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- Revival
by Martin Lloyd Jones
This book is an excellent consideration of both biblical and historical revivals. He examines th
e details of what a revival is, what causes them, and why they cease. Jones, who died around 1982, is notorious for being able to pull massive amounts of information and thoughts from Scriptures. For instance, at one point, he spends 7 or 8 full chapters on just 2 verses from Genesis. One great point he makes in the book is what happens when true Spirit led revivals wind down (which Jones argues that they always do - he explains why this is part of the way the Spirit works). He says that groups that were enjoying this incredible time of revival, begin to recognize that the Spirit is waning, at least in the sense of the miraculous revival aspects of their ministry. The danger is that they try to recapture the "glory days" by instituting into rule and methodical practice the things that the Spirit had been doing. Jones argues that this does not.
- Sex God
by Rob Bell
Sex God is great, especially Ch 3 "Angels and Animals" and Ch 6
"Worth Dying For" Ch 3 tells a story of what it truly means to be human, but as most of Rob's stuff, it is almost entirely stolen from N.T. Wright, but there are few nuggets of revelation. Also Ch 6 is great for those either looking to get married or are married, it tells how much we should love our spouses, they are worth dying for as the title suggests, but in classic Bell format, puts it in a way that makes you excited about wanting to live that way.
- Velvet Elvis:Repainting the Christian faith:
by Rob Bell
His casual, hip style will appeal to Gen-Xers, after all, he is all about relationship. Make no mistake, Bell is hot after God. But this
is not the stoic, silent God of empty ritual and dry formalities. Oh no. This is God in blue jeans. This is a God involved in the messy, untidy details of our lives and caring about our responses to all the trauma and drama of our days.I was very interested to learn about the rabbi's yoke, about the selection process of young Jewish men for rabbinic study, and other Jewish traditions which bring light to our spiritual heritage.
- I Don't Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist
by Frank Turek and Norman Geisler
This is one of the best, most logical, and most thorogh apologetic books I've read. It's a must read and a great gift to get someone who is either not a Christian and searching or someone struggling in their faith.
- Unchristian
by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons
Based on groundbreaking Barna Group research, unChristian uncovers the negative perceptions young people have of Christianity
and explores what can be done to reverse them. Christianity has an image problem. Christians are supposed to represent Christ to the world. But according to the latest report card, something has gone terribly wrong. Using descriptions like hypocritical, insensitive, and judgmental, young Americans share an impression of Christians thats nothing short of . . . unChristian. This is a wonderful, thoughtful book that conveys difficult truths in a spirit of humility. Every Christian should read this, and it will likely influence the church for years to come.
- Simply Christian
by N.T. Wright
I come from a background of nominal Presbyterian Christianity followed by many years in my adult life of fundamental, Pentecostal Christianity. My early years provided me with a dull version of Christianity; my later years the other extreme. Burned o
ut from the emotionalism, the overemphasis on the sensational and what I see as the move toward the gospel of materialism cloaked in Christianese, I had just about given up on Christianity as a whole, settling instead for my own version. I stumbled across this book in my local bookstore today and was drawn to it as I really enjoy N.T. Wright's ability to take on modern criticism without ever wavering in his faith nor compromising its essentials. He has a way of stating the essentials simply without bogging them down in highbrow theological language. I started the book and could not put it down. Within a few pages a wave of peace and comfort washed over me. Rather than critiquing Christianity as expressed today, he opted instead to focus on its essence, to keep the story focused on what is right with Christianity and how it makes sense, even - or especially - today.
Surprised by Hope
by N.T. Wright
This book is one of the most influential I have ever read. Whether you think you know something about Resurre
ction and New Creation or have no idea what they are, this is the book for you. If it doesn't get you thinking deeply about the way you view the mission of the church today, then you should become a theologian and tell us all how to think. Wright takes his 800+ page "Resurrection of the Son of God" and puts it into this easy to digest 300 page masterpeice. EVERYONE should read this book, it is the center of our Chrisitian faith and we all need to mature in our knowledge of this subject.