Today I asked this question on Twitter and Facebook:
What one book most caused/helped you to radically grow in your Christian life?
In case you were interested, here is the list. Those with a number after them are ones that more than one person recommended. Also, I didn’t have time to mention authors if the folks didn’t mention them. My insights follow the list:
1. It’s My Turn by Ruth Bell Graham
2. The Hiding Place by Corie Ten Boom (4)
3. Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan (2)
4. Bruchko (missionary biography)
5. The Man Born to be King by Dorothy Sayers
6. Crazy Love by Frances Chan (3)
7. Forgotten God by Frances Chan
8. Inside Out by Larry Crabb
9. Finding God by Larry Crabb
10. Leap Over a Wall by Eugene Peterson
11. Streams in the Desert by L.B. Cowman (3)
12. 12 Steps for the Recovering Pharisee
13. My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers
14. Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis (3)
15. The Four Loves by C. S. Lewis
16. Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper
17. The Pursuit of God by A. W. Tozer
18. Radical Reformission by Mark Driscoll
19. The God you Can Know by Dan DeHaan
20. Search for Significance
21. The Sacred Romance
22. Hinds Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard (4)
23. How Now Shall We Live by Chuck Colson
24. Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster
25. The Rest of the Gospel by Dan Stone
26. Desiring God by John Piper
27. Classic Christianity by Bob George (2)
28. The Grace Awakening by Chuck Swindoll
29. Seeking Him by Nancy Leigh DeMoss
30. Joni by Joni Earekson Tada
31. Anonymous: Jesus by Alicia Chole (and other books)
32. The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie O’Martian
33. The Uncommon Woman by Susie Larson
34. The Five Silent Years by Corie Ten Boom
35. The Atonement Child by Francine Rivers
36. My Hands Came Away Red by Lisa McKay
37. Not my Will by Fracena Arnold
38. Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
39. The Ache for a Child by Debra Bridwell
40. Same Kind of different as Me by Ron Hall and Lynn Vincent
41. Come away, My Beloved
42. Breaking Free by Beth Moore
43. Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
44. Passion and Purity by Elizabeth Elliot
45. A New Kind of Christian by Brian McLaren
46. Prayer by Richard Foster
47. Christian Wisdom of the Jedi Masters
48. Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
49. So Long Status Quo by Susy Flory
50. The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence
51. 1000 Gifts by Ann Voskamp
52. Made to Crave by Lysa TerKeurst
53. Thin Places by Mary DeMuth
54. Renovation of the Heart by Dallas Willard
55. Everything Belongs by Rohr
56. Severe Mercy
57. The Philokalia
58. What’s so Amazing about Grace by Phillip Yancey
59. Ordinary Mom, Extraordinary God by Mary DeMuth
60. Obviously: The Bible (most listed)
What surprised me:
- How varied the responses were.
- That fiction entered the list a few times, including allegory.
- That some were life specific (infertility, insecurity, etc.)
What didn’t surprise me:
- The Bible
- That classics were listed
- That devotionals were listed
- That true stories were listed.
Q4U:
What surprises you about the list? What book would you recommend for strong spiritual growth?
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