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Quarantine 2020 Book Recommendations

With the world being swept by the corona-virus a whole lot of people have been confined to their homes for the time being. I pray that this ends swiftly and life can continue on normally. However, this newfound solitude does give us an opportunity to slow down a bit. I've seen many say they are going to try and start reading some more during this time. To help with this I've put together a list of some books I'd recommend if you are looking to read something that will help with spiritual growth and formation (besides the Bible, of course).

1. The Confessions of St. Augustine by St. Augustine

I cannot recommend The Confessions enough to people. St. Augustine is one of the premiere Christian thinkers in all of history, and The Confessions are his autobiography of how he came to the faith. It is beautifully written and I think many of us are able to identify with his struggles and stark self-reflection.

2. Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German minister during the Nazi regime who was eventually sent to a concentration camp for his faith and aid in resisting Hitler. Discipleship challenges us to live fully for Christ and challenges us to examine the way we preach grace and obedience.

3. Surprised by Hope by N.T. Wright

Basically you cannot go wrong with N.T. Wright. He is the top New Testament scholar of our time and extremely prolific. I would heartily recommend any of his books that I've read. The one I've chosen here is the one I found particularly insightful, Surprised by Hope. In it Wright examines what the Bible says about our hope as Christians and how we often miss the point and inadvertently minimize just how fantastic and wonderful God's plan for us is.

4. Gods at War by Kyle Idleman

Many of us think that idolatry is one of those things people in ancient times struggled with, but we have overcome. In Gods at War Kyle Idleman argues quite the opposite. Idolatry is still the root problem in our lives. We never stop worshiping or lose our faith; we simply worship and put our faith in something else.

5. The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

What else needs to be said? C.S. Lewis is one of the most influential Christian writers of the last century. The Screwtape Letters are a fascinating examination of temptation and sin from the (fictional) perspective of a demon writing to a fresh out of school tempter. It can be quite humorous but also incredibly insightful.

I hope this has proven helpful. If you do end up reading of these books, tell me what you think!

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