I’m a sucker for year-end “Best Book” lists. It’s generally the season where I clip those articles for later and curate my reading list for the following year. While there are plenty of other great resources for more comprehensive lists, I’ll do you the privilege of providing you my top five from 2019 (for those who attend Sovereign Hope you might find some source material for some of my illustrations this past year as well!).
#5: Disruptive Witness by Alan Noble
I don’t think anything has influenced the language I use when sharing the gospel or describing the cost of discipleship like this book has. We want our friends and our co-workers to see how seamlessly the gospel meets many of our needs. But if we aren’t careful the gospel can sound more like one of many options instead of the transformative truth which speaks to our dire need. Christianity is disruptive to the patterns and desires of this world, and Noble does a great job showing why we can’t minimize this in a church and a society which seeks to eliminate the jarring effect of life.
#4: The Ghost Map by Stephen Johnson
Though writing from a humanistic perspective, Johnson has quickly become one of my favorite writers. Even though he denies the existence of God, his books confirm the truth spoke long ago by Saint Augustine: “All truth is God’s truth.” This book follows the cholera outbreaks in 19th century London, which sounds like a real page turner! But the genius of Johnson comes in the historical drama which unfolds as scientists, doctors and yes, even local pastors, try to understand and stop the deadly disease.
#3: Gospel Driven Church by Jared C. Wilson
I’ve always been a fan of Wilson’s writings as his background mirrors in many ways my own background with the church. For those wanting to better understand the philosophy behind our ministry at Sovereign Hope, and even the history behind how we got here, this book is a great resource. Wilson’s work was a great compliment to Disruptive Witness in that it practically applies the same ideas.
#2: Midnight in Chernobyl by Adam Higginbotham
I’ve always been intrigued by the Chernobyl disaster, and this book was worth the 500 page investment. Higginbotham does a great job retelling the story in its historic detail but also with writing which reads more like a Clancy novel than a history book. However, as this book contains many first-hand accounts and government documents of something as terrible as a nuclear disaster, there are moments of profane and foul language. So it might not be the best read-a-loud book to your children.
#1: Knowing God by J.I. Packer
Confession: I’ve never seen any of the Rocky movies. I never watched them when I was younger, and by the time I was older everyone else had already seen them and no one offered to sit down and watch them with me. Knowing God is my Rocky movie of classic theology books. It was originally published in 1973 and has been one of the most influential books since then. I read it this summer for the first time, and realized it was as good as billed. It makes theology accessible and applicable in a concise and heartwarming way. It is required reading for our pastoral residents at Sovereign Hope. Don’t be like me, read it now.
