My Top Ten Books of 2022
I always have such a hard time making this list! I read a lot of good books every year, and it’s such a challenge to narrow it down to ten, but here we go! These are all books I’d read again and recommend, and they’re listed in no particular order.
Without further ado, here are my top ten favorite books I read this past year.
In the Name of Jesus
by Henri Nouwen
This gem on Christian leadership was so good I read it several times in a row. It’s short (only about 80 pages) but by far the best I’ve read on this topic. I highly recommend it, whether you’re in leadership or not, as the Biblical principles apply to each Christian who wants to be of service to God and their community. It’s become one of my favorites and one that will stay in my “to read again” pile for quite some time. (In fact, I’m on my fifth reread as I write this!)
Crazy Love
by Francis Chan
I’d never read this book until this year, but I do know it was quite popular when it was first published, and now that I’ve read it, I can see why. It’s an excellent wake-up call for Christians who’ve become apathetic, even unknowingly, and who are desiring a deeper love relationship with God. I’m pretty sure it’s going to end up being one of those books I tell all my friends they must read.
How Not to Save the World
by Hosanna Wong
As the cover explains, this book is all about “revealing God’s love to the people right next to you.” I’ve been looking for a book to recommend on that exact topic, and I’m happy to say now I have one. One thing I really enjoyed about this book is that the author includes personal stories, learnings, testimonies, and examples from her own life and experience. I also enjoyed the last few sections on social media and the prayer challenge.
The Gospel Comes with a House Key
by Rosaria Butterfield
I enjoyed this book way more than I was expecting to when I started it. It challenged me and convicted me. What does “doing life together” and “loving your neighbor” really look like? The author shares what it looks like for her and her family, and - spoiler alert - it looks like loving others in words and actions! A whole lot of actions. While I don’t agree with the author on some things, this book is definitely another one I will be reading again, if for no other reason than the reminder to love others in words and deeds.
Surprised by Hope
by N.T. Wright
It’s hard to express my thoughts on this book because I’m still processing it. It was eye-opening for me, and I’ve been very intrigued by the concept of “life after life after death” as Dr. Wright puts it. One of the main reasons I enjoyed this book so much is that it made me think and want to open up my Bible and study the teachings on Heaven and New Creation myself. Another reason I loved it is that it offers inspiration and motivation for being active with Christ in the world we live in. There’s work to be done and we can be a part of what He’s doing right now.
Run with the Horses
by Eugene Peterson
The book cover asks, “How do we learn to risk, to trust, to pursue wholeness and excellence―to run with the horses instead of shuffling along with the crowd?” Eugene Peterson answers this question by examining the life of Jeremiah, the Old Testament prophet. By looking at Jeremiah’s hardships, his faithful obedience, and how he lived his faith in the midst of mockery, persecution, and an enemy invasion, we learn how we, too, can “run with the horses” and pursue excellence even in the midst of challenging situations. This is another one on my list to read again next year.
Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret
by Dr. and Mrs. Howard Taylor
I know this is a classic Christian biography, and even though I was familiar with the basics of Hudson Taylor’s story and work, I’d actually never read this book until this year. His son and daughter-in-law recount his journey of faith and his work in China. It was an encouraging, inspiring read and I learned a lot about my own walk with the Lord through reading about Hudson Taylor’s walk with the Lord.
Heaven
by Randy Alcorn
Much like Surprised by Hope, this book caused me to really think about the future in a different way, and to think more practically about Heaven and the New Creation as being real places. Alcorn mentions how few books there are on Heaven, and although I’d never thought about it before, he’s right. It’s a topic that seems far off and abstract, something that doesn’t have any effect on our lives now. (Which is not true - see the next book below!) He bases his points on Scripture, which I appreciated, and I’ll admit that there are far more teachings on Heaven and the New Creation in the Bible than I’d realized, so it was fascinating to be taken on a journey and even encouraged to imagine what the future will hold.
The Law of Rewards
by Randy Alcorn
This is a short book with short chapters, but the teachings within are most definitely life-changing if taken to heart and applied. Alcorn teaches a topic that is not often talked about in our materialistic culture: the fact that we are given resources here on earth to invest in eternity, and how we spend our time, energy, and finances here will determine our rewards in heaven. If you want a book to motivate you to greater giving, not just money but time and service, then this book will certainly do so. I highly recommend this one as it causes the reader to take a hard look at how they spend their time and energy, as well as how they spend their financial and material resources.
With Christ in the School of Prayer
by Andrew Murray
I’d actually never read this book before even though it’s a classic book on prayer. I am always challenged and encouraged by Andrew Murray’s writings, and this book was no exception. The title really says it all. It’s an absolute must-read for any believer looking to deepen their prayer life. I took notes and re-read certain chapters again and again.
What are your top books from this year?
Leave a comment below and share!
(This is not a sponsored post and I’m not affiliated with anyone or anything in it. I also sometimes read books by authors whose views I may not agree with, either theologically or politically.)
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