Updated: March 2025
Over the years, people have asked me, Which books do you recommend that I buy for my library? For the first time, I’m answering this question publicly by compiling a “must-have-in-your-library” book list. The books are divided up by categories.
What This List Is and Isn’t
I consider these books to be the best Christian works ever written in the 20th and 21st centuries. (I didn’t list older books since I wanted to keep the list to 100.)
These are the “core” books in my library. Not the most popular, the best known, or the “hottest.” But those that I regard to be exceptional.
Disclaimer: The books are not listed in any particular order. Also, I don’t agree with every word of every book nor do I agree with everything the authors have ever said, done, or written elsewhere.
I also removed the hyperlinks because so many of them expired. You can easily find these by searching on the Web. Some are in print while others are out of print, but you can find them in used bookstores online.
See this blog post where I provide further background to this list. At the end of the list, you’ll see a link for my own books.
Enjoy!
fv
Psalm 115:1
Mission & Ministry Shelf
The Stewardship of the Mystery by T. Austin-Sparks
Ultimate Intention by DeVern Fromke
Created for Community by Stanley J. Grenz
Destined for the Throne by Paul E. Billheimer
The Centrality and Supremacy of the Lord Jesus Christ by T. Austin-Sparks
The Character of God’s Workman by Watchman Nee
Prophetic Ministry by T. Austin-Sparks
No Other Foundation by DeVern Fromke
Serve in Spirit by Watchman Nee
The Release of the Spirit by Watchman Nee
What Shall This Man Do? by Watchman Nee
The School of Christ by T. Austin-Sparks
The Master Plan of Evangelism by Robert E. Coleman
The Community Life of God by Milt Rodriguez
Church (Body Life) Shelf
Paul’s Idea of Community by Robert J. Banks
God’s Spiritual House by T. Austin-Sparks
The Normal Christian Church Life by Watchman Nee
58 to 0 by Jon Zens
A Church Building Every ½ Mile by Jon Zens
Christ Alone by Jon Zens
Elusive Community by Jon Zens
Community 101 by Gilbert Bilezikian
The Community of the King by Howard A. Snyder
The Fullness of Christ by John Howard Yoder
Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Going to the Root by Christian Smith
Christian Community by Hal Miller
Sanctorum Communio by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
The Subversion of Christianity by Jacques Ellul
Jesus is Family by Jon Zens
The Pastor Has No Clothes by Jon Zens
Spiritual Growth Shelf
The Normal Christian Life by Watchman Nee
Sit Walk Stand by Watchman Nee
A Living Sacrifice by Watchman Nee
The Wealth, Walk, and Warfare of the Christian by Ruth Paxson
Experiencing God Through Prayer by Jeanne Guyon
Unto Full Stature by DeVern Fromke
Life’s Ultimate Privilege by DeVern Fromke
Prayer by Rosalind Rinker
Changed Into His Likeness by Watchman Nee
Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis
Love Not the World by Watchman Nee
Classic Christianity by Bob George
Satisfy Your Soul by Bruce Demarest
Spending Time with the Lord by Bill Freeman
God’s Chosen Fast by Arthur Wallis
The Saving Life of Christ & The Mystery of Godliness by Ian Thomas
Life on the Highest Plane by Ruth Paxson
Spirit and Soul by Jessie Penn-Lewis
Victory in Christ by Charles Trumbull
Christ Esteem by Don Matzat
You Are My Friends by Frank Laubach
The Spirit of Christ by Andrew Murray
The Supplied Life by Bill Freeman
The Splendor of His Ways by Stephen Kaung
God’s Plan of Redemption by Mary E. McDonough
Ruthless Trust by Brennan Manning
The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning
The Signature of Jesus by Brennan Manning
The Singer by Calvin Miller
Bone of His Bone by F. J. Huegel
Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer
The Knowledge of the Holy by A.W. Tozer
Born After Midnight by A.W. Tozer
The Root of the Righteous by A. W. Tozer
Reclaiming Christianity by A. W. Tozer
God Tells the Man Who Cares by A. W. Tozer
The Crucified Life by A.W. Tozer
The Gospel According to Paul by T. Austin-Sparks
The Deeper Christian Life by Andrew Murray
The Key to Triumphant Living by Jack R. Taylor
Prayer: The Mightiest Force in the World by Frank Laubach
Church History Shelf
The Reformers and Their Stepchildren by Leonard Verduin
The Torch of the Testimony by John W. Kennedy
Paul: Apostle of the Heart Set Free by F. F. Bruce
Lost Heritage by Kim Tan
The Pilgrim Church by E. H. Broadbent
Biblical Tools Shelf
Chronological Life Application Study Bible by Tyndale
The Chronological Study Bible by Thomas Nelson
The Message of the New Testament by F. F. Bruce
Essential Evangelical Parallel Bible by John R. Kohlenberger III
The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament by Craig S. Keener
The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament by John H. Walton, Victor H. Matthews & Mark W. Chavalas
Comparative Study Bible by Zondervan
Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels by Joel B. Green, Jeannine K. Brown & Nicholas Perrin
Dictionary of Paul and his Letters by Gerald F. Hawthorne, Ralph P. Martin & Daniel G. Reid
Dictionary of the Later New Testament & Its Developments by Ralph P. Martin & Peter H. Davids
Dictionary of New Testament Background by Craig A. Evans & Stanley E. Porter
* Click here to order the entire 8 volume set of Dictionary of New Testament & Old Testament on discount
New Bible Dictionary by I. Howard Marshall, A. R. Millard, J. I. Packer & D. J. Wiseman
A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and other Early Christian Literature by Frederick William Danker & Walter Bauer
Alleged Discrepancies of the Bible by John Haley
Dictionary of Biblical Imagery by Leland Ryken, James C. Wilhoit & Tremper Longman III
The New Testament by Kenneth S. Wuest
The ESV Study Bible by Crossway Bibles
Jesus, In His Own Words by Robert H. Mounce
Genesis to Deuteronomy by C. H. Mackintosh
Tools for Writers
The War of Art by Stephen Pressfield
On Writing by Stephen King
The Classic Guide to Better Writing by Rudolf Flesch
Click Here to View All My Books (these are not included in the top 100 list because it’s not cool for an author to say his/her books are the best ever written, even if that statement might be true.) <smile>
