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There are many great books available for Christians who want
to learn more about the Bible, the church, and Christianity.
But, New Testament Christians must be extremely careful what
they read, because there is so much denominational error and
false teaching in many of the "Christian" books available
today. However, there are many books written by faithful members
of the Lord's church that can be helpful in the spiritual growth
of Christians who want something to supplement their study of
God's word. Many faithful Christians have been led into error
after reading books that contain false doctrine. Christians
must be sure the material they read is in accordance with God's
word. Even "members" of the churches of Christ have
written books containing material that contradicts what the Bible
teaches. The Bereans were commended because "they received
the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily
to find out whether these things were so" (Acts 17:11).
All Christians are responsible to do the same with Bible related
materials they read and study (1 John 4:1). I am often approached and asked if I can recommend any good sound Christian books that will assist in spiritual growth and Bible study. While attending preaching school, I had the opportunity to read and learn about many great books that are beneficial for all Christians. I would like to recommend some of them to you. Remember, the most important book of all is the Bible, and all other books should be measured by how well they stay true to Its words. If you are interested in reading any of the following books, contact me and I will help you locate them. I hope to present more suggestions in the future. 1. "Why I am a Member of the church of Christ" by Leroy Brownlow. This is an excellent book for anyone who has recently become a Christian, or any Christian who wants to brush up on some basic facts regarding the church. It should not be mistaken as any kind of creed book for the church. It simply breaks down Biblical truth in an organized matter for easy study. We will begin a class in September that will use this book as supplemental study material. Contact me if you are interested in attending the class. 2. "Hermeneutics-A Text Book" by D.R. Dungan. This is an extremely useful book that explains the basic principles of Bible interpretation. It describes the different types of figures of speech used in the Bible (i.e., prophetic, figurative, and symbolic), and teaches one how to study the Bible in it's proper context. 3. "Questions and Answers - Open Forum Volumes 1 & 2" by Guy N. Woods. These two books are a compilation of answers to Biblical questions that Guy Woods gave at the Freed-Hardeman College Lectures over the course of many years. The two volumes contain a massive amount of information about questions regarding difficult Biblical texts and issues facing Christians and the church. 4. "The Church of Christ - A Biblical Ecclesiology for Today" by Everett Ferguson. This book covers a wide spectrum of information regarding Christianity and the church. It discusses the covenants of the Bible, man's need for salvation, the plan of salvation, and every aspect of the church from its organization to its worship. 5. "Piloting the Strait" by Dave Miller. Dave Miller spends a great deal of time in this book describing numerous attacks that are being made on the Lord's church. He discusses what is behind the "change movement" in the churches of Christ and what every Christian can do to help prevent its further spread. The book also covers many current issues facing the church, such as changes in church music and other unauthorized worship practices. These are just a few suggestions among many. I will try to recommend more in the future. Maybe you have a few good ones you can suggest. If anyone is interested in finding any of these books, let me know and I can help. -Ed |