The Lowe Show

High Five of 2008: Books December 23, 2008

As we approach the end of 2008, many folks begin to reflect on the past year and look forward with anticipation to the year ahead.  It’s normal to see countdowns of the top movies, songs, books, and just about anything else you can think of from the past year.  Yep, this is one of those lists.  Here are the top 5 books that I read during the past year:

#5 – According to Plan by Graeme Goldsworthy – This book was a helpful (and surprisingly easy) read that serves as an introductory biblical theology.  Goldsworthy succeeds in showing the unfolding revelation of God’s plan of redemption in the Bible.  The primary strength in this work is that Goldsworthy shows how Christ just leaps off of the pages of both the Old and New Testaments.

#4 – Shadow of the Almighty by Elisabeth Elliot - This is a biography about the life of Jim Elliot, one of the well-known Christian missionaries who was murdered by the Auca Indians in 1956 (and for whom the movie “The End of the Spear” is based upon).  Although the book is narrated by his wife, the heart of the book is a glimpse into the journal writings of a man who had a passion to make Christ known to the nations.  If you are ever looking for an inspiring missionary biography to read, this book would be an excellent choice.

#3 – God, Marriage, and Family by Andreas Kostenberger and David Jones - This book lays the biblical foundation for the institution of marriage and family.  The authors review relevant teachings from both the Old and New Testaments as they present their conclusions.  After building the proper foundation, the authors then address contemporary issues such as birth control, abortion, artificial reproductive technologies, adoption, homosexuality, singleness, and divorce and remarriage.  This was an eye-opening book to me and I definitely recommend it to you.

#2 – Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands by Paul David Tripp – This book is a wonderful resource for discipleship and biblical counseling, and serves as a wonderful introduction to biblical counseling.  Tripp helps the reader to see that we are people in need of change who God uses to help other people who are also in need of change.  His simple process of counseling (Love, Know, Speak, and Do) helps the reader to make sense of the daunting task of counseling.  I highly recommend this book!

#1 – Seeing With New Eyes by David Powlison – This is another wonderful resource for biblical counseling.  Powlison does a wonderful job of making the case that the Bible is sufficient to address the problems in our lives.  As the title suggests, this book helps the reader to see the problems of human beings through the lens and light of Scripture.  In essence, the book helps to see the root causes of the counselee with new eyes.  This book has had a profound effect on me, and I believe that it may also do the same for you.