10 Christian Books That Will Strengthen Your Faith
Once you've collected your favorite illustrated, amplified, and study bibles, you might have enough literature to last you a lifetime. But sometimes you need to reach outside of a single text to get a broader perspective on faith. Our list provides both novels and non-fiction narratives that will expand your understanding, and may even put you on the path to getting a degree in Christianity When you click links from this website, we may receive advertising revenue to support our research. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.
Inspiring Christian Books
- The Butterfly and the Violin by Kristy Cambron
- Eve by Wm. Paul Young
- Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely by Lysa TerKeurst
- A Baxter Family Christmas by Karen Kingsbury
- At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon
- Out of Sorts: Making Peace with an Evolving Faith by Sarah Bessey
- Cosmic Christmas by Max Lucado
- The Undoing of Saint Silvanus by Beth Moore
- Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God's Work by Timothy Keller
- Finding Faith by Denise Hunter
Revisiting The Role Of Women In The Bible
In Depth
The Bible states that without faith, it is impossible to please God. Although as humans, Christians may sometimes find themselves doubting God's plan and struggling on their path. In the book of Luke, when the apostles ask Jesus to increase their faith, he compares it to a small mustard seed, which even if it can deliver great things, still needs to grow in order to flourish.
To do so, the Bible says that it is important to immerse yourself in the word of God. However, reading relatable depictions of Christian living is another way of establishing one's faith, as it helps build the hope and encouragement that is needed to endure life's trials. From novels to inspirational narratives, here are 10 Christian books that will strengthen your faith, listed in no particular order.
At #1 is "The Butterfly and the Violin." This historical fiction connects the viewpoint of Adele, an Austrian violinist who is portrayed in a painting in Vienna during World War II, to Sera, who searches for the archival painting. With parallel love stories, the novel tackles the subject of God's faithfulness in the midst of agony, and how to utilize the talents he gave to sustain us in life. Written by Kristy Cambron, it was included in Library Journal's "Best Books of 2014."
This historical fiction connects the viewpoint of Adele, an Austrian violinist who is portrayed in a painting in Vienna during World War II, to Sera, who searches for the archival painting.
What we have at #2 is "Eve," which is a heretical retelling of the creation story. It follows the narrative of Lilly Fields, a witness of the events in Genesis: from God's making of man up to their fall into sin. William Paul Young challenges traditional theology, as he based this novel on the Jewish folklore of Lilith, an immoral woman who is believed to be Adam's first wife.
Living in the present day, Lilly is battling with an internal conflict of whether to continue with her worldly life, or to change and follow Christ. With a plot that is far from the biblical version, the book's subject is precisely about God's unconditional love for sinners, and how he sees them worthy even if they think otherwise.
At #3 is "Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely." Lysa TerKeurst gives us a non-fictional narrative that talks about dealing with rejection, loneliness, and moving on. With anecdotes from the author's personal life experiences, this self-help book presents scriptures from the Bible in a practical way, such as how they can be applied to human struggles. It also aims to encourage readers into self-analysis and reflection while tackling the issues of emotional and spiritual healing.
It also aims to encourage readers into self-analysis and reflection while tackling the issues of emotional and spiritual healing.
At #4 is "A Baxter Family Christmas," which is the 24th installment in the Baxter Series by Karen Kingsbury. The novel follows the life of the Baxters, who suffered the loss of some family members two years prior. Baxter patriarch John's daughter Erin died in a car accident, along with her husband and three of her daughters. She donated her heart to an atheist named Kendra, who John invites to the family's Christmas Eve dinner. Kingsbury engages readers with a set of compelling characters, and conveys the message of God's love and blessings in the midst of a great loss.
Coming in at #5 is "At Home in Mitford." This novel follows the life of Father Tim, who is an Episcopalian priest, together with the stories of other citizens in the fictional town of Mitford, North Carolina. Through Jan Karon's evocative writing, the narrative gives a vivid description of the characters' daily lives, along with their inner conflicts and faith in God. It features a diverse blend of individuals, from those who have broken families, to those who reconcile with Christ. Published in 1994, this book is the first installment to the Mitford series.
At #6 is "Out of Sorts: Making Peace with an Evolving Faith." Sarah Bessey weaves her own spiritual journey with biblical principles about faith and the Christian life. This non-fiction book talks about changes in the modern church and how Christians can strengthen their walk with God in an imperfect world. Bessey also encourages readers to explore the wonders of a Christ-centered faith, rather than basing everything on religious doctrines.
Sarah Bessey weaves her own spiritual journey with biblical principles about faith and the Christian life.
At #7 is "Cosmic Christmas." Written by Max Lucado, the book gives us a fictional backstory of the events surrounding the birth of Jesus, which is based on the book of Revelation. The narrative shows readers how the birth of Christ was full of spiritual battles, due to Satan's intention of stopping the Savior from coming to earth. It presents the circumstances that might have happened in heavenly places and how God won that fight to save humanity.
At #8 is "The Undoing of Saint Silvanus." After the death of her father, Jillian returns to New Orleans to attend his funeral and face her estranged grandmother, Olivia. As the protagonist stays at her grandmother's place, which is a church that has been made into apartments, she finds herself discovering the mystery behind her father's death. Written by Beth Moore, the novel digs deep into the main character's painful past, and presents how God weaves multiple incidents to uncover the truth before healing can begin.
Coming in at #9 is "Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God's Work." Pastor Timothy Keller gives us the biblical perspective regarding Christianity in the workplace. His narrative revolves around a verse in the book of Corinthians that talks about bringing glory to God in whatever we do, and aims to break down the Christian mindset that religious jobs are more pleasing to God. Keller presents the Lord's care not only in our spiritual redemption, but also our purpose on earth, and how we can impact those around us.
Pastor Timothy Keller gives us the biblical perspective regarding Christianity in the workplace.
Lastly, at #10 is "Finding Faith," which is the final book in the New Heights Series by Denise Hunter. This novel follows the stories of Paula, a reporter who prioritizes her career over her family, and Linn, a teenage girl who made a lot of mistakes in the past. Hunter features real life issues like infidelity in marriage, deception, and abortion, and how Christians are vulnerable to these earthly imperfections. She depicts the wounds of the characters' sinful pasts, and shows how God is able to bring forgiveness, redemption, and restoration into their lives.
