Top 3 "Must Read" Christian books?

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   JessiJoWposted 13 years ago

   What would you consider to be the top 3 "Must Read" books that any Christian should read?  (Other than the obvious answer of the "The Bible").  What books have been most influential for you, and why?

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      Jason Marovichposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
      
      I, like millions of others, found this book to be helpful in keeping our focus on God instead of ourselves.  Actually, my wife and I did the book together, but it's great for anyone.

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         JessiJoWposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Jason, I agree - Purpose Driven Life was a good book!  Hmmm...it may be time for a reread of this  one :-)  Thanks for the reminder!

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      Precious Pearlposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      The Shack, Rescued and Driven By Eternity are great books for mature believers.  The first two are actually fiction.  These books challenged my perspective of God and had me search a little deeper in regard to who He is as well as wanting to know Him even more.  One of the things I learned from was that God can manifest Himself anyway that He chooses and who am I to challenge that in any way.  God is limitless!

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         JessiJoWposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Pearl,
         
         Thanks for the response!  I've not read any of those books, but am always looking for new ones to check out!  And I agree that I sometimes get as much out of a fiction book as a non-fiction!  And aren't you glad God is limitless?  I sure am!!

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            Precious Pearlposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Yes, I am ... He is such an AWESOME God!

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      Disappearingheadposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      My top three books are:
      
      Revelation: The way it Happened, by Lee Harmon. A fictional working of Revelation; the story of a father and son in the 1st century interpreting Revelation from events witnessed by them. This book challenges every 21st century understanding of what Revelation is all about.
      
      The Language of God by Prof Francis Collins. A Christian who has spent his career in genetics and was the the director of the human genome project. He argues the case for evolution and demonstrates that it is proven in our genes. But sees God glorified in it all.
      
      Imagine there is no Satan (Christianity's Other God) by James R Brayshaw. Top class debunking of Satan mythology from scripture. It is one of a series of three.
      
      And a fourth book if I may be so bold.
      Jewish Theology by Kaufmann Kohler. Dont be put off that this guy does not believe Yashua is the Messiah, he explains Judaism and the history of its beliefs, contrasting Hasidic and reform Judaism. But where it's value lies is in demonstrating that the Christian views of creation, garden of Eden, the nature of man, Satan, and demons, are often built on myth hearsay and superstition rather than sound biblical teaching.

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         JessiJoWposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Well, something tells me you and I disagree theologically on all the topics above! ;-)  But I'm always looking for good books on both sides of an issue so I can fully understand...so thanks for posting!

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            Disappearingheadposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Hi Jessi, perhaps we will disagree theologically on the points above. After some 25 years in the church, many of its doctrines that I had some discomfort with for very many years, but had always pushed aside as I didn't want to be ridiculed as "not being a proper Christian", suddenly cme to a head in my life three years ago.
            
            As I began looking into Jewish perspectives of the Hebrew scriptures, some doctrines I believed began to unravel before my eyes. I hold firm to Jesus being God come in the flesh to make himself a sacrifice for man's sin, but thereafter, I have departed from much of Christian theology.

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      JessiJoWposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      So I probably should give my own list.  Although I'll admit I'm having trouble keeping it down to 3. 
      
      "Knowing God" by J.I.Packer  - A thought provoking look at the nature of God.
      "Ordering your Private World" - by Gordon MacDonald - A great book on taking care of yourself spiritually!
      "Epicenter" by Joel Rosenberg - An interesting take on current events and how it relates to Biblical prophecy.  (I also highly recommend all of Rosenberg's fiction books - he's written 2 great fiction series, which make for an exciting read!)

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         mischeviousmeposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Dante's inferno
         
         The divine comedy
         
         Their the only two good christian publications I could think of. The rest are garbage, written by self promoting, snake oil salesmen.

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   hookedhuntressposted 13 years ago

   I do not recommend any Christian books. lol
   I have found them to be self serving and self gratifying..they only serve to tickle the ears.
   They tend to be full of the writers speculations and very little gospel.

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      JessiJoWposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Hm...I certainly have found more than one book to be much more challenging and convicting than "self-gratifying and ear-tickling".  So  perhaps something will show up on this list that would change your viewpoint.  Or not. :-)

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         Precious Pearlposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Well said.  I would agree ... none of the books I listed would fall into the category of self-gratifying or ear-tickling.

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