Pastor Andrew's 2023 Books of the Year

December 12, 2023

Dear CPC Family,

It’s that time of year! Time for many people to round up the best books they read this year. I love reading these lists so I’m continuing my tradition of making my own. I hope it will point out things worth reading for growth in grace or simply for enjoyment.

None of these books were published in 2023 so this just the best of what I’ve read between January 1 and today, in no particular order. Enjoy!

Waiting on the Word: A Poem a Day for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany by Malcolm Guite: It’s not too late to get this for the lead-up to Christmas! This is not exactly a devotional (though it is more devotional than other Christmas devotionals I’ve read) and it’s focus on poetry will not be everyone’s cup of tea (though you should give it a try … even if you think you don’t like poetry). The author, who is himself a poet, a pastor, and a college chaplain, shares a poem each day, explains how to understand it, and applies it to the Christian life by drawing out the Advent or Christmas themes. 

Bully Pulpit: Confronting the Problem of Spiritual Abuse in the Church by Michael Kruger: This is a short book about the big problem of abusive leaders in the church and the brokenness they can leave in their wake. In one chapter, the author contrasts the biblical standards for church leadership with the qualifications that many churches often prioritize—and they are quite far apart! It’s a heavy but needed topic and the author writes with both conviction and a firm hope for the Lord to bless his church with faithful and humble leaders. 

Devoted to God: Blueprints for Sanctification by Sinclair Ferguson: Have you ever been confused by how to balance the freeness of God’s grace in justification with the call to holiness and sanctification? Or have you ever simply wondered how to grow as a Christian? This book will help! Sinclair Ferguson is always worth reading and this one might be my favorite book of 2023. 

Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments by Geerhardus Vos: Here’s how I read demanding books (like this one): 10 pages a day during my “putting kids to bed” routine. This is not an easy read but it is well-worth the effort! Vos shows how the Scriptures fit together as God’s revelation of the plan of redemption in Christ. If you want an easier starting point, try Grace and Glory, a collection of Vos’s sermons from Princeton Seminary. 

Covenantal Baptism by Jason Helopoulos: This book tops the “most given away” category! If you’re looking for a simple, biblical, and gracious explanation of what Presbyterians believe about baptism, look no further! The author once firmly disagreed with infant baptism and knows what it’s like to deal biblically with questions along the journey to a change of mind. There is a lengthy section at the end of very common questions and answers about baptism that is worth the price of the book. 

The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien: I’ve slowly been making my way through The Lord of the Rings trilogy, this time as an audiobook. You can (and should) read the print version but I also highly recommend listening to the audio version narrated by Andy Serkis (who played Gollum in the movies). You might find the audiobook for free through your local library’s e-book app. The highest praise I can give this book is that it will help you to love what is good, true, and beautiful.

Shoe Dog by Phil Knight: First, a disclaimer: Phil Knight, the founder of Nike, is not (as far as I know) a Christian so be aware of some of the language he uses and religious views he (briefly) discusses. This book, however, is a very entertaining, interesting, and almost unbelievable story of the rise of Nike from a small importer of Japanese running shoes to the world’s most recognizable athletic brand. 

D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones: The First Forty Years 1899-1939 by Iain H. Murray: How does a man go from being one of the top physicians in England to becoming the pastor of a small, struggling mission church on the coast of Wales? That’s the story Iain Murray tells in this very readable biography of a man so gripped by God’s grace that he couldn’t do anything but preach the gospel.

So what books that you read this year would you recommend to me? Let me know!

In the Father's Love,

Pastor Andrew