I. Are you looking for books that will help you grow deeper in your faith? We recommend the following:
The following list correlates with the second half of the KOINOS Christian Foundations seminar series. To see books for the first half of this series, click here. To see books related to other KOINOS series, click here.) For books related to these seminars, click on the seminar's title:
Turning Points in Church
History
An Invitation to Theology
Divine Transformation (Introduction to
Christian Formation)
KEY TURNING POINTS IN
CHRISTIAN HISTORY
Bruce Shelley's Church History in Plain Language
wonderfully describes the key people in Christian history, combining
authoritative research with a captivating style.
Organized around thirteen key moments in the history of Christianity, Mark Noll's Turning Points: Decisive Moments in Church History provides contemporary Christians with a fuller understanding of God as he has revealed his purpose through the centuries.
The 100 Most Important Events in Christian
History, a volume written by A.
Kenneth Curtis, J. Stephen Lang, and Randy Peterson concisely reviews key
people, events, and ideas across church history.
The title of this book 131 Christians Everyone Should Know (by Mark Galli and Ted Olsen) portrays its contents perfectly. It gives you clear pictures of over one hundred people who have significantly shaped Christian belief and practice. Your familiarity with these people will enrich your own faith.
Robert Walton's Chronological and Background Charts of Church History provides a synthesis and visual overview of information that helps one easily and quickly learn, review, and teach church history.
Did you know that every person has some kind of theology (right or wrong)? That means that every person is a theologian. Roger Olson and Stanley Grenz's Who Needs Theology?: An Invitation to the Study of God offers a wonderful introduction to the topic of theology. It will transform your view of the subject.
In his Theology for the Community of God,Stanley Grenz offers a fresh look at key theological themes, focusing on how they impact Christians' interaction with each other and God.
Alister McGrath's Christian Theology: An Introduction reviews
both the development and the present synthesis of Christian Theology.
William Placher, in Essentials of Christian Theology, has edited an extended theological dialogue. On nine significant theological questions, a variety of eminent scholars present two views. Placher introduces each topic and 'moderates' the discussion. (Stanley Grenz has written one of the entries in this volume. The Amazon link that appears below incorrectly lists him as the author of the entire volume.)
Brent Laytham has wonderfully shown us who God is NOT, so that we may better understand who God is.
[Introduction to Christian Formation]
In Renovation of the Heart, author Dallas Willard speaks of the "the transformation of the spirit"––a divine process that "brings every element in our being, working from inside out, into harmony with the will of God or the kingdom of God." In the transformation of our spirits, we become apprentices of Jesus Christ. Willard suggests that many Christians today are crying out, "Lord, I want to be a Christian in my heart." If that is your heart's cry, this book is the tool to take you to the next level in your quest for true, inward Christlikeness.
Hailed by many as the best modern book on Christian spirituality, Richard Foster's Celebration of Discipline explores the "classic Disciplines," or central spiritual practices, of the Christian faith. Along the way, Foster shows that it is only by and through these practices that the true path to spiritual growth can be found.
Dividing the Disciplines into three movements of the Spirit, Foster shows how each of these areas contribute to a balanced spiritual life. The inward Disciplines of meditation, prayer, fasting, and study, offer avenues of personal examination and change. The outward Disciplines of simplicity, solitude, submission, and service, help prepare us to make the world a better place. The corporate Disciplines of confession, worship, guidance, and celebration, bring us nearer to one another and to God. Celebration of Discipline will help motivate Christians everywhere to embark on a journey of prayer and spiritual growth.
The fifty-two selections from Richard Foster's Devotional Classics have been organized to introduce readers through the course of one year to the great devotional writers. Each reading features an introduction, a meditation, linked biblical passage, discussion questions, and individual and group exercises.
After the success of Devotional Classics (listed just above), Richard Foster issued a sequel in similar format. If you enjoyed Devotional Classics, you will also want to savor Spiritual Classics.
Based on Rembrandt's classic painting entitled, "The Return of the Prodigal Son," Henri Nouwen wrote a masterful meditation on the painting, the original parable, and their relevance for our walk with God and others.
If you would like to complement your informational reading of Scripture with a stronger emphasis on transformational reading of God's Word, Robert Mulholland wrote this book for you.
Upper Room published this volume, written by Kathy Bence, co-director of KOINOS. It looks at Julian of Norwich, and four other women saints, quoting key portions of their writings and inviting you to apply their thoughts in your own life.