Bible Study
Chrisitianity/Jesus
Leadership
Life
Marriage
Spiritual Formation
Theology
Bible Study:
Read Through the Bible
Ever wanted to read through the bible? This year make it part of your New Years resolution. It gives you many different ways to read through the bible in a year.
How to Read the Bible for all Its Worth
If you have ever wanted to be introduced to how to interpret and study scripture, then this is the book for you. It is easy to understand, quick to read and one of the best introductions to understanding scripture that is out there. This book will give you great principles to follow when you read the bible. Get it here
Bible Maps
Are the maps in the back of your bible not enough? I found a great website with detailed maps of all the major events and places of the Old and New Testament. If you want to get a better visual picture of Old and New Testament stories and can’t afford a trip to Israel, check out these sites.
Archeological Study Bible
The NIV Archeological Study Bible is my favorite bible these days. It has amazing historical and archeological articles throughout the bible. It gives excellent background information and has great maps and a great concordance in the back.
If you want to go a little deeper as you read through scripture and love history and ancient cultures, then this is the bible for you. Get it here.
Christianity/Jesus:
Jesus Among Other Gods
Ravi Zacharias
Have you ever wondered if Christianity was any different from all the other religions of the world? Have you ever wonderd if Jesus was any different than all the other great men of history who started religious movements? If you have, this is the book for you.
Ravi Zacharias does an amazing job of revealing the heart of the Christian faith. His stories are moving and his insight is powerful. Jesus really is different than all the others and this book uncovers how and why.
Velvet Elvis
Rob Bell
A foundational book by Rob Bell that will help you re-think traditional, evangelical Christianity. This book will challenge you, encourage you, and give you a new picture of the Christian life in a post-modern culture.
A New Kind of Christian
Brian McLaren
A foundational book by Brian McLaren that will help you re-think traditional, evangelical Christianity. This book will challenge you, encourage you, and give you a new picture of the Christian life in a post-modern culture.
The Language of God
Francis Collins
Francis Collins was the head of the human genome project. He is among the elite scientists in the U.S. He is also a faithful Christian. If you have ever wondered how the worlds of Christian faith and science can come together, Collins is the man to tell you.
His book, “Language of God” is a must read if you are wrestling with how to come to terms with science as a Christian. It is also a must read if you are an atheist or agnostic who views Christianity as a superstitious, archaic and uninformed religion that has been completely refuted by science.
Collins adds civility and insight to the often hostle dialog between faith and science as a premier scientist and devout Christian.
The Secret Message of Jesus
Brian McLaren
If you want to get back to the message that Jesus preached, this book will help. This is a good introductory look at this thing that Jesus called “The Kingdom of God.”
If you hear that phrase kicked around (Kingdom of God) and you still don’t understand what it means, then this is the book for you. Or, if you want to explore the deeper meaning behind the implications of Jesus bringing and teaching the Kingdom, then this is also the book for you. Brian McLaren does a good job of making a very complex truth easier to understand.
Celtic Way of Evangelism
George G. Hunter III
Are you a little confused about why Horizon Church does things the way we do? Do you want to learn how St. Patrick spread Christianity to Ireland in a unique way? Are you interested in learning the difference between the Celtic way and the Roman way of doing church? If so, then this is the book you should read.
This is a short book that packs a punch. It describes how St. Patrick and other missionaries of the Roman church decided to change the way they did church in order to reach the people of Ireland. While the Roman Catholic church was still making people conform to them, the Celtic way became a way that met the people where they where. It was why St. Patrick was so influential and successful at spreading the gospel. And at Horizon we have taken many of these concepts and have tried to apply them to our own culture.
The Ragamuffin Gospel
Brennan Manning
Are you feeling burnt out? Do you feel like you have to “put on” spirituality at times? Would you like to use the word “Ragamuffin” more consistently in your day to day conversations? Do you have $13.99?
If you answered yes to any of the these questions, I’d recommend this book. It’s an easy read and it’s really been influencing the way I relate to my salvation.
Following Jesus
Dave Roberts
Following Jesus: A Guidebook for the Non-Religious by Dave Roberts (not to be confused with Following Jesus by N.T. Wright.)
Following Jesus takes a proactive look at what serving Jesus means today. It helps readers clarify how they can be gracious, wise, joyous, creative, biblical and balanced in everyday life. It brings them back again and again to the life of Christ, from perspectives they may never have considered. It is a non-religious discipleship manual for the spiritually hungry.
Leadership:
Primal Leadership
Daniel Goleman, Richard E. Boyatzis, Annie MecKee
Emotional intelligence is one of the number one factors we look for in new leaders at Horizon Church. More than bible knowledge and church experience, emotional intelligence is primary in people’s ability to lead others. As we move away from positional leadership, emotional intelligence is the number one way people lead through relationships.
Emotional intelligence has four domains: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness and relational management. The better we get at each of these, the higher are emotional intelligence.
If you want to increase your ability to lead others toward Christ or your ability to lead in any situation, this book is a must read. Perhaps no other book describes so well what we desire in leaders at Horizon.
The Leadership Secrets of Billy Graham
Harold Myra and Marshall Shelley
Do you want to sharpen your thinking about leadership? Have you ever wondered how a man like Billy Graham could lead so well for so long? Do you want to develop the kind of leadership skills it takes to lead with integrity and faithfulness? If so, then this book is for you.
I have read a few leadership books and this is one of the best. It takes principles from books like “Good to Great” and combines them with examples from the life of Billy Graham. These insights from his life of leadership come from those who know him best.
Courageous Leadership
Bill Hybels
Have you ever wanted to sharpen your skills and vision as a leader in the church? If so, then this is a book that will help you in that development. Bill Hybels, pastor and founder of Willow Creek church, has written a great book on leading in the context of a church. His years of experience as a high end leader gives his readers a wealth of wisdom to draw from.
Life:
Restoring Balance to Your Life
Dr. Richard Swenson
Are you stressed out? Over-whelmed? Too busy? And there is no end in sight? Then check out this two part teaching on restoring balance to your life by Dr. Richard Swenson. I heard a part of this message on the radio and it hit me like a ton of bricks…in a good way.
Get it here to order the CD’s online. Its only a $9 donation.
Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith
Anne Lamott
Tired of stale Christianity, this is the book for you. Anne Lamott is an amazing writer who weaves together her personal life stories and her thoughts on faith. Her’s is the story of a liberal, feminist, single-mom finding faith in the most unusual of places. Her honest wrestling with Jesus, Christianity and the church will help anyone to be honest with themselves and with God.
This is the original version of what Donald Miller attempted in his book “Blue Like Jazz.” Only this book is written better and is from a woman’s perspective.
And if you haven’t read “Blue Like Jazz” yet, its a must read. You can get it here.
The Peacemaker
Ken Sande
Have you ever gotten in a fight with a friend and didn’t know how to resolve it? Have you ever been hurt by someone close and didn’t know how to forgive them? Are you in a conflict with a neighbor and don’t know how to come to a resolution peacefully? If you have ever experienced any of these, then you should read this book.
Ken Sande, a faithful Christian and lawyer with years of conflict resolution experience, takes a biblical approach to resolving personal conflict. This book will take you back to the way God intended for us to treat one another when we don’t see eye to eye. This is the most practical book that I have ever read on what it really looks like to forgive, reconcile, find common ground, love your neighbor, love your enemy and resolve conflict with a “win/win” solution.
If you are tired of living in conflict with those around you, this book is a must read for you.
Closer Than Your Skin
Susan D. Hill
Do you feel stuck in formal Christianity? Have you always had a hunch that there was more to a relationship with Jesus than you are experiencing? Have you ever wanted to know what it looks like for God to answer your prayers in real and practical ways? If so, then this book is a must read.
Susan D. Hill writes about her trials and triumphs as a long-time Christian who woke up one day needing more in her relationship with God. Through times of crisis she began to hear God communicate with her in real-time. She began to learn how to listen to her Father’s voice and little by little began to see Him everywhere.
This inspiring story of a house-wife turned prayer warrior should be read by anyone really desiring intimate interaction with God. It is a quick read that leaves you with desire to pray all the time and watch God move.
Does your faith need a “pick-me-up?” If so, this is the book for you.
Marriage:
Sheet Music
Kevin Leman
This is a good book by Kevin Leman that addresses the tough topic of sex within marriage. If you are engaged and want a good book on what a sexually active Christian marriage should look like, this is the book for you.
Warning: Those who are not getting engaged within a month or two should probably avoid reading this book. It is for an audience of married couples or almost married couples. Everyone else should wait to read this one until they are at that stage of life.
For Women Only/For Men Only
Shaunti Feldahn and Jeff Feldahn
Have you ever been confused by the thoughts and actions of the opposite sex? Do you really want to understand your significant other at a deeper level? If so, than these books are sure to help.
Shaunti Feldhahn and her husband explore the different ways that men and women think. They explore the different needs and desires that each sex has when in a relationship. For Women Only will help women understand “their man” a little better, and For Men Only will help men navigate the confusing world of women.
If you are in a relationship or are headed toward marriage, these books will definitely help.
Covenant Marriage
Gary Chapman
This is another great book by Gary Chapman. Following up his series on “The Five Love Languages” he wrote a great book on Christian marriage. This books helps married and engaged couples see that their relationship is more than a contract. Contracts can easily be broken. Marriage, instead, is a covenant relationship which requires service and sacrifice that moves far beyond reciprocity.
Spiritual Formation:
The Confessions: Saint Augustine
Saint Augustine
One of the founders of and theologians of the early church, St. Augustine was wrestling with the Christian faith 1500 years before you were born.
While many of his writings were more theological, this one reads like his diary. In it he will move you with his deep understanding of his own sin and his need for God’s grace. He opens up and lets you inside his heart and mind. This former hedonist turned Christian oozes with wisdom and insight.
If you also see yourself as “the chief of sinners” like the apostle Paul and St. Augustine, then this is the book for you. It will comfort you, heal you, move you and challenge you. God is sure to speak to you through the pages of this book. This is a timeless classic that has been read by faithful Christians for over a thousand years.
Celebration of Discipline
Richard Foster
Richard Foster does an amazing job at laying out the key disciplines of the spiritual life. Have you ever wanted to grow spiritually but didn’t know what to do? This is the book for you.
This book begins by getting at the core of what it means to allow God to transform us. Then chapter by chapter he explains the Inward Disciplines (meditation, prayer, fasting, scripture study), the Outward Disciplines (simplicity, solitude, submission, service) and the Corporate Disciplines (confession, worship, guidance and celebration).
If you want a short 200 page book that will give you a good introduction to the purpose and practice of the spiritual disciplines, then this is the one to get.
Renovation of the Heart
Dallas Willard
So you have decided to give your life to Jesus. Then what? Following Jesus is more than just “getting saved.” This book by Dallas Willard explores the process of true inner-life transformation.
Following Jesus is about having your whole life transformed at the deepest levels. It goes way beyond following a set of rules. It is all about “becoming the kind of person” who has their thoughts, feelings, character, body and relationships completely renovated to look like Christ.
This is a must read for anyone who wants to grow in their Christian life.
Theology:
Simply Christian
N.T. Wright
This is a great book for people exploring Christianity or for people who are new in their faith. It takes after C.S. Lewis’s classic “Mere Christianity” in how it lays out the basic foundations of Christian belief and life.
N.T. Wright does a good job of making complicated ideas simple enough to understand.
And if you haven’t read “Mere Christianity” yet, its a must read (see below.)
Mere Christianity
C.S. Lewis
“This is a classic book for people with questions about Christianity. C.S. Lewis does a wonderful job of explaining why it is reasonable to be a follower of Jesus and why Christian belief makes sense.
The Story of Christian Theology
Roger Olson
This is a foundational text on the historical theology, written by Roger Olson. If you want to know the history of what the Christian church has believed in the last 2000 years, this is the book for you. It is a large book, not meant to be read all in one sitting. It functions more like a text that you can return to over and over again as you study time-periods of the church and the theological development in those time-periods.
This book is written really well, so it is good for the scholar as well as the average person. However, buy this text only if you are serious about learning theology. If you are interested in theology and the history of the church, this is the best historical theology book out there.
Surprised by Hope
N.T. Wright
This new book by N.T. Wright is a thought-provoking book about the end times, resurrection, heaven and the after-life. If you ever wondered what the traditional Christian view of life-after death is, then this is the book for you. This book cuts through the pop-culture views of the after-life and wades through the waters of Jewish and Greek thought on the issue. This is a must read for any Christian who wants to understand what Scripture has to say about the future.