The staff here at SWO loves to read. Mainly, we love reading the Bible. Paul writes in Ephesians 6:17 that the Word of God is the sword of the Spirit. The Bible is the tool the Holy Spirit uses to shape and conform us more into the image of Christ. Every believer must daily abide in the word of truth. It is both our responsibility and joy to mine the words of scripture and learn more about the character of Christ.

We also love reading books by authors that are gifted by God as writers and theologians who challenge us to discern scriptural truths and accurately apply them to our lives. Paul told Timothy, his son in the faith, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). So, we want to encourage you to read books by authors that follow Paul’s directive of rightly handling the word of truth. Here is a list of Zach Mabry’s favorite reads for the believer who desires to grow deeper in his or her faith.

The God Who Is There – Francis Schaeffer… anything by Schaeffer

Total Truth – Nancy Pearcey

A Severe Mercy – Sheldon Van Aucken

The Life You’ve Always Wanted – John Ortberg

The Celebration of Discipline – Richard Foster

The Divine Conspiracy – Dallas Willard

The Cost of Discipleship – Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Interpreting the Pauline Epistles – Thomas Schreiner (hugely foundational for Bible Study)

The Story of Christianity by Justo Gonzalez (Vol. 1) (Vol. 2)

The Reason for God – Tim Keller

A Shot of Faith to the Head – Mitch Stokes

The Reformed Pastor – Richard Baxter

The Mortification of Sin – John Owen

Understanding People – Larry Crabb

Reasonable Faith – William Lane Craig

The Way of the Cross – Roy Hession

Van Til’s Apologetic – Bahnsen

Life’s Ultimate Questions – Ron Nash

The Imitation of Christ – Thomas A’Kempis

The Return of the Prodigal Son – Henri Nouwen

Exegetical Fallacies – D.A. Carson