Christmas Reading

Wondering what book to buy someone for Christmas or thinking of spending your vouchers on a great read. Here's some recommendations.

Matt Hatch’s recommendations:

Death by Love, Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshers.  Mark Driscoll (who leads Marshill Church in Seattle) unpacks the atonement through letters written to people in his congregation struggling with difficult circumstances.  I’ve just finished the chapter on ‘my wife slept with my best friend’.  Brutally honest and terrific theology.

Safely Home, Randy Alcorn.  Christian fiction usually makes me break out into a cold sweat but this was actually a challenging read. It reveals the extent of suffering endured the persecuted church in China and the eternal rewards for those that perservere.

The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism, Timothy Keller.  Modern version of CS Lewis’ ‘Mere Christianity’.  A book on apologetics to give friends and family who have questions about the existence of God from the leader of Redeemer Church in New York.

Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies in the Gospels, Kenneth Bailey.  If you enjoyed our series on Vintage Jesus you will love this book.  Find out where we got our best preaching points!

Philippa Hatch’s recommendations:

The Shack, William Young.  This book has provoked controversy, but I loved it.  I felt God speak to my heart on a number of levels and would recommend it.

A Fine Balance, Rohinton Mistry.  A beautifully written book that gave me a greater love and understanding of the people of India.

The Family Frying Pan, Bryce Courtenay.  What a brilliant story teller.  This book will warm your heart.

The Right way to keep Chickens, There is so much about chickens I didnt know!

A Thousand Splendid Suns, Khaled Hosseini. This book caused me to get on my knees and pray for the women of Afghanistan.

Preparing your Daughter for Every Womans Battle, Shannon Etheridge. Inspired some great conversations with Issy about desiring purity and what we communicate by the way we dress and respond to others.