Books, television, movies, music, and other art forms, in all of their amazing presentations (hard copies, digital versions, etc.) can be pathways or roadblocks along the journey of growing faith and passing it on. So much of what we read, see and hear in today’s world is negative, nasty, and sarcastic. Such resources tear us down – they don’t build us or our loved ones up, or encourage us to grow and develop as children of God.
Think about the movies, TV series and music that have shaped your life and left catchy phrases and hard-to-erase visuals in your mind and spirit. Did they help you grow as a person, or stunt you? As the well-known saying puts it, “Garbage in, garbage out!”
Exposing ourselves and our children to excellently crafted, theologically sound, biblically based resources can be exciting and stimulating to all five senses. Such exposure also creates lasting imprints on souls and spirits, plowing the ground for sound thinking and good decisions for the future.
This page is designed to give you ideas about great resources that will build your own faith in Christ, and empower you to pass it on to those within your circle of influence.
The following lists are only a beginning. I will expand them as time goes on, and will be referencing them in future blogs, as well. I’ve grouped them in loose categories – some would cross over from one category to another. I’ll be adding movie and music categories at a later date, as well as a category with resources on “heroes of the faith.”
Books
Growth in Faith for Christ-followers
The Bible (If you are a new believer in Jesus, I recommend finding a version you can easily understand. The Message, published by NavPress, is an excellent choice for this purpose. The New Living Translation is another you may enjoy. An audio version of either of these can be an excellent way to “read” Scripture as you commute to work.)
Ordering Your Private World , Restoring Your Spiritual Passion, and The Life God Blesses, by Gordon MacDonald
Total Forgiveness, by R.T. Kendall
Heaven, by Randy Alcorn
Something More, The Helper, and Light in My Darkest Night, and anything else by Catherine Marshall
Boundaries: When to Say Yes, When to Say No to Take Control of Your Life, by Henry Cloud and John Townsend
How to Delight the Heart of God, by Jan McCray
Adoration, Altogether Forgiven, and anything else by Martha Kilpatrick
The Red Sea Rules: 10 God-Given Strategies for Difficult Times, by Robert J. Morgan
Enemies of the Heart: Breaking free from the Four Emotions that Control You, by Andy Stanley
One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are, by Ann Voskamp
Ragamuffin Gospel and The Signature of Jesus, by Brennan Manning
Secrets of the Vine, by Bruce Wilkinson
The Life God Rewards, by Bruce Wilkinson
Apologetics (Understanding and Defending the Christian Faith)
The Case for Christianity, by C.S. Lewis
The Case for Faith, by Lee Stroebel
The Case for Christ, by Lee Stroebel
Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus, by Nabeel Qureshi
Jesus Among Other Gods, by Ravi Zacharias
Letters from a Skeptic, by Dr. Gregory A. Boyd and Edward K. Boyd
New Evidence that Demands a Verdict, by Josh McDowell
Dinner with a Perfect Stranger, by David Gregory
The Faith, by Charles Colson and Harold Fickett
Who Made God? And Answers to Over 100 Other Tough Questions of Faith, Ravi Zacharias and Norman Geisler, General Editors
What Have They Done with Jesus? by Ben Witherington III
Passing on the Faith
What is a Family? by Edith Schaefer
Legacy of a Pack Rat, and anything else by Ruth Graham
The Hiding Place, Tramp for the Lord, and anything else by Corrie Ten Boom
Johnny Appleseed: Planting Seeds of Faith in the Heart of Your Child, by Sally Leman Chall
Making God Real to Your Children, by Sally Leman Chall
Discover Your God-Given Gifts, and Discover Your Children’s Gifts, by Don and Katie Fortune
Healing the Generations
Blessing and Curse: You Can Choose, by Derek Prince