Since I never quite finished up a series of posts that I had been doing on reading some time ago, I figured today's post could loop back around to add some more thoughts to the subject. And this time, you don't have to take my word for it alone. Just watch this video.
At one point, Dr. Mohler says we won't start growing until we start reading. I don't think he meant that there were no ways to grow spiritually without reading. (i.e. I doubt if Dr. Mohler is going to tell a blind person who can't read Braille that they are just sore out of luck and can't hope to grow spiritually since they can't read.)
What do you think? Did you agree/disagree with anything?
Have you ever heard of the Puritans? Most of us hear them slandered at some point early in our gradeschool studies of American History. If you are a Christian, you need to know that the Puritans in actuality have a lot to teach us...even if we've sometimes gasped at the strictness of their piety.
A couple of great resources you might want to check out are:
The Valley of Vision - This resource is basically a collection of Puritan prayers and devotions. Arthur Bennet put them together after combing through the writings and journals of people like John Bunyan, Thomas Watson, Richard Baxter, Isaac Watts, Charles Spurgeon, and others.
I'll give you an example of a Puritan prayer from Valley of Vision entitled "Spiritual Growth"
O THOU MOST HIGH,
In the way of thy appointment I am waiting for thee, My desire is to thy name, My mind to remembrance of thee.
I am a sinner, but not insensible of my state. My iniquities are great and numberless, but thou art adequate to my relief, for thou art rich in mercy; the blood of thy Son can cleanse from all sin; the agency of thy Spirit can subdue my most powerful lusts.
Give me a tender, wakeful conscience that can smite and torment me when I sin. May I be consistent in conversation and conduct, the same alone as in company, in prosperity and adversity, accepting all thy commandments as right, and hating every false way.
May I never be satisfied with my present spiritual progress, but to faith add virtue, knowledge, temperance, godliness, brotherly kindness, charity.
May I never neglect what is necessary to constitute Christian character, and needful to complete it.
May I cultivate the expedient, develop the lovely, adorn the gospel, recommend the religion of Jesus, accomodate myself to thy providence.
Keep me from sinking or sinning in the evil day; Help me to carry into ordinary life portions of divine truth and use them on suitable occasions, so that its doctrines may inform, its warnings caution, its rules guide, its promises comfort me.
The language and word choices may not be all that current for our context today; but surely the heart of the prayer is as relevant and appropriate for our context today as ever.
People trying to grow in their Christian faith are sometimes astonished to find out about books they never knew existed. Commentaries. Some are even surprised to find out about study Bibles.
So here's a little bit of info on both.
For new believers or even non-believers, a great study Bible is the Quest Study Bible. I believe it uses the NIV 1984 translation and is a great recommendation even if it is expensive. [Speaking of translations, that is another blog entry altogether...much too lengthy for this post.]
Back to the subject, a great study Bible is often the first discovery to delight that of the Christian trying to grow and understand the Bible.
Some of the best study Bibles include the ESV Study Bible, the HCSB Study Bible, the Reformation Study Bible, the John MacArthur Study Bible, the NIV Starting Point Study Bible, the Quest Study Bible, and especially unique is the Life Application Study Bible.
But it may surprise some people to learn that there are some even more technical books available that pastors will consult. Granted, these resources are just one of the many tools in the toolbelt of a skilled Bible teacher, but virtually any pastor worth listening to will have consulted a commentary or three before or after studying a particular passage of scripture.
Now before you rush out to google "commentaries" (that might not be the most helpful thing to do) you ought to know a few things.
First, be aware that there are different types of commentaries. The basic types are: devotional commentaries, homiletical commentaries, and critical commentaries. I favor the critical ones, but sometimes more practical pastors of the less geeky bent will favor a homiletical commentary of some type. (Homiletics is the fancy word for preaching and preparing sermons.) Even more practical and therefore perhaps more "average-Joe-friendly" are the devotional commentaries which in some ways are only one step away from a study Bible. P.S. - "Critical" commentaries aren't necessarily commentaries that are "critical" of the Bible. It simply means that they are more technical and apply rigorous study, reason, and explanation in their treatment of a text. They can sometimes be heavily footnoted and can leave Greek & Hebrew words completely un-transliterated for the English reader. Looking for an example of each?
One of my favorite series of critical commentaries is the NICNT series
I've given you the basic types, but know that there are also other kinds of commentaries
such as the Bible Backgrounds commentaries done by IVP and Zondervan. (Both of
which relied on one of my favorite professors during my time at Wheaton...John Walton.)
I expect that many different types of commentaries will continue to come into existence.
2. Next, it's vital to know that not all commentaries are created equal. In fact, I'd go so far
as to ask your pastor or education pastor at your local church what kind of commentaries
are worth consulting and which ones aren't. Sometimes people write commentaries
who are actually coming to the text with a foundational worldview that is entirely different
than what one might consider Christian. You could very easily find commentaries on the
Bible written by those that seek to undermine the Bible's authority or credibility in their
research. There are great resources and reviews to consult as well such as those by DA
Carson (NT) and Tremper Longman III (OT). This relatively new website seems fairly
interesting too.
3. Third, it is generally best to consult commentaries only AFTER studying the passage a great deal for yourself. I can't stress this enough. Use the commentaries to check your
work, not to do all your work.
4. Fourth, resist the urge to buy a set...especially if you are not training for the ministry.
If you teach a Sunday school class, chances are there's probably no need to invest
that much money into a complete critical commentary series. Besides, it is much wiser
to buy individual commentaries on each book than purchasing an entire set. If you are a
layman, a quality one-volume Bible commentary should suffice, but if you simply must
have a complete set, perhaps the Tyndale Series is best.
5. Finally, remember that you might be able to acquire 2 or 3 commentary sets just by
purchasing Bible software. They may not be that great, but they might be all you need.
I could certainly write a lot more on this subject. And I may. For now, this ought to be enough to chew on and read without getting bored. :)
For those of you who have been enjoying my material lately about the connection between reading and discipleship – that is, between learning and growing as a Christian—I will take the liberty of telling you about some other resources out there.
For starters, you might be interested in this very insightful blog that I have just discovered and enjoy. (You might find that the material there at Tolle Lege resonates with the material here on Faith Firmly Rooted.)
For the ambitious who might be wanting some sort of personal learning experience or perhaps desiring to get to know other Christians who highly value learning, I highly recommend the Paideia / University Honors Program Conference at Dallas Baptist University that is happening on April 1-2, 2011. The theme this year for the conference is: "Tolle, Lege, Tolle, Lege – Pick it up and read: On Books and Reading.” (Click here for details.)* The keynote speaker this year is Byron Borger, who operates Hearts and Minds Books. Who knows…the conference could open you up to a whole new world you did not know existed!
I guess I can summarize this entire blog entry really briefly…If you are digging my recent posts, you might also like:
*This conference is put together by a couple of my favorite former professors, who also happen to be wholehearted advocates of the benefits of reading widely and deeply both inside and outside of scripture on account of how it can spiritually shape us. As for the conference itself, if you don’t know what to expect from the conference, imagine the following: A bunch of people who take Christian faith and learning seriously coming together for a time of worship, a keynote speaker talking twice on the conference theme of “Reading Books” especially as it pertains to Christian life, then getting to attend breakout sessions where papers will be presented on a wide array of themes (including the conference theme) by the various Christian intellectuals who are in attendance. Personally, it is killing me that I can’t be at the conference this year, but I highly encourage you to go if you are interested… just maybe give Dr. Naugle a heads up that you plan to attend.
Alright, so if I haven't thrown enough resources at people at my workplace and through this blog, I must beg your forgiveness and continue the trend.
At the church I work for, I have recently recruited a professor from a nearby university to come teach a class for our lay equipping ministry. The class is essentially about what it means to take seriously the command we've been given in Scripture to love the Lord our God with all our mind.
Hey there, everyone. There is a lovely new item that costs about $1.99 that my wife and I are enjoying. It is excerpts from Tyndale House's new Mosaic NLT Bible and it is called Devotions for Advent.
It has color artwork, scripture readings, meditations, writings from people throughout the history of the church, blank space to journal or respond, etc. You'd enjoy it to be sure, but this is the week to start it.
Evidently, my last post was a very relevant issue for some people. It has elicited the need for another post on denominations.
For now, an introductory read can be found by my friend Matt Slick of www.carm.org. Just click here to read it.
I also mentioned the Rose Publishing pamphlets. Click here to see a great one on denominations, here to see one on Christianity, cults, and world religions, and here to see one on Christianity, cults, and the occult. They also have one on Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses if you were intrigued by some of those comments. Another great denomination comparison is available here through Ron Rhodes, a man who has published a ton of resources on world religions, cults, and Christianity, etc.
These pamphlets are good starting points. Starting points simply give user-friendly information without a ton of academic discussion. For a somewhat deeper and more researched resource, people could purchase one of H. Wayne House's charts that can be found by clicking here.
Hope this is helpful for now.
Choosing a church is an important decision for any believer. Most new believers choose to attend the church where they became a Christian, the church that they know best or the church of one of their closest Christian friends (perhaps the church of a person who was instrumental in their decision to embrace Christ).
These resources can help make sense out of the host of churches out there....what they have in common and what is markedly different (in theology and practice) about each one. I will likely publish one or two more little tidbits on this subject of denominations.
Okay, so one of the best things we do in the Bible Study that I help lead is a Question & Answer session. Members are encouraged to bring a friend, bring some food, and bring a question that can be about the Bible, about Christianity, the Christian life, a certain Bible passage, theology, the church, etc.
A couple of the times we did the Q & A session, I mentioned a few resources that someone might be able to consult if they wanted to "cut the middle man out" so to speak. In other words, if someone wanted to play the Question and Answer game on their own, they could consult these resources (among others). Here those are resources as well.
R.C. Sproul - Now That's A Good Question
Ravi Zacharias - Who Made God? and Questions to Over 100 Other Tough Questions of Faith
Paul Little - Know Why You Believe
CARM - This is a wonderful resource that I stumbled onto as a senior in high school. Christian Apologetics Resource Ministry is a tremendous wealth of information on virtually any topic that you could ever confront. World religions, difficult passages, theological questions, etc. I am not saying that I agree with everything you will find there, but you will find that it is extremely helpful. It attempts to be objective and answer questions in ways that are Biblically faithful and theologically sound. Check it out for yourself!
The Theology Program - If you have questions that are of a more theological nature, a great resource is the Theology Program's resources.
Remember, these are just a few user-friendly resources for starters. There are certainly other great ones as well.
Five Things Every Christian Needs to Grow - This brief and user-friendly resource is an excellent guide for new Christians desiring to begin growing in their walk with Christ or for stagnant Christians that might suddenly realize they're not growing in their walk with Christ. I have already mentioned in a previous post of my admiration of R.C. Sproul. In this short book, Sproul identifies five crucial “nutrients” that promote spiritual growth: Bible study, prayer, worship, service, and stewardship.
Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth - I don't know how to summarize this book adequately in a few sentences. It has won countless awards, it is used all over the world in theological schools and seminaries, and it is perhaps the best book on the spiritual disciplines out there. I can put it to you this way: Nearly everyone who attended seminary in the last 25 years has probably read or at least purchased this book. Richard Foster, the books author, comes from a Quaker background, but you certainly don't have to agree with every little statement or opinion of his to get enormous insight from this book.
The Imitation of Christ - Written over five centuries ago by Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ has been translated into more languages than any other book except the Bible (according to the back cover of my copy). It has been acclaimed by countless readers as one of the greatest spiritual masterpieces ever written. John Wesley considered The Imitation of Christ to be of such value to spiritual growth, and the best summary of the Christian life, that he personally translated it for the use of his followers. This book was instrumental in the early Methodists' revival of England. There's a reason this book has stood the test of time...it's certainly a Christian classic.
A Year With C.S. Lewis - Beloved author C. S. Lewis is our trusted guide in this intimate day-by-day one year companion offering his distinctive and celebrated wisdom. Amidst the bustle of our daily experience, Lewis writes about themes such as the nature of love, the existence of miracles, overcoming a devastating loss, and discovering a profound faith. These daily meditations have been selected an put together from Lewis's celebrated classics: Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters, The Great Divorce, The Problem of Pain, Miracles, and A Grief Observed, as well as from the distinguished works The Weight of Glory and The Abolition of Man. Throughout the book, the reader will also find biographical commentary about C. S. Lewis's life. A perfect resource for everyone who cherishes Lewis's timeless words.
A Year With Dietrich Bonhoeffer - Dietrich Bonhoeffer was only thirty-nine when he was executed by the Nazis in 1945, yet his influence on Christian life has been enormous. His passionate, theology-based opposition to Hitler's Nazi regime made him a leader, along with Karl Barth, in Germany's Confessing Church. Bonhoeffer is embraced by both liberal and conservative Christians, and the integrity of his faith and life have led believers everywhere to recognize him as one of the greatest theologians and philosophers of the twentieth century. This book showcases his letters, sermons, and writings--which are a treasure of spiritual wisdom, social conscience, pastoral care, and theological insight--in a one year daily devotional format. This resource is sure to encourage and deepen your reflections and meditations. There's even a foreword by Jim Wallis, author of God's Politics. Bonhoeffer's faith led him to lay his very life down and his influence will forever continue. (As an aside: Other titles by Bonhoeffer that would be good to read and grow in Christ include The Cost of Discipleship and Life Together).
Christian Beliefs : Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know - Theology is important because what we believe affects how we live. Wayne Grudem's beefy textbook Systematic Theology has established itself as a foundational reference in the evangelical church today, prized by pastors and teachers everywhere. But this is not that book. Instead, this is a very readable condensation of Grudem's award-winning book on systematic theology. It is a reader-friendly guide to Christian doctrines--for new believers and all Christians. If you're a relatively new believer in Jesus, or if you're a more mature Christian looking for a quick brush up on basics of the faith, Christian Beliefs is a great resource.
Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life - The message of this book is that: Far from being legalistic, restrictive, or binding, as they are often perceived, the spiritual disciplines are actually the means to unparalleled spiritual liberty. So if you'd like to embark on a lifelong quest for godliness, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life will help you on your way. Based on the rich heritage left us by the early church fathers, the Puritan writers, and Jesus Christ Himself, Whitney takes you through a carefully selected array of disciplines that includes Scripture reading, prayer, worship, Scripture meditation, evangelism, serving, stewardship, Scripture application, fasting, silence and solitude, journaling, and learning. By illustrating why the disciplines are important, showing how each one will help you grow in godliness, and offering practical suggestions for cultivating them on a long-term basis, this resource will provide you with a refreshing opportunity to embrace life's greatest pursuit--the pursuit of holiness--through a lifelong delight in the disciplines. Whitney currently teaches at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville. This is also the book that probably most closely approximates Celebration of Discipline.
Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health - The title of this books pretty well describes it. Whitney poses intensely introspective questions to aid Christians as they gauge their own level of spiritual health. Do they have a driving thirst for God, as well as behavior dictated by God's holy standards? How loving to others and sensitive to the Holy Spirit are they? Do they experience genuine grief over personal sin and a willingness to forgive repeat offenders? Whitney also discusses the spiritual disciplines of prayer, fasting, meditating upon Scripture, and so forth, showing readers how to transform these often routine rituals into faith-building activities. He advises Christians to spend more energy enjoying God and developing a Christlike nature and makes readers aware that following Christ is a lifetime commitment. This book is great for unearthing deeply entrenched habits and digging for the treasure found only in a carefully-kept relationship with God.
Alright, so that concludes this series of posts about spiritual growth resources, but I am sure you are well aware that not just more resources out there, but that this won't be the last time I provide lists of resources. :)
-RCW
By the way, I apologize if some of these descriptions read a bit like a sales pitch. That is because I used portions of the books' own descriptions to formulate my own, tweaking things here or there. It's not plagiarism because 1) I am telling you what I did; 2)Who is going to argue that the books are REALLY about what I have said. If anything I have tried to be more faithful to the books themselves by using their own descriptions; and 3) What writer or publisher would have a problem with me showcasing their books and suggesting them as resources?
Knowing God Through the Year with J.I. Packer - Every Christian should read J.I. Packer's Knowing God. It is a classic that will surely endure the test of time...not to mention it's written by one of the most outstanding churchmen and theologians alive today...Did I mention he attended C.S. Lewis's lectures while a student at Oxford and later as a result gave his life to Christian ministry? Anyway, enough about the author (can you tell he's a hero of mine?). About the book: this is a one-year guide through one of the most treasured books of Christian spirituality: J. I. Packer's Knowing God. Each day you'll read a Scripture and a brief passage about the glory of God and the joy of being in relationship with Him. An idea at the end of each day's reading will help you to respond to God in prayer and reflection.
Discipleship Essentials - This resource can be used in a variety of ways. Even though this material is designed for groups of three, it can also be used successfully as an individual study, a one-on-one discipling tool or even a small group curriculum. Each week contains the following elements: -a core truth presented in a question-answer format -a memory verse and accompanying study -an inductive Bible study -a reading on the theme for the week -questions to draw out key principles in the reading
Morning and Evening - Charles Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening has earned its status as a devotional classic. Generations after Spurgeon's death, Christians are still finding his timeless and original engagement with God's Word to be a refreshing way to begin and end their day. In this yearly devotional, there is literally a very short devotional for the morning and a very short devotional for the evening for every single day. Spurgeon was one of the most noteworthy Baptists in history. If that weren't enough, this particular edition has the touch of one of my favorite pastors alive today as well...Noted pastor and author Alistair Begg has updated Spurgeon's language while preserving the dignity and clarity of Spurgeon's original words and written a nice introduction as well.
Learning from Jesus(a Renovare' Spiritual Formation Guide) - These guides are workbooks that personally take you on a journey to be more like Christ. The aim of this one is to make you more like Christ by doing a focused study on Jesus Himself. It covers everything from Jesus's interactions with those around him to His revolutionary wisdom recorded in the Gospels. Other titles in the series include "Connecting with God", "Living the Mission", and "Prayer and Worship". The Renovare' website is a great place to find other resources as well. These guides can be used by individuals as well as small groups.
Everyday Blessings with Max Lucado - If you love Max Lucado's books, you will be delighted to find this resource. This is a small devotional with very short entries for every day of the year that come straight from the pen of the beloved Christian inspirational author. 365 reflections on individual scriptures in a conversational style that people everywhere have come to love.
The Keys to Spiritual Growth - I own this but haven't really read it entirely, so here's a "canned" description: God intends for every Christian to grow to spiritual maturity. His Word commands us to progress daily toward a fuller personal knowledge of God and Christ. In this book Pastor John MacArthur thoroughly explores a multitude of biblical passages to reveal the riches of God in Jesus Christ--riches that will help us continue growing in both faith and spirit. This noted pastor and author takes readers back to the basics of what the true Christian life is all about, so that they can unlock the treasures God has for them in Christ. Sorry to use the lame "infomercial" language to describe it. John MacArthur is certainly a beloved, well-known, competent author when it comes to spiritual growth, understanding the Bible and theology, etc.
Running the Race: A Graduate’s Guide to Life - If there's one resource I like to put into the hands of recent high school or college graduates, it is this one. Graduates have many important decisions to make-about careers, education, dating, and marriage-all of which will be influenced by their faith. Sproul invites graduates to think about what they believe and how their worldview and the worldview of others will touch each aspect of their future. Along the way, he offers helpful tips on how graduates can discover God's will and bring their life into harmony with it. Drawing from some of his classic books, Sproul even gives a brief overview of philosophies that graduates may encounter as they meet people who approach the world differently. Sproul also answers common questions graduates ask about their faith, including: "Why should I trust the Bible?" "Isn't it narrow-minded to say Christ is the only way?" and "Why does God let horrible things happen?" Sproul is founder and chairman of Ligonier Ministries, is a professor of systematic theology and apologetics at Knox Theological Seminary, speaks on the daily radio program "Renewing Your Mind", and has written or edited more than fifty books. (Did I mention he's one of my personal heroes?)
RZIM Critical Questions Series(Titles Include: Can I Trust the Bible?, What is Truth?, Who Was Jesus?, Is God Real?) - Some of the world's leading Christian intellectuals have put together a set of Bible study guides that address the deeper questions that skeptics and thinkers often have that keep them from Christianity. Honest answers to tough questions. If Ravi Zacharias has his initials on it, you know it is going to be intellectually up-to-snuff.
From Creation to the Cross - Since this book is basically an introduction to the Old Testament with questions for personal reflection following each chapter, it may be best-suited for those who are ready to ride without the training wheels. Most Christians don't quite know what to do with the first half of the Bible. From Creation to the Cross is a guide through the Old Testament that points out along the way perspectives and insights that leave us with a new, personal understanding of these thirty-nine books that ultimately point us to Jesus.
Your Life in Christ(Book 1 in Navpress' “Design For Discipleship” Series) - If you are looking for something basic and user-friendly, yet but Biblical, deep, and profound, this is the study to start with. This is one of the books I put in the hands of new believers who are looking to start growing in their faith. It is published by one of my favorite publishers, NAVPRESS - a large Christian publishing company that publishes nothing but books and resources meant for Christian discipleship. (What an amazing ministry, eh?) This is the just the first book of the series.
New Life in Christ - This is the other resource that I like to sometimes put into new believers' hands. It is again very basic and user-friendly, but in the end deeply Biblical. The back cover reads: "It starts with a tiny seed of faith that takes root in your heart. Then, like a tree, it grows into something strong, beautiful, and living whose influence dominates the landscape of your life. This is the nature of life in Christ—something so profound that the Bible says you are literally a new creation. Your new life in Christ is much more than what you experienced at conversion. God wants to open your eyes to all the marvelous things he has given you as his child. This study guide will help you grasp the hope, the riches, and the great power God has given you through his Son, Jesus."
My Utmost For His Highest - A world of things could be boasted about this book. It is probably the best-selling devotional of all time, and probably one of the best-selling Christian books of all time (second maybe to John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress). Whatever the statistics, it is a classic for a reason. With humor and humility, Chambers speaks plainly to the common man struggling with devotion to Christ in daily living. Worldly cares and self-serving desires begin to lose their appeal as Chambers aides the reader in transforming his mind by viewing life through the instruction of God's Word. Each daily reading is a short encouragement or reflection based upon a certain given text of scripture.
Yahweh: Divine Encounters in the O.T. - This is a workbook that takes you through the Old Testament in 48 weeks. Each lesson has scripture and interactive questions that will help you apply God's word into your own life. This is a great place to start if the Old Testament intimidates you or if you really struggle with drawing out meaningful quiet time reflections from the Old Testament. (Plus, one of my supervisors Ty Gulick was the executive editor for the book). :)
How to Read the Bible Book by Book - Have you ever been totally clueless about what the scriptures are talking about as you read in your quiet time? This is a wonderful guide that anyone might consult to help them work through any book of the Bible or the entire thing. Every book of the Bible gets about a 3 page treatment...Tips for Reading, What to Watch For, An Outline of the Book, Key Themes, etc. This is one of the best references you can use to REALLY understand what the book meant before you begin to decide and apply what it means for your life.
Recently I was teaching our college and young adults at church and we were studying the topic of spiritual growth...especially regarding quiet times and spiritual growth resources. I did something unique in that I had them each draw a number and the number they drew was keyed to a spiritual growth resource I had brought along to the class. They each grabbed their resource and I gave them approximately 5 minutes to look it over long enough to tell the entire class about the resource, its value, etc. Some people have asked me to go ahead and list those resources I brought with me that day. Here they are in a four-part installment.
Also, these make great Christmas gifts since many of them are "Through the Year Devotionals" and Christians young and old might be making New Year's Resolutions.
Remember these are just a few resources (the possibilities are endless, so this list is by no means exhaustive) that someone could use during his or her devotional time. Also, let me say that while these resources may be helpful in cultivating a devotional life, there's still no substitute however for simply going straight to your Bible during your devotional time.
So here you go....the first of four posts of spiritual growth resources.
The One Year Book of Christian History - This resource has a one page devotional for every day of the year. On each day of the year, you'll read a stirring story about a character or event in church history. It is particularly interesting because in each devotional, the dates of the devotionals correspond to the dates in the story. In other words, each day you'll read about something in church history that occurred ON THAT VERY DATE.
A Faith and Culture Devotional - This resource is amazing because it is a sort of "Christian Worldview" devotional. The devotionals come from Christian academics from a wide array of fields...art, history, science, bible and theology, philosophy, economics, etc. This makes a great devotional for the Christian who enjoys using their mind and who realizes the very important reality: that all of our life belongs to God and relates to Him rather than just the church time, devotional time, prayer time, etc. Truth and Beauty...wherever they can be found (in science, in sociology, in literature, etc.) belong to God and have their source, origin, root, their context, and their truest meaning when they are seen in reference to Him.
Through the Bible Through the Year - This daily devotional offers reflections on passages from Genesis though Revelation. The author (John Stott) is one of the most internationally acclaimed Christian pastors and scholars. The great thing about this devotional is that it takes you through the entire Bible and help you connect both the details of the events with the broader story as a whole. You get the Bible's "big picture" and larger theological concepts and themes WHILE you go through each individual book. A gem if I might say so myself.
Letters Along the Way - Some say this book is "like Screwtape Letters in reverse". Imagine that you had a sort of older and wiser Christian who had a wealth of theological expertise, a wealth of pastoring insight, etc. to walk you through your experiences in the Christian life. All you had to do was write. That's the sort of relationship that sparked this book. The book consists of letters that were sent from a "senior saint" to a 'junior saint"...about all sorts of topics that the Christian might face...conversion, trusting Christ, temptations, the Christian and psychology, sharing one's faith with others, discerning God's will, etc. This is an especially nice read for someone either in ministry or studying for it.
Devotional Classics - Revised edition of this collection of readings from devotional writers throughout the church ages. This volume includes excerpts from writers such as Augustine, Francis of Assisi, Julian of Norwich, Thomas a Kempis, Martin Luther, John Calvin, Evelyn Underhill, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer. For each reading there are reflections, questions for discussion, and bibliographies for further reading.
Spiritual Classics - This resource (like the last one) puts together writings from some of the brightest men and women of the Christian tradition. St. Augustine, Thomas Merton, Fredrick Buechner, A.W. Tozer, G.K. Chesterton, Thomas More, Martin Luther King, Jr., Amy Carmichael, Simone Weil, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, Hildegard of Bingen, John Milton, Dorothy Day, Leo Tolstoy, Gerard Manley Hopkins, and more...From nearly two thousand years of Christian writing comes fifty-two selections complete with a profile of each author, guided meditations for group and individual use, and reflections containing questions and exercises. Editors Richard Foster and Emilie Griffith offer their expertise by selecting inspirational writings and including their own commentary and recommendations for further guided reading and exploration.
A Plea Against Plagiarism: Please do not reproduce any part of this blog for publishing purposes. While the author does not vainly assume anyone would desire to do so, he would nevertheless like to remind any readers that the thoughts, comments, and musings of this blog are not to be reproduced for sale.
The title of this books pretty well describes it. Whitney poses intensely introspective questions to aid Christians as they gauge their own level of spiritual health. Do they have a driving thirst for God, as well as behavior dictated by God's holy standards? How loving to others and sensitive to the Holy Spirit are they? Do they experience genuine grief over personal sin and a willingness to forgive repeat offenders? Whitney also discusses the spiritual disciplines of prayer, fasting, meditating upon Scripture, and so forth, showing readers how to transform these often routine rituals into faith-building activities. He advises Christians to spend more energy enjoying God and developing a Christlike nature and makes readers aware that following Christ is a lifetime commitment. This book is great for unearthing deeply entrenched habits and digging for the treasure found only in a carefully-kept relationship with God. 
Some of the world's leading Christian intellectuals have put together a set of Bible study guides that address the deeper questions that skeptics and thinkers often have that keep them from Christianity. Honest answers to tough questions. If Ravi Zacharias has his initials on it, you know it is going to be intellectually up-to-snuff. 
Since this book is basically an introduction to the Old Testament with questions for personal reflection following each chapter, it may be best-suited for those who are ready to ride without the training wheels. Most Christians don't quite know what to do with the first half of the Bible. From Creation to the Cross is a guide through the Old Testament that points out along the way perspectives and insights that leave us with a new, personal understanding of these thirty-nine books that ultimately point us to Jesus. 
If you are looking for something basic and user-friendly, yet but Biblical, deep, and profound, this is the study to start with. This is one of the books I put in the hands of new believers who are looking to start growing in their faith. It is published by one of my favorite publishers, NAVPRESS - a large Christian publishing company that publishes nothing but books and resources meant for Christian discipleship. (What an amazing ministry, eh?) This is the just the first book of the series.
This is the other resource that I like to sometimes put into new believers' hands. It is again very basic and user-friendly, but in the end deeply Biblical. The back cover reads: "It starts with a tiny seed of faith that takes root in your heart. Then, like a tree, it grows into something strong, beautiful, and living whose influence dominates the landscape of your life. This is the nature of life in Christ—something so profound that the Bible says you are literally a new creation. Your new life in Christ is much more than what you experienced at conversion. God wants to open your eyes to all the marvelous things he has given you as his child. This study guide will help you grasp the hope, the riches, and the great power God has given you through his Son, Jesus." 
A world of things could be boasted about this book. It is probably the best-selling devotional of all time, and probably one of the best-selling Christian books of all time (second maybe to John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress). Whatever the statistics, it is a classic for a reason. With humor and humility, Chambers speaks plainly to the common man struggling with devotion to Christ in daily living. Worldly cares and self-serving desires begin to lose their appeal as Chambers aides the reader in transforming his mind by viewing life through the instruction of God's Word. Each daily reading is a short encouragement or reflection based upon a certain given text of scripture. 
This is a workbook that takes you through the Old Testament in 48 weeks. Each lesson has scripture and interactive questions that will help you apply God's word into your own life. This is a great place to start if the Old Testament intimidates you or if you really struggle with drawing out meaningful quiet time reflections from the Old Testament. (Plus, one of my supervisors Ty Gulick was the executive editor for the book). :) 
Have you ever been totally clueless about what the scriptures are talking about as you read in your quiet time? This is a wonderful guide that anyone might consult to help them work through any book of the Bible or the entire thing. Every book of the Bible gets about a 3 page treatment...Tips for Reading, What to Watch For, An Outline of the Book, Key Themes, etc. This is one of the best references you can use to REALLY understand what the book meant before you begin to decide and apply what it means for your life. 
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