Pastor Andrew's 2022 Books of the Year!
Dear CPC Family,
I love December. There are many reasons for this but one I’m sheepish to admit is this: I love year-end book lists. I love to hear from people I know and respect what they’ve been reading and which books have been particularly influential over the past year.
Here are some of the books that stick out to me. Perhaps you’ll benefit from one or more of these—or perhaps this can help you find a book for that hard to shop for person on your Christmas list!
The Glorious Body of Christ by R.B. Kuiper: a great introduction to ecclesiology (the doctrine of the church) from a key leader in the early days of the OPC.
The short chapters make this an ideal book to read daily and reflectively. If you read this, you will grow not only in your understanding of the church but also in your love for the church—the bride of Christ for which He laid down his life.
The Air We Breathe: How We All Came to Believe in Freedom, Kindness, Progress, and Equality by Glen Scrivener: As opposition to the Christian faith seems to grow, what many opponents don’t realize is that their opposition to Christianity can only exist because they take Christian ideals for granted (as Van Til might say, they are living on “borrowed capital”). This is a great book to read yourself and share with friends to encourage them to take a second look at the good news about Jesus.
Right Ho, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse: No need to be serious and theological all the time! If you like British humor and a writer who can dazzlingly employ the English language for very silly purposes, you will like this book. I listened to this one on Audible which made people around me wonder why I was laughing so hard.
Finishing Our Course with Joy: Guidance from God for Engaging With Our Aging by J.I. Packer: I don’t think I’m quite in the target audience for this one. But, in another sense, we are all the target audience. This book is a clear call to live for God’s glory and with joy in Christ at any age or stage of life.
... and two still in progress!
Habits of the Household by Justin Whitmel Earley: This is a book that Rebekah and I wanted to buy for every family we know after reading just a few chapters. Especially for families with young children, the author emphasizes the importance of intentional, simple, daily habits on Christian family life. This book draws on wise sources for family life and gives plenty of practical, easy-to-implement advice. In the past I’ve recommended The Common Rule by the same author (and still do!). Habits of the Household is even better!
Biblical Critical Theory by Christopher Watkin: This is one I’ll be reading for a while but I’m very excited about the author’s aim to bring biblical theology into conversation with every dimension of our contemporary life. We, and our views, always need to be challenged by God’s Word—and that’s what Christopher Watkin sets out to do. You can be sure that many of the ideas in this book will be coming to a sermon or Sunday School class near you!