All Scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible 1995 Ed. (NASB95)
As we’re coming near the end of 2025, many bloggers are listing off their top 5 or 10 books of the year, just in time for the Christmas gifting season. This can definitely be helpful for people who want to read, but what about believers in Jesus who have extreme difficulty reading, or don’t read at all? If that’s you, or someone you know, then this word of counsel is for you. I contend that one of the most needed disciplines for Christians in our time is discerning, careful, and practical reading of good articles and – especially — good books. In a church culture where most Christians are social media feeders, you should aspire to be a godly reader instead.
If you’re not a “feeder” yourself, then you most likely know one. Barely anyone escapes the near constant draw of the social media and news feeds that incessantly flash on our phones, computers, and dashboards. And few external things hinder, distract, deceive, and ensnare Christians more than the Internet. Of course, the Lord is using the Internet to spread His Word like wildfire, and to connect believers across the globe, but few western believers know how to avoid being pulled down from higher and nobler pursuits by this constant distraction. What can be done to promote the self-control, sobriety, and diligent service of believers in this world? Obviously, prayer, Bible reading, and participating in a good church are essential ingredients for more godly thinking and living. But one of the disciplines that’s most neglected is intentional, prayerful, and thoughtful reading of good writing and literature. So let me explain why you should probably not only devote yourself to biblical teaching, the fellowship, prayer, and the breaking of bread (Acts 2:42), but also to the reading of good writing. Then I’ll recommend a few books for beginner readers.
The Benefits of Reading Others’ Uninspired Thoughts
The first reason I’d give for reading non-biblical writings is that this provides you with the examples of normal (non-biblical) people thinking through the revelation that God has provided for us. This helps you to learn from people who have had to think carefully about things through life and the writing process. Take it from a writer – forcing yourself to write about things for others forces you to put more thought into what you believe, understand, and say. You reap the benefits of this often-taxing process when you read what people have thoughtfully written. And as you read and understand what someone has written, you can learn how to think more carefully, logically, and lovingly about the subject matter of your choice.
Another reason for reading non-biblical books and articles is that the Lord designed us believers to learn through other believers. It was He who “gave some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service” (Eph. 4:11-12). And one of the ways that evangelists and teachers communicate their teaching of God’s revelation is in writing. We actually see this in the early church, as the most prominent leaders right after the apostles followed their example, and wrote many letters of instruction to the congregations under their care. For instance, you can read the letters of what are called the “apostolic fathers,” such as Clement of Rome and Ignatius of Antioch. They were conveying their own understandings of biblical teachings to their audiences, and explaining how to apply them to their specific contexts. And this tradition has carried on to this day.
A second reason for reading books other than the Bible is that they contain more examples of the implications and applications of biblical truth than the Bible can express. The Bible itself, in the words of Paul, is profitable to equip believers for every good deed (2 Tim. 3:17). However, it doesn’t explain the doing of every good deed, since it doesn’t cover every era of history. Although the fundamental principles, conditions, and truths are the same now as in biblical times, the specific events and circumstances in which these things operate are different. Thus, it’s helpful to read from people how the Bible’s truth works itself out in life situations and subjects that we have experienced for ourselves. Further, Scripture itself urges us to follow the examples and teachings of those who “walk according to the pattern” in which the apostles walked (Phil. 3:17). As we read the acquired wisdom of people from other times and places, we ourselves can glean from this knowledge that is time-tested, practice-proved, and highly relatable.
My third reason for reading good non-biblical books is that most of them show how Jesus and His people have impacted the world since the time of the apostles. If we simply look for it, the influence of Christianity is all over the world’s literature. This provides encouragement in our efforts to promote God’s kingdom, since it shows us that God has been at work since Jesus to bring us to where we are today. In other words, the Lord has been working all things together to set us up for the lives that we’re living now. This reminds us that He’s at work in and through our lives, even when we don’t recognize it.
A fourth benefit to reading extra-biblical books is that most of them take less effort and knowledge to make the most of. One of the things that makes the Bible special is that it’s a collection of ancient documents originally written in relatively obscure languages, with often unusual historical and cultural contexts. This is one of the reasons that the Lord has gifted His body with teachers, who can diligently study the backgrounds or the original texts, and provide explanations for average readers of their contexts. On the other hand, most other books, especially written in modern times, require far less knowledge to grasp their meaning, and immediately apply them to one’s life. This is especially true of books that explain Bible, such as commentaries and theologies.
A fifth reason to read extra-biblical books is that this has been the practice of the most influential Christian men since the times right after the apostles. If you think of the names of the so-called “church fathers” and the most impactful teachers, historians, and philosophers in Christian history, all of the men were readers. Such well-known men include Augustine of Hippo, Thomas Aquinas, Galileo, Bede of England, Martin Luther, Isaac Newton, and so on. If you want to be a wise, enthusiastic, and intelligent Christian, then one of the best means to that end is to read good books.
Finally, I want to end my reasons to read good books with the proven fact that reading in general promotes your concentration, comprehension, and memory. In a world that increasingly tends to distract you, the cultivation of focus and critical thinking is crucial in order to be ahead of our enemies in our intellectual and business pursuits. If you commit to reading deeply every day, then you’ll be on your way to having a mind that can think sharply and quickly about all the information that you’re bombarded with on a daily basis. This will allow you to more carefully and quickly discern the opportunities the Lord gives you to serve people with His love.
Next, let me give you some reasons why reading printed books is usually superior to reading digital ones.
A Case for Reading Printed Books
I want to encourage you as you endeavor to be a good reader to try favoring printed books, or codices, as they once were called. And this goes most of all for print Bibles. There are at least a few advantages of printed books over digital ones.
One advantage of reading physical books is that you’re more likely to keep a printed book for the rest of your life. Obviously, digital ones are dependent on battery power to give you access to them, and so could be lost forever if the battery of your digital reader dies. Second, there is an immense benefit in the physical dimensions of printed books. When you hold and read physical pages, not only is your sight involved, but your touch perception as well. This helps you in remembering where certain information is contained in a book, and allows you to more easily access it when you find that it will help you at another time. This feature is enhanced when you incorporate highlighting and note-making in your reading. A final advantage of reading printed books is that you’ll be less likely to face distraction from other digital content while you’re reading. The printed book is in no way connected to the Internet, apps, or your phone. If you so desire, you can just sit alone with the words on the page.
If you want to read a book, how do you know what to read? In the next section, I’ll give advice on selecting good books to read, figuring out how to read them, and suggest some of the best books that I’ve ever read.
Choosing a Good Book
So, how do you figure out what to read if you want to be a better reader? I’ll start off by saying that you first need to make sure that you are practicing a good Bible reading habit. You ought not to be reading something else if you aren’t already reading God’s Word. The Bible is the Book of books, and ought to be your first and most loved library.
If you’re already searching out the wisdom in the holy Scriptures, then here are some tips on selecting good books to read. Obviously, what you decide to read will depend on the exact position you’re in, as to your age, gender, occupation, cultural background, and goals. However, there are some basic guidelines that you’ll probably find helpful.
First, if you’re a reading novice, then I’d recommend reading a book that helps you understand the Bible more. If you’re studying a particular topic or book of the Bible, then look for a good book that explains that subject. There are several Bible teaching ministries that have published books in this category, such as Grace to You, Ligonier Ministries, Banner of Truth, Reformation Heritage Books, and others. For example, John MacArthur’s Bible studies are excellent resources for your enhanced study of Scripture. Another good option for learning the teaching of Scripture is to simply read commentaries straight through. This isn’t what they’re primarily designed for, but it’s still a beneficial exercise. Some of the best modern Bible commentators include John MacArthur, Thomas Schreiner, D.A. Carson, Douglas Moo, and John Stott. Generally, commentaries that are published by Crossway are good resources. The following section is a list of the best books to read about the most important subjects.
Christian Living Books
Within the category of Bible study resources, there are several specific topics. By far, the most important type of books that aren’t “Bible studies” or commentaries are Christian living books. Here are a few of them that I’ve found the most helpful in my practical, everyday living:
- Exalted: Putting Jesus in His Place by Doug Goodin
This is definitely one of the few best books on Christian living written within the last 20 years (published 2012). The purpose of the book is to explain why and how the Lord Jesus is the reason for everything that happens, and how that truth affects our lives. Doug Goodin is one of the most straightforward and cutting-edge public teachers of our day.
- The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan (1678)
This is one of the most famous and widely-read books in English literature, and teaches what it takes and means to follow Christ in the form of a symbolic story, or allegory. If you’ve never read this, it’s almost certain that you should.
- Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald Whitney
This is another of the most widely-read and best loved books on Christian living. It covers every major area of Christian living with biblical reasonings, practical instruction, and specific action steps. Written by a theology professor with a shepherd’s heart.
- Follow the Lamb by Horatius Bonar
This was written in the 1800s, but its passionate and eloquent style makes it especially powerful in our utilitarian and simplistic culture. It’s a extremely short treatise on how to live a faithful Christian life based on the gospel.
The Doctrine of Salvation/Calvinism
- The Grace of Our Sovereign God by John Reisinger
This is the best book covering the ways in which God provides us with redemption that I’ve ever read. It breaks down each of the five points of “Calvinism,” or “the doctrines of grace,” in biblical, logical, and down-to-earth ways. John Reisinger was a clear, precise, and tender teacher of God’s Word who served as a pastor, evangelist, and magazine editor from the 1980s to the 2010s.
The Study of Christ the Lord
- The Glory of Christ by John Owen
This is an in-depth and biblical survey of the major facets of Jesus’s character and work. It was written in the 1600s near the end of this profound theologian and preacher’s life. His love for Jesus shines through in every chapter, and should help you to love Him more. It’s available in contemporary English through The Banner of Truth.
- All Loves Excelling by John Bunyan
This is an expansive explanation of Paul’s prayer that the Ephesians would be “strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ will dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth, and depth, and height, and length, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge . . .” (Eph. 3:16-19) It’s one of the most beautiful and practical descriptions of Jesus’s love for believers that I’ve ever read.
Prayer
- Confessions of Saint Augustine by Augustine
This was written in the 400s AD, but remains one of the most powerful and instructive records of prayer in modern history. It’s essentially the great theologian’s autobiography in the form of one long prayer to God. It will help you learn how to pray, meditate, and think about your whole life in relationship to God.
- Prayer by John Bunyan
This is another one of Bunyan’s classics. It simply and practically explains why, how, and what to pray.
- The Complete Works of E.M. Bounds on Prayer by E.M. Bounds
This contains some sparkling encouragements for prayer from a man who spent a few hours every morning in non-stop prayer. He preached and wrote in the 1800s, after seeing the horrors of the Civil War as a Confederate soldier.
Church Life
- The Pastor: Does He Exist? by David H.J. Gay
This is among the most important 10 books written in the 21st century, although almost no one has heard of it. Brother Gay served as a Reformed Baptist pastor decades, and eventually came to the conclusion that the common idea and practice of a church “Pastor” is contrary to the biblical teaching on leadership. In this book, he goes through a lengthy survey of the process by which the New Testament leadership structure for the church was gradually corrupted and replaced by “the one-man ministry” and the clergy class. Most importantly, he shows plainly simply how Scripture describes the proper functions of local fellowships, and how they ought to be led, taught, and encouraged.
- New Testament Church Dynamics by Stephen Atkerson
This is a short handbook on the legitimacy and benefits of four characteristics practiced by Christians in the first century. They are the Lord’s Supper meal, participatory meetings for all members, elder-leadership, and small congregations. Atkerson wrote this recently, and has helped many churches become more loving, joyful, and influential in their communities since then.
Evangelism
- Equipped to Evangelize: A Biblical Foundation by Rob Ventura
This is the simplest and most concise treatment of the biblical teaching on sharing the gospel that I’ve read. You’ll learn the basic reasons, methods, and purposes of evangelism in a logical, easy-to-read format. It was just published this year, and was written by a faithful pastor and Bible teacher who practices intentional evangelism himself.
Biographies (One of the most important, but most neglected type of books)
- No Compromise: The Life Story of Keith Green by Melody Green and David Hazard
Keith Green was one of the pioneers of Christian contemporary music, and one of the most zealous and influential evangelists in 1970s America. This is a beautiful story written by the wife he left behind when he died in his late 20s.
- In Light of Eternity: The Life of Leonard Ravenhill by Mack Tomlinson
Leonard Ravenhill was one of the most effective and influential evangelists and devotional writers of the mid-1900s. His life is one flaming fire for God. This will encourage you to use your all for Christ and preach the gospel.
- George Whitefield by Arnold Dallimore
This is the most thorough and descriptive biography of this man in recent times. George Whitefield was the most influential preacher of the mid-1700s in the British Empire, and was used by God to bring thousands and thousands to salvation through his preaching and printed sermons. The face of American culture and Christianity was transformed through his preaching, preparing people for the way that the American Revolution would take place shortly afterward.
Manhood
If you’re a young man, then it’s likely that you’ve been mistaught, neglected, and mistreated by older people in your life that should have showed you what it means to be a Christian man. That’s why I highly recommend you read another one of the most important 10 books written in this century:
It’s Good to Be a Man: A Handbook for Godly Masculinity by Michael Foster and Bnonn Tennant
This is the most concise, clear, and practical book I know of that’s been written on the subject. It sketches the condition and treatment of manhood in modern western culture, and then shows the biblical requirements for fulfilling God’s design for masculinity in this fallen world. If you feel like you’re missing the mark of being manly, or don’t understand the Bible’s basic teaching on expressing mature human maleness, then you need to consider reading this book.
How to Read a Book (The Title of a Good Essay)
To conclude this encouragement, I want to review the benefits and blessings of being a regular reader, and give a few tips on how to make reading a habit. Again, we live in a society that simply doesn’t think for itself. Reading is one of the best ways to become a more careful, cautious, and reverent thinker. Remember that we shouldn’t think of most reading as just receiving information, but understanding, evaluating, and applying information. It helps to think of reading as having a limited conversation with the author whom you’re reading. Our minds aren’t just receivers, but processors. So use your processor to learn the good you can get from your reading, and to reject what’s false or harmful.
One of the biggest hangups when it comes to reading is just finding time. My answer to that is simple – read what you like, how you can, when you can. Don’t try to force yourself to read something you think your going to mostly dislike, if you can’t read things like that for long. Choose a book that will help you. Then, if absolutely can’t read a printed book, then try audio books, like with Audible. Finally, read whenever you have a significant block of time in the day. If you have a work break that allows for reading, read then. If you have leisure time after work, then read then. The important thing is to read as often as the priorities of life will allow, and read attentively and critically.
Just as with Bible reading, you won’t get the most benefit from your reading unless you reflect on what you’re reading. So be an active reader. This can include looking up words you don’t know, highlighting, underlining, and writing notes in margins or in a notebook. As mentioned above, make your reading a conversation with the author, with yourself, and with the Lord. Use your reading to teach you to think more in alignment with truth and true wisdom.
In sum, if you become a regular reader with humility and piety, you’ll find that you can concentrate better, learn more, and be a more effective decision maker and speaker. But always remember – reading non-biblical books should just be another way in which you learn what God is like, what He’s doing, and what you can do better to obey His command of loving your neighbor as yourself. His Scriptures always speak in judgment of any book, and are our supreme verbal authority for truth. But He has also ordained that fallible people write helpful things that highlight the truth He’s revealed, and we can learn a ton from the many good books that are available.
BEARING CHRIST CRUCIFIED AND RISEN 