As I continue to have conversations with different people (both online and over coffee) about the early church, God's heart for the poor, and what it means to follow Jesus daily, these 10 books are often quoted or referenced or recommended...and sometimes loaned out.
Here are 10 Essential Books I Recommend:
1. Faith and Wealth by Justo Gonzalez
2. The Early Christians by Eberhard Arnold (Available as a free PDF at Plough.com)
3. Jesus For President by Shane Claiborne and Chris Haw
4. Pagan Christianity by Frank Viola and George Barna
5. What’s With Paul and Women? by Jon Zens
6. Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger by Ron Sider
7. The Temple and the Church’s Mission by G.K. Beale
8. Money, Possessions and Eternity by Randy Alcorn
9 What’s So Amazing About Grace by Philip Yancy
10. Embezzlement: The Corporate Sin of American Christianity by Ray Mayhew (not really a book but a 40 page PDF which I will gladly send to you for free if you e-mail me at elysiansky@hotmail.com with the subject “MAYHEW”)
BONUS:
*The Gospel: For Here or To Go? By Keith Giles
Yes, I'm promoting my own book on missional living. But, I'm giving it away!
This features a forward by author Neil Cole (Organic Church) and is available as a free, downloadable PDF here on my blog at www.KeithGiles.com.
I hope these books bless you and challenge you as much as they continue to challenge me.
-kg
3 comments:
thanks for the list! I've read two already - and will be checking out the others.
I have just read number 10 "Embezzlement: the Corporate Sin of American Christianity" - and I want to totally add my own support to your recommendation.
For those of us in the church who are already burdened to live simply and share with the poor, this paper is encouraging and gives us direction and imagination, and assurance that we have been hearing God’s voice.
For those who say, “It can’t be done in this day and age. Things are different now,” this paper proves not only that it can be done (even if incrementally) – and not only that, it MUST be done (from a biblical perspective and from God's heart, and from the reality of of modern world as well).
I read two of them! Will have to check the other ones out.
Phillip Yancey is the author who helped break down my fundamentalist bubble. His thoughtful writing style combined with biblical soundness was just too much to ignore.
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