It’s that time, summer! The kids are winding down their school years and I am sure that most everyone is thinking, what can I read this summer? Let me encourage you as your vacations are planned to make sure and pack a book. There are many great books out there and there are many not so great books out there. Last year I wrote a blog post “What Not to Read” during your summer time reading. Let me give you ten books that I recommend this summer.
This list is in no special order but are based on books that I feel were worth the time to read. Whether you read diligently or are challenging yourself with just trying to read more than you already do, I encourage you to grab a book, spend some time reading it, and digest what you read. Let it be something the encourages you in your Christian walk and share it with someone else.
Summer Reading List:*
The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges. The late Jerry Bridges still ministers today through his writing. I have been convicted and led to God’s grace through the writing of Jerry Bridges and I would recommend anything by him. This particular piece by Bridges directs the reader in what it means to “Be holy, for I am holy” as command that the believer has from God.
Reset by David Murray. You may have mixed emotions of summer. You may feel overwhelmed with the pressures of work and balancing vacations. You may feel a sense of relief as you have some time to shift your attention from business to rest. Either way, this read is refreshing and a great focus on the grace-paced life in a burnout culture that a believer should have. (I did the audiobook version which the author reads. I enjoyed listening to his accent and personal touch).
The Kremlin Conspiracyby Joel Rosenberg. If you are needing some good fiction to read you can’t go wrong with Joel Rosenberg. In his latest thriller, Joel Rosenberg has his pulse on current events while threading through end times theology. This was a fascinating and fun read.
Philippians for You by Steve Lawson. I really like this commentary series that The Good Book Company has produced. There are so many good contributors to this series but I am drawn to the book of Philippians. I see Paul’s pastoral heart coming out strong in this book of the Bible as well as the call to have resounding joy. Steve Lawson has shared from his wealth of pastoral experience and a devotional heart in this commentary of Philippians.
Devoted: Great Men and Their Godly Moms by Tim Challies. I love biographies! What a great approach to tying in the importance and role of godly moms in the lives of some of the pillars in church history. Challies shares the role that moms had in the lives of John Newton, Hudson Taylor, Gresham Machen, John Piper, Charles Spurgeon, D. L. Moody, Augustine, and Timothy. This is a great introduction to learning about some of these men if you are unfamiliar with them. The length of the book is perfect. It has just the right amount of detail to give you a clear picture of their life as well as the desire to learn more about them.
The Art of Rest by Adam Mabry. I don’t know about you but more and more I realize the importance of rest. It has been something that either is not talked about in the Christian realm or unknown. We tend to push to the extreme such as of being busy doing “the Lord’s work” but there is a proper balance and ability to rest in God’s grace and to still be productive. Adam does a great job of articulating on this area of rest and what that means to the believer spiritually, emotionally, and physically.
Holinessby J.C. Ryle. This is a classic and well worth the read. If you have already read it, read it again! Plus, the Kindle version is under $1. I still think that this is the best book on what it means for the believer to be holy and what one must do to pursue holiness.
The Prayer that Turns the World Upside Downby R. Albert Mohler. Albert Mohler is president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky and is a voice for truth. He looks at the Lord’s Prayer just as the disciples must have heard it in a radical way which changed the course of history and the importance for us as believers to pray. This book, 224 pages (more like half pages given the size of the book) is packed full of wisdom and worth your time to read.
Through My Father’s Eyes by Franklin Graham. I was familiar with some of the life of Billy Graham but what a great way to know more about the man and his life than by his own son Franklin.
Supernatural Power For Everyday People by Jared C. Wilson. Author and pastor Jared Wilson does a great job, as always, communicating how God does have a plan for us through the ordinary and mundane aspects of life in a supernatural way. It is through the ordinary, God does extraordinary.
Here are just 10 books that I recommend. I hope this helped encourage you to pick one up or get them all to add to your library. Allow the Lord to use it in your life to draw you closer to Him.
Do you create a Summer reading list? If so, what books do you have on it?
*All of these books are available on Amazon to purchase. You can click on the book title and you will be redirected to amazon.com where you can purchase a hardcopy or download it for your Kindle.