TOP 10 BOOKS of 2013 (Part 2)

Hello Church Family,

If you’ve been to a bookstore lately (or surfed Amazon.com), you know that there are books written on just about every topic under the sun. In fact, King Solomon, with all his wisdom, said: “Of making books there is no end.” In other words, more can always be said about a particular subject. So, with out limited time, what should we read? Well, last week I offered Part 1 of my favorite books of 2013. I’ve rounded out the list below:

5.  Crazy Busy by Kevin DeYoung. One thing you can be sure of when it comes to Kevin DeYoung is: he always delivers the goods. And this book is no exception. With his blend of subtle humor and gospel insight, DeYoung offers diagnostic tools and some simple correctives that can help us move from insanely busy to increasingly balanced. I’ve already started (trying) to apply some of his counsel myself.

4.  Accidental Pharisees: Avoiding Pride, Exclusivity, and the Other Dangers of Overzealous Faith by Larry Osborne. Technically this book was published in late 2012 but I couldn’t resist including it on my list. There are few things that Christians struggle with more than taking themselves too seriously while not taking Jesus seriously enough. Osborne helps. You may not agree with every assertion, but you’ll be challenged and edified.

3.  Glimpses of Grace: Treasuring the Gospel in Your Home by Gloria Furman. I love the way Gloria Furman writes. As a mother of three young children, she is honest, humble and deeply committed to the sufficiency of Christ. This book informs us of how the gospel applies to us every day and in every way. If you are mom (or dad… or anyone else, really) you will benefit greatly from this book.

2.  Stop Asking Jesus into Your Heart: How to Know for Sure You Are Saved by J.D. Greear. We talk about salvation using a lot of different descriptions, don’t we?  So-and-so “got saved.” Another person “gave his life to Jesus.” We speak definitively but very few with live with the confidence that they actually belong to God. J.D. Greear wades into some complex waters in talking about assurance but he does so in a winsome and thoughtful manner.

1.  One Way Love by Tullian Tchividjian. As a pastor, I meet with people all the time who are spiritually exhausted. (Don’t we all suffer from that at times!) They’ve tried everything to satisfy God and still they feel like a complete disappointment. While they would never say it, they live with under the conviction that God’s love must be constantly earned. What they need is a barrel-full of grace. That’s precisely what Tullian deftly provides.