Books Every Christian Should Read

“The Cross-Centered Life” by C. J. Mahaney

“First importance. The Bible tells us that, while there are many different callings and many possible areas of service in the kingdom of God, one transcendent truth should define our lives. One simple truth should motivate our work and affect every part of who we are.
Christ died for our sins.
If there’s anything in life that we should be passionate about, it’s the gospel. And I don’t mean passionate only about sharing it with others. I mean passionate in thinking about it, dwelling on it, rejoicing in it, allowing it to color the way we look at the world. Only one thing can be of first importance to each of us. And only the gospel ought to be.” 
― C.J. Mahaney, The Cross-Centered Life: Keeping the Gospel the Main Thing

“We never get beyond the message of the cross. C.J. Mahaney applies this truth in a powerful but winsome way. It is a book for every Christian, and I’m delighted to recommend it.”-Jerry Bridges

“Crazy Love” by Francis Chan

“It’s crazy if you think about it. The God of the universe — the Creator of nitrogen and pine needles, galaxies and e-minor — loves us with a radical, unconditional, self-sacrificing love. And what is our typical response? We go to church, sing songs, and try not to cuss.”

-Francis Chan, Crazy Love

“I found that this is a paradigm-shaking book with a message that Christians desperately need to hear. Too many of us are living too safely and too easily. But for the brief moments we spend at church each week, we are practically indistinguishable from the unbelievers around us. This is not the way it is meant to be. The church could use a loving exhortation and Chan delivers well.”-Tim Challies

“Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life”  by Donald Whitney

“There is an invitation to all Christians to enjoy God and the things of God through the Spiritual Disciplines. All in whom the Spirit of God dwells are invited to taste the joy of a Christ-centered, gospel-based, Spiritual Disciplines lifestyle.”

-Donald Whitney,  Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life

“If, then, as a Christian you want to be really real with your God, moving beyond the stage of playing games with yourself and Him, this book provides practical help.”-J.I. Packer

“Extravagant Grace” by Barbara Duguid

“What if growing in grace is more about humility, dependence, and exalting Christ than it is about defeating sin?….This is a truth that has largely been lost to a contemporary church overwhelmed by individual triumphalism and the myth of the victorious Christian life. As a result, many Christians live lives of deep discouragement and anguish, hiding their shameful struggles from one another.”-Barbara Duguid, Extravagant Grace:God’s Glory Displayed In Our Weakness

“Weaving together the delightful insights of John Newton with her own experience and that of many people she’s counseled over the years, Barb tells the story of God’s unrelenting compassion toward sinners like us with profound wisdom. How amazing is grace? Like Newton, Barb has learned well the answer to that question from the greatest storyteller of all.”-Michael Horton