Book Recommendations for Christmas Gifts
If you’re like me, you have already started selecting gifts for those on your list. And every year, I reflect on books I have read that I think others would enjoy, too. This is a varied list, mainly highlighting my favorite texts across many genres.
The first category I mention is biographies.I always find myself heartened by Christians whose faithful stories encourage me today. Biographies help move me out of our current culture and into another time and place, where God’s truth was the same then as it is today. These books aid me in my own faith journey as I read the faithful narratives of Christians who lived in different centuries.
The second genre is art and aesthetics. Beauty is important in worship because beauty is important to God. Books on aesthetics help us identify where beauty is in the Bible and how we can incorporate these elements in our personal worship of God.
The final genre is worship. I have recommended books on worship previously with So We Speak, but I think these particular books are worth mentioning again. These texts are not the mainstream books on worship that most leaders are familiar with. Rather, these books move beyond the practicality of structuring worship and examine the theological and historical elements of corporate worship. The authors have spent years researching and understanding this topic, which makes their books deeply valuable to all Christians.
This list could go on and on. But for the sake of time, I have constrained my recommendations to these three genres. I hope they bless the readers and encourage them in their faith of the one true God!
Biography
Cook writes in such an easy manner and it is easy to follow her storyline. Lady Jane Grey has often been misinterpreted by others who anachronistically (an act of applying a thought or event to a time period in which it did not belong) distort important events in her life. Cook appropriately studied all areas that affected Lady Jane Grey in her short life. From her interaction with Reformers Martin Bucer and Heinrich Bullinger, to her faithful stand against her family and, ultimately, against Mary Tudor, Lady Jane Grey's short reign influenced Reformers and Catholics alike. Cook succinctly explains the lineage of the Tudors and how Henry VIII planned his succession, and how his plans affected Jane. Balanced between the histories of British monarchy and the Reformation, the book reveals the true Lady Jane Grey, who remains an inspiration to Christians centuries later.
Reading stories about faithful Christians in centuries past is always encouraging to my faith. In Reformation Women, VanDoodewaard highlights the lives of many faithful women who lived during the 15th and 16th centuries. Most of these women are not household names, but their lives are worth knowing today. Reading about how they lived lives faithful to the Gospel of Christ will encourage modern readers to persevere in their faith, no matter their circumstances. VanDoodewaard also provides historical context for each woman so the larger narrative of the Reformation is fully understood.
I find myself recommending this autobiography to anyone seeking a biographical book. It is a redemptive story told by the author about his early days of sinful living, through his salvation, to the grace-filled end of his life. He discusses the topics of sin, marriage, and ministry, all with a fine craftsmanship of words. It is easy to read or listen to, especially with your family. If you want to know how the author came to write one of history's most beloved hymns, read his story in his own words. You will find yourself reflected in the pages.
This book was a tremendous blessing to me. Challies discusses multiple mothers from church history who helped shape their sons into great men for the Kingdom. From Timothy and Augustine to Spurgeon and Piper, each man’s relationship with his mother is a treasure to read. The blessed bond between mother and son is evident throughout, and the power of prayer is the focus of each story. This book is going to be a gift to all my boy-mom friends this year!
Rhodes takes a unique approach to this Spurgeon biography by examining the love story between Charles and Susie. Their story is one of love and commitment, which will encourage the reader in his or her own marriage. Charles and Susie balanced each other in their everyday interactions. When Charles encountered struggles, Susie encouraged him and was the helpmeet he needed in his marriage. And when Susie needed help, Charles reassured and led Susie, being the husband she needed. I highly recommend this rare glimpse into a Godly marriage that still encourages believers today.
Art & Aesthetics
Ryken and Mathes have written a thought-provoking yet approachable book encouraging the return to reading. They helpfully divide their book into three sections in which they state the problem (Part 1), examine literature (Part 2), and provide practical application (Part 3). One of the most beneficial attributes of this book is the discussion on beauty in literature. This topic appears throughout the book, with specific detail in Chapter 17. The authors continually mention the need for both truth and beauty in writing - no matter the genre. I appreciate how they discuss varying genres, and what constitutes a "good" book. This book would be beneficial for anyone who has gotten out of the habit of reading, or for kicking off a book club.
Ramsey's book explains the story behind the painting. Like knowing the biographies of the great hymn writers, Ramsey's book brings the reader into the life of the painter. We understand, not only the personal life of the painter, but the context and setting in which the painter lived. Ramsey also provides artistic explanation that helps non-artists understand how to enjoy art. His additions at the end of the book on how to visit an art museum and view art are extremely beneficial.
"Beauty is a relic of Eden - a remnant of what is good. It comes from a deeper realm. It trickles into our lives as water from a crack in a dam, and what lies on the other side of that dam fills us with wonder and fear. Glory lies on the other side. And we were made for glory."
This book is a treasure trove of beauty across multiple centuries. It is an excellent overview of art appreciation from a Christian perspective. Glaspey provides an appropriate amount of detail for each author/composer, helping the reader understand cultural influences upon the artist. Each work chosen provides a different aesthetic characteristic that helps the reader appreciate the artwork. This book makes a great gift for someone interested in exploring arts and aesthetics and the important role it plays in the life of a Christian.
I wasn't sure what to expect when I began Piper's book, but it didn't take me long to become engrossed in it. Understanding the craftsmanship that goes into the written and spoken word opened my eyes to what great artisans Herbert, Whitefield, and Lewis were. You will be encouraged to seek out artists of like-caliber that emphasize beauty in the written word. These three men lived at different times and in varying places, but their work has stood the test of time for a reason. Every reader will be encouraged through the beauty that is found in the works of these great men.
Worship
In a world that focuses on the individual (even within the evangelical church), Trueman's book helpfully explains what the creeds and confessions are, and how they serve the local church body. Of specific interest was his chapter on the role of creeds and confessions in corporate worship. In it he states, "It is of the nature of us as fallen human beings to forget who God is, to remake him in our own image, and to domesticate him in such a way that he conforms to the limited dimensions of our own imaginations. We go to church each week in part to be reminded by that Word which comes from outside of us who God is, what he has done, and what he will do. The corporate recitation of a creed forces us to engage in the positive action of ascribing to him that which is his."
For those who have not used creeds and confessions in corporate worship, this book serves as a challenge to you to incorporate them into your personal studies. If you use creeds and confessions in worship, this book helps you look at them with fresh eyes and understand their development and role in a deeper way.
Chapell situates the story of Christian worship in all of history from biblical times forward. As the title suggests, Chapell shows how the Gospel is found in the entirety of Scripture, and where Christ’s story is revealed in historical liturgies. Not only does this book tell the stories of the Reformers and their impact on Christian liturgy, but Chapell also provides examples of how to structure liturgies today, drawing from biblical sources and documents from church history. Of particular note, Chapell provides comparisons of the liturgies of different theologians, revealing the similarities and differences in the inclusion and placements of specific liturgical elements.
Quote: “Skilled worship leaders may select music with the intention of leading worshipers from adoration to confession to assurance to thanksgiving and preparation for instruction, but this is not the norm. The more likely mindset is that worship leaders will select and sequence music that will wake people up, then get them fired up, then settle them down for the Sermon, and send them home afterward feeling good. Perhaps this is a crass way of explaining it, but such an approach is instinctive and understandable if one has little sense for the history and purposes of the church’s worship”
I have used Ross’s text as a textbook, as a research document, and as an aid in personal devotions. His overall theme reveals God’s initial design for worship in the Garden of Eden, and how, once sin destroyed our fellowship with Him, we have continually strived for communal relationship with our God, which we anticipate in fullness when we see Him in glory. Ross provides deep detail into worship from the time of Eden, progressing through Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, and eventually New Testament worship. He discusses the qualifications for worship leaders in the Old Testament, which leads into his chapters on prophetic worship reforms. Ross gives ample discussion to early Christ-worship, pointing to ultimate heavenly worship in the eschaton. If you have ever wanted to study biblical worship in-depth, this is the book for you. It is saturated with Scripture and definitions, and clearly articulates the purpose of everything God instituted in biblical worship.
Quote: “One might be inclined to minimize the importance of the tabernacle and the later temple for any consideration of what might be included in planning buildings for Christian worship, thinking that because they are in the Old Testament they are no longer relevant. But since the old sanctuary was patterned after heaven’s eternal places, it remains relevant for our instruction. Its principles and purposes should help us think more seriously about what we construct for worship” (189)
Conclusion
If you have read any of these texts, I hope you would agree with my recommendation for others to read them, as well. Biographies are a great place to start if your intended gift recipient is not an avid reader. This genre is easy to pick up and put down when life is a little hectic. But I believe there is great benefit of reading these particular biographies.
Additionally, the books on aesthetics and worship are appropriate for any Christian, but particularly the Christian who already has a habit of reading. These texts are unique and the genres are not widely read among most church members. The authors of the recommended books are stalwart Christians and worth reading.
Whether you buy these books for yourself or as a gift, I hope they encourage you in your walk with God. I believe these books will edify any reader into whose hands they fall.
Kim has been married to her college sweetheart, Jason, for 24 years and they have one son who is a high school senior. Most recently, Kim completed her Ph.D in Church Music and Worship from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. She has presented at Evangelical Theological Society and The Society of Christian Scholarship in Music, and her works have appeared in The Hymn, Artistic Theologian, and Baptist History and Heritage Journal.
