Part of the series “My Year In…”
Desiderius Erasmus, the Dutch priest and theologian from the 1400 and 1500s, famously said, “When I get a little money I buy books; and if any is left I buy food and clothes.” I agree with his sentiment. Good books are a valuable investment. They stimulate our thinking, deepen our understanding, broaden our perspective, and strengthen our discernment.
Christians especially should be people who are devoted to the life of the mind. Jesus commanded us to “Love the Lord your God … with all your mind” (Matt. 22:37). Below you will find a list of books I read this year which I found stimulating, enjoyable and helpful, and which I commend to you.
1. Remaking the World: How 1776 Created the Post-Christian West (Andrew Wilson)
My book of the year. Wilson synthesises large swathes of historical detail to show how the events of the tumultuous year of 1776 have influenced today’s cultural landscape, helping us to more effectively bear witness to the gospel in our post-Christian age. A remarkable achievement. For a similar type of cultural analysis with a shorter word count, consider Glen Scrivener’s The Air We Breathe.
2. A Gospel Pageant: A Readers Guide to the Book of Revelation (Allan Chapple)
A sane and straightforward guide to the most misunderstood book of the Bible. This is not the most detailed work on Revelation, but it is one of the most helpful I read. Chapple has an outstanding ability to cut through the noise and offer concise and convincing explanations for some of the most contested passages. Others worth referencing are The Joy of Hearing by Thomas Schreiner and The Returning King by Vern Poythress.
3. Knowing Christ (Mark Jones)
Mark Jones serves as an able guide through the deep waters of Christology (the study of Christ), bringing me to a deeper love for our Lord. Written in the same vein as its classic namesake, Knowing God by J.I. Packer, Jones weaves together deep reflection on Scripture with frequent insights from the Puritans to paint a compelling vision of Christ. The chapters are short enough to be utilised devotionally but also deep enough to chew on in conversation with others.
4. The Lord of Psalm 23: Jesus Our Shepherd, Companion, and Host (David Gibson)
Gibson lingers over the well-known phrases of this well-known psalm to paint a fresh and compelling picture of Jesus, the Good Shepherd. I found the profoundly personal aspect of Psalm 23 to be particularly meaningful. As Gibson points out, the psalm doesn’t begin, “The Lord is a Shepherd”, but “The Lord is my Shepherd”. While our relationship with God is far more than purely personal, it is never less than that. Because the sovereign God is also my gracious Shepherd, I can rely on his provision, I can trust his guidance and I can rest in his goodness, even when the valley gets dark.
5. You’re Not Crazy: Gospel Sanity for Weary Churches (Ray Ortlund Jr. and Sam Allberry)
What difference should the gospel make on the ground in our churches? How should the gospel shape our leadership and our community? This is what Ortlund and Allberry explore in this eminently helpful book. For pastors, the chapter on preaching is worth the price of the book alone. For me, it offered a subtle course correction to my philosophy of preaching. When I stand up to address God’s people from God’s word, I am not simply teaching the Bible, explaining a passage or seeking to impart knowledge; I am proclaiming Christ (Col. 1:28). This is what I and those in the pews need most deeply; to meet and to trust our good and gracious Saviour.
6. Resurrection Year: Turning Broken Dreams into New Beginnings (Sheridan Voysey)
I could barely put this down. The story of Sheridan and his wife Merryn’s journey with infertility was raw, heart-breaking and, ultimately, redemptive. For those who have walked (or are walking) the agonising and bewildering road of infertility, this book will serve as a helpful companion.
7. Raising Confident Kids in a Confusing World: A Parent’s Guide to Grounding Identity in Christ (Ed Drew)
This is easily one of the best parenting books I’ve read. Gospel-hearted, readable, helpful, and humorous. The temptation for parents, perhaps especially Christian parents, is to deal primarily with fruit (behaviour) rather than root (heart). Drew helped me to see the necessity of doing the hard work of heart work with my children. To help them see who Christ is and who they are in Christ. As Drew so helpfully puts it,
our greatest aim and highest ambition for our kids must not be that they be well-behaved, well-liked or well-educated, but that, by faith in Jesus, they be children of God. (37)
I imagine I’ll be returning to this for years to come.
8. The Hiding Place (Corrie ten Boom)
I don’t know why it took me so long to read about this remarkable family of faith. Lord, make me more like Casper, Corrie and Betsie!
9. Everything Sad is Untrue (a true story) (Daniel Nayeri)
I can’t recall reading a more inventive, moving, or heartwarming book. Ever. Nayeri’s story of growing up in Iran before having to flee to Oklahoma following his Mum’s conversion to Christianity is extraordinary in every sense of the word.
10. Peace Child: An Unforgettable Story of Primitive Jungle Treachery in the 20th Century (Don Richardson)
The Richardson’s story of living as missionaries among the cannibalistic Sawi tribe in Papua, Indonesia has to be heard to be believed. In particular, their contextualisation of the gospel was a vivid reminder that Christ really is “good news of great joy that will be for all the people” (Lk 2:10). I listened to Richardson’s own narration, which added a sense of urgency and authenticity to what is already a remarkable tale.
