Here is a list of books that I commend to you. They have helped me journey further and further outside the camp and into the holy wild. God has led me to these authors and they have shared their learnings with me. I hope you will benefit greatly from them as well.
The Origin of the Bible
Edited by Philip W. Comfort
A scholarly work that really helped me understand how amazingly God put together the Bible. My appreciation and understanding of Scripture has increased manyfold since I read this book. It also helped me to appreciate more how the Bible is translated and what to look out for in a translation that is accurate in meaning and as close as possible in style to the original biblical text. Check it out on Amazon.com or Christianbook.com.
Shepherding a Child's Heart
by Tedd Tript
This book has helped me really understand two things: it's more important to check your child's heart rather than his behaviour and spanking is God's way of instilling discipline. Of course, there's a lot more to the book than just those two points. Another one is that it is important to teach children the gospel as soon as possible. Understanding God's love for them and God's plan for them sets the foundation for shepherding. I highly recommend that you read it and reap its wisdom. Check it out on Amazon.com or Christianbook.com.
In the Beginning
The Story of the King James Bible and How It Changed a Nation, a Language, and a Culture
by Alister McGrath
This was a fascinating book for me. I'm a bit of a history buff so the moment I got into this book, I kept on turning the pages. I now have an understanding of the suffering that early Christians went through to bring the word of God into a language that ordinary folk could understand. I have greater appreciation of the work put into Bible translation and a greater awareness that the English Bible is a translation made by men and it makes good sense to own several versions in order to be able to compare them. Check it out on Amazon.com.
Bringing Up Boys
by James C. Dobson
This book was very enlightening about what makes boys tick. It helped me understand their psychology, how to manage them, how to guide and teach them. There were chapters on the biological differences between boys and girls, the issues in disciplining boys, and the different roles of mothers and fathers. The author bases his work on the Bible and his background as a psychologist and counsellor. Check it out on Amazon.com or Christianbook.com.
Grace-Based Parenting
by Dr Tim Kimmel
This book made a huge impact on how I handled my children. Dr Kimmel's main thesis is that we should exhibit grace toward our children, just as God exhibited grace toward us. This doesn't mean we don't discipline our children. Discipline is part of love. But we need to recognise when our kids are just being kids and when they have crossed the line. It's about raising kids who know and understand God's grace in their lives. Check out the book on Amazon.com or Christianbook.com.
The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus
by John R. Cross
My church uses this book to teach our Sunday School classes. On the road to Emmaus, Jesus teaches two disciples the gospel message by taking them step by step through the Scriptures, to show them what God's word says about him. John Cross teaches in the same chronological approach, i.e., starting with Genesis and then sequentially building the stories and the truths so that the children see the full picture. Since so much of the gospel is actually in the Old Testament, this way of teaching builds a firm foundation. I highly recommend this for both pre-believers and new believers of any age. If you want to see how the book is incorporated into a teaching syllabus, check out Teaching Chronologically. Check out the book on Amazon.com, Christianbook.com or check the publisher's site at Goodseed.com.
