Charles Spurgeon once said, “Master those books you have. Read them thoroughly. Bathe in them until they saturate you. Read and reread them…digest them. Let them go into your very self. Peruse a good book several times and make notes and analyses of it. A student will find that his mental constitution is more affected by one book thoroughly mastered than by twenty books he has merely skimmed.”

It is said that Pastor John Macarthur reads three hours a day. We all know that the book of all books is the Holy Bible, but as Christians we should also read and study heavily in many subjects. I personally enjoy history, biography, philosophy, apologetics, and theology. Pastors, above all should be readers. But also should every believer who makes good use of his time. Wasting hours online, frantically fielding messages back and forth until pretty much the whole day is spent on nothing.

Spurgeon continues “Give yourself unto reading. The man who never reads will never be read; he who never quotes will never be quoted. He who will not use the thoughts of other men’s brains, proves that he has no brains of his own. You need to read. . . . We are quite persuaded that the very best way for you to be spending your leisure time, is to be either reading or praying. You may get much instruction from books which afterwards you may use as a true weapon in your Lord and Master’s service. Paul cries, “Bring the books” — join in the cry.”

Well, here are a few books that every Christian should read.

1.) Lectures to My Students by Charles Spurgeon
2.) Christian Leaders Of The 18th Century by J.C. Ryle
3.) Pushing the Antithesis by Dr. Greg Bahnsen
4.) George Müller of Bristol: His Life of Prayer and Faith by A.T. Pierson
5.) Bondage of the Will by Martin Luther
6.) The Sovereignty of God by A.W. Pink
7.) The Forgotten Spurgeon by Iain Murray
8.) The Works of Francis Schaeffer
9.) The Pilgrims Progress
10.) Foxes book of Martyrs

These ten titles should be on your shelf. But most importantly they should be read and reread. This list is a great start for anyone wanting to get a good grip on the reality of the Christian faith in action. Always put the scriptures first, but spend much time with your face in books. You will never regret the blessing they will have on you and the many souls you come in contact with.

God bless

Jeff