What one book….

Mar 29, 2011Find joy today

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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