The purpose of the book table is to make available a range of classic Christian thought.

Unless otherwise noted, the suggested donation for all books is $10. If you unable to donate the suggested amount, please donate whatever you can.

In the lists below, a "Store" link connects to the Amazon.com page for a book, and a "CL" link connects to the listing for the book in the Carnegie library.

All books are also available on loan at the church office.

Books and Brief Reviews

Recent Classics

C.S. Lewis (1898-1963) is without a doubt the most important Christian writer of the 20th century. Revered by Christians in all churches, his works are already quoted alongside classic authors like Augustine, Aquinas, Calvin, and Edwards. Literally millions of people trace the start of their spiritual journey to reading books by Lewis. Besides theology and apologetics, Lewis also wrote the classic Narnia children’s books, the Perelandra science fiction trilogy, and several other works of fiction. He was a close friend of J.R.R. Tolkien.

Writing in a conversational style, Lewis nevertheless deals with very deep issues such as the problem of evil, how we can have faith in an invisible God, and what it means, at the most basic level, to be a Christian.

Mere Christianity is a great first book to read about Christianity. Lewis starts with a argument for belief in God and moves to the basics of the Christian life. Store CL

The Screwtape Letters is delightfully written as an anti-theology, from the perspective of a devil. Deals with very personal issues of temptation and faith. Store CL

Francis Schaeffer (1912-1984) was proably the most influential Christian scholar of the 20th century in terms of social movements. In the first half of the century, Christians tended to fall into two camps: theological “liberals” who accepted all manner of intellectual criticisms of the Bible, and “fundamentalists” who rejected scholarship and intellectualism and tended to isolate themselves. Schaeffer was one of the main voices of the modern “evangelical” movement, affirming the Bible as the inspired Word of God but also encouraging Christians to be engaged in all manner of intellectual and cultural pursuits in the larger society.

Schaeffer was adept at summarizing (and some would argue, sometimes oversimplifying) grand movements of culture and philosophy for non-experts. His approach that “serious questions deserve serious answers” led many people to faith through the L’Abri fellowship in the 1960’s and 1970’s. He was one of the founders of our denomination, the Presbyterian Church in America.

How Should We Then Live? is Schaeffer’s most well-known book. A survey of Western history through the eyes of the artists who lived in each age. Wonderful introduction to art history from a Christian perspective. Store CL

The God Who is There is the first of Schaeffer’s philosophical survey (followed by He is There and He is not Silent and Escape from Reason.) Schaeffer discusses deep ideas which come down to us from the Greeks, Romans, and Middle Ages. Store

Whatever Happened to the Human Race? with former Surgeon General C. Everitt Koop, was Schaeffer’s call to look at the gradual hardening of society as a result of the loss of the Christian consensus on what gives humans dignity. He predicted, correctly, that by the end of the 20th century infanticide and euthanasia would be major issues in the U.S. This book nearly single-handedly started the evangelical pro-life movement. Store CL

R.C. Sproul (1939-) is one of the most popular expositors of Reformed theology today. He has a knack for taking difficult concepts of theology and putting them in easily accessible terms.

The Holiness of God is already a classic of theology. Deals with the very important issue—is God basically “nice”? Why does the Bible often present such a terrifying picture of God? Store CL (audio) 

What is Reformed Theology? Overview of Reformed theology, the school of thought founded in the Reformation (1500’s and 1600’s) which forms the basis of our church’s intellectual framework. Store

Knowing Scripture is a short and easily readable defense of a high view of Scripture as inspired by God. Deals with issues such as the formation of the canon. Store 

J.I. Packer (1926-) has written several easily accessible theology books embraced by a wide cross section of churches. He was another of the founding voices of modern evangelicalism alongside Francis Schaeffer.

Knowing God is one of the most profound books of modern theology, especially in its in-depth treatment of the meaning of the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross. Store CL

A Quest for Godliness is a survey of Puritan thinking. Puritans are often reviled today based on a stereotype of legalism and dourness. Packer shows where the heart of the Puritans truly lay, and what we can learn from them today. Store

John Piper’s Desiring God: Reflections of a Christian Hedonist is one of the most original works of theology in the past twenty tears and is considered controversial by many. Piper, building on works by Jonathan Edwards and other Puritans and classic writers, argues that our happiness and our duty to God cannot be separated—to love God is our highest possible happiness, and seeking our own happiness is therefore legitimate and our highest goal. Store

Michael Horton’s Putting Amazing Back Into Grace is a call to the church to refocus on being “Gospel-centered,” in the context of churches which have fallen into politics and cultural efforts to the point of forgetting their foundation. If you are not sure what the “Gospel” is, and why people make such a fuss about it. this book gives a good introduction. Store

James Sire was for many years editor-in-chief of Intervarsity Press, a publisher of some of the most controversial books in evangelical circles. His book Scripture Twisting deals with ways that “cults” (heretical Christian groups) twist Scripture to their own ends. While aimed at those who know people in such groups, this book is also a great corrective to Christians to not engage in the same types of errors in “prooftexting” their favorite doctrines. Sire looks at the importance of the “world view” of the Bible. Store

How To Read Slowly is another classic by Sire on how to read below the surface, looking at the importance of “world view.” Store

Issues of Culture and Society

Larry Crabb, Encouragement. Christian counseling tends to fall into one of two camps: the “hard knocks” school (tell them what God requires, and to buck up and do it) and the “feel good” school (just love them, don’t confront them.) Crabb started a network of counselors in the 1970’s based on middle way—truth in the context of love. In this book Crabb deals with the heart of the counselor more than with the problems of the counselee. How can I love someone and counsel them when I am so messed up myself? Store

Karen Mains, Open Hearts, Open Home. Mains makes the radical argument that anyone can have a ministry to others which consists of simply opening up our homes all the time to others. Sound easy? Then why aren’t you doing it? Store

Ed Wheat, Love Life for Every Couple. This classic of marriage counseling has literally saved thousands of marriages. Store

Nancy Pearcey and Charles Thaxton, The Soul of Science. A survey of issues where Christianity affects philosophy of science. Is science an objective arbiter of truth that is independent of our religious commitments? Pearcey and Thaxton don’t think so. Store CL

D.W. Snoke, A Biblical Case for an Old Earth. Does belief in the Bible as the Word of God demand belief that the earth is only 6000 years old? Newpapers would have you think so, and so would many Christian writers. This book looks at very basic issues such as whether animals died before humans were on the scence (the problem of “natural evil”). Store

Timeless Classics

Augustine of Hippo (354-430), Confessions. The amazing thing about this book is how fresh and readable it is after 1600 years. Augustine deals with very personal issues of temptation and faith, wrestling with the problem of evil and how to be certain. Store CL

John Calvin (1509-1564), On Prayer. Calvin's Institutes is one the most important, comprehensive works on theology of all time. Many people think it only deals with the topic of "Calvinism," that is, predestination. Actually, Calvin wrote at length on the importance of the Holy Spirit, personal experience with God, and prayer. This book puts together a number of passages of Calvin on prayer. Why do we pray, if God knows all things? Store

John Bunyan (1628-1688), Pilgrim’s Progress. Another timeless classic, for many years the all-time best-selling book in the English-speaking world. Store CL

William Wilberforce (1759-1833), Real Christianity. Wilberforce was the driving force behind the Abolition movement which outlawed slavery in the English empire. His Christianity was the driving force behind his work, despite neo-marxist claims that economics drives everything. His discussions of “nominal” Christianity still apply today. Store

Corrie Ten Boom (1892-1983), The Hiding Place. Ten Boom never set out to be a hero, but ended up being one of the great heroes of the faith in the 20th century, as she went to the Nazi concentration camps as punishment for helping Jews escape from occupied Holland. Her book is not peaceful platitudes but raw struggling with doubts and fears. Store CL

Click here for reviews of some books available to borrow in the church office

DVD’s available for borrowing:

The Privileged Planet: The Search for Purpose and Meaning in the Universe (Discovery Institute)

Whatever Happened to the Human Race? (Francis Schaeffer)

Unlocking the Mystery of Life (Discovery Institute)