Books are powerful. Books are transformative. They can help the intentional Christian gain wisdom, discernment, knowledge, and skills for life.

The right books can enable us to better glorify God if we begin with the fear of the Lord as the foundation. 

This year, I hope to read 52 books, up from the just over 40 titles I read last year. Whether you are an avid book reader, or just starting, today I want to give you ten recommendations for 2020. I’ve tried to include books in a variety of categories, in hopes that one or more of these piques your interest.

1. The Disciplines of the Christian Life by Eric Liddell

This short and wonderfully challenging devotional guide begins by providing an overview of what the surrender Christian life is intended to look like. The book then transitions into a year-long thematic Bible reading plan, emphasizing specific topics each month. For example, January’s readings cover The Ten Commandments, Prayer, and Bible Study.

Quotable: “Obedience to God’s will is the secret of spiritual knowledge and insight. It is not willingness to know, but willingness to do (obey) God’s will that leads to enlightenment and certainty regarding spiritual truth.”

2. Today Matters by John Maxwell

I recently referenced this book in a post, entitled “Ten Favorite Things From 2019.” If you want a book that will inspire and challenge you to become more disciplined in every area of life, this is it. Memorably and practically, John Maxwell examines 12 critical life domains in which to grow daily.

Quotable: “Successful people make right decisions early, and manage those decisions daily.”

3. The Family by JR Miller

This book is one of the most beautiful descriptions of the Christian family that you’ll ever read. Whether you’re a parent, spouse, or sibling, you’ll encounter within these pages a refreshing portrait of family life. One of my favorite sections is the chapter on creating home memories.

Quotable: “Friendships in the family require care and culture as do other friendships. We must win one another’s love inside the home doors just as we win the love of outside friends. We must prove ourselves worthy; we must show ourselves unselfish, self-forgetful, thoughtful, kind, tender, patient, helpful.”

4. Thou Shall Prosper by Daniel Lapin

This book will help you better understand what God’s Word, specifically the Old Testament, has to say about finances, work, and business. As you read, you’ll also learn why the Jewish people have been so successful throughout history and today.

Quotable: “Jews constitute about 2 percent of the U.S. population. That means that there should be about eight lonely Jews on the Forbes 400 list. In reality, depending on the year, there are between 60 and 100 Jews on this prestigious list.”

5. Understanding the Times by David Noebel and Jeff Myers

The 21st century world is engaged in an epic battle of worldviews. In this comprehensive work, David Noebel and Jeff Myers break down 6 major worldviews—Christianity, Islam, Postmodernism, Marxism, Secularism, and New Spirituality—and describe what each believe on ten major issues. You’ll leave this book understanding how every other belief system crumbles in comparison with God’s eternal truth, the Bible.

Quotable: “Ideas have consequences. They form our beliefs, shape our convictions, and solidify into habits.”

6. Will Our Generation Speak? by Grace Malley

Do you ever struggle with sharing your faith with friends, coworkers, neighbors, and even family members? This book will convict and practically equip you to share the most important story ever told.

Quotable: “Looking back on your life… it won’t matter how popular you were, what you looked like, or how comfortable your life was here on earth. The only thing that will matter is what Jesus thought of how you lived your life.”

7. Shadow of the Almighty by Elisabeth Elliot

This book describes Jim Elliot’s fascinating story: his upbringing in a Christian home with a rich heritage, his love for God’s Word, and his passion to reach the unreached.

Quotable: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.”

8. The $100,000 Word by Daniel Staddon

This short book was written by the winner of the inaugural Bible Bee. I first read The $100,000 Word on the way home from the 2011 National Bible Bee. At that critical moment in my life, this book inspired me to continue memorizing, and gave me a vision of what was possible with daily consistency.

In this short book, you’ll learn that you can memorize the New Testament in only 14 years, by memorizing only 10 verses a week. If you’ve not done much scripture memory before, you’ll learn practical strategies to effectively memorize and retain scripture. Most importantly, you’ll discover the life-changing potential of the Word of God.

Quotable: “Would you prefer going into battle with a dull sword or a sharp one?” 

9. Spiritual Leadership by Richard and Henry Blackaby

The secular world offers a plethora of theories and hacks for leaders, but does the Bible have anything to say? It turns out it does. Drawing from scripture, history, leadership thought, and a wealth of experience, the father-son Blackaby team describe what a true spiritual leader looks like.

Quotable: “No matter how smart or talented a particular leader is, an unteachable spirit is the path to certain failure.”

10. The David C. Cook Through the Bible by V. Gilbert Beers

In this book, the Bible will come alive as you learn the historical and cultural context behind 180 key Bible events. For example, over Christmas, I read the fascinating section examining who the Magi or Wise Men in Luke 2 actually were, and why that absolutely terrified Herod. You’ll have to get the book to find out!

Quotable: “The tower of Babel was probably a ziggurat.” “The ziggurat was the focal point of the city.”

The Exercise of Reading

Reading is not simply a luxury; intentional reading is a necessity. If you’ve never done much before, try a few minutes after your morning quiet time, over lunch break, or before bed. As Joseph Addison said, “Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.”

Question: What are some of your favorite books?