Books For New Christians

Someone wrote in to Church & Culture recently, to ask which books were most pivotal to me as a new Christian. They knew I didn’t become a Christ follower until my 20s, and were familiar with my writing on the importance of reading for spiritual and intellectual development (e.g., my book A Mind for God).

It was forwarded to me with the note, “Might make a good blog.”

I agreed.

But before I give you that list, remember a few things first: 1) This was a few years ago, so forget anything written of late; 2) it doesn’t reflect all that might have been good to read, but what I was actually introduced to that I found pivotal; and 3) I was reached for Christ through InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, so there is a tilt toward IVP titles – but it was also IVP’s golden age, so that’s not a bad thing

So here are the top twelve books that were the most shaping for me as a new Christian in alphabetical order by author:

Colson, Charles. Loving God.

Cruz, Nicky. Run Baby Run.

Lewis, C.S. Mere Christianity.

MacDonald, Gordon. Ordering Your Private World.

Martin, Walter. The Kingdom of the Cults.

Packer, J.I. Knowing God.

Pippert, Rebecca Manley. Out of the Saltshaker.

Schaeffer, Francis. Escape from Reason.

Stott, John. Basic Christianity.

Swindoll, Charles. Improving Your Serve.

ten Boom, Corrie. The Hiding Place.

White, John. The Fight.

 James Emery White