Ten Christian Books That Have Influenced Me

By Shane Kastler

I was recently asked to recommend some books that have influenced me, so I thought I’d compile a list.  Here are 10 books that have had a great impact on my Christian beliefs.  They are loosely ranked in terms of how they influenced me, and I hesitate to call them the TOP TEN books, because it goes without saying that the BIBLE is number one.  I’m not saying one of these books is necessarily better than another.  There are also numerous books that could be on this list, that I either didn’t think of, or omitted.  I’ve been influenced by a lot of books over the years, so this is just a “starting point.”  I have also tried to mix up the list with various topics and genres.  I guess you might call this "the top 10 Christian books that came to mind off the top of my head, that have influenced me list."  Here it is….

1. 1. The Pleasures of God, By John Piper. This is one of those rare books that has the ability to create a seismic shift in your beliefs. The staggering heights and depths of God’s sovereignty are explained in such a way that I was left awestruck at God’s power.

2. Lectures To My Students, By Charles Spurgeon. This book is a compilation of lectures that Spurgeon gave to pastoral students. He deals with numerous ministerial issues in a way that only the “Prince of Preachers” could.  I have found the book to be an immense help in my Christian walk and in ministry.

3. Systematic Theology, By Wayne Grudem. Every believer should have a systematic theology on their bookshelf. While I own many, I recommend Grudem because he goes into great depth while remaining readable.  Any topic that you encounter in the theological world, you will probably find in his index.  Grudem also does a good job of presenting various views on topics, rather than merely his own.  This is helpful in my opinion.

4. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, By Iain Murray. Biography is probably my favorite genre and I have read numerous bios from both the “Christian” and “secular” world. Murray’s two-volume work on MLJ is second to none in terms of inspiration and information.  Lloyd-Jones gave up a promising career as a medical doctor in order to preach the gospel.  For many years, Murray was his assistant.  MLJ was a clear voice on the issues of his day; and I have been equally edified by listening to his sermons which are available for free online through the Martyn-Lloyd Jones Trust.

5. Abraham’s Four Seeds, By John Reisinger. This small book was used of God more than any other to help me understand how Old Testament promises are fulfilled in Christ. All of Reisinger’s books are valuable in understanding how the Old Covenant and New Covenant relate to one another.

6. Commentary on Galatians, By Martin Luther. It seems no list would be complete without Luther. This short commentary not only helped me understand Galatians, but it helped me clarify the gospel against attacks of the past and present.

7. Stonewall Jackson: The Man, the Solider, the Legend. By James Robertson. This book is probably the greatest biography I have ever read. The only reason I didn’t rank it higher than the MLJ bio is because technically this is not a “Christian” biography.  But it is impossible to read and understand Jackson’s life without seeing that the sovereignty of God permeated every aspect of his existence.  While, Confederate soldiers are not politically correct in our day, Jackson stands as a giant among the theological pygmies of the 21^st century.  He devoted 10 years of his life, prior to the Civil War, to teaching a Black Sunday School class; and led numerous slaves to faith in Christ.  For this, he was threatened with imprisonment, but he continued on in the face of opposition.  He was killed in the war, but remained a stalwart unto the end.

8. Always Ready: Directions For Defending the Faith, By Greg Bahnsen. – The late Christian apologist Bahnsen was a student of Cornelius Van Til and provides an excellent presuppositional defense of the faith. Bahnsen’s 1985 debate with atheist Gordon Stein is still one of the best debates I’ve ever listened to. Bahnsen’s “Transcendental Argument for the Existence of God” baffled Stein into an intellectual stupor. This book gives the basis for how presuppositional apologetics is done.  Of course, with Bahnsen I always have to offer the discalimer that I don't agree with everything he taught. Especially as it pertained to Biblical Law and Theonomy.

9. Ashamed of the Gospel, By John Macarthur. The acerbic Macarthur attacks the “seeker-sensitive” church movement and compares it to the Downgrade Controversy that Charles Spurgeon was involved in during his day. One of the greatest problems in the church today is a desire to be like the world and gain the world’s approval. This is deadly to gospel faithfulness.  Macarthur’s chapter on the sovereignty of God over salvation did as much as anything to convince me of the truth of the “doctrines of grace.”

10. Liberating Ministry from the Success Syndrome. By Kent Hughes. I already believed what Hughes teaches in this book before I read it. But it was so comforting to hear him nonetheless. A pastor or church’s success is not measured in numbers of dollars, but rather in faithfulness.  You may never pastor a mega-church yet still be a success in God’s eyes.

Comments

[Scott]

Thank you, thank you! There are so many books out there, I have to go by recommendation these days. I've read "Ashamed of the Gospel", and "Lectures to My Students" (about 25 years ago). Now I am reading the ML-J biog. - 2nd volume...it is wonderful! When I have the opportunity I will look up some of the others at the Denver Seminary library.