are not at all familiar with TCICA, I suggest getting your feet wet with the modernized version.

However...

The orginal version is over 1,200 pages. The modernized version is about 900. You can do the math. Much is cut out, and much of what is cut out is golden. The original volumes were published in 1655, 1658 and 1662 and, as you can imagine, the Puritan language is antiquated, the paragraphs thick and weighty...but, oh, the gold! In the modernized version, much of the gold is already mined and brought to the surface, neat and polished.

So, really, I recommed you start with the modernized version and eventually work your way to the original. But, if you feel intrepid enough to tackle the 1,200+ Mount Everest, go for it!

Brother Paul

Here's one that has been of particular blessing to me.

[url=http://www.kingsleypress.com/devern_fromke_books.php]Ultimate Intention by DeVern Fromke[/url]

This book focuses on seeing God's whole purpose for mankind, a purpose that includes redemption but also goes far beyond that. It's a call to a deeper walk and a life lived unto and by the power of Another. I think it's a must read for all Christians and it will really open your eyes to see from a much larger perspective.

In Christ,

Ron

reese howells divine intercessor

I will name just a few because being an extremely avid reader of Christian books my list is huge.

1. Apostolic Foundations - Art Katz
This book really opened my eyes for believers
to have an eternal mindset. That we won't
relate to the kingdom correctly with out
that understanding

2. The Spiritual Man - Watchman Nee
I was the most comprehensive book I have
ever read about the threefold nature of
man.

3. Spiritual Torrents - Madam Jean Guyon
It gives you an understanding of just what
the cross really means in this life

4. Hind's Feet On High Places - Hannah Hurnard
Just because it's wonderful

5. The Wounded Spirit - Frank Peretti
This is the autobiography of his life.

6. The Heavenly Man - Pastor Yun
A prisoner for his faith in China's prisons.
It will cause you to be very thankful for what
you have and to wonder if difficulties should
be welcome in our lives

7. Christian Perfection - Francios Fenelon
A difficult book to find on the inner life
of a Christian

8. Brokeness the Forgotten Factor in Prayer -
Mickey Bonner
Speaks for itself by the title

That is just a few. I have many more. Oh how I thank God for the rich treasury that has been handed down to us by men and women who allowed God to stir their hearts.

crucified whit christ-L.E Maxwell

saving life of christ-W.Ian Thomas

1. The Pilgrim's Progress ~ John Bunyan

2. Christ The Sum of All Spiritual Things ~ Watchman Nee
(this book was actually stolen from me on a train trip, i never got to finish it!)

3. One With Christ ~ Hudson Taylor

4. Foxe's Book of Martyrs ~ John Foxe

5. The Heavenly Man ~ Brother Yun

6. How to pray ~ R. A. Torrey

7. Abide in Christ ~ Andrew Murray

8. And most biographies of great and godly men.

Heroes of Faith Series by Barbour Books [url=http://www.barbourbooks.com/series/heroes-of-the-faith/]Heroes of Faith[/url]

Puritan Paperback series- the next series I want to read but have not got the money for the books[url=http://www.graceandtruthbooks.com/puritans/paperbacks.asp]Puritan Paperbacks[/url]

Anything by John Bunyan, Andrew Murray, R A Torrey!!

1. Maurice Roberts' books: The Thought of God,
Great God of Wonders, and The Christian's High Calling. They're available at Banner of Truth (http://www.banneroftruth.org/pages/home.php?PHPSESSID=3e664ccc77165e6b1e21c3e51a7a58fe).

2. The Thought of God by A.W. Tozer
3. Pierson's biography on George Mueller
4. Mary Slessor of Calabar by W. P. Livingstone
5. Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan
6. Loving God With All Your Mind by Elizabeth George

There are so many more I want to read, that I can't get around to because I read my favorite books over and over! They're like old friends that I can't bear to put away.

Some of my recent favorites:

In the Beginning, by Walt Brown
Intelligent Design vs Evolution: Letters to
an Atheist, by Ray Comfort
One Heartbeat Away, by Mark Cahill
What Is Reformed Theology?, by R.C. Sproul
The Way of the Master, Ray Comfort

One of the things I do that I think might be an encouragement to other avid readers is to read multiple books at once, in small doses!

I'll read anywhere between three and nine books at any time, only one chapter at a sitting, that way I get the most out of each chapter.

Right now I'm reading 'Promise of the Spirit' a compilation of lectures by Charles Finney, along with some John Owen, AW Tozer and CS Lewis.

The topics of the books overlap a lot, and the way that I keep them seperate in my mind is to take notes on what I've read and to try to remember one important thing about what i've just read.

For example, from Finney, I remember that I just read the first lecture on the Promises of God. The AW Tozer was on the Wisdom of God and the CS Lewis was on Faith (I really loved his illustration about asking a father for money to buy him a birthday present...).

I say this, because before I would try to sit and read a book cover to cover in one sitting... which is possible if it's something like Brother Andrew's 'God's Smuggler' or a Corrie Ten Boom book... but when I did it with something like Andrew Murray or EM Bounds, I found later that I couldn't remember anything in particular about what I'd read... besides the fact that I'd read it!

I guess what I'm trying to say is, enjoy what you're reading, read in order to get the most out of it, don't push yourself just to get to the last page!

One thing I do is to make myself read a chapter of something I don't necessarily want to read every day before something I do... Although I love John Owen, it's not always the easiest reading... So in order to read KP Yohannan, I force myself to read at least one chapter of John Owen and take at least three notes.

I hope God blesses you reading =)

Hi tjservant,

I have really been inspired by the story of the imprisionment of Richard Wurmbrand, called Tortured for Christ.

I also carry around with me in my backpack a book called [i]The Valley of Vision, a collection of Puritan prayers and devotions[/i]. There is very much in these prayers which is God exhalting and also humbling for our hearts to meditate upon and consider. I sometimes read them on the bus or train, and if I'm much distracted by all the noise and commotion(on the bus and with life in general).

I pray you will be edified in built up in whatever you read.

Chris

The Spiritual Man Watchmen Nee
School of Christ T Austin Sparks
Life of God In the Soul of Man Henry Scougal
Any of George Warnocks books.
Christian and Complete Armor William Gurnall
Life and Diary of David Brainerd Jonathan Edwards

Imitation of Christ Thomas a Kempis Absolute Surrender and Humility by Andrew Murray
The Calvary Road Roy Hession

All of these books are very challenging to go deeper in surrender to Christ...also I have found them all available online so if you want to PM me, I will give you the links and you can spend your pennies on some other suggestions!