I think we can all agree that the Bible is the most important book we can read. After all, Charles Spurgeon said: “Visit many good books, but live in the Bible.” If I do nothing else for you, I hope that I can help you in your journey of reading the Bible daily and getting to know God’s word deeply. However, there are some incredible Christian books meant to enrich your faith that you can read alongside scripture. I want to share some of the best Christian books I’ve read within the last few years. Every Christian woman should read each of these at least once.
Mere Christianity – C.S. Lewis
Mere Christianity is a Christian classic that explains the core and essential doctrines of our faith. Lewis gave a series of radio talks covering each major topic and it was later compiled into a book. It covers topics such as human nature, morality and reason, free will and the question of evil, salvation, and Christian living. It’s a very concise overview of the Christian faith but it’s great especially if you need help sharing your faith with friends and family. Or, if you’re new to the faith this is a great introduction to Christianity. Mere Christianity is unique because it attempts to summarize all of Christianity, not just specific denominational beliefs and practices. You may find things in the book that you don’t agree with but it does not contradict any core theology.
The Explicit Gospel – Matt Chandler
This is also an excellent survey book. It covers soteriology, or the theology of salvation. Chandler argues that most Christians do not know or understand the “explicit” gospel because most churches aren’t preaching it. They preach parts of the gospel instead of the entire thing. When you think of the gospel, you probably think of the New Testament right away. But, the gospel actually starts from Genesis chapter 1. It’s the entire story of who God is, his relationship with mankind, and his plan to restore the world in the future. That’s all I’m going to say because I hope that you’ll read the rest in the book. However, after reading The Explicit Gospel you should walk away with a much stronger understanding and appreciation of the gospel and what God did for you through Christ.
Stop Calling Me Beautiful: Finding Soul-Deep Strength in a Skin-Deep World – Phylicia Masonheimer
Next, Stop Calling Me Beautiful: Finding Soul-Deep Strength in a Skin-Deep World. Phylicia explains how Christian women are often taught a “pink-fluff” theology. All we hear at Women’s Conferences and in Bible Studies is how we are “beautiful daughters of God.” While that’s absolutely true, there’s so much more to our faith. We’re called to know God and to love him. We’re invited to study scripture and understand it. And finally, we’re called to have deep, meaningful theology that impacts the way we live our lives. Stop Calling Me Beautiful is a great starting point for women who want to learn how to go deeper with God. I’ll be honest with you, this book is an excellent resource to have as you grow in your faith journey.
Worship: The Reason We Were Created – A.W. Tozer
I read Tozer’s Worship a few years ago and it really opened my eyes to what true worship really looks like. Worship is so much more than experiencing good singing and a great band for an hour at church. Worship is presenting your entire life to the Lord as a living sacrifice. We were created for worship. Tozer explains that the church’s current worship is “emaciated.” We don’t view God as highly as we should. If we did, we wouldn’t be able to stop worshipping him. It is so important for us to get back to true and meaningful worship and this book will help you do just that.
Get Out of Your Head: Stopping the Spiral of Toxic Thoughts – Jennie Allen
Have you ever heard the phrase “taking your thoughts captive?” Well, Jennie Allen teaches us exactly what it means and how to do it effectively. She explains that toxic thoughts often rage in our minds because we don’t realize we have a choice. We have a choice to take control of our thoughts and emotions by speaking God’s truth over it. When you hear “you can’t do this,” remember that God equips you with strength to do what he has called you to. It’s never easy and it’s always a process but if you struggle with negative thoughts in any capacity, you’ll definitely want to grab a copy of Get Out of Your Head.
Sex, Jesus, and the Conversation the Church Forgot – Mo Isom
Sex, Jesus, and the Conversation the Church Forgot is an incredible, biblically based book on sexuality. Mo shares her sexual testimony and the struggles she’s experienced with virginity, porn, lust, promiscuity, and sex in marriage. The church rarely speaks about sex and when we do, it’s addressed vaguely and pushed to the side as something dirty and disgusting. Yet, the world is obsessed with sex. Instead of learning about sex from the Bible, young Christians are learning about it from the world. In order to be free from the sexual challenges we go through, we need to get back to a biblically based foundation for our sexuality. Sex, Jesus, and the Conversation the Church Forgot is an excellent starting point in your journey to understanding true biblical sexuality.
Gay Girl, Good God – Jackie Hill Perry
Similarly, Gay Girl, Good God addresses broken sexuality. Jackie Hill Perry explains how coming to Christ challenged everything she knew and claimed as her identity. It is a beautiful and honest look at what it’s like for a gay woman to come to Christ and receive the gospel. God met her where she was and began the process of justification in her heart, making her more like him. I recommend this book because I think every Christian woman needs to know how to empathize with people of all walks of life. I don’t understand what it’s like to be gay but reading this book provided me with much needed insight.
Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No To Take Control of Your Life – Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend
This was an excellent read. Unfortunately, many Christian women feel that in order to be Godly women, they must always say “yes” and allow everyone access into their lives. Dr. Cloud and Townsend explain that this isn’t the case. Boundaries are biblical. They are not selfish. Setting good boundaries can help you stay grounded, thrive in your relationships, and remain strong in your faith. I highly recommend getting a copy of this book right away!
Own Your Everyday: Overcome the Pressure to Prove and Show Up for What You Were Made to Do – Jordan Lee Dooley
Own Your Everyday is Jordan Lee Dooley’s first book and it was a wonderful read. She invites women to own the messy and mundane moments in their lives and to recognize that those moments have just as much meaning as the mountaintop experiences they long for. Your purpose may not look like her purpose and that’s okay! God has called you to fully show up in this moment right now. Grab a copy of OYE here!
These are some of my favorite Christian books. I hope that this was a helpful list and I pray that these books encourage you in your faith as much as they have for me! Do you have any faith based books you absolutely love? Share them below. I can’t wait to add them to my Goodreads wishlist!
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