20 Best Books About Christianity (2023 Update)

This used book is in good condition. this book is missing its dust jacket. widely proclaimed a classic work of christian faith, life of christ has been hailed as the most eloquent of fulton j. sheen's many books. the fruit of many years of reflection, prayer, and research, it is a dramatic and moving recounting of the birth, life, crucifixion, and resurrection of christ, and a passionate portrait of the god-man, the teacher, the healer, and, most of all, the savior, whose promise has sustained humanity for two millenia. with his customary insight and reverence, sheen interprets the scripture and describes christ not only in historical perspective but also in exciting and contemporary terms — seeing in christ's life both modern parallels and timeless lessons. his thoughtful, probing analysis provides new insight into well-known gospel events. an appealing blend of philosophy, history, and biblical exegesis, from the best-known and most-loved american catholic leader of the twentieth century, life of christ has long been a source of inspiration and guidance. for those seeking to better understand the message of jesus christ, this vivid retelling of the greatest story ever lived is a must-read.

A gorgeous boxed set that includes all eight paperback volumes of the c. – boxed together for the first time, here are the signature spiritual works of one of the most celebrated literary figures of our time. perfect for gift-giving, the c.

Christianity has an image problem.christians are supposed to represent christ to the world. but according to the latest report card, something has gone terribly wrong. using descriptions like "hypocritical," "insensitive," and "judgmental," young americans share an impression of christians that's nothing short of . . . unchristian.groundbreaking research into the perceptions of sixteen- to twenty-nine-year-olds reveals that christians have taken several giant steps backward in one of their most important assignments. the surprising details of the study, commissioned by q and conducted by the barna group, are presented with uncompromising honesty in unchristian.find out why these negative perceptions exist, learn how to reverse them in a christlike manner, and discover practical examples of how christians can positively contribute to culture. "this is a wonderful, thoughtful book that conveys difficult truths in a spirit of humility. every christian should read this, and it will likely influence the church for years to come."–publishers weekly, starred review"an engaging, challenging, and morally compelling study."–library journal"essential reading for all christian leaders."–cba retailersdavid kinnaman is coauthor of unchristian, you lost me, and good faith. he is president of barna group, a leading research and communications company that works with churches, nonprofits, and businesses ranging from film studios to financial services. since 1995, david has directed interviews with more than one million individuals and overseen hundreds of u.s. and global research studies. he and his wife live in california with their three children.gabe lyons is the founder of q–a learning community that mobilizes christians to advance the common good in society–and author of the next christians: seven ways you can live the gospel and restore the world. his work represents the perspectives of a new generation of christians and has been featured by cnn, the new york times, fox news, and usa today. gabe, his wife, rebekah, and their three children reside in manhattan, new york.

Is there credible proof that jesus of nazareth really is the son of god? in the case for christ, lee strobel, former legal editor of the chicago tribune and new york times bestselling author, retraces his own spiritual journey from atheism to faith and builds a captivating case for christ's divinity.in this revised and updated edition of the case for christ, strobel cross-examines a dozen experts with doctorates from schools such as cambridge, princeton, and brandeis, asking hard-hitting questions–and taking a deeper look at the evidence from the fields of science, philosophy, and history. in his comprehensive investigation, strobel doesn't shy away from the challenging questions, including: how reliable is the new testament? does evidence for jesus exist outside the bible? is jesus who he said he was? is there any reason to believe the resurrection was an actual event? what does all of the evidence point to–and what does it mean today? winner of the gold medallion book award and twice nominated for the christian book of the year award, the case for christ has been adapted into a major motion picture and has now sold over five million copies worldwide.this edition includes scores of revisions and additions, including updated material on archaeological and manuscript discoveries, fresh recommendations for further study, and an interview with the author that tells dramatic stories about the book's impact, provides behind-the-scenes information, and responds to critiques of the book by skeptics.strobel's thorough examination reads like a captivating, fast-paced novel. but it's not fiction: it's a riveting quest for the truth about history's most compelling figure.

In this fully revised and updated edition, the lauded church historian justo gonzalez tells the story of christianity from its fragile infancy to its pervasive dominance at the dawn of the protestant reformation. "the story of christianity," volume 1, relates the dramatic events, the colorful characters, and the revolutionary ideas that shaped the first fifteen centuries of the church's life and thought. from jesus's faithful apostles to the early reformist john wycliffe, gonzalez skillfully weaves details from the lives of prominent figures tracing core theological issues and developments within the various traditions of the church. "the story of christianity" demonstrates at each point what new challenges and opportunities faced the church and how christians struggled with the various options open to them, thereby shaping the future direction of the church. this new edition of "the story of christianity "incorporates recent archaeological discoveries to give us a better view of the early christian communities. among these are advances in the recovery of gnostic texts that have revealed a richer diversity of "christianities" in the first century. gonzalez also includes important research done in the past twenty-five years revealing the significant role of women throughout the history of the church. with lively storytelling incorporating the latest research, t"he story of christianity" provides a fascinating introduction to the panoramic history of christianity.

Why does a good god allow evil to continue? are there two creation accounts in genesis? is jesus the only way? isn't christianity just a crutch? josh mcdowell responds to these and 61 other most-asked questions!

The writings in this volume cast a glimmer of light upon the emerging traditions and organization of the infant church, during an otherwise little-known period of its development. a selection of letters and small-scale theological treatises from a group known as the apostolic fathers, several of whom were probably disciples of the apostles, they provide a first-hand account of the early church and outline a form of early christianity still drawing on the theology and traditions of its parent religion, judaism. included here are the first epistle of bishop clement of rome, an impassioned plea for harmony; the epistle of polycarp; the epistle of barnabas; the didache; and the seven epistles written by ignatius of antioch—among them his moving appeal to the romans that they grant him a martyr's death.for more than seventy years, penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the english-speaking world. with more than 1,700 titles, penguin classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

#1 new york times bestsellernamed one of the best books of the year bygood housekeeping – booklist – publishers weekly – bookish – two thousand years ago, an itinerant jewish preacher and miracle worker walked across the galilee, gathering followers to establish what he called the “kingdom of god.” the revolutionary movement he launched was so threatening to the established order that he was captured, tortured, and executed as a state criminal. – within decades after his shameful death, his followers would call him god. – sifting through centuries of mythmaking, reza aslan sheds new light on one of history's most influential and enigmatic characters by examining jesus through the lens of the tumultuous era in which he lived: first-century palestine, an age awash in apocalyptic fervor. scores of jewish prophets, preachers, and would-be messiahs wandered through the holy land, bearing messages from god. this was the age of zealotry—a fervent nationalism that made resistance to the roman occupation a sacred duty incumbent on all jews. and few figures better exemplified this principle than the charismatic galilean who defied both the imperial authorities and their allies in the jewish religious hierarchy. – balancing the jesus of the gospels against the historical sources, aslan describes a man full of conviction and passion, yet rife with contradiction; a man of peace who exhorted his followers to arm themselves with swords; an exorcist and faith healer who urged his disciples to keep his identity a secret; and ultimately the seditious “king of the jews” whose promise of liberation from rome went unfulfilled in his brief lifetime. aslan explores the reasons why the early christian church preferred to promulgate an image of jesus as a peaceful spiritual teacher rather than a politically conscious revolutionary. and he grapples with the riddle of how jesus understood himself, the mystery that is at the heart of all subsequent claims about his divinity. – zealot yields a fresh perspective on one of the greatest stories ever told even as it affirms the radical and transformative nature of jesus of nazareth's life and mission. the result is a thought-provoking, elegantly written biography with the pulse of a fast-paced novel: a singularly brilliant portrait of a man, a time, and the birth of a religion. – praise for zealot“riveting . . . aslan synthesizes scripture and scholarship to create an original account.”—the new yorker“a lucid, intelligent page-turner.”—los angeles times“fascinatingly and convincingly drawn . . . aslan may come as close as one can to respecting those who revere jesus as the peace-loving, turn-the-other-cheek, true son of god depicted in modern christianity, even as he knocks down that image.”—the seattle times“[aslan's] literary talent is as essential to the effect of zealot as are his scholarly and journalistic chops. . . . a vivid, persuasive portrait.”—salon“this tough-minded, deeply political book does full justice to the real jesus, and honors him in the process.”—san francisco chronicle – from the hardcover edition.

The third edition of christianity through the centuries brings the reader up-to-date by discussing events and developments in the church into the 1990s. this edition has been redesigned with new typography and greatly improved graphics to increase clarity, accessibility, and usefulness. – new chapters examine recent trends and developments (expanding the last section from 2 chapters to 5) – new photos. over 100 photos in all — more than twice the number in the previous edition – single-column format for greater readability and a contemporary look – improved maps (21) and charts (39) building on the features that have made christianity through the centuries an indispensable text, the author not only explains the development of doctrines, movements, and institutions, but also gives attention to "the impact of christianity on its times and to the mark of the times on christianity."

What did early christians really believe? the answer will surprise and amaze you! the fathers know best: your essential guide to the teachings of the early church is a unique resource that introduces you to the teachings of the first christians in a way no other work can. it is specially designed to make it easy for you to find the information you want and need. amazing features in this fact-packed book include: more than 900 quotations from the writings of the early church fathers, as well as from rare and important documents dating back to the dawn of christian history. mini-biographies of nearly 100 fathers, as well as descriptions of dozens of key early councils and writings. a concise history of the dramatic spread of christianity after jesus told his disciples to evangelize all nations. special maps showing you where the fathers lived, including many little-known and long-vanished locations. a guide to nearly 30 ancient heresies, many of which have returned to haunt the modern world. the fathers' teaching on nearly 50 topics, including modern hot-button issues like abortion, homosexuality, and divorce. this groundbreaking work presents the teachings of the early christians in a way unlike any other book. it flings open the doors of the crucial but little-known age covering the birth of christianity and the triumphant march of the gospel throughout the ancient world.

How can you believe all this stuff? ever since he became catholic, trent horn has spent a lot of time answering these questions, trying to explain to friends, family, and total strangers the reasons for his faith — some didn't believe in god, or even in the existence of truth — others said they were spiritual but didn't think you needed religion to be happy– some were christians who thought catholic doctrines over-complicated the pure gospel. — and some were fellow catholics who had a hard time understanding everything they professed to believe on sunday.

Of all john bunyan's writings, this book most fully expresses his delight and joy in the free and gracious welcome given to sinners by jesus christ. it is a thorough exposition of john 6:37: all that the father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me i will in no wise cast out. bunyan not only explains the meaning of the terms used in the text, but also labours to remove the doubts and difficulties of sinners and backsliders in their approach to christ. this work could be said to have given rise indirectly to the modern missionary movement, since it strongly influenced andrew fuller, the first secretary of the pioneering baptist missionary society, and helped him to set his denomination free from the grip of hyper-calvinism. it is a christian classic that deserves a wide modern readership.

For those who yearn for a deeper walk of faith, their journey can begin here.dr. sproul takes theology down from the dusty shelves of theological libraries and expounds in clear and simple terms more than one hundred major christian doctrines. he offers readers an essential understanding of the christian faith that will kindle a lifelong love for truth, which is foundational to maturity in christ. sproul's homespun analogies and illustrations from everyday life make this book interesting, informative, and easy to read.

Butler's lives of the saints is the most revered catholic book after the bible, the missal and the imitation of christ. a saint or two for each day of the calendar. great for the entire family. includes famous saints since fr. butler's time; all recounted in the same beautiful, reverent spirit that was his. impr. 463 pgs, pb

Usa today bestseller – learn how to work your way through life's unexpected challenges with grace and find a deeper faith while on your journey. in this biblical and conversational book by dr. tony evans and his four adult children–chrystal evans hurst, priscilla shirer, anthony evans, and jonathan evans–you will hear five insightful perspectives on what it means to hold on to faith when life breaks your heart. the evans family knows what this is like, as they've experienced the deep grief of losing eight loved ones in less than two years' time, including the devastating passing of lois evans, the matriarch of the family. – you'll walk away with insights on: why bad things happen despite a good and powerful god – persevering in difficult times and experiencing god's peace – what causes distress in your life–and how to move past it – how to keep your faith from being damaged during tough times join the evans family in this unique kingdom legacy partnership as they candidly share honest questions they've asked, raw emotions they've felt, and solutions they've learned. your life may have been interrupted, but you can use that to grow closer to god–and find peace.

New york times bestseller! kathie lee gifford and rabbi jason sobel the authors of the new york times best seller the rock, the road, and the rabbi bring you an exciting new life-changing message that will help you read the bible with new eyes and take you into the heart of god's people in scripture – from abraham to ruth to jesus and his early followers. kathie lee adds personal stories and reflections from her spiritual journey and studies, serving as a companion as you go deeper in your own relationship with god. – you will experience: the god of the how and when: when you don't know the details… god does. – the god of his word: when you can't see god…trust his heart and the promises in his word. – the god who sees: when you feel abandoned and forgotten… god knows and cares about you. – the god of the other side: when you feel overwhelmed and unworthy… god never passes by but crosses over and brings freedom. journey into god's word, from the creation of the world through the desert and empty places, the hebrew nation, and meet jesus, the disciples, and his followers. as you do, you will see how you are part of god's epic story of redemption – a radiant testimony to the truth that belief in god's promises is never wasted.

"a splendidly dramatic story… the fervent debate, civil strife, and bloody riots as christianity was coming into being, however, is a side of ancient history rarely described. rubenstein takes the reader to the streets of fourth-century rome, when a fateful debate over the divinity of jesus christ is being fought. ruled by a christian emperor, followers of jesus no longer fear for the survival of their monotheistic faith. but soon they break into two camps regarding the direction of their worship: is jesus the son of god and therefore not the same as god? or is jesus precisely god on earth and therefore equal to him? with thorough historical, religious, and social research, rubenstein vividly recreates one of the most critical moments in the history of religion.

"a splendidly dramatic story… the fervent debate, civil strife, and bloody riots as christianity was coming into being, however, is a side of ancient history rarely described. rubenstein takes the reader to the streets of fourth-century rome, when a fateful debate over the divinity of jesus christ is being fought. ruled by a christian emperor, followers of jesus no longer fear for the survival of their monotheistic faith. but soon they break into two camps regarding the direction of their worship: is jesus the son of god and therefore not the same as god? or is jesus precisely god on earth and therefore equal to him? with thorough historical, religious, and social research, rubenstein vividly recreates one of the most critical moments in the history of religion.

From nero's burning of rome to martin luther's posting of the 95 theses to billy graham's crusades, the history of christianity is a story filled with difficulty, daring, and devotion. this compelling book highlights 100 of the most important events in 2,000 years of that history in a single concise volume. packed with well-researched information and written in a readable, journalistic style, it brings to vivid life some of the people, events, and ideas that have shaped the church. perfect for pastors, teachers, history buffs, and anyone who is interested in learning more about the origins and development of the christian church.

From nero's burning of rome to martin luther's posting of the 95 theses to billy graham's crusades, the history of christianity is a story filled with difficulty, daring, and devotion. this compelling book highlights 100 of the most important events in 2,000 years of that history in a single concise volume. packed with well-researched information and written in a readable, journalistic style, it brings to vivid life some of the people, events, and ideas that have shaped the church. perfect for pastors, teachers, history buffs, and anyone who is interested in learning more about the origins and development of the christian church.