The Best 100 Christian Books Ever

Written
Updated: November 2019

Over the years, people have asked me, Which books do you recommend that I buy for
my library? For the first time, I’m answering this question publicly by compiling a “must-
have-in-your-library” book list. The books are divided up by categories.

What This List Is and Isn’t

I consider these books to be the best Christian works ever written in the 20th and 21st
centuries. (I didn’t list older books in order to keep the list to 100.) These are the “core”
books in my library. Not the most popular, the best known, or the “hottest.” But those
that I regard as exceptional.

The Kindle versions of many of these books can be found on the Amazon page once
you click the title link.

Each book is discounted.

Disclaimer: The books are not listed in any particular order. I don’t agree with every
word of every book nor do I agree with everything the authors have ever said, done, or
written elsewhere. I’m a participant in the Amazon Associate’s program, so purchasing
a book from this page will be enormously appreciated.

See the blog post where I provide further background to this list. At the end of the list,
you’ll see a link for my Top 100 Academic Works & Commentaries.
fv

Psalm 115:1

Permission is granted to link to this page, but you may not copy and paste it to another
location. Google penalizes sites for duplicate content.

Mission & Ministry Shelf

The Stewardship of the Mystery by T. Austin-Sparks

Ultimate Intention by DeVern Fromke

Created for Community by Stanley J. Grenz

Destined for the Throne by Paul E. Billheimer

The Character of God’s Workman by Watchman Nee

Prophetic Ministry by T. Austin-Sparks

The Centrality and Supremacy of the Lord Jesus Christ by T. Austin-Sparks

The Myth of a Christian Religion by Greg Boyd

Endangered Gospel by John Nugent

The Release of the Spirit by Watchman Nee

What Shall This Man Do? by Watchman Nee

The School of Christ by T. Austin-Sparks

The Eternal Purpose of God by Lance Lambert

The Master Plan of Evangelism by Robert E. Coleman

The Community Life of God by Milt Rodriguez

Church (Body Life) Shelf

Paul’s Idea of Community by Robert J. Banks

God’s Spiritual House by T. Austin-Sparks

The Normal Christian Church Life by Watchman Nee

58 to 0 by Jon Zens

A Church Building Every ½ Mile by Jon Zens

Christ Alone by Jon Zens

Community 101 by Gilbert Bilezikian

The Community of the King by Howard A. Snyder

The Fullness of Christ by John Howard Yoder

Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Going to the Root by Christian Smith

Christian Community by Hal Miller

Sanctorum Communio by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

The Subversion of Christianity by Jacques Ellul

Jesus is Family by Jon Zens

The Pastor Has No Clothes by Jon Zens

Spiritual Growth Shelf

The Normal Christian Life by Watchman Nee

Sit Walk Stand by Watchman Nee

A Living Sacrifice by Watchman Nee

The Wealth, Walk, and Warfare of the Christian by Ruth Paxson

Experiencing God Through Prayer by Jeanne Guyon

Unto Full Stature by DeVern Fromke

Life’s Ultimate Privilege by DeVern Fromke

Prayer by Rosalind Rinker

Everything by Mary Demuth

Changed Into His Likeness by Watchman Nee

Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis

Love Not the World by Watchman Nee

Classic Christianity by Bob George

Satisfy Your Soul by Bruce Demarest

Spending Time with the Lord by Bill Freeman

God’s Chosen Fast by Arthur Wallis

The Saving Life of Christ & The Mystery of Godliness by Ian Thomas

Life on the Highest Plane by Ruth Paxson

Victory in Christ by Charles Trumbull

Christ Esteem by Don Matzat

You Are My Friends by Frank Laubach

The Spirit of Christ by Andrew Murray

The Supplied Life by Bill Freeman

The Splendor of His Ways by Stephen Kaung

God’s Plan of Redemption by Mary E. McDonough

Ruthless Trust by Brennan Manning

The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning

The Signature of Jesus by Brennan Manning

The Singer by Calvin Miller

Bone of His Bone by F. J. Huegel

Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer

The Knowledge of the Holy by A.W. Tozer

Born After Midnight by A.W. Tozer

The Root of the Righteous by A. W. Tozer

Reclaiming Christianity by A. W. Tozer

God Tells the Man Who Cares by A. W. Tozer

The Crucified Life by A.W. Tozer

The Gospel According to Paul by T. Austin-Sparks

The Deeper Christian Life by Andrew Murray

The Key to Triumphant Living by Jack R. Taylor

Church History Shelf

The Reformers and Their Stepchildren by Leonard Verduin

The Torch of the Testimony by John W. Kennedy

Paul: Apostle of the Heart Set Free by F. F. Bruce

Lost Heritage by Kim Tan

The Pilgrim Church by E. H. Broadbent

Biblical Tools Shelf

Chronological Life Application Study Bible by Tyndale

The Chronological Study Bible by Thomas Nelson

The Narrated Bible in Chronological Order by F. LaGard Smith

The Message of the New Testament by F. F. Bruce

Essential Evangelical Parallel Bible by John R. Kohlenberger III

The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament by Craig S. Keener

The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament by John H. Walton, Victor
H. Matthews & Mark W. Chavalas
Comparative Study Bible by Zondervan

Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels by Joel B. Green, Jeannine K. Brown &
Nicholas Perrin

Dictionary of Paul and his Letters by Gerald F. Hawthorne, Ralph P. Martin &
Daniel G. Reid

Dictionary of the Later New Testament & Its Developments by Ralph P. Martin &
Peter H. Davids

Dictionary of New Testament Background by Craig A. Evans & Stanley E. Porter

* Click here to order the entire 8 volume set of Dictionary of New Testament & Old
Testament on discount

New Bible Dictionary by I. Howard Marshall, A. R. Millard, J. I. Packer & D. J.

Wiseman

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and other Early Christian

Literature by Frederick William Danker & Walter Bauer

Alleged Discrepancies of the Bible by John Haley

Dictionary of Biblical Imagery by Leland Ryken, James C. Wilhoit & Tremper

Longman III

The New Testament by Kenneth S. Wuest

The ESV Study Bible by Crossway Bibles

Jesus, In His Own Words by Robert H. Mounce

Genesis to Deuteronomy by C. H. Mackintosh

Tools for Writers

The War of Art by Stephen Pressfield

On Writing by Stephen King

The Classic Guide to Better Writing by Rudolf Flesch

My Books (not included in the 100 count)

ReGrace
Insurgence

Jesus Speaks

The Day I Met Jesus

Jesus Now

God’s Favorite Place on Earth

Jesus: A Theography

Revise Us Again

From Eternity to Here

Jesus Manifesto

Reimagining Church

Finding Organic Church

Pagan Christianity

CLICK HERE to see my TOP 100 CHRISTIAN ACADEMIC WORKS &

COMMENTARIES