While the Bible remains the best selling book of all time, other Christian books also continue to be great sources of inspiration and help.
Because Christians place a high value on personal growth and improvement, many Christian non-fiction books have maintained their popularity over the decades among spiritual and secular readers.
You are reading: Best christian books of all time
classic Christian non-fiction books
These Christian non-fiction books range from historical accounts to self-help and motivational reading.
the imitation of christ by thomas à kempis
the imitation of christ of thomas a kempis is considered a classic of christian literature. The author was a man committed to doing whatever it took to imitate his savior, Jesus Christ. This compromise gives the book unusual depth, as Kempis practiced what he preached.
mere christianity by c.s. louis
Best known for his children’s book series The Chronicles of Narnia, c.s. Lewis was actually a famous British author also known for his deep interest in Christianity.
The book Mere Christianity was adapted from his BBC radio talks and explores the “common ground on which all who have Christian faith stand united.”
the confessions of st. augustine by st. Augustine and John K. ryan
the confessions of st. Augustine is considered one of the most influential books in the Christian faith.
in it,st. Agustín wrote more than an autobiography. he traces different crossroads in his life, such as his lavish time at the imperial court, his sexual struggles, his subsequent renunciation of marriage and ambition, and his final return to his Catholic faith to inspire his followers to seek their own personal growth. .
This book will be of great help to anyone who wants to learn about the impact of one of the most important figures in the evolution of Christian thought.
meeting god by j.i. packer
meeting god by j.i. packer is another classic of Christian literature. Many Christians consider it an important tool for discovering the joy and wonder of knowing God intimately.
In a 2006 Christianity Today review, the book was ranked as one of the top 50 books that influenced evangelicals.
packer explains who god is and also shares how we can relate to him in three sections: the first section talks about why and how we know god, the second discusses the different attributes of god, and the third discusses the benefits of knowing him close up.
more than a carpenter by josh mcdowell
more than a carpenter, by josh mcdowell, is an inspiring classic updated for a new generation of truth seekers. The new version includes ideas from Mcdowell’s son, Sean.
josh mcdowell was a former skeptic who examined the evidence about jesus. Since it was first published in 1977, More Than a Carpenter has sold more than 15 million copies and has been translated into multiple languages.
the practice of the presence of god by brother lorenzo
brother lawrence was a monk who discovered the secret of practicing the presence of god even in the midst of mundane tasks.
the practice of the presence of god is a compilation of the teachings of brother lawrence, compiled by father joseph de beaufort.
The book, whose main theme is developing an awareness of God’s presence, includes letters and conversations that were recorded by people with whom Brother Lawrence spoke.
contemporary Christian non-fiction books
Although the classics continue to be favorites among old and new Christians alike, several contemporary Christian non-fiction books also grace the shelves of this new generation of believers.
a purposeful life by rick warren
The Purpose Driven Life of Rick Warren achieved bestselling status when it was first published in 2002. Second only to the Bible, this book is now the second most translated book in the world. focuses on equipping a new generation of Christians to discover God’s purpose for their lives.
warren has recently updated the book, adding new chapters on the obstacles to living a purposeful life.
The new edition also includes links to video introductions to each chapter, as well as audio messages that explore the main messages in greater depth.
jesus calling you by sarah young
sarah young’s jesus calling, a daily devotional, tops the list of contemporary christian nonfiction books. The author began by writing a diary of her conversations with God, and wrote the book in the first person, with Jesus as the speaker.
This book of daily inspirations will challenge you to seek God’s presence on a regular basis and help you get into the habit of developing your own quiet time.
the case for christ by lee strobel
Award winning legal journalist Lee Strobel was another skeptic who intentionally studied the evidence for Christianity.
the atheist applied his vocational skills to investigate the claims of christianity, and shares his findings in the case for christ.
The book traces Strobel’s path from atheism to faith in Christ. You’ll see how he uses expert testimony to analyze truths in science, history, literature, and religion.
crazy love: overwhelmed by an unforgiving god by francis chan
Former pastor of Cornerstone Community Church, Francis Chan is an American author, preacher, and teacher in evangelical churches.
His book Mad Love: Overwhelmed by an Unforgiving God is an excellently written exposition of God’s “radical, unconditional, and selfless” love. He tackles the topic of acting for God’s approval and challenges readers to find God’s love for themselves.
90 minutes in the sky of don piper
don piper was driving home from a conference when a truck crossed his lane and crushed his car. According to medical personnel, he died on the spot. for the next 90 minutes, his body lay lifeless inside what was left of his car.
When a minister prayed for him after the ninety minutes, piper experienced a miracle of literally coming back to life. Piper says that during those 90 minutes he experienced heaven, the details of which he shares in this book.
god’s reason by timothy keller
Another book that helps Christians or seekers understand more about the Christian faith, God’s Reason examines common doubts.
timothy keller uses philosophy, literature, real-life conversations, and logical reasoning to explain how faith in christ can be a rational decision.
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The book gives believers a solid platform on which to base their faith. It also challenges atheists, agnostics, and skeptics to seek relationship and a better understanding of God.
wild at heart by john eldredge
ransomed heart director john eldredge wrote ransomed heart to offer a refreshing insight into the male heart, characterized by a natural yearning for adventure and being a hero.
eldredge begins his book by exploring the current state of manhood, including the influence of the church. he unfolds ideas for the male heart, created in the image of a passionate god.
your best life now by joel osteen
Your Best Life Now by Lakewood Church Pastor Joel Osteen perfectly sums up some of his core beliefs: Who we are is a result of what we believe.
The book challenges readers to define themselves based on what God says about them. Osteen also encourages readers to be people of faith, trusting that God will do the impossible in their lives.
stephen kendrick’s love challenge
the love challenge by stephen and alex kendrick is a great manual for building strong marriages. It has made the New York Times bestseller list and has sold 5 million copies.
The book contains a 40-day challenge for married couples to learn and give each other unconditional love. the book will help you find the keys to true intimacy and cultivate a healthy marriage.
kingdom woman by tony evans and chrystal evans hurst
tony evans wrote kingdom woman with his daughter, chrystal evans hurst, to challenge women to live free, healed, liberated, hope-filled lives.
The book deals with distorted ideas about what a woman is, and confidently tells them who they are in Christ. A true kingdom woman is not limited by mediocrity, but she can live victoriously through Christ.
passion for jesus by mike bickle
mike bickle, founder of house of prayer international, wrote passion for jesus to challenge believers to live a life of passionate love for jesus.
traces his journey through legalism and how he stumbled upon the overwhelming love of god, which in turn sparked a love for him.
also explores the relationship between god and man in the context of the song of solomon.
loving our children on purpose by danny silk
In this Christian parenting book, Danny Silk, one of Bethel Church’s top leaders, explores ways to empower your children to make wise decisions.
Instead of the traditional parenting approach where parents control everything, it explains how children thrive when parents give them choices. gives parents tools and techniques to implement this plan of intentionally raising children to become godly adults.
love after marriage by barry and lori byrne
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Barry Byrne and his wife Lori wrote this detailed marriage manual to help couples discover marriage as God intended.
candidly explore the issues of anger, distrust, and contempt that are prevalent among married couples. they believe that the holy spirit wishes to release healing upon couples who are struggling to connect.
The book teaches many useful strategies, such as being transparent and vulnerable with your spouse, all taken from the world-renowned love after marriage workshops that the authors themselves conduct.
trial and triumph by richard hannula
This collection of stories traces the lives of the martyrs from early church history to the present day. Richard Hannula expertly weaves together the childhood background and other influential factors that led to each person’s quest to impact the world for Christ.
Beginning with Polycarp, a witness in the arena since A.D. 69, the book goes through each time period introducing several of Christendom’s best-known names, from the early church, the middle ages, the reformation, the post-reformation, missions modernity, and ending with the early 1900s for recent times.
a tale of three kings by gene edwards
gene edwards expertly explores the stories of three kings: saul, david, and absalom, presenting kingdom principles for authority and submission.
using a storytelling angle interspersed with speeches direct to his audience, edwards challenges the church to value godly appointed leadership. he reveals common mindsets young believers have, leading them to question the authority of anointed leadership.
The book will inspire you to resist and grow in the presence of a difficult leader.
heaven by randy alcorn
randy alcorn strongly believes that most christians have a limited view of heaven. In this book, she seeks to share what the Bible tells us about heaven so that we have a proper understanding of eternity.
Alcorn’s in-depth study and comprehensive explanation of the biblical view of heaven, coupled with his engaging writing skills, offers Christians a breath of fresh air. he will find that his mind expands and his heart yearns for heaven as he reads this book.
he chose the nails: what god did to conquer your heart by max lucado
master storyteller max lucado takes us to the foot of the cross and shows us all that jesus did to show his love for us.
each chapter of chose the nails deals with a specific aspect of the cross and invites us to reflect on all these details in the light of god’s forgiveness.
Lucado invites us to stop at Calvary and contemplate the high price that Jesus paid to welcome us into his family.
wishing god by john piper
Christian hedonist john piper has spent the last several decades challenging the church to find its supreme joy and satisfaction in god.
piper develops his message of desiring god in numerous passages of the bible, drawing heavily on the psalms, the letters of paul and the words of jesus himself. He encourages us to approach God with total abandon and to find in him our greatest fulfillment.
the disciple loved by beth moore
excellent teacher beth moore calls us to the very heart of jesus through the perspective of the apostle john.
moore explores different experiences john had with jesus, imagining how he must have responded to all the miracles he saw and all the displays of love he encountered.
Reading this book will surely draw you to the truth that you yourself are God’s beloved and that he longs to shower his love on you.
Christian fiction books
Christian messages are also embedded in many fantastical works of fiction:
pilgrim’s progress by john bunyan
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John Bunyan’s allegory of the joys and sorrows of the Christian life is considered the #1 Christian novel of all time. Bunyan was a Puritan maverick who wrote the book while in prison for maverick lecturing.
The book begins with the main character, Christian, having a dream that takes him on a journey to the heavenly city, the details of which form the main content of the book.
bunyan traces and highlights aspects of christian’s life through the adventures he and his friends engage in throughout the book. part 1 covers christian’s journey, while part 2 covers his wife christianna’s journey.
hind legs in high places by hannah hurnard
hannah hurnard wrote hind legs on high places as an allegory for fear and triumph in the christian life. the main character, very frightened, fights with his fearful relatives while he wants to be with the great shepherd.
hurnard draws much of the theme of the book from the song of songs and deftly confronts us with our own challenges in our walk with christ. eventually, much fear overcomes him as he clings tightly to the shepherd and, as a result, he gains a new name.
the taped letters of c.s. louis
master narrator c.s. Lewis gives us insight into the demon mind in this unusual story: An older demon named Screwtape writes letters advising his youngest nephew, Wormwood, on tempting humans to sin.
The book contains 31 letters, and although it is included in fiction, Lewis reportedly wrote it as an apologetic novel and dedicated it to his good friend, Lord of the Rings author J.R.R. Tolkien’s satirical style of the book effectively addresses many themes in Christian theology, particularly the theme of resisting temptation.
the great divorce of c.s. louis
another novel written by c.s. Lewis, The Great Divorce is an allegory that tells the story of a passenger on a bus traveling from hell to heaven.
lewis explores the concepts of good and evil, as well as grace and judgment. The book, which was inspired by a theological vision of a dream, is sure to challenge your concepts of heaven and hell.
in his footsteps: what would jesus do? by Carlos M.
Published in 1896, Charles Sheldon’s best-selling Christian novel has sold more than 50 million copies. The book began when Sheldon began writing a story to share at his Sunday night service, exploring the concept of “what would Jesus do?”
The storytelling drew crowds to this Sunday service, and once it was over, chicago advance published the stories as a series, printing one chapter a week.
the novel traces different characters, including rev. henry maxwell, who poses the original challenge of asking “what would jesus do?” for an entire year his congregation, newspaper publisher ed norman, singer rachel winslow and heiress virginia page.
ben-hur: a tale of christ by lew wallace
This epic story by Lew Wallace is considered “the most influential Christian book of the 19th century.” Wallace was a lawyer and union general in the American Civil War, and his book achieved best-selling status as one of the most beloved books of the 19th century.
He studies the concepts of betrayal and redemption by intertwining the lives of Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish character, and Jesus Christ.
The story begins when Ben-Hur’s family is falsely convicted of treason, and in his quest to clear his family’s name, Ben-Hur encounters Jesus and his message of love and forgiveness.
redemptive love of francine rivers
Skilled storyteller Francine Rivers explores the biblical love story of Hosea and his unrelenting love for his unfaithful wife.
She effectively weaves the story of Michael Hosea into the present day and his equally unfaithful wife, giving us 400 pages of harrowing experiences and insight into the impossibility of such love.
With the story of Hosea as an allegory of God’s love, this book will likely broaden your perspective on the concept of God’s unconditional love.
a voice in the wind by francine rivers
A Voice in the Wind is the first book in the Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers. tells the story of Hadassah, a young slave with Christian-Jewish roots who lives in the Roman Empire.
After Roman soldiers capture Hadassah and kill her entire family, she becomes the slave of a Roman teenager named Julia.
rivers deftly weaves together the stories of the two girls and gives us unparalleled insight into the lives of Christians in the midst of intense persecution during this period.
this present darkness by frank peretti
Frank Peretti’s first adult novel offers a modern take on spiritual beings such as angels and demons and the concepts of prayer and spiritual warfare.
This Present Darkness, the first in a series, follows events in the small town of Ashton, where reporter Bernice Kreuger faces trumped-up charges, goes to jail, and walks out with her camera film of a recent summer festival. , all destroyed.
With the story revolving around exhausting investigation and detail, the author also reveals the invisible forces of darkness at work behind everything that happens in the visible realm.
the divine romance of gene edwards
theologian gene edwards takes us through the bible story from before creation to the return of jesus in the context of a great romance.
shows how, at every step of the way, the heart of God beats with passion for his people. his expert narration brings unimaginable scenes, such as eternity and the perspective of angels, to life. You will see the bible through new eyes as you read the divine romance.
the crimson cord: rahab’s story by jill eileen smith
The first in Jill Eileen Smith’s Daughters of the Promised Land series, The Crimson Cord explores the story of Rahab, one of the few women mentioned in the lineage of Jesus.
The book begins with Rahab being sold into slavery to pay off her husband’s debt. she is forced into prostitution by a very influential person, which pushes her to the depths of despair.
Meeting the Israelite spies and letting them stay in her house opens a door to hope, and she vows to protect them no matter what.
the best books on Christianity
The books featured in this list will inspire and motivate loyal readers, but can also provide historical, cultural, and personal insights that will benefit even non-religious readers.
To find out where you can find free Christian reading, check out our list of the best free Christian eBook sites.
Do you have a favorite Christian book? Share it with us in the comments below!
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