Posted on September 6th, 2022.

If you have a favorite Christian book, it’s likely due to the way it makes you challenge yourself or how you look at the world. For works of fiction, it might be due to a fun character or an engaging story. Those of us who read know there are a number of wonderful attributes we can ascribe to the pastime. The one thing that can be said about each of us is that we could probably stand to read a little more. Perhaps that means a daily quiet time or something a little more lighthearted. With World Book Day coming up, we wanted to take some time to discuss the many benefits of reading Christian books.

READ CHRISTIAN BOOKS FOR FUN

Think back to a time before the weight of adulthood was planted on your shoulders. Before you were grown up, most entertainment wasn’t centered on Hollywood blockbusters and the latest offerings from Netflix. It was a time when you found adventure and excitement on the pages of your favorite books. The good news is that you don’t have to be a kid to still get that same sense of joy from reading. Between Francine Rivers, Frank Peretti, C.S. Lewis, Ted Dekker, and more great authors, there is a mountain of exciting fiction in the world of Christian books. You can read works of historical fiction that teach valuable lessons, journey to Narnia and embark on a swashbuckling adventure, or find a book that’s a little spooky in all the right ways.

Reading is also a great way to get your kids and grandkids learning about the Bible in a fun way. Sermons are great but not always the best way for a child to learn about important Bible characters and themes. How about something like “Good Good Father,” based on the Chris Tomlin song of the same name? Whether you’re trying to reach a 4-year-old child or a teenager entering high school, Christian books can be a great way to help them understand vital principles while also having fun.

Many of today’s bestsellers contain language and scenarios that you wouldn’t want to read yourself, let alone have a family member think about. Just like watching Christian movies, reading family friendly books that honor God allow us to have fun without worrying about the content.

TO DEEPEN YOUR FAITH

The first Christian book we should be reading for theology and building our faith should be the Bible. Considering how bad Bible illiteracy is in America, we could probably stand to recommend fewer contemporary works and focus more on Scripture. With that being said, though, one of the best uses of Christian books is to deepen your faith. The Bible is a beautiful book inspired by God that gives hope to millions and has ultimate authority. With the help of Christian books, we can extract certain messages and stories of the Bible to better understand a problem that faces us today.

One of Beth Moore’s bestselling books, “Breaking Free,” uses passages from Isaiah to draw parallels with the struggles of Christians today. Not every book is about interpreting exact passages of Scripture, though. Take Kyle Idleman’s “Gods at War,” for example. This book examines the human condition to identify what things we value higher than God. How can we learn to put God back at the top of our priority list? This is only one of the important lessons that can be learned from Christian books.

You can also lump in Bible commentaries, daily devotionals, and prayer journals when discussing Christian books. There are so many possibilities for us to take in as we try to strengthen our beliefs.

TO TEACH OTHERS MORE EFFECTIVELY

An asset that is often overlooked when it comes to books is that they allow us to communicate more effectively with others. When you understand where people are coming from, it’s that much more possible to achieve greater goals and work together. For starters, Christians who are stepping into ministry for the first time might find it beneficial to read books that deal with evangelism, discipleship, and leadership.

If you’re a man in his 50’s starting to teach a class full of teens, you would find it helpful to read a book like Andy Stanley’s “The New Rules of Love, Sex, and Dating” or “7 Practices of Effective Ministry.” There are many Christian books that will help you in communication at work or in ministry at church. Depending on what kind of people you are hoping to reach, there are books on parenting, depression, finances, single life, and more that can help. We all come from different backgrounds so it can be helpful to take on a different view from time to time.

TO EXPLORE HISTORY AND THE WORLD

Since the birth of publishing, one of the best features that books have provided is the ability to learn more about faraway places and times. This has been especially helpful when it comes to the spread of the Bible across the world. How amazing is it that we can read historical accounts from the Bible today?

Aside from Scripture, Christian books allow us to learn the story of many brave and influential Christians who came before us. If not for the books written about (and sometimes by) them, we may never have known the full story of people like Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Hudson Taylor, Corrie Ten Boom, Jim and Elisabeth Elliot, and others.

Books also allow us to experience other cultures from around the world. Want to learn more about the Middle East from a Christian point of view? Curious to find out more about the struggles of Christians in dangerous countries? Get both in “They Say We Are Infidels: On the Run from ISIS with Persecuted Christians in the Middle East” by Mindy Belz.

Christian books unlock many of the mysteries about faith, current events, and those who came before us. We should take advantage of the resources at our fingertips and learn as much as we possibly can. If you’ve never been fond of reading, find something quick and simple that you can finish without too much effort. You just might discover a new love.

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