The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum Help with my reading list for 2007

I made a resolution to do more reading this year and started to put together a list of books I want to read this year. I was struck by a comment that Kim Riddlebarger made on his web site that was included with a list of books that he felt were "must read". The comment was, "I have made the mistake of reading too many books and mastering too few." In light of that I would like recommendations from all of you on books that you feel are "must read" and worthty of "mastering". I am currently reading "Religious Affections" by Jonathan Edwards and have included in my wish list for this year:
The Mortification of Sin-John Owen
Knowing God-J I Packer
Mere Christianity-C S Lewis
Bondage of the Will-Luther
Systematic Theology- Louis Berkhof,
True Spirituality-Francis Schaeffer
and if I feel really ambitous, Calvins's Institutes.
Any recommendations or comments on the ones I have thus far chosen would be appreciated.
<img src="/forum/images/graemlins/ClapHands.gif" alt="" />

Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs
Gospel Worship by Jeremiah Burroughs
Holiness of God by RC Sproul
Chosen by God by RC Sproul
anything by James White (The God Who Justifies and The Forgotten Trinity are both great)
anything by AW Pink (The Attributes of God, The Sovereignty of God, The Doctrine of the Covenants, The Christian Sabbath)

Your question is actually a broad one <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> What sort of topics do you plan to read about? Are there certain aspects of your walk that you feel need to be focused on or certain issues you'd like to better understand and even defend? Those are questions I would ask myself.

bassbum,

That's an impressive list and one which I would heartily concur as worthy of reading through. I would however, probably eliminate Mere Christianity and substitute, Redemption Accomplished and Applied by John Murray. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/Ponder.gif" alt="" />

Yes, I would delete Mere Christianity as well.

I would also add John Owen's Death of Death in the Death of Christ. Or at the very least JI Packer's excellent Introduction

I am always reluctant to recommend, The Death of Death in the Death of Christ since it would probably take the average person an entire year to get through it with comprehension. This is NOT meant to discourage people from reading it.... no, no... for it is definitely one of the finest, if not THE finest treatise ever written on the extent and efficacy of the atonement. Packer, in his Introductory Essay to the Death of Death basically says the same thing re: the difficulty in reading Owen's book.

As you already mentioned, Packer's Introductory Essay can be read online here: Introductory Essay to the Death of Death. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

In His grace,

The only reason I included Mere Christianity is that I have started to read it twice and never got past the first 60 pages and then last week I was listening to a series by James Boice and he indicated that he sent that book to those he had witnessed to. I thought maybe I missed something in the book and needed to finish it but as has been stated there are better things to read. As far as my thrust this year I think it has to do with assurance. I have over the past year been struggling with the assurance of my salvation. Didn't seem to have this problem before embracing Sovereign Grace. ie. I went to an alter 30 years ago, therefore I am OK. I am definatly going to take into consideration the books suggested so far. Thanks

Well, if you are trying to focus upon "Assurance", then you should perhaps consider Dr. Joel Beeke's The Quest for Full Assurance: The Legacy of Calvin and His Successors, published by Banner of Truth.

Something that will definitely kindle the flames of love for Christ is John Owen's, The Glory of Christ.

And one other I would recommend you read is John Flavel's, Keeping the Heart.

<font size="4">ENJOY!</font>

I'm not trying to double your Jonathan Edward's reading volume, but one book by him that I always like to recommend is "The End for which God Created the World". It's definitely a book you may need to read more than once though. If you are looking for books that edify, I agree with Pilgrim that you may want to remove "Mere Christianity" from your list. On the other hand, "Mere Christianity" is recommended and talked about so much in Reformed circles (for a reason I haven't ever really understood), that it might be good to read it just so you can discuss with supporters of the book the many problems in Lewis's theology. Marie mentioned anything by A.W. Pink, but, if I had to choose one, my personal recommendation would be "The Sovereignty of God".

John

These are the books on my reading table. I suspect it'll take a while longer than a year to get through them all.

Great Doctrines of the Bible, D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Crossway
Manual of Theology, J.L. Dagg
Bondage of the Will, Martin Luther
Systematic Theology, Louis Berkof
Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther, Roland H. Bainton
Sovereignty of God, A.W. Pink
Existence and Attributes of God, Charnock
Institutes, John Calvin

A hearty Highway thanks to all of you who contributed to my 2007 reading list. As of today here is my revised list. This is not the final draft as it will continue to be revised throughout the year, so keep those card and letters coming!

The Mortification of Sin-John Owen
Knowing God-J I Packer
Bondage of the Will-Luther
Systematic Theology- Louis Berkhof,
True Spirituality-Francis Schaeffe
Introductory Essay to the Death of Death
Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs
Gospel Worship by Jeremiah Burroughs
Redemption Accomplished and Applied by John Murray
The Quest for Full Assurance
The Glory of Christ
The End for which God Created the World

Runner up.
Great Doctrines of the Bible by Lloyd-Jones-this is under consideration due to the size of the book. 900+ pages-yikes!

Thanks again. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/BigThumbUp.gif" alt="" />

I have too been struggling with assurance for the past 6 months. Here are some books that have helped (and still are helping) me: (in the order of helpfulness)

1. Assurance by A.W. Pink (Brilliant!)
2. Come and Welcome to Jesus Christ (Good to make sure you are not falling into unbelief in your quest for Assurance, but not directly on Assurance. My favorite book of all time save the Bible)
3. Heaven on Earth by Thomas Brooks (Great!)

The first two are available on the net but the last only has quotes on the net. If you only read one, read A.W. Pink’s Assurance (you can get it at www.spurgeongems.org)- it contains (in a shorter form) most of Brooks’ material anyway.

May God bless through the reading of these. I know what it's like to lack assurance, so I'm cheering you on!
<img src="/forum/images/graemlins/thewave.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/thewave.gif" alt="" />

One that I have yet to read, but intend to in the future is called: 'Spiritual Depression' by D. M. Lloyd Jones.
I have been told by some that it is one of the best books they have ever read.
Perhaps someone who has read it, can comment on it.

I would hertily recommend the addition of one more book which has delighted me as a student of history as well as hermeneutics:

The Shape of Sola Scriptura by Keith Mathison.

-Robin
Ecclesiastica Tyrannica

Thanks for the recommendation, Tom, on "Spiritual Depression".
I did a search for the book and on Amazon there were 14 reviews on it. Almost every review raved about the book and it looks like for me it will be a "must read". <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />