For a Christian, learning is a spiritual discipline. Throughout scripture we see the value placed on wisdom and growing in knowledge. Of course, true knowledge and wisdom come from the word of God, so at Agape we always place an emphasis on personal time spent in the Bible. We also know that there are some great books available to us that can serve to entertain, refresh, encourage, and propel us in our walk with the Lord.

                  We have compiled a list of books that our members would recommend to you as part of your own personal library. One caveat to this - please keep in mind that a recommendation does not necessarily mean that we agree with every word in a book. The recommendation simply means that we think this book has something to offer you in your free time. As with everything in our life, books should be read with discernment and held up to God's word for accuracy.

                  WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Please be one of our submitters by going to our contact page. Send the title of the book you want to recommend and a brief summary on why. We will get it posted for others to read.


 

The Hiding Place - The Triumphant True Story of Corrie Ten Boom
by Corrie Ten Boom, John and Elizabeth Sherrill
recommended by Sue Taylor

Let me start by saying that even though I'm a busy mom, I read this book in a day.  I absolutely could not put it down.  Every page left me wanting to find out what happened next in the life of this courageous, Christian lady.  Her faith and honesty make her a true hero.  She looked at life through God's eyes and even when it threatened her very life, she could not say no to Christ.  Her words make you feel her passion, her fear, her torment, and her faith. While I was reading, I found myself crying and saying, "God, I want a heart like hers!" The things she thought important are so much more important that the things I get caught up in. She didn't have everything she wanted and yet was so immeasurably rich. I love her disciplines and the book clearly showed that because she was intent on staying near to her Savior, she was able to find Him everywhere. She found Him in the face of the Jews. She found Him in prison. She found Him in the concentration camps. And before she died, she found Him in the eyes of the German soldiers who had caused her so much heartache. This book will strengthen your faith and make you look inside your own heart.  I can't wait for my children to read it.

 

                             
 

           

 

 

 

The Life You've Always Wanted
by John Ortberg
recommended by Sue Sellers

The subtitle for this book is “Spiritual Disciplines for Ordinary People.”  When I think of the word discipline, I automatically think of punishment of some sort.  John Ortberg uses quotes and stories from authors and theologians, his own special brand of humor, and Scripture to entice you to move in a direction that will allow God to transform you. Spiritual transformation is God’s goal for all of us – to grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  So how does one go about letting God do that?  He gives very practical information and guidelines for what spiritual disciplines are and how to apply them.  There is a study guide in the back of the book written by Kevin G. Harney that is very useful in deeper study of the material.

 


          

 

 

 

 

Hadassah - One Night With The King
by Tommy Tenney
recommended by Sonya Perkins

I would like to recommend a book, Hadassah: One Night With the King by Tommy Tenney. It is a fiction based on the life of Queen Esther. I read the book years ago and I really enjoyed it. I like the book because it makes you stop and think about the things that Queen Esther probably experienced.
 

 

 

 

 

 

Don't Waste Your Life
by John Piper
recommended by Family Pastor David McConnell

Skip this book if you don't want to be challenged. From beginning to end John Piper encourages you to question what you hold as your ultimate treasure and what you consider a successful life. The book encourages the reader to make their life count for all of eternity by refusing to look at the cost of following Christ. Are you willing to live for the things that will last forever?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heaven
by Randy Alcorn
recommended by Sue Sellers

In this book Randy Alcorn presents many “out of the box” ideas about Heaven, our “eternal dwelling place” or our “eternal reward.” He says that even in the Christian community, Heaven has lost much of the glorious place of reward that God intended it to be: “Life on Earth matters not because it’s the only life we have, but precisely because it isn’t – it’s the beginning of a life that will continue without end…. Understanding Heaven doesn’t just tell us WHAT to do, but WHY. What God tells us about our future lives enables us to interpret our past and serve him in our present.” This book has revolutionized how I view Heaven.  I always knew I wanted to go there because the alternative is so bad and I have loved ones waiting for me, but to catch glimpses of what waits, soundly based on Scripture, is astounding. As Paul said, it causes you to press on toward the mark of God’s high calling – and you want others to go with you and not miss out.