Seems like many bloggers like to finish out the year with some kind of retrospective: their favorite books or songs, maybe listing famous people who died or proposing New Years Resolutions. I'll join in.
The following are eight great books that I read in 2008. Of the many books I read in 2008, I tried to pick the books that most provoked my love the Savior or sharpened my doctrinal knowledge of God in some way. Not all of them were published in 2008, but they affected me this year in significant ways.
Honorable Mention: Heaven, by Randy Alcorn. The Death of Christ, by James Denney. The Reformation and For Us And For Our Salvation, both by Stephen Nichols. reThink, by Steve Wright. Game Day for the Glory of God, Stephen Altrogge.
Here are the Top Eight:
8. Do Hard Things, Alex and Brett Harris. I love how the title of this book has become a mantra and a rally cry in my life and in five15. Spending our summer Sunday mornings on this book together was a highlight this year!
7. Between Two Worlds, John Stott. I think I've always loved preaching and seen the value of preaching. But this book renewed my eagerness to preach and proclaim the gospel to God's people and to the world.
6. Praying the Lord's Prayer, J. I. Packer. I don't think I'm very good at praying; I need help to pray well. Found some help here!
5. Desiring God, John Piper. An oldie but a goodie! Re-reading this book sparked desire for God in my heart. I hope to re-read The Pleasures of God this year. And it proved to be the ideal companion to the next selection...
4. Worldliness, ed. C. J. Mahaney. Because the siren-song of the world is alluring and relentless. I need this book to see my tendency to love the world and the things of the world. Incredibly helpful and very practical, skillfully navigating the dangerous waters of worldliness while avoiding the shoals of legalism.
3. In My Place Condemned He Stood, J. I. Packer & Mark Dever. A collection of essays on the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ for sinners like us. Unbelievable quality!
2. Pierced for Our Transgressions, Steve Jeffery, Michael Ovey, Andrew Sach. A thorough and exhaustive defense of classical substitutionary atonement. A must read for any student of the gospel! Wonderful food for the soul with tremendous doctrinal clarity and precision.
1. ESV Study Bible. The Bible is already the best book of the millenium. The ESV Study Bible combines the wonderful readability of the English Standard Version with world-class scholarship and top-notch Bible study resources. All in an affordable, portable package!
What about you? What are some of the top books you read this year?
Coming up:
12/28: Eight Great Albums From 2008
12/29: Eight Great Verses From 2008
12/30: Eight Great Sermons From 2008
12/31: Nine Resolutions for 2009
1/1: Ten Questions for 2009
Posted on
Saturday, December 27, 2008
by Steve Whitacre