5 Books You Should Read this Summer
When I was younger, reading was a daunting task. I was much more into watching TV or movies, and playing video games. During the summer months, when I was out of school, I had to spend at least 30 minutes in my room reading a book. What felt like an eternity then, now feels too short of time for me now. But it wasn’t until my mid-20’s that I discovered the importance of reading.
I found reading books about Christian theology and doctrine to be some of the most life giving and formative moments of my life. Reading became a joy to me, and has been very beneficial in my relationship with Christ and I encourage you to start reading more.
I know it can tough sometimes to read books that aren’t full of fantasy and adventure, or have a compelling love story. But, while we all find reading fiction for pleasure enjoyable, what if you supplemented the sugar of fiction stories with the nutritious reading of truth? Reading books that are focused on helping you understand who Jesus is, and what he has called you to, will drastically change your bible reading and walk with Jesus.
Maybe you are in a place that really wants to start reading for the sake of knowledge, but you don’t know where to start. Because of my own book obsession, I have laid out five books you should consider reading this summer. Though they should not replace the daily discipline of reading God’s Word, these books will be helpful tools in your life as you follow Jesus. Some of these books are quick easy reads and some require lots of time and understanding.
01 The Holiness of God by R.C. Sproul
R.C. Sproul has written a lot of great books over his countless years in ministry, but none of his books has hit me as hard as The Holiness of God. They way Dr. Sproul describes God’s holiness and why we need to be in awe of the majesty he displays makes this a must read.
02 The Imperfect Disciple by Jared C. Wilson
I read this book last summer, and I still can’t stop thinking about it. If you’ve ever struggled with feeling unqualified for discipleship, this book will seriously speak to you. Wilson is a great communicator who is focused on bringing the Gospel to the center of discipleship.
03 The Prodigal God by Timothy Keller
I’ve had this on to-read-list for several years and I actually just finished it earlier this year. Timothy Keller takes the well known story of the Prodigal Son from Luke 15, and explores the story even deeper. Keller does a fantastic job of looking at the story of the father, and his two sons, and then asking us to examine our own hearts to discover the prodigal grace that Jesus offers to both the irreligious and the moralistic.
04 The Sovereignty of God by A.W. Pink
I recommend this book to basically anyone who has ever struggled with the theological idea of sovereignty. How can a loving God let bad things happen? Is God responsible for everything? Pink handles looking at this attribute of God in a gracious and biblical way.
05 The Christian Faith by Michael Horton
I was a bit hesitant to include a Systematic Theology in this list, but Horton’s book is a very readable. This book might take a while to get through, but that’s the point. Examining the deep systems of the Christian faith takes time, but through it, you’ll be rewarded with a deeper understanding of why Christians believe what they believe.