Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis  

Basic Christian Doctrine / Apologetics.  Lewis summarizes the beliefs that almost all Christians have held in Common in all times whether Baptist, Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Lutheran, etc.  The book begins from the standpoint of an atheist and argues for the rationality and philosophical soundness of Christian belief.  C. S. Lewis was an Oxford Don and atheist who became a Christian.  Lewis was the best-selling Theologian of the 20th Century (though technically an English Professor, and not a Theologian at all).  His books massively outsold those of Liberal Theologians like Karl Barth.  Lewis was Anglican; he was brought to Christ through the witness of J. R. R. Tolkien, an Evangelical Roman Catholic who is famous for his fantasy trilogy, The Lord of the Rings (see our book review: Finding God in the Lord of the Rings).

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The God Who is There by Francis A. Schaeffer

    From a sound Biblical standpoint, Schaeffer analyzes what happened to Post-Modern Culture in its drift away from God and Biblical truth in the  past 100 years in the areas of Theology, Art, Music, and Film (the book covers Kant, Kierkegaard, etc. and much of popular culture).  Schaeffer shows why Christianity is the only "system of thought" that adequately answers all of the major questions.  

 L'Abri by Edith Schaeffer

Edith Schaeffer, wife of Francis A. Schaeffer, wrote this book about their actual day-by-day Christian life, ministry, and "living on prayer" (they refused to ask anyone other than God for financial help) and founding of their then Swiss (now world-wide) ministry to University students.  Schaeffer was a Presbyterian who resigned from his denomination and joined the new one founded by J. Gresham Machen when Machen was de-frocked for "rebelliousness and insubordination."  The charges were false: Machen's actual offense was threefold: preaching the Gospel, helping send out Salvation-preaching Missionaries to different parts of the world, and founding a Conservative Bible-believing Seminary in an effort to supply orthodox Pastors to Churches in his Denomination.  

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The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel 

Like C. S. Lewis, Lee Strobel was also an adult Atheist.  Apologetics: "A Journalist's Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus" (also available on cassette as an Audio Book).  

The Case for Faith by Lee Strobel

This book investigates the "toughest objections" to Christianity.

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Knowing Scripture by R. C. Sproul

A basic book explaining the Science of Biblical Interpretation (Hermeneutics).

A basic summary book for beginners, experts, and those in-between on Hermeneutics (the Science of Biblical Intepretation), Practical Rules for Biblical Interpretation, Recommended Tools for Biblical Study, the effect of Culture (Biblical and current) on Interpreting the Bible, a look at Luther's view of private Biblical interpretation, and reasons why the Bible needs to be studied (by you).  Dr. Sproul is President of Ligonier Ministries and professor of systematic theology and apologetics at Reformed Theological Seminary.

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Know What You Believe by Paul E. Little 

(The Essentials of the Christian Faith.)

Know Why You Believe by Paul E. Little

(Apologetics: A clear Affirmation for the Reasonableness of the Christian Faith.)

 Both of these books by Paul E. Little are excellent.  You may want to obtain extra copies to give to others (they are published by InterVarsity Press: Paul Little's ministry was primarily to University Students).

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The Mortification of Sin: A Puritan's View of How to Deal with Sin in your Life by John Owen

(Introduction by J. I. Packer)

"I owe more, I think, to John Owen than to any other Theologian, ancient or modern, and I am sure I owe more to this little book on mortification than to anything else he wrote..."

- J. I. Packer

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Spurgeon On Leadership by Larry J. Michael

This book may help you more in actual practice as a Pastor or Church Leader than any other.  In-depth analysis of "The Prince of Preachers" by Dr. Larry J. Michael, Senior Pastor of Sweetwater Baptist Church in Florida.  He has previously served as an adjunct professor at Beeson Divinity School (Samford University) in Birmingham, Alabama.

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Basic Christianity by John R. W. Stott

An excellent book covering the essentials of the faith (as C. S. Lewis was, John W. Stott is an Anglican).

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 Bible Answer Man Radio Program (Hank Hanegraaff)

A ministry we highly recommend is the Bible Answer Man Radio Program (Hank Hanegraaff).  Essential Christianity and Apologetics. He often has guest authors (like Lee Strobel) who are the best of intelligent, conservative Since we do not have much free time, we often tape it and listen to it later while driving errands in the car or necessary household chores.  Find times and stations in your area at: www.equip.org (Note: clicking on this link will take you to another web site: you will need to use your "back" button to return to this site). 

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Thru The Bible Radio Program (Dr. J. Vernon McGee)

Another ministry we highly recommend is Dr. J. Vernon McGee's "Thru The Bible" Radio Program.  He teaches a sound overview of every chapter of the Bible in 5 years.  He was a Presbyterian ("I didn't leave my Denomination, my Denomination left me"), who became Pastor of the Independent Church of the Open Door in Los Angeles. Dr. McGee was from Texas, and many find his accent takes a little getting used to.  Although he went home to be with the Lord several years ago, his teaching ministry is currently broadcast worldwide in over 100 languages, and expanding into new languages almost monthly.  Find times and stations in your area at: www.ttb.org (Note: clicking on this link will take you to another web site: you will need to use your "back" button to return to this site). 

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Historical Note: "It All Ties Together!" __________________________________________________________________ 

 Our own Monk Bob, many decades ago, heard Dr. J. Vernon McGee preach (while Dr. McGee was still Pastor there) at the Church of the Open Door which had been founded by R. A. Torrey (first Director of "The Moody Bible Institute," and the one who took over Dwight Moody's Evangelistic ministry upon Moody's death).  Torrey was a Congregationalist.  

Over forty years ago his descendants (though they do not call themselves "monks," founded Jesus Abbey in Korea, an Evangelical Bible-believing and teaching Christian evangelistic outreach (it currently is affiliated with the Episcopal Church).  

In many ways the Christian lifestyle of Jesus Abbey ("abbey" is another term for "monastery") is very similar to what The Prayer Foundation ™ is just now beginning to do (we only learned of them after we had begun our own ministry).  The other Christian ministry that in lifestyle our ministry is most like has already been mentioned above: Francis and Edith Schaeffer's L'Abri Fellowship.

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