1. Cross Vision by Greg Boyd – What if the harshest aspects of God in the Old Testament actually help us see the most beautiful aspects of Jesus on the cross? This book will show you how to read the Bible with fresh eyes and cause you never to see God the same way again. Easily one of the best and most transformative books I’ve ever read.
2. What is the Bible? by Rob Bell – Rob is still a polarizing name, but I think this might be his best book yet. It will allow you to read the Bible with a fresh energy and give you a wider paradigm to understand it.
3. The Naked Gospel by Andrew Farley – Understanding how Christ’s death invites us into a new covenant changes everything. This book will free you from much of the legalism of cultural Christianity.
4. A Farewell to Mars by Brian Zahnd – Zahnd breaks down our need and dependence upon violence, especially the subconscious hold it has over us. This is a tough sell for Christians in America as I’ve personally experienced in the process of changing my own views on this the last couple of years.
5. The Cross and the Lynching Tree by James Cone. This book rocked me. Cone unpacks the nature of the cross in light of America’s history of lynching. It is amazing how it moves you back and forth between tears and a renewed hope for what God wants to do through us.
6. The Myth of a Christian Nation by Greg Boyd - Every now and then I’ll read a book that will so challenge my ideas that it causes me to rethink things that I’ve long ago concluded. This book articulates a tension that I’ve lived with for years now but have struggled to navigate. For any Christian in America that wonders how their faith should impact their political involvement, this is a must-read.
7. A Faith Not Worth Fighting For by Tripp York and Justin Bronson Barringer - I wish you knew when you were about to be completely rocked by something. This book was that type for me. Often a book like this with a collection of essays from multiple authors feels disjointed and repetitive. Not so with this. I was amazed how the chapters seemed to tackle all of the questions I had going into this book and how well the authors painted a mural of perspective.
8. God of the Possible by Greg Boyd - This book addresses what to do with all of the passages in the Bible that talk about God changing His mind, or God being surprised, or God laying out possible scenarios for people. It challenges the classical view of God’s foreknowledge and will ignite your experience with God and will unleash your prayer life.
9. Unclean by Richard Beck - This book rocked my world. This is a more heady read, so it may be tough depending on how disciplined you are as a reader, but it gives plenty to chew and reflect on. It will forever change how you view the world around you.
10. The Prophetic Imagination by Walter Brueggemann – Brueggemann explores the role of the prophetic voice throughout the scriptures and invites the church to continue living out this role in any culture today. A much-needed read for the American church.
11. Irresistible by Andy Stanley – I normally go to Andy for leadership in the church, but this book drops some serious theology in a profound and succinct way. He explains the massive shift the church needs to make for Christianity to thrive in the future.
12. Half the Church by Carolyn Custis James – James does a terrific job showing the value of women both Biblically and practically, as well as showing the injustices that have been done to them. As you might have guessed, she also points out the obvious reality that women are half the church.
13. People to be Loved by Preston Sprinkle – Few topics are as contentious these days as a Biblical view of sexuality (especially homosexuality). Sprinkle takes an objective look at what the Scriptures say about sexuality and how we can apply it today.
14. Strength to Love by Martin Luther King Jr. – One of the most quotable books I’ve ever read. Looks at the big picture of King’s theology and how he encouraged others to live out their faith as well.
15. Her Gates Will Never be Shut by Brad Jersak - The best book on hell I’ve ever read. Jersak does an amazing job arguing for the three dominant Biblical views on hell and offers a way to make sense of them.

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