Below is a growing list of books I recommend on various topics. They are listed in no particular order because I can’t be bothered to try and organize them. Please note that by recommending these books, it does not mean I agree with everything the authors believe or have written. It is good to read things we agree with and disagree with, so long as the material is of good substance.
God
The Reason for God by Timothy Keller
Delighting in the Trinity by Michael Reeves
Bearing God’s Name by Carmen Joy Imes
Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund
The Bible
Wisdom for Faithful Reading: Principles and Practices for Old Testament Interpretation by John Walton
How the Bible Actually Works by Peter Enns
Being God’s Image by Carmen Joy Imes
How to Read the Bible for All its Worth by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stewart (another good one by the same authors is How to Read the Bible Book by Book, which provides an introduction and annotated outline of every book in the Bible)
New Testament Introduction by Donald Guthrie
Opening Israel’s Scriptures by Ellen Davis
Flood and Fury: Old Testament violence and the shalom of God by Matthew Lynch
The Church
Becoming God’s Family: why the church still matters by Carmen Joy Imes
What it Means to be Protestant by Gavin Ortlund
When Church Stops Working by Andrew Root
Evangelism in an Age of Despair: hope beyond the failed promise of happiness by Andrew Root
Mirror to the Church: resurrecting faith after genocide in Rwanda by Emmanuel Katongole
Growing Young: six essential strategies to help young people discover and love your church by Kara Powell, Jake Mulder, and Brad Griffin
The Old Testament Law for the Life of the Church by Richard Averbeck
History
The Triumph of Christianity by Rodney Stark
Church History Volume One and Two by Everette Furgusson (vol.1) and John Woodbridge and Frank James III (vol. 2).
The Unintended Reformation: how a religious revolution secularized society by Brad Gregory (warning: this is a very academic book!)
Reformation Myths by Rodney Stark
Dominion: The Making of the Western Mind by Tom Holland
Personal/Leadership Development
Life Worth Living by Miroslav Volf
Renewing the Christian Mind by Dallas Willard
In the Name of Jesus by Henri Nouwen
Humilitas: A Lost Key to Life, Love, and Leadership by John Dickson
Leadership or Servanthood?: walking in the steps of Jesus by Hwa Yung
Working in the Presence of God: spiritual practices for everyday work by Denise Daniels and Shannon Vandewarker
Called: the crisis and promise of following Jesus today by Mark Labberton
Finding the Will of God by Bruce Waltke
The Call by Os Guinness
Devotions and Prayer
Seeking God’s Face by Philip Reinders (also available to read for free at seekinggodsface.org)
Every Moment Holy by Douglas McKelvey (there are multiple volumes available, or a selection of free materials on their website at everymomentholy.com/liturgies)
The Spirit of the Disciplines by Dallas Willard
Prayer in the Night: for those who work or watch or weep by Tish Harrison Warren
God is in the Manger and God is on the Cross by Dietrich Bonhoeffer (devotionals for Advent and Lent seasons)
Study/Devotional Bibles
The NIV Study Bible Fully Revised Edition (if you buy just one study Bible, this would be a great option)
The NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible Edited by Craig Keener and John Walton
The NRSV New Interpreters Study Bible with Apocrypha with Walter Harrelson as General Editor (while the Apocrypha should not be read as authoritative Scripture, it holds value for those who want to learn more about Jewish belief between the Old and New Testament writings.)
The NIV Upside-down Kingdom Bible with Preston Sprinkle as General Editor
NLT One Year Chronological Study Bible
Immerse: The Reading Bible (Six-volume series, written in novel format) learn more at immersebible.com
The NRSV Life with God Bible edited by Richard Foster
Poetry
Waiting on the Word: A poem a day for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany by Malcom Guite
Word in the Wilderness: A poem a day for Lent and Easter by Malcom Guite
Holy Luck by Eugene Peterson
George Herbert’s Complete English Works
General Non-Fiction
Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
How Jesus Became God by Bart Ehrman (read this alongside the response by Mike Bird, How God Became Jesus)
The Battle for Bonhoeffer: Debating Discipleship in the Age of Trump by Stephen Haynes
Five Views on The Church and Politics edited by Amy Black
Culture Making by Andy Crouch
Strong and Weak: Embracing a Life of Love, Risk, and True Flourishing by Andy Crouch
Fiction
The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan
The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis (Seven book series. I recommend reading them in the order they were written, starting with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe)
Silence by Shusaku Endo (A novel based on true events surrounding 16th century missionaries to Japan and the persecution they faced)