The Cross of Christ by John Stott: This can be pretty heavy reading with lots of theology & history. It is a great book about the work of Christ on the Cross. Reading through this in 1996 with another Christian friend forever changed my understanding of and appreciation for the cross.

Born Again & Life Sentence by Chuck Colson: These 2 books tell his story and are very inspirational & easy to read. If you read them, start with “Born Again.” Also, Colson’s The Body is a challenging book on the church. His book Kingdom’s in Conflict is a great work on faith & politics. How Now Shall we Live is an excellent book on developing a Christian worldview.

Hope Has It’s Reason’s by Becky Pippert: This book includes some great stories with some incredible writing on the cross & resurrection. Pippert also wrote Out of the Salt Shaker & into the World which is a wonderful book for believers who want to grow in their experience of sharing Christ with others.

Disappointment With God by Phil Yancey: This is an awesome book! It deals with understanding & experiencing God in the midst of a suffering world. Yancey describes this as a “book about faith, but it looks at faith through the eyes of those who doubt.” This book includes a fascinating study of Job. What’s So Amazing About Grace & The Bible Jesus Read by Yancey are also excellent!

In the Gap by David Bryant: This is a terrific book on world missions.

Tender Warrior by Stu Webber and Finishing Strong by Steve Farrar: Great “Men’s” books

Knowing God & Knowing Christianity by J.I. Packer: These solid books help us grow in our faith.

Basic Christianity by John Stott, Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis and Jesus: Who is He by Tim LaHaye: These are wonderful books on the core beliefs of the Christian faith. They are great to read if you are not a Christian and want to investigate the message of Jesus Christ.

Forgive & Forget by Lew Smedes: This is the best book on forgiveness I’ve ever read

Letters from a Skeptic by Steven Boyd: This includes an engaging collection of letters written by a Christian son and his non-Christian father. Through correspondence they discuss why the father is not a believer. Boyd is a professor of apologetics at a Christian college. This is a fun way to read heavy stuff!

The Fight by John White: This covers many of the basics of how we can grow in our faith. White’s book Daring to Draw Near is a wonderful study of biblical prayers.

Making All Things New & The Three Movements of the Spiritual Life by Henri Nowen: These brief books are exceptional in their encouragement toward spiritual growth.

He is There and He is Not Silent by Francis Schaeffer: This reviews the compelling evidence that there is a God who has revealed himself to us. This has some helpful writing on the nature of ethics and morality.

A Refutation of Moral Relativism by Peter Kreeft: This is a very creative and philosophical look at the whole question of morality and ethics.

The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Pretty heavy reading on the Christian life and faith. Bonhoeffer lived in Germany during WWII and was ultimately executed by the Nazis.

Love is a Decision by Gary Smalley & Fit to be Tied by Bill Hybels: These are good books on marriage. They are easy to read & useful for studying in groups . (Maybe in a group of 2 with your spouse!)

A Long Obedience in the Same Direction & Run With the Horses by Eugene Peterson: These books will encourage you towards spiritual growth with reflections from the Psalms and Jeremiah.

Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster: This is a solid book on how we can develop habits to help us grow spiritually. His book Money, Sex & Power offers some great writing on these three themes.

Ghost Soldiers: by Hampton Side: This is a powerful book that tells the story of allied POW’s in WWII. Another compelling history book is "To End All Wars" by Ernest Gordon. These books offer great opportunities to wrestle with some of life’s important and even disturbing questions, while being inspired by the courage of people who suffered and served during this war.

My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers: A fantastic classic! My favorite daily devotional.

Renovation of the Heart by Dallas Willard: This is a powerful book that explores the dynamics of humanity, faith and personal transformation. Another great book by Willard is The Divine Conspiracy.

The Testament by John Grisham: I’ve enjoyed all of Grisham’s novels. This one has a uniquely powerful story of one man’s life as he navigates personal change and exploring spirituality.

The Life You Always Wanted and If You Want to Walk on the Water You Have to Get Out of the Boat by John Ortberg. These books offer excellent encouragement for anyone who wants to grow as a devoted disciple of Jesus Christ.

Simply Christian by N. T. Wright: If you want a close look at what lies at the heart of life, history & spirituality this is a wonderful resource. This book takes a broad look at our world and the unique message of the Bible and Jesus. It also helps the reader grasp the big issues while providing inspiration for how this applies in our life and how we can make our faith practical and real.