Okay, all you book lovers.
My pastor asked me if I would clean out, weed, and otherwise improve our church library. I have a modest budget to work with and I need to spend it in the next few weeks or I’ll lose it at the end of the fiscal year. So I need to get on Amazon posthaste and spend money on books.
What a job. But someone has to do it.
So what would you buy for a church library? I’m not looking for anything super popular so forget The Shack and Wild at Heart and other such stuff.
I’m looking for things that will fit in a moderately conservative Reformed church so Swinging from the Chandeliers with the Holy Ghost is probably out as is 101 Reasons for Believer’s Baptism.
Any ideas?
Now I Have a Name For It: Dwelling
“The Pleasures of God” by John Piper. A life-changing book for me. Also excellent fiction such as Jan Karon’s Mitford Series….the first is called “At Home in Mitford.” Other noteworthy authors would include CJ Mahaney, RC Sproul, Kay Arthur, Joni Earikson Tada, Jerry Bridges, and John McArthur.
Have fun shopping!
The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman (my DH insists we have extra of these on hand to give to friends with communication issues)
Changes that Heal and Boundaries by Dr Henry Cloud
The 21 Irrefutable laws of Leadership by John C Maxwell.
ooh and don’t forget C. S. Lewis Mere Christianity, The Problem of Pain, et. al.
He didn’t just write delightful fiction.
HTH
Mrs N
Infertility: Finding God’s Peace in the Journey- Lois Flowers- my all time favorite infertility book. Girl Talk- Nicole Whitacre and Carolyn Mahaney. All the novellas of Biblical figures by Francine Rivers. I’m sure there are others, but I can’t remember… Oh, a great apologetics book for kids that’s probably out of print is How to Be Your Own Selfish Pig by Susan Schaefer Macauley.
I’m the nominated “library lady” at my church too- but we don’t get a budget, we have to rely on donations! Let me tell you, we have WAY too many Left Behind books.
I asked a similar question not too long ago, about what to include. A commenter pointed me to an article about WHY to have a church library, and it really helped me think about the purpose of this collection of books beyond just obligation or tradition. Thinking through the purpose you want the library to serve helps narrow down the types of books to include, or it did for me, anyway.
Max Lucado. John Ortberg. The Purpose Driven Church by Rick Warren.
I’d also recommend books by Piper, Jerrry Bridges, J. I. Packer, John Stott, and any of the “Puritan Paperbacks” like The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment.
Also, Elizabeth George books, Edith Schaeffer, Elisabeth Elliot, Sally Clarkson (books like her Mission of Motherhood are for all moms, not just homeschoolers), a couple good books about organization by Emilie Barnes, decorating books by Terry Willits (a pastor’s wife and interior designer), etc.
For a few deeper thinkers, I’d have the Schaeffer trilogy (all in one volume), Chuck Colson’s How Now Shall We Live, C. S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity, and very definitely Total Truth by Nancy Pearcey.
Hmmm… fiction? I love the Mitford series, the Oxford Chronicles Trilogy by Melanie Jeschke (Inklings, Expectations, and Evasions… out of print but available cheap used at Amazon), Christy, Joel Rosenberg’s series, anything by Randy Alcorn… brain has stopped.
Most of these are available used on Amazon. Are you sorry you asked, hehehe. 😆
Putting Amazing Back Into Grace by Michael Scott Horton. Actually, almost anything by Horton.
Pilgrim’s Progress
Hi!
I’ll throw my .02 in, too:
AW Pink: The Sovereignty of God
AW Pink: The Attributes of God
R Baxter : The Reformed Pastor
T Watson : A Body of Divinity
J Bunyan: Pilgrim’s Progress
CH Spurgeon: Morning & Evening —- and anything else he wrote!!!
E Prentiss: Stepping Heavenward
JC Ryle: The Duties of Parents
JC Ryle: Thoughts for Young Men
Anything from http://www.banneroftruth.org
🙂
History:
-John Olin, ed., A Reformation Debate
-Denis Janz, ed., A People’s History of Christianity, esp. volume 5 on the Reformation
-Michael White, From Jesus to Christianity
-William Bouwsma, Calvin
-Robert Kingdon, Adultery and Divorce in Calvin’s Geneva
-Hans Hillerbrand, The Division of Christendom
You might appreciate this list of 20 books to read in your 20s.
Enjoy the challenge!
R.C. Sproul – The Holiness of God
others by Sproul
The Reason for God by Timothy Keller
The Prodigal God by Timothy Keller
According to my 27 year old son, both these guys have a reputation for being very theological and reformed, but also extremely readable and relevant.
Have fun!
“Surprised by Hope” – N.T. White
“An Affair of the Mind” and “The Cleavers Don’t Live Here Anymore” – Laurie Hall
“Bold Love” – Dan Allender
“The Hidden Art of Homemaking” – Edith Schaeffer
“Christy” and “Julie” – Catherine Marshall
As a former church librarian, order the stickers that say “You have a friend who needs this book” or the people who need ‘this book’ will be afraid to check it out.
Yep, definitely John Ortberg, particularly If You Want To Walk On The Water You’ve Got To Get Out Of The Book. Great, easy-reading yet challenging book on walking by faith in everyday life.
A Grace Disguised by Jerry Sittser–or anything by him.
Well, since I’m in a hurry that’s all I can think off the top of my head but hope it helps!!
Oh, and I’ve heard a lot of good things about Gary Thomas’ books as well as Emmerson Eggerichs.
“Don’t Waste Your Life” John Piper
“A Chance to Die” Elizabeth Elliot
The Discipline of Grace by Jerry Bridges and Future Grace by Piper have both changed my life.
If looking for novels, I like the historical fiction of Jack Cavanaugh. His book The Puritans was a nice read as was the entire series on Bible translation. Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss is also a favorite.
Number one missions book? Perspectives. Of course, Let the Nations Be Glad is also a Piper new classic.
Lies Woman Believe by Nancy Leaigh DeMoss
Sacred Marriage by Gary L. Thomas is wonderful!
For singles, I can’t reccomend highly enough Did I Kiss Marriage Goodbye by Carolyn McCulley and Get Married by Candice Watters
The Valley of Vision is a collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions by Arthur G. Bennett and EXCELLENT!
Last one . . . Randy Alcorn’s Money, Possessions and Eternity.
The Gospel According to Jesus and The Gospel According to the Apostles by John MacArthur…because you have to get the Gospel right!
Trusting God Even When Life Hurts by Jerry Bridges
Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges
Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper
The Excellent Wife by Martha Peace
Loving God with All Your Mind by Elizabeth George
Susan Hunt’s books, both for women (Spiritual Mothering, By Design, Your Home, a Place of Grace) and for children (ABC Bible Verses, Big Truths for Little Kids).
I’m going to need a bigger budget! LOL!
I see many favorites of mine on the lists.
I see a generous sprinkling of Piper, one of my pastor’s favorite authors (if I remember correctly).
I see a couple of authors that I personally don’t like. (People start to think…. Now who would she not like….)
I see just a couple “over my dead body” books. LOL! I’ve got my likes and dislikes too. (Everyone skims through the lists again… Which ones would Sallie refuse to buy? Hmmm….)
I see a few authors I have never heard of. I’ll have to look them up.
Thanks, too, for the fiction and children’s recommendations. Those are definitely to be considered as well.
Thanks so much! Keep them coming if you think of any others. 😀
Families Where Grace is in Place by Jeff VanVonderven
The Boundries Book by Cloud and Townsand
ditto to the 5 Love Languages and the 5 love languages for kids
Dave Ramsey books
The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones (I think you would really like this one, it has neat illistrations too, every story points to Jesus, very cool, some of the calling God “Daddy” and stuff like that bothered my dh but I really liked it)
We also have a lot of “Arch books” they are little Bible story books in prose (my MIL who is a Luthern got them for us, I like them for the kids)
Max Lucado is a good choice and ofcourse C.S. Lewis
I REALLY want to know which books you wouldn’t buy (poke-poke-smile)
Amie 🙂
I, too, will suggest Boundaries by Cloud and Townsend.
Also: Tired of Trying to Measure Up by Jeff VanVonderen
The Mommy Survival Guide, by Barbara Curtis
Knowing God, by J. I. Packer
If it were me, I’d also try to sneak in a copy of The Joy of Being a Woman, by Ingrid Trobisch, though it’s long out of print.
Sallie my picks are:
Any and all by Authors: James Dobson, Dr, Kevin Lehman, John Piper, Allister McGrath, Ravi Zacharias, Crown Financial Ministries, Mike Yaconelli (of Youth Specialties fame), John MacArthur, T Davis Bunn (for fluffy reading).
Those are my first picks. Although, I might have more later.
We own a few complete works sets that folks like to peruse when they are here. The best are Francis Schaeffer and Jonathan Edwards. I totally second Pilgrim’s Progress! Another suggestion would be the unabridged “In His Steps” which is pretty powerful fiction if it isn’t a watered-down version.
Email me if you want a copy of my husband’s book. I could probably talk him into sending you one for free. It isn’t a textbook, but it is currently being used at college and hig school levels as a sort of “into. to Christian worldview” text.
Anything by John Piper. He is reformed in his theology and is the greatest theologian living in the USA today. His theology is sound.
Also the Mitford books for the ladies and CS Lewis’ books.
Don’t forget the children.
Annie
Corrie ten Boom
C.S. Lewis