Most important lay Christian book of the decade?

Ivanhoe · #1 (**permalink**) 10-15-2007, 06:27 PM

What would be the most important (read influential, but in a good way) lay book of the decade?

I am thinking along the lines of what Packer's Knowing God was for his decade? Popular, yet solid. I am purposefully excluding much of what is written.

But while solid, it can't be anything too arcane. Nothing along the lines of Causal Distinctions within the Intra-Trinitarian Nexus

Here are a few candidates:

Nancy Pearcey's Total Truth

JP Moreland's Kingdom Triangle

And while we want to stack the deck with reformed stuff, part of the question is assuming influentiality. So most P&R stuff probably won't make it (sadly).

Dr Mike Kear · #2 (**permalink**) 10-15-2007, 07:19 PM

Perhaps John Piper's Don't Waste Your Life would be a candidate in this category.

aleksanderpolo · #3 (**permalink**) 10-15-2007, 07:33 PM

What about David Wells "No place for truth", that sparked the formation of ACE, without which T4G wouldn't be possible? I know it's not as widely read in the general evangelical circle, but in terms of long term effect, that book did a lot of good.

For more popular and influencial book in the general evangelical circle, I think Piper's Desiring God top the list. Although I think his "Pleasures of God" is better.

Ivanhoe · #4 (**permalink**) 10-15-2007, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aleksanderpolo

What about David Wells "No place for truth", that sparked the formation of ACE, without which T4G wouldn't be possible? I know it's not as widely read in the general evangelical circle, but in terms of long term effect, that book did a lot of good.

Wells, maybe.

Quote:

For more popular and influencial book in the general evangelical circle, I think Piper's Desiring God top the list. Although I think his "Pleasures of God" is better.

Wasn't that pre-2000?

aleksanderpolo · #5 (**permalink**) 10-15-2007, 08:24 PM

David Wells's book was pre-2000 too, if you are talking about books published after 2000, then I really have no clue. I am still stuck in the last millennium, you see.

SolaScriptura · #6 (**permalink**) 10-15-2007, 10:29 PM

I think HANDS DOWN the most influential lay book published since 2000 is Rick Warren's The Purpose Driven Life.

Of course, I fully expect that at the mentioning of that man and that book a few of you have pulled out hair... and while I agree with your sentiments about the book, you have to confess that it has been unbelievably and wildly popular... it has found it's way into just about every denomination.

Ivanhoe · #7 (**permalink**) 10-15-2007, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SolaScriptura

I think HANDS DOWN the most influential lay book published since 2000 is Rick Warren's The Purpose Driven Life.

Of course, I fully expect that at the mentioning of that man and that book a few of you have pulled out hair... and while I agree with your sentiments about the book, you have to confess that it has been unbelievably and wildly popular... it has found it's way into just about every denomination.

you are probably right.

Exagorazo · #8 (**permalink**) 10-15-2007, 10:40 PM

Followed closely by Your Best Life Now.

Shane · #9 (**permalink**) 10-16-2007, 03:01 AM

This is too much OK my PB friends whos up for a

. These heretics must go

Seriously, Ill probably second "Desiring God" by Piper, I also read "Dont waste your life" which was quite good.

Pilgrim · #10 (**permalink**) 10-16-2007, 03:18 AM

Behe's Darwin's Black Box should probably be in the running.

Pilgrim · #11 (**permalink**) 10-16-2007, 03:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spear Dane

Quote:

Originally Posted by aleksanderpolo

What about David Wells "No place for truth", that sparked the formation of ACE, without which T4G wouldn't be possible? I know it's not as widely read in the general evangelical circle, but in terms of long term effect, that book did a lot of good.

Wells, maybe.

Quote:

For more popular and influencial book in the general evangelical circle, I think Piper's Desiring God top the list. Although I think his "Pleasures of God" is better.

Wasn't that pre-2000?

I think they were both originally published in the 80's.

Ivanhoe · #12 (**permalink**) 10-16-2007, 07:23 AM

One more criteria:

While it has to be popular, it also has to be substantial to a degree, so Warren and Joel do not count.

DMcFadden · #13 (**permalink**) 10-16-2007, 11:52 AM

You sure do make the criteria tough! Leaving aside specific theological agreement, my vote is for anything written by Piper, Sproul, or Moreland (depending on what you mean by "popular"). McGrath is also good, as in the "Dawkins Delusion." But, frankly, I am becoming far less enamored of "recent" authors, finding more meat in the Puritans (of course being relatively unschooled in them, I had to buy "Meet the Puritans" by Beeke and Pederson to know the roadmap). It is really disgusting to be a seminary grad in my 50s and be coming to the Puritans so late in life!

KMK · #14 (**permalink**) 10-16-2007, 12:02 PM

Warren and Behe were pre-2000 were they not?

What year was that Jabez book written?

Isn't that Emergent book by McLaren widely popular? (I wouldn't recommend it, however)

Davidius · #15 (**permalink**) 10-16-2007, 12:25 PM

I also think that Desiring God would be a candidate. It is being used by God to bring droves of Christians to hold an at least semi-reformed theology by introducing them to the doctrine of predestination and acting as an intro to other works by "pop" Reformed/Calvinistic guys such as Sproul, Mahaney, Grudem, and of course Piper. I know that many college students are exposed to this genre through the Passion conferences.

aleksanderpolo · #16 (**permalink**) 10-16-2007, 01:29 PM

So for book written within the last decade, I would vote for Clowney's "Preaching Christ in all the Scripture". It has completely changed my approach in teaching, now I cannot look at the Scripture without looking for Christ. I suspect this book will have (or already have) long lasting effect in popularizing RH, Christ-centered preaching, after so many years of moralistic, self-help preaching in the "evangelical" churches.

KS_Presby · #17 (**permalink**) 10-16-2007, 05:32 PM

I am reading it now and so I would be irresponsible to nominate it but maybe someone else can??

D.A. Carson's "The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God."

PastorTim · #18 (**permalink**) 10-16-2007, 07:57 PM

Desiring God gets my vote, Sproul's Chosen by God is excellent and a personal favorite is A God Entranced Vision of All Things : Jonathan Edwards by Piper

caddy · #19 (**permalink**) 10-16-2007, 10:41 PM

I know I thoroughly enjoyed Pearcey's Total Truth.

My wife is Reading Piper's Don't Waste your Life now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spear Dane

What would be the most important (read influential, but in a good way) lay book of the decade?

I am thinking along the lines of what Packer's Knowing God was for his decade? Popular, yet solid. I am purposefully excluding much of what is written.

But while solid, it can't be anything too arcane. Nothing along the lines of Causal Distinctions within the Intra-Trinitarian Nexus

Here are a few candidates:

Nancy Pearcey's Total Truth

JP Moreland's Kingdom Triangle

And while we want to stack the deck with reformed stuff, part of the question is assuming influentiality. So most P&R stuff probably won't make it (sadly).