The Beginners Guide to Making Discples: Reading Good Books
This week I have guest bloggers giving tips on how to disciple new believers. These posts are also good for people new to Christianity who are trying to figure it all out. Today, Jonathan from Sorting Beans helps us pick out some books (outside of the Bible) new followers might find helpful.
Thanks a ton to Don for asking me to write this article for him. I read his posts every day and count this as a token of coolness to guest post for him. Okay, on to business!
In this post I will not be giving you a systematic approach to reading the Bible, or how to understand Scripture, where to start in the Bible, or how to’s on discipleship. Instead, I will be pointing you to books other than the Bible you can read.
Why would you want to read books other than the Bible?
Good question; glad you asked. You need to understand the Bible is sufficient for believers, and new believers especially. The Holy Spirit will teach you all things you need to know if you are a child of God (John 14:26; 1 John 2:27). But what this does NOT mean is that you don’t need godly guidance from godly men and women—you do. There are many people God has gifted with knowledge and understanding and wisdom to help both new and seasoned believers. Understand this: whether you’re a new or more mature Christian, you still need guidance. This goes for pastors, teachers, students, etc. We never loose our necessity for guidance.
Another reason you want to read other books is to make sure you are understanding Scripture correctly. It is far too easy to read something in the Bible, misunderstand it, misapply it, and ultimately result in a skewed hermeneutic. Therefore, you can always align your interpretation of the Bible text with theologians, pastors, laymen, and others who have written in a classical Christian perspective.
Thirdly, you want to be motivated in the right direction. Becoming a new Christian doesn’t mean becoming a hermit and reading all day long, every day (**editors note, Jonathan may have just described heaven -Don). Actually, when we understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we are transformed into doers of the Gospel, not just hearers, readers, and thinkers. This is because our Gospel theology is Gospel practice. Books that help motivate, understand, and give practical advice on how to live as a child of God are very helpful.
That being said, here are some books I recommend.
Christian living:
- The Insider, by Peterson and Shamy: This book will help you understand how you can play your role in the world. It will help guide you into being a Kingdom representative in a non-kingdom culture. Your influence in this world is tantamount to the conversion of others. God will use you, especially when you’re intentional about being used.
- Following Christ, by Joseph M. Stowell: This little book is all about following Christ. It’s about understanding our “followership” to Jesus. When we get this down, we are able to get out of the way and let Jesus lead. A very good book I included in a church class for new believers, and recommend to all new Christians.
- The Life You’ve Always Wanted, by John Ortberg: Don’t get fooled by this title. It’s not about some prosperity gospel, which is no gospel at all. It’s about spiritual disciplines that help you experience a life of spiritual healthiness. You won’t find a special formula that will bring you health, wealth, and prosperity, but you will find encouragement and insight on how to live in step with God.
Apologetics (understanding and defending your faith):
- Defending Your Faith, by R.C. Sproul: This book is the first book I recommend to anyone seeking to read and understand apologetic. I am a huge fan of Sproul because he is very knowledgeable and passionate about Christians understanding what they believe, and why. If you’re going to read apologetic, make this your first read, you will be pleased.
- Case for Christ, and Case for Creator, by Lee Strobel: Strobel is respected as well. This man set out to disprove the existence of God and the person of Jesus Christ and came out of his research with such an overwhelming amount of evidence in favor of Christianity that he converted. Strobel was a respected journalist who is now a writer and pastor. These are very good books on apologetic, and I think they always will be cherished.
- Mere Christianity, by C.S. Lewis: Lewis is one of the most well known Christian writers of the 20th century. With works such as The Chronicles of Narnia, Screwtape Letters, The Problem of Pain, and many, many others, Lewis wins the hearts of many Christians. His approach to apologetic will not disappoint you. He is a bit philosophical, but if that does not disturb you, then you’re in for a treat.
Theology:
Now, for new Christians, it is difficult for me to recommend books on theology because I am always cautious on burning someone out with big words, theology that is deeper than what they are ready for, or doctrine they have never heard of, etc. You know the feeling you get—well, I get—when you play a video game with someone and you have no idea what you’re doing? I feel this way when ever I play Halo or ANYTHING like it. I suck at it. I get frustrated and want to just quit playing because I get killed no sooner than I start moving. That’s my concern for new Christians. I do not want them getting frustrated to the point of just not wanting to read theology anymore. This can happen, and understanding theology is too good to come away with a bad taste. That being said, I will recommend a few books just in case you want to give it a go.
- Systematic Theology, by Wayne Grudem: I haven’t read the whole book, but what I have read of it I like. I have done some study in it and found it very helpful. Grudem has a way of explaining theology so that it is understandable. He writes with a mixture of sophistication and easy to understand wording. This is a great book to have, at least for reference.
- The Sovereign God, by James Montgomery Boice: This book is Volume I of his work on the Foundations of the Christian Faith. He takes a systematic approach to knowing of God, knowing Scripture, knowing God personally, knowing the human estate, and God’s providence in it all. This would be a good book to get a grasp on God’s sovereignty in relation to all the said criteria. (I don’t think this book is in print anymore, get it while you can.)
- The Portable Seminary, with General Editor, David Horton: I have read much of this 700-page, master’s level overview of theology, doctrine, Church history, apologetic, Christian education, and more. It’s a good book even if it is just for reference. You will come out with the “big idea” of the topics you would learn in Seminary. Understand that this is not an equivalent to seminary education, it’s an overview, but a good overview, and you will learn a lot. If you want to know about a particular theme, you can read the section that covers the theme and have good information to not only be able to have conversations, but also have proofs. It’s a good read, with many authors to complete its faculty.
I think that will be all the books I recommend for now. As you grow more in your understanding of the Gospel, you will want to read books about it. Just understand that they do not replace Scripture, instead they sort of follow along behind Scripture to help understand, how to interpret, and how to apply.
Feel free to offer some more books that you think would be worthy, or make comments about the books I have listed. Enjoy your reading time!
—Jonathan, Author of SortingBeans.com
Related articles
- Books I Am Currently Reading (sortingbeans.com)
- 9 Ways to Know the Gospel of Christ Is True (desiringgod.org)
- My Brain Exploded (youseedrybones.com)
