PASTOR DAVID'S READING LIST
A NOTE FROM PASTOR DAVID
At the end of each year, I love to share an annual “Reading List” with our church! These lists include some of my favorite books that I read each particular year and that I think you will find spiritually beneficial.
The ranked lists below (with book #1 being my favorite of the year) include a short description of each book and a link to the Renovation Library catalog where you can check out any of these books for yourself! Happy reading!
-Pastor David
#12 Looking for the One
David McIver
A very engaging book of 40 different stories of how to share your faith with other people. McIver is the Executive Director of PraiseFM here locally, a former Twins chaplain, and an attender at Renovation Church!
#11 Daws
Betty Lee Skinner
This book was very influential to me personally as Dawson Trotman (who founded the Navigators) is an inspiration as a movement founder and someone who balanced evangelism and discipleship.
#10 Arena
Karen Hancock
If you’re into Christian fantasy, many hold this book as a classic. It took me a while to get into, but it’s a great concept.
#9 Timothy Keller
Collin Hansen
Crazy enough, I finished this biography about Timothy Keller only a month before Keller died. I loved reading about my hero, Keller, but I wish it would have been more about his life and less about his influences.
#8 The Postmodern Pilgrim's Progress
Kyle Mann
This is a neat update on the Pilgrim’s Progress story with new obstacles for those who face postmodern obstacles like us. It’s from the writers of the Babylon Bee, so it’s a bit political at times, but their take on the obstacle of the “Evangelical Bubble” is worth the price of the book.
#7 The Little Woman
Gladys Aylward
This short autobiography of Gladys Aylward, a single young woman missionary to China, is wonderful! It has so many amazing stories of faith and is an easy read!
#6 The Unlikely Disciple
Kevin Roose
This is probably the most challenging book I read this year. Roose is an agnostic Ivy League student who decided that rather than studying abroad in Europe, it would be more of a “foreign experience” to spend a semester at a Christian college, so he transfers to Liberty University for a semester as an undercover agnostic. He then wrote a book about his observations of Christians. You have to be ready for a challenge to read this, but it’s important to understand how other people see us.
#5 Gentle and Lowly
Dane Ortlund
No other book on this list was recommended to me by more people. This book is unlike anything I’ve ever read before. It’s a deep theological look at Jesus’ heart for us, and yet, unlike most theological books, the average reader can totally understand it and take its deep truths to heart.
#4 Living a Life of Fire
Reinhard Bonnke
This is the autobiography of the charismatic evangelist who had led more people to Christ in Africa than anyone else. Bonnke is a Pentecostal, and I wouldn’t say we have perfect theological alignment; however, that being said, it was the most entertaining (and longest!) book I read this year. Bonnke’s stories of God’s power are absolutely incredible!
#3 Out of a Far Country
Christopher & Angela Yuan
This autobiography, with rotating chapters written by mother and son, is an absolute MUST-READ if you have an adult child who is lost or a prodigal. It’s gripping. I think I read it in 3 days!
#2 Running for my Life
Lopez Lomong
It’s an incredible story about a Sudanese refugee’s journey from running 18 miles a day (without water!) in his refugee camp to running fame in the United States. I laughed, cried, and loved listening to the audiobook while I ran myself!
#1 I Dared to Call Him Father
Bilquis Sheikh
In preparation to help me better share the Gospel with Muslims in Africa this past summer, I not only read the Quran and the Life of Muhammad, but also read this incredibly inspiring book of a Muslim woman’s journey to Jesus Christ. It’s a gripping story and very well written!
Bonus Kids Book: DragonKeeper Chronicles
Donita K. Paul
Even though I read 38 books this year, I still finished dead last in my family’s race to read the most! My kids loved to read and this was their recommendation for the year. This is a Christian fantasy series with rich allegory and adventure! Great for upper elementary, middle school, or anyone who loves fantasy.
#14 Through The Gates of Splendor
Elisabeth Elliot
I’ve referenced this book several times in messages. The story is inspiring (and heart wrenching!). The only reason it’s not more highly ranked is because a lot of the book is diary entries, and it doesn’t flow quite as well as some of the higher entries on this list.
#13 Out of the Saltshaker
Becky Pippert
I finally got around to reading this classic on evangelism. If you want to feel more comfortable in sharing your faith, definitely check this one out.
#12 Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire
Jim Cymbala
Our staff reads one book together every year, and we read this one in 2021. It’s the story of The Brooklyn Tabernacle and how they’ve grounded their church in prayer.
#11 The Last Battle
C. S. Lewis
I finished reading the Chronicles of Narnia (“The Last Battle” is book 7 of 7) to our twins back in January. Lewis’ take on heaven in this book is amazing! If your kids are 7+, read them The Chronicles of Narnia. They’ll thank you, and you’ll love it too!
#10 Resistance
Jaye L. Knight
My friend, and a leader here at church, Sarah Hawkins, told me last year that I need to “read for fun” more often, so I read this Christian fantasy book this year. Pretty solid, if you’re into that sort of thing.
#9 Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family
Paul David Tripp
I try to read one parenting book every year, and this is one of the better ones I’ve read. Unlike other books that stay ultra-practical, this book gets you focused on broader (and more important) Gospel themes.
#8 The Green Ember
S. D. Smith
This is an excellent fantasy book about rabbits fighting wolves. This is a children’s book (a 365 page one!) written in Narnia-style, and it’s great for ages 7 and up. I read it aloud to my twins, and the series itself develops great Christian themes!
#7 The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry
John Mark Comer
I must admit that the basic “Christian Living” genre is not really my favorite, but so many people told me to read this book that I gave in and read it. It’s actually very good and has lots of solid, practical advice. John Mark Comer might be this next generation’s Timothy Keller.
#6 The Happiest People On Earth
Demos Shakarian / John & Elizabeth Sherrill
The Sherrills are the best Christian biographers of the last 100 years. Period. They wrote, “The Hiding Place,” “God’s Smuggler,” “The Cross & the Switchblade,” and more. This story chronicles one of the leaders of the Pentecostal movement. The theology is slightly different for many readers, but the story is a really engaging read.
#5 In The Presence of My Enemies
Gracia Burnham
This is the gripping story of Martin & Gracia Burnham who were missionaries in the Philippines taken hostage by Islamic terrorists in 2001. The “afterword” of this book (which was written 10 years later) was one of the best chapters I read all year.
#4 The Rise & Triumph of the Modern Self
Carl Trueman
In some ways I was tempted to make this #1, but if you don’t like philosophy and thinking deeply when you read, this book is definitely not for you. If you do, you HAVE to read this. If you want to understand exactly HOW our culture has gotten so confused on so many things (especially when it comes to sexuality and gender), this is the best book out there.
#3 Peace Child
Don Richardson
Richardson is a great author, and this is his own story of how he brought the Gospel to the cannibalistic tribes of Papua New Guinea. This book has such a great “turn moment.” I gasped out loud and pumped my fist when it happened. It takes a bit to get there, but when it does, wow!
#2 Evidence Not Seen
Darlene Deibler Rose
This is the autobiography of a female missionary who had to trust God through some incredibly difficult circumstances in Indonesia during WWII. This book is filled with amazing stories of God’s providence!
#1 Saving My Assassin
Virginia Prodan
The true story of a Christian woman in Romania who is persecuted for her faith under the communist regime. It’s riveting, inspiring, and strengthened my faith. A must read!
Bonus: Little Pilgrim's Big Journey
Tyler Van Halteren
This was the best “short” book I read to my kids this year. This book was a little too short for me to count on my list of 14 books, but it is fantastic! If you have kids ages 5-12, seriously, spend the money on this book, and read it out loud to them. It’s an illustrated kid’s version of the 2nd best-selling book of all-time, “Pilgrim’s Progress.” Our kids LOVE this book, and so do I!
#8 William Tyndale
Bruce and Becky Durost Fish
Tyndale was the first man to translate the Bible into English, and the English government, considering it to be a crime, murdered him for it. The Catholic church had such a hold on people in those times that they literally didn’t want the average person to understand what the Bible truly said!
#7 Letters to the Church
Francis Chan
As we say often on Sunday mornings, so much of the American church is currently designed to entertain and feed consumerism. Chan does a great job of attempting to bring the church back to its Biblical roots and rediscover its Biblical purpose.
#6 The Pastor
Eugene Peterson
Eugene Peterson is most famous for writing “The Message” (a paraphrase translation of the Bible), and this book is his memoir. It’s an honest read and shows the joys and challenges of life in ministry.
#5 The Reproducers
Chuck Smith
This is the story of the beginnings of Calvary Chapel, a group of churches that now totals 1,700 churches. It takes place in the late 60’s and early 70’s, and much of the “Jesus People” hippie revival was born out of this movement. Here is a free online version of the book that Calvary Chapel provides!
#4 The Heavenly Man
Brother Yun
The amazing true story of one of the main leaders of the Chinese House Church Movement and the absolutely brutal persecution Chinese Christians have faced under the communist regime. The prison and torture scenes are hard to read, but the dedication of the Chinese Christians is incredibly inspiring.
#3 The Voyage of The Dawn Treader, The Silver Chair, The Horse & His Boy
C.S. Lewis
I started reading the Chronicles of Narnia to our twins. I think many people are familiar with the original book The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, but many of the books in the rest of the series are just as good, if not better! Lewis’ deep spiritual teachings in this book will minister to both you and your kids!
#2 To End All Wars (Through The Valley of the Kwai)
Ernest Gordon
The true story of a man who met Christ in a WWII Japanese Prison Camp. The Christian community he started there was so real, so authentic, and so powerful, the men legitimately missed the prison camp when the war was over! It’s such a great read!
#1 God's Smuggler
John & Elizabeth Sherrill
This might even be tied for the best book I’ve ever read (along with last year’s #1: To The Golden Shore). It’s the amazing true story of a man who smuggled Bibles into communist Europe. It’s an absolute page-turner and co-authored by the same couple who co-authored “The Hiding Place.” This book ministered to my heart so deeply and increased my faith greatly!
#8 The Tech-Wise Family
Andy Crouch
Let’s face it, our families spend way too much time with our faces in front of a screen. Andy Crouch is a Christian researcher and author who gives great principles for how to help your family become less screen-dependent.
#7 Green Leaf in Drought Time
Isobel Kuhn
This is the story of the last missionaries to be kicked out of China when the communists took over in the late 40’s/early 50’s. It’s not the easiest read, but if you are going through a hard time, read this book! Its wisdom on suffering is unbelievably deep, and it really ministered to me.
#6 Old Paths, New Power
Daniel Henderson
This book had a profound impact on how I view ministry, particularly prayer. A well-written book on how churches need to get back to the basics! If you’re a leader in our church, definitely read this book!
#5 In His Steps
Charles Sheldon
This is the book that WWJD (what would Jesus do?) came from. It’s a novel about a group of people who take a pledge to not make any decision without first asking, “What would Jesus do?” It was written a century ago, but feels like it was written yesterday. It’s short and an easy read.
#4 Dakatar
Viggio Olsen
An entertaining and inspiring autobiography of a missionary doctor who reaches many for Christ in war-torn Bangladesh. There’s much to learn in this book about how to listen for God and follow His leading.
#3 Sacred Marriage
Gary Thomas
This is a VERY good book on marriage. It has a really balanced approach of the practical and spiritual aspects to marriage.
#2 Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus
Nabeel Qureshi
A fascinating autobiography about a devout Muslim who, after years of research, becomes a Christian. I learned more about Islam from reading this book than I have from anything else.
#1 To The Golden Shore (The Life of Adoniram Judson)
Courtney Anderson
This is the story of the first American missionary and is quite possibly the best book I’ve ever read. It’s 500 pages, and I read it in a matter of days!
#12 God's Hostage
Andrew Brunson
This is the story of missionary Andrew Brunson who just a few years ago was arrested and put in a Turkish jail for sharing his faith. It’s challenging to read what he went through, but he is painfully honest about what he endured.
#11 God is Red
Liao Yiwu
This book is in interview format and tells the story of the brutal persecution that Chinese Christians endured under communism in the mid-20th century.
#10 Edge of Eternity
Randy Alcorn
This is Alcorn’s attempt at writing a Pilgrim’s Progress style allegory of faith. It is at times repetitive, but at other times it’s absolutely brilliant.
#9 Where The Garden Begins
J. Suthern Hicks
Another fantasy allegory book about faith. This one is a great read for someone in your house that is into Young Adult fiction.
#8 The Benedict Option
Rod Dreher
It may be one of the more controversial books on my list, but I read it because I thought it would challenge my perspective. Dreher takes the position that Christianity has essentially lost to modern secular culture in America, and the only way we will survive here is by going into a survival mode he calls “The Benedict Option.” While I disliked that he wasn’t thinking about evangelism (and he was a bit too alarmist for me), we would still do well to listen to his warnings.
#7 The Lost Letters of Pergamum
Bruce Longenecker
I actually secretly hate historical fiction (gasp!), but somehow I ended up reading this one by New Testament and Church Historian Bruce Longenecker. The story is the fictional correspondence between the Gospel author Luke and a non-believing Roman civic leader. It transports you back to the days of the early church, and actually was one of the more inspirational books for my faith that I read this year!
#6 Joni
Joni Eareckson Tada
I finally got around to reading this classic Christian autobiography about the woman who became a quadriplegic after a diving accident. What I loved most about this book was actually Joni’s honesty. She openly talks of her despair, anger, rage, confusion, loss and renewal of faith. It’s as raw and as good as it gets.
#5 The Kings Scrolls
Jaye L. Knight
Book 2 of the Illyon Chronicles. I really like this fictional and Christian fantasy series. They are excellent!
#4 Stealing From God
Frank Turek
This is an excellent Christian apologetics book! Turek brilliantly shows that most atheist arguments have to steal logic from Christians to make their points (i.e. they believe in objective morality but can’t explain where objective morality comes from).
#3 Strange New World
Carl Trueman
This is Trueman’s simpler version of “The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self” (#4 on my list last year). It’s perhaps a tad bit simpler (and definitely shorter), but it’s still pretty deep. If you’re a Christian that likes philosophy and sociology, you should read anything Trueman writes!
#2 Ember Rising
S.D. Smith
To the best of my memory, I’ve only cried twice while reading a book, and ironically, they were both children’s books (this was one of them). I read this series (The Green Ember) out loud to my twins this past year or so, and we LOVED it. This book, the 3rd of the series, was my favorite one.
#1 The Boy Born Dead
David Ring & David Wideman
Wow, I loved this book. It was the most enjoyable and inspirational book I read this year. It was gripping, funny, emotional, and inspiring. It’s an incredible story of a boy growing up with cerebral palsy. The audiobook was an A++ performance!
Bonus: Bible Infographic for Kids
Harvest House Publishers
Our kids LOVE these books (there are 3 of them). It’s amazing what they recall about the Bible from the excellent charts and graphics they read in these books. They are such a great way to help kids get a better grasp on the stories and teachings of the Bible. I’d recommend for ages 6 and up. Honestly, I’m going to buy my own version for my office, they are so great!
Rachel Lane
#12 John and Betty Stam: To Die is Gain
This is technically categorized under "juvenile biography," but that didn't stop me from reading it! It's great for tweens, teens, or even adults like me that just love biography. A powerful story of missionaries in China at the time when the communists took over.
John Bevere
#11 Awe of God
An entire book written on "The Fear of the Lord." Done in an easy to read 42-day format.
Andrew T. Walker
#10 God and the Transgender Debate
An excellent book on what the Bible teaches regarding gender. It does a great job of looking at what the Scriptures say and developing a practical theology out of it. It’s not overly long, so it’s accessible to anyone who wants to check it out.
Andrew Wilson
#9 Remaking the World: How 1776 Created the Post-Christian West
At many times this book was overly dense and meandering. But, that being said, two of its chapters were perhaps the best chapters I read all year: (1) regarding how "weird" our current culture is compared to history, and 2) regarding how Western culture has no moral foundation to stand on if Christianity disappears.
John Bunyan
#8 Pilgrim's Progress
I love this new modern English version by Lithos Kids Publishing. It's beautifully made. They are the same people who made "Little Pilgrim's Big Journey," which is perhaps the best kids' picture book around!
Justin Whitmel Early
#7 Habits of the Household
This is a great book if you are looking for easy and practical habits that will shape your family. This one is especially great if you have young kids.
Pete Greig
#6 How to Pray
If you're looking for a very accessible, practical, and yet thorough book on prayer, this is it!
Shaunti Feldhahn
#5 For Parents Only
This book about parenting tweens & teens is 17 years old, so there are a few "flip phone references" here and there, but honestly 90% of it is still applicable, and I personally found it quite helpful for the stage of parenting that I'm in!
Marie Chapian
#4 Of Whom the World was not Worthy
A powerful true story of Yugoslavian believers attempting to live under Nazi control during WWII.
Kevin DeYoung
#3 Just Do Something
I honestly thought I was going to hate this book, but it was perhaps the most refreshing and freeing book I read this year. DeYoung really helped me see the unbiblical ways we often look at "God's will."
Timothy Carney
#2 Family Unfriendly
A book that explores how our American culture has made raising kids so much harder than it needs to be. Lots of great challenges, data, and fresh perspectives on raising kids.
Nik Ripken
#1 The Insanity of God
The powerful story of a man who goes to places where it's incredibly difficult to be a Christian and chronicles the stories of the persecuted church. Very inspiring.
Karen Kingsbury
Bonus Kids Recommendation: Best Family Ever
A great 5-book series about family that my kids really loved!
Geoffrey Chang
#12 Spurgeon the Pastor
I love everything Charles Spurgeon and really appreciated this new biography and its fresh take.
C.S. Lewis
#11 The Space Trilogy
This is admittedly hard to read at times and a bit slow and overly descriptive. However, there are some really neat metaphors and spiritual lessons in here.
Michael Rechardson
#10 Amazing Faith (A Biography of Bill Bright)
Bill Bright was the founder of Campus Crusade and likely reached millions for Christ. Find out how it all began!
Nancy Pearcey
#9 The Toxic War on Masculinity
Pearcey is one of the top Christian writers and thinkers of our day. She writes convincingly here, from a Christian perspective, about what has happened to men in our society.
Brennan Manning
#8 The Ragamuffin Gospel
This is a spiritual classic. If you're in need of refreshing your heart with the gospel of grace, this book is for you.
Patti Giebink
#7 Unexpected Choice
The true story of when a South Dakota abortion doctor became a Christian, and everything in her life changed.
Peter Scazzero
#6 The Emotionally Healthy Spiritual Leader
In my observations, often the number one disqualifier in volunteer or vocational ministry is a lack of emotional health. A must read for those who work at churches or have key volunteer roles.
Joanne Shelter
#5 And the Word Came with Power
An inspiring story of how two women set out to share the gospel in the jungles of the Philippines.
Foster Cline& Jim Fay
#4 Parenting with Love & Logic
I try and read at least one parenting book every single year, and this is one of the better ones I've read. It's great for teaching responsibilty to kids.
Edith Schaeffer
#3 L'abri
This is the amazing story of how Francis and Edith Schaeffer moved to Switzerland and started an influential ministry where people could come and ask their hardest questions about Christianity.
Esther Ahmad
#2 Defying Jihad
What happens if a Jihadist hears the Gospel? Pick up this thrilling true story and find out!
Vinh Chung
#1 Where the Wind Leads
This story about a family trying to flee Vietnam during the communist takeover is one of the most engaging stories I've read in a long time. I couldn't put it down.
Tessa Greene
Bonus Kids Recommendation: The Lantern Lane Series
A great fantasy-adventure series for upper elementary and middle school students. 6 books total in the series!