Here are five books we think are worth your time.
Why We Pray
By William Philip (Crossway)
Prayer is foundational to the Christian life, but many people don’t really understand it. What is it for? How does it work? Why do we do it? Why We Pray is a short, accessible book explaining what prayer is, why it exists, and how it can encourage us in our life of faith.
Written by a pastor with years of teaching and counseling experience, the book doesn’t simply tell readers why they should pray, but instead focuses on four blessing-filled reasons that will help Christians want to pray.
Rather than feeling discouraged and disheartened by their inconsistency in prayer, readers will feel reinvigorated to approach God with confidence and joy, delighted by the privilege of talking directly to their loving heavenly Father.
Counter Culture – Bible Study
By David Platt (LifeWay)
The gospel compels followers of Christ to counter culture on a wide variety of social issues in the world around them. The truths of the gospel inform and compel a contrite, compassionate, and courageous personal response to social issues in the culture such as poverty, slavery, abortion, sexual immorality, the degradation of marriage, the neglect of orphans and widows, racism, and persecution.
Counter Culture incorporates biblical foundations, practical illustrations, and personal exhortations in a pointed yet winsome call for readers to faithfully follow Christ in counter cultural ways—ways that will prove both costly and rewarding for the contemporary church.
What the Body Knows About God: How We Are Designed to Connect, Serve and Thrive
By Rob Moll (IVP)
Journalist Rob Moll chronicles the fascinating ways in which our brains and bodies interact with God and spiritual realities. He reports on neuroscience findings that show how our brains actually change and adapt when engaged in spiritual practices.
We live longer, healthier, happier, and more fulfilling lives when we cultivate the biological spiritual capacity that puts us in touch with God. God has created our bodies to fulfill the Great Commandment; we are hardwired to commune with God and to have compassion and community with other people.
What the Body Knows About God reminds us that just as our physical bodies require exercise to stay healthy, so too can spiritual exercises and practices revitalize our awareness of God.
Real Christian: Bearing the Marks of Authentic Faith
By Todd Wilson (Zondervan)
Todd Wilson’s Real Christian biblically defines what it means to be a true Christian, calling readers to look at their own lives and diagnose where they aren’t living authentically for God.
Wilson looks at how we deceive ourselves into thinking we are really living for God through believing the right things or doing lots of spiritual activities.
In contrast, real Christians are marked by five key qualities: broken-hearted joy, a humble disposition, a readiness to acknowledge sin, an ability to live balanced and avoid legalism, and a deep spiritual hunger that drives growth. All of these qualities culminate in the single defining mark of a real Christian—love.
Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God
By Tim Keller (Dutton)
Christians are often taught that prayer is the most powerful way to experience God. But few receive instruction or guidance in how to make prayer genuinely meaningful. In Prayer, pastor Keller delves into the many facets of a life of prayer.
He describes prayer as both a conversation and an encounter with God and discusses ways to make prayers more personal and powerful. In addition to offering biblical guidance for prayer, the book includes specific prayers for certain situations, such as dealing with grief, loss, love, and forgiveness.
The aim is to help each reader establish an effective practice of prayer.
