Favorite Books 2019

Inspired by the “favorite books” list from Bill Gates, the CCF ministry staff have come together again to release our favorite reads of the year. In our case, some are new and some are old, but all of them have moved us in some profound ways. Here’s our lists with the hope of inspiring some reading in the church.

Brian
Prayer for Beginners by Peter Kreeft – Since this is the year of the Devotional Life at CCF, I’m reading all I can on prayer. This little gem from Peter Kreeft stands out. He gets simple – really simple. No chapter is more than 10 pages and he covers simple topics. Kreeft says that if you know how to talk to a friend, then you know how to talk with God. “Prayer keeps your soul alive,” he reminds us.

The Coddling of the American Mind by Lukianoff and Haidt – These guys are sociologists at heart and are astute at noticing trends. They argue that we have moved at warp speed into a culture in which we are excessively overprotecting our kids, and especially their minds. They focus on three “untruths” that have overtaken us. Although the authors don’t write from a Christian worldview, I found myself agreeing with them page after page.

Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan – What a classic written in 1678. I try to read this book every five years or so. It is such a rich allegory, and this year I enjoyed it in modern English. All of us can associate with Christian who walks through so many valleys and obstacles on his way to the Celestial City.

Bonus: PrayerMate – If I got a bonus, I would push my favorite new app called PrayerMate. https://www.prayermate.net/. Simply the best app I have ever used for prayer. So simple and yet powerful.

Eric
12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You by Tony Reinke – Have you checked your screen time lately? Are you in control of your phone or is it in control of you (and if you feel partially naked when you forget your phone somewhere, I would argue the latter)? Tony Reinke does a fantastic job painting a theology of technology. In other words, he has comprehensively tied the physical, emotional and spiritual impact of today’s technology to the truth about the human heart and God found through scripture. He recognizes the good and bad in our technology and challenges us to “wisely wield the most powerful gadget of human connection ever unleashed

Confronting Christianity by Rebecca McLaughlin – This book brings together a beautiful tapestry of solid biblical insights, research and powerful testimonies of the author to confront the perception that Christianity is harmful towards humanity. In the end, McLaughlin makes the point that, “… the reality of suffering, the complexity of sexuality, the desire for diversity, the success of science, and other seeming roadblocks to faith become signposts.”

Raising Disciples: How to Make Faith Matter for Our Kids by Natalie Frisk – In this book, the author makes the principles of raising disciples in the home a practical thing. Whether you’re a parent of children, youth, a grandparent, volunteer in children’s ministry or simply want a healthy church in the years to come, this book shows how we can all be intentional in helping children instill spiritual practices that help them become more like Jesus. Who doesn’t want that?!

Bonus: Praying Through the Bible With Your Kids by Nancy Guthrie – Every parent needs to have this book. There are a lot of things we cannot control in our children’s lives. However, the most influential tool we can use that we do have complete control over is prayer. Parents, if you’re looking for a fresh way to pray over your children using scripture through the year, this is it. As we pray for our children by using the scriptures, we will find that our desires for our kids begin to align with the desires of our Heavenly Father. Isn’t that what we want for our children in the end after all?

Nick
The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt by Edmund Morris – In for a ride through the life of one of the largest and most influential Americans ever? Then pick this book up and be amazed at the proficiency, the imperfections, the genius, and the work ethic of the Theodore Roosevelt. Morris is a fantastic writer who takes you through the details, but never bores you with them. I came away having learned much about American history, too.

Them by Ben Sasse – Ben Sasse is a Republican senator from Nebraska who has a lot of great things to say. He is a fantastically solid Christian, too. He dives into the several reasons he thinks that we are a divided nation, one reason being the loneliness epidemic. He doesn’t just tell us what’s wrong, though. He gives solid ways forward to help us heal as a nation by calling us to our founding principles, being rooted where we are, and setting limits on our tech. Pick this book up and be encouraged that this man is on the Hill.

The Narnian by Alan Jacobs – Another biography on C.S. Lewis? Can I say wow and yes?! I read a lot of biographies, but this may be one of the best I have read that isn’t truly a biography as we may know it. Jacobs focuses on the thought life and imagination of C.S. Lewis by tracing his life’s passions and themes within his books. Jacobs, an incredible writer, will have you longing to know more about Lewis and to read more of his books (both Lewis and Jacobs)!

Bonus: How to Pray by Pete Grieg – I think this is one of the best books on prayer that I have ever read. Grieg is honest, hilarious, concise, and practical. He’s a fantastic writer to boot. Come away with some life-changing practices for your prayer life and a ton of online material that he guides you through in each chapter.