Often people who are finding themselves unsure of what to do during a devotion time ask me for a few book recommendations to help them along. So, I’ve compiled a short list of a few books I believe every Christian should read. These books are all meditations by the authors themselves, which serves the double purpose of providing those of us reading them with a solid example of how to reflect on scripture and God’s presence.
Soren Kierkegaard, Training in Christianity-This book is so good I named my son after its author. Kierkegaard himself regarded it as his “most perfect and truest book.” Kierkegaard opposed the belief that Christianity is simply ascribing to a series of beliefs and demanded that true Christianity result in a life like Christ’s. This message still needs to be communicated to Western Christians.
Thomas A Kempis, The Imitation of Christ– This book has been translated into more languages than any other book (excluding the Bible) and is the most widely read devotional book of all time. It’s short sections make it great for daily reading. Kempis focuses on the developing of an inward life, not merely an external one.
C.S. Lewis, Reflections on the Psalms-Lewis is one of the most important Christian thinkers of the last 100 years and most people know him only for his children’s books. I’ve had more than one mentor tell me this book should be read by Christians each year. Lewis, a brilliant thinker but not a bible scholar, reflects one of the most read, loved, and confusing books of the Bible and writes with honesty about what he sees.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship-Possibly THE most important Christian thinker of the last 100 years. Bonhoeffer’s reflection on The Sermon on the Mount results in a call for costly discipleship that Bonhoeffer not only preached but lived (and died for).
Of course, reading books by other people is not the only thing to do during devotional times. Reading scripture and prayer are also extremely important. Over the next two days, I’ll cover some tips to help in both of those disciplines. In the meantime, which devotional books do you use and recommend? What did I leave out?
