Saturday, December 23, 2017

Top 10 Books of 2017

While I did not read near as many books as I would like to, (something I resolve to do in the New Year) I did read a few good ones. Here are my top 10 books of 2017.



1) Not Yet Married - Marshall Segal

Having followed Marshall Segal's articles on singleness and dating for quite some time, I had a pretty good idea of how this book would unfold. I have been anticipating reading it since it was announced. Singleness and dating amongst Christians is one of the weaker and under addressed areas of Christianity, especially theologically, in my opinion. There are tons of books on dating and the such out there that provide application but not much that is theologically robust. Where Marshall excels is giving the "Not Yet Married" a big view of God and a big view of marriage. In light of this, he explains the importance of dating and why we should get it right. My favorite chapters were Chapter 10 (The Best Book on Dating) and Chapter 15 (The Third Wheel We All Need). In Chapter 10, Marshall shows us how the Bible, while never addressing dating specifically, has MUCH to say about how Christians should date. Chapter 15 is filled with wisdom on having accountability during the dating season. Not Yet Married is built on the foundation that dating is for pursuing clarity in whether a couple should marry, postponing intimacy for those who end up married. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is not yet married. I would also recommend married couples take up this book to help in giving wisdom and guidance to not yet marrieds they have influence over.

2) 12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You - Tony Reinke

In my opinion, this is the most important book released in some time. It is fundamental in helping us see how our smartphones affect us in both the good and the bad. I found Tony's balance to be most helpful in that he presents the facts and his opinions, but leaves the application up to ones leading of the Spirit. The way he contrasts the temporary and the eternal is hands down my favorite part of this book. If you are interested in why social media is so attractive (often addicting), and why you find it so hard to put your phone down, this book is for you.

3) The Imperfect Disciple - Jared C. Wilson

Every now and then you come a cross book that is a balm to your soul. This is one of those books for me. Jared does a wonderful job of helping us to take our eyes off of ourselves and put them on Christ. His ability to make Christ big while simultaneously humbling the believer is impressive. I can safely say that in reading this book you will find yourself, convicted, comforted, and exhorted to look to Christ!

4) The Whole Christ - Sinclair Ferguson

One of the biggest reasons to read this book is to correct our understanding of legalism and antinomianism. We often try to correct an error of clinging to one with the other. Sinclair shows us how this itself is an error as they are both birthed from the same womb. Only the gospel can correct a clinging to either of these two errors. I think you will find this book most helpful. Pastors should consider putting this in the must read category.

5) Union with Christ - Rankin Wilbourne 


Followers of Jesus are most often described as "Christians" these days. That was not so in the New Testament. Followers of Jesus were mainly described as "In Christ". Rankin Wilbourne clears the fog on what exactly it means to be in Christ and how that helps us on our road to being more like Jesus.

6) A Peculiar Glory - John Piper

God has provided a way for all people, not just scholars, to know that the Bible is the Word of God. John Piper has devoted his life to showing us that the glory of God is the object of the soul's happiness. Now, his burden in this book is to demonstrate that this same glory is the ground of the mind's certainty.
God's peculiar glory shines through his Word. The Spirit of God enlightens the eyes of our hearts. And in one self-authenticating sight, our minds are sure and our hearts are satisfied. Justified certainty and solid joy meet in the peculiar glory of God.

7) Johnstown Flood - David McCullough 

David McCullough is hands down one of my favorite authors. His ability to bring you into the story is amazing. Johnstown Flood is no different. This is a powerful, definitive book, and a tribute to the thousands who died in America's worst inland flood.

8) Conscience: What It Is, How to Train It, and Loving Those Who Differ - Andy Naselli and J.D. Crowley

I should probably have this book higher as I tend to think the majority of our disunity in American Christianity today is due to a lack of understanding of the conscience. This book sheds light on an often misunderstood and neglected topic.

9) An Infinite Journey - Andy Davis

After we've come to faith in Christ, God leaves us in this world for a very clear purpose: his own glory. But how are we to glorify God for the rest of our lives? The Bible reveals that God has laid before every Christian two infinite journeys which we are to travel every day: the internal journey of growth into Christlike maturity, and the external journey of worldwide evangelism and missions. This book is a roadmap for the internal journey, laying out how we are to grow in four major areas: knowledge, faith, character, and action. In this book, we'll learn how God grows us in knowledge, faith, character, and action. We'll also discover that spiritual knowledge constantly feeds our growing faith, faith will transform our character, our transformed character will result in an array of actions more and more glorifying to God, and our actions will feed our spiritual knowledge. This upward spiral will lead us to become more and more like Jesus Christ in holiness.

10) Romans 9: God's Sovereign Purpose - Martyn Lloyd-Jones 

As my church went through Romans this year we approached one of the more difficult chapters in the Bible. To get a better understanding, I turned to one of the most respected voices of all times on the book of Romans, Martyn Lloyd-Jones. I do not know if you will find a more faithful handling of Romans 9 than you find here by Dr Lloyd-Jones. At some point in my life, i hope to read his exposition of the other chapters.

No comments:

Post a Comment