Reading is a wonderful thing for a Christian to do. The benefits and rewards are truly great. This is true of books generally but more so of Christian books.
Through reading, we hear great truths explained. We see our own experiences articulated and empathised with. We learn about the character of God and how to live in the world He made. We are encouraged to continue living faithfully and are warned against erring. A good book can warm the heart, challenge the mind and edify the soul. They can be profitable for gaining sustenance, growth, wisdom and encouragement.
We are blessed today with easy access to many faithful Christian authors from throughout the ages. Never before have more good books been so readily available.
Are you aware that in the church office there is a bookshelf? It has books on theology, Christian living, commentaries, biographies, ministry resources and more. It has books that help you to read the Bible, both with yourself and with others.
These books are free for you to borrow at any time. All we ask is that you return them when you are finished.
Some of the authors you can find on the shelf include CS Lewis, John Stott, J.I. Packer, John Chapman, D Martyn Lloyd Jones, Tim Chester and of course many others.
If you would like specific book recommendations, please don’t hesitate to ask the staff. They would love to help you find one that would be helpful to you.
It is worth noting that we should never substitute books written about the Bible for the Bible itself. The Bible is God’s word. It is useful for all things. In it, we find all that we need for salvation and Godliness. It truly has the words of eternal life. We can never add to it or subtract from it. Good Christian books are grounded in the Bible and impart wisdom gleamed from it. They help us to understand the Bible and how to live in response to it.
So please, come and visit the church office, on a Sunday or during the week. Have a look on the shelf and see what you can find. Once you’ve read a book, why not share with someone what you learnt, or how it encouraged and challenged you. If you loved it, pass it on to someone else so they too can benefit.
Happy Reading
Mitch Walker
Ministry Trainee
PS. Due to limited space and the need to be discerning, please do not ‘donate’ books to the library without speaking first to a pastoral staff member. We generally do not receive whole boxes of books.