Book Recommendations for Christmas Gifts
If you’re like me, you have already started selecting gifts for those on your list. And every year, I reflect on books I have read that I think others would enjoy, too. This is a varied list, mainly highlighting my favorite texts across many genres.
The first category I mention is biographies.I always find myself heartened by Christians whose faithful stories encourage me today. Biographies help move me out of our current culture and into another time and place, where God’s truth was the same then as it is today. These books aid me in my own faith journey as I read the faithful narratives of Christians who lived in different centuries.
The second genre is art and aesthetics. Beauty is important in worship because beauty is important to God. Books on aesthetics help us identify where beauty is in the Bible and how we can incorporate these elements in our personal worship of God.
The final genre is worship. I have recommended books on worship previously with So We Speak, but I think these particular books are worth mentioning again. These texts are not the mainstream books on worship that most leaders are familiar with. Rather, these books move beyond the practicality of structuring worship and examine the theological and historical elements of corporate worship. The authors have spent years researching and understanding this topic, which makes their books deeply valuable to all Christians.
This list could go on and on. But for the sake of time, I have constrained my recommendations to these three genres. I hope they bless the readers and encourage them in their faith of the one true God!
Biography
Cook writes in such an easy manner and it is easy to follow her storyline. Lady Jane Grey has often been misinterpreted by others who anachronistically (an act of applying a thought or event to a time period in which it did not belong) distort important events in her life. Cook appropriately studied all areas that affected Lady Jane Grey in her short life. From her interaction with Reformers Martin Bucer and Heinrich Bullinger, to her faithful stand against her family and, ultimately, against Mary Tudor, Lady Jane Grey's short reign influenced Reformers and Catholics alike. Cook succinctly explains the lineage of the Tudors and how Henry VIII planned his succession, and how his plans affected Jane. Balanced between the histories of British monarchy and the Reformation, the book reveals the true Lady Jane Grey, who remains an inspiration to Christians centuries later.
Reading stories about faithful Christians in centuries past is always encouraging to my faith. In Reformation Women, VanDoodewaard highlights the lives of many faithful women who lived during the 15th and 16th centuries. Most of these women are not household names, but their lives are worth knowing today. Reading about how they lived lives faithful to the Gospel of Christ will encourage modern readers to persevere in their faith, no matter their circumstances. VanDoodewaard also provides historical context for each woman so the larger narrative of the Reformation is fully understood.
I find myself recommending this autobiography to anyone seeking a biographical book. It is a redemptive story told by the author about his early days of sinful living, through his salvation, to the grace-filled end of his life. He discusses the topics of sin, marriage, and ministry, all with a fine craftsmanship of words. It is easy to read or listen to, especially with your family. If you want to know how the author came to write one of history's most beloved hymns, read his story in his own words. You will find yourself reflected in the pages.
This book was a tremendous blessing to me. Challies discusses multiple mothers from church history who helped shape their sons into great men for the Kingdom. From Timothy and Augustine to Spurgeon and Piper, each man’s relationship with his mother is a treasure to read. The blessed bond between mother and son is evident throughout, and the power of prayer is the focus of each story. This book is going to be a gift to all my boy-mom friends this year!
Rhodes takes a unique approach to this Spurgeon biography by examining the love story between Charles and Susie. Their story is one of love and commitment, which will encourage the reader in his or her own marriage. Charles and Susie balanced each other in their everyday interactions. When Charles encountered struggles, Susie encouraged him and was the helpmeet he needed in his marriage. And when Susie needed help, Charles reassured and led Susie, being the husband she needed. I highly recommend this rare glimpse into a Godly marriage that still encourages believers today.
