Pastor Trevor’s Book Recommendations - 2023
Bible, Theology, Suffering:
Evangelical Pharisees by Michael Reeves. Everything Michael Reeves writes is worth reading, and this short little book reveals ways that we each have a bit of “Pharisee.” Essential reading.
God Shines Forth: How the Nature of God Shapes and Drives the Mission of the Church by Daniel Hames and Michael Reeves. Wonderfully encouraging book that grounds the mission of the church in the glory of God.
Five Lies of our Anti-Christian Age by Rosaria Butterfield – Rosaria’s incredible testimony helps her speak with unique insight into the five lies central to our current culture.
Suffering is Never for Nothing by Elizabeth Elliot. Beautifully written and full of wisdom for how to navigate suffering in this life. Elliot speaks from personal experience and biblical insight. Must read.
Puritans on the Christian Life and Devotion:
The Art of Divine Contentment by Thomas Watson. Watson may be the best entryway into reading the Puritans. His analysis and application are always clear and always press us on towards our Lord.
The Crook in the Lot: Living with that Thorn in Your Side by Thomas Boston. Taken from sermons Boston preached, he applies pastoral wisdom to the important questions of living holy lives amid the sufferings of this life. A bit more challenging of a read but worth it!
Standing in Grace by Jonathan Edwards. Though not technically a Puritan, Edwards is often considered an American Puritan, and this small book on what it means to stand in grace is wonderful.
Knowing Sin: Seeing a Neglected Doctrine Through the Eyes of the Puritans by Mark Jones. Written by a modern theologian steeped in the Puritans, he mines their deep wells of wisdom on all the Bible teaches about sin and the call upon Christians to fight it. Superb.
Apologetics, and Evangelism:
Don’t Follow Your Heart: Bodly Breaking the Ten Commandments of Self-Worship by Thaddeus Williams. Combining humor and a depth of reading that is quite impressive, Williams does a wonderful job revealing the great religion of our day is self-worship.
The Best Kept Secret of Christian Mission: Promoting the Gospel with More than Our Lips by John Dickson. With many wonderful insights and brilliant illustrations, this book will increase your desire to evangelize your neighbor through hospitality and love.
History and Church History:
Remaking the World: How 1776 Created the Post-Christian West by Andrew Wilson. Wilson is a brilliant storyteller, weaving both incredible history with essential theological truths. A fascinating account of how several ideas we take for granted had their roots in 1776. Must read.
Endurance: Shackelton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing. Brilliantly told true story of a famous explorer aiming to traverse all of Antarctica. With the ship stuck in the ice, can this great explorer keep his crew alive long enough while crossing that barren land to get them home?
The Democratization of American Christianity, by Nathan O. Hatch. This book shows us how many things we believe about the church were first believed in the 19th century. Essential reading.
The Rise and Fall of Dispensationalism: How the Evangelical Battle over the End Times Shaped a Nation by Daniel G. Hummel. Great telling of the growth and many changes of the vast system that undergirds the theology of “Left Behind” that many of us grew up with.
Biography:
J. I. Packer: An Evangelical Life by Leland Ryken – Packer will be remembered as one of the greatest evangelical minds of the 20th century. A very encouraging book about a God-honoring life.
Timothy Keller: His Spiritual and Intellectual Formation by Collin Hansen. Keller went home to be with the Lord this year, and Collin Hansen does a marvelous job of telling us about how God formed this amazing man used so powerfully by the Lord.
A Chance to Die: The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael by Elizabeth Elliot – Amy Carmichael was an amazing woman of God, who faithfully grew in her love for her Lord through many trials.
Politics and Culture:
Political Gospel: Public Witness in a Politically Crazy World by Patrick Schreiner. Helpful little book on how to navigate this very political world in a Christian way.
Biblical Critical Theory: How the Bible’s Unfolding Story Makes Sense of Modern Life and Culture by Christopher Watkins. For those willing to work through this big book, they will be shown how the Bible presents the only worldview that can ground things our unbelieving friends are keen to cling to.
Survival and Resistance in Evangelical America: Christian Reconstruction in the Pacific Northwest by Crawford Gribben. Though this book addresses some unique pockets of culture here in the Pacific Northwest, we have all been shaped by a bit of this culture whether we realize it or not. Fascinating read.
American Carnage: On the Front Lines of the Republican Civil War and the Rise of President Trump by Tim Alberta. Uncovering the recent political history that has reshaped the GOP. Highly recommended.
