Here are the best books that I read this year.
- You Can Change: God’s Transforming Power for Our Sinful Behaviour and Negative Emotions by Tim Chester
- When Sinners Say “I Do”: Discovering the Power of the Gospel for Marriage by Dave Harvey
- The Courage to Be Protestant: Truth-lovers, Marketers, and Emergents in the Postmodern World by David Wells
- Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands: People in Need of Change Helping People in Need of Change by Paul David Tripp
- The Case for Civility: And Why Our Future Depends on It by Os Guinness
- The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism by Timothy Keller
- Christ and Culture Revisited by D. A. Carson
- Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God by Francis Chan
- Mission and the Coming of God by Tim Chester
- Creation Regained: Biblical Basics for a Reformational Worldview by Albert M. Wolters
- Him We Proclaim: Preaching Christ from All the Scriptures by Dennis E. Johnson
- Redeeming Science: A God-Centered Approach by Vern Sheridan Poythress
- Whiter Than Snow: Meditations on Sin and Mercy by Paul David Tripp
- Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling by Andy Crouch
- Why We’re Not Emergent: By Two Guys Who Should Be by Kevin DeYoung, Ted Kluck
Some books that disappointed me
Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church by N. T. Wright
Though well written and very helpful at times, his understanding of the Gospel makes this a very confusing/dangerous book. Not recommended.
The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith by Timothy Keller
The first five chapters are quite good but the last two run out of steam abruptly. I guess I just expected more from Dr. Keller particularly in light of Reason for God.
Transforming Vision: Shaping a Christian World View by Brian J. Walsh and Richard Middleton
For all the recommendation, it’s a curious thing that a Christian Worldview is supposed to demolish Capitalism and replace it with a modified Socialism. First half fair; second half propaganda.
The Future of Justification: A Response to N. T. Wright by John Piper
Three fourths of the book involved explaining Wright’s view and the other fourth was a weak defense of the biblical doctrine of Justification. This books needs to be read with Counted Righteous in Christ for any benefit— in my humble opinion.
Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling by Andy Crouch
It was rather disappointing with all this book’s insight that it ends with the declaration (albeit humble) that changing culture is only ultimately in God’s hand. The first two thirds of the book candidly withheld this conclusion. Still worth the read, just have lower expectations of influencing the culture around you.
Surprisingly Good Books:
The New Christians: Dispatches from the Emergent Frontier by Tony Jones and A Christianity Worth Believing: Hope-filled, Open-armed, Alive-and-well Faith for the Left Out, Left Behind, and Let Down in us All (Living Way: Emergent Visions) by Doug Pagitt
Jones’ book is worth the read and well written. Pagitt’s is heresy with a capital “h” but a good manifesto on Emergent theology and missiology; a must read for those who want to understand this movement.
Why We’re Not Emergent: By Two Guys Who Should Be by Kevin DeYoung, Ted Kluck
Didn’t think this book would live up to the hype. It did. Well done.
Christ and Culture Revisited by D. A. Carson
I don’t know why I doubted the contribution of this book before I read it. It’s a great read and very astute. Read it.
Some other top book lists of 2008.
Tim Challies
David Dockery
Tullian Tchividjian
Trevin Wax
Tony Reinke
adoption-through-propitiation 