I want to begin periodically giving some book recommendations on my blog. Each week I’ll try and give 3-4 books, and provide a brief paragraph explaining why I am recommending the book. I hope you enjoy.
C. S. LEWIS – A LIFE: ECCENTRIC GENIUS, RELUCTANT PROPHET
This biography by Alister McGrath opened my eyes to the amazing life of this well known author, apologist, and professor. When I began this biography I wanted to read 1 chapter each day, and by the end of the book I wanted to read a chapter from it everyday for the rest of my life. McGrath does a great job exploring the complex mind of this great genius,showing how Lewis’s life experiences impacted his conversion and the later development of his thought. The historical events that took place around the life of C. S. Lewis caused many people to ask important questions about christianity, the Bible, and the existance of God. Lewis masterfully stepped into those questions, providing answers and explanations. McGrath demonstrates how Lewis fought to hold together the faith of a country. I could not recommend this biography anymore to anyone desiring to know more about the life of the man C. S. Lewis.
THE MISSION OF GOD’S PEOPLE: A BIBLICAL THEOLOGY OF THE CHURCH’S MISSION
Christopher J. H. Wright does a great job of showing how the various movements throughout the Bible should influence our understanding of evangelism in his great book, The Mission of God’s People. Wright’s chapters on creation/new creation and on the Exodus are worth the price of the book. He discusses how creation should drive our evangelism, while new creation should pull our evangelism along. In his chapter on the Exodus he explains how the redemption that comes in this great event is a 4 part redemption. God delivered the people politically, economically, socially, and spiritually. Wright argues that we should fight for a similarly complex redemption in people’s lives today. This book is not a wrote 4 step process for sharing your faith. In Stead it provides the biblical foundation for why we should evangelize. At times Wright can push an environmental agenda, but all in all I give the book high marks.
CONVICTION TO LEAD: THE 25 PRINCIPLES FOR LEADERSHIP THAT MATTERS
R. Albert Mohler has written a fantastic book on leadership. Mohler contends that a person will always lead out of his foundational convictions. These convictions determine how a person thinks, acts, and feels in every circumstance; therefore, they provide the framework within which a person makes leadership decisions. Mohler makes a great argument for the importance of convictions, and for the importance of knowing one’s convictions. This book would help anyone who desires to become a better leader.