I have felt compelled and led to write a Christian booklist since my daughter attempted suicide in late January 2002. At first I developed just a list of books to help Christians during “Tough Times.”  Next, a list answering “Is Jesus Godω” was started in February 2003. A basic “World Religions” list was compiled starting the summer of 2003. A basic Christian “Bible Study” list was started in December 2003. A basic Christian “Current Issue” book list and a basic Christian “Bible Prophecy” book list was compiled in 2004 and 2005. Recently, the “Pamphlet Reference” list was started in late fall 2006, and the “Booklet Reference” list was started in early 2007. In June 2007, the “Christian Living” and “Evangelism” lists were started from the “Current Issues” list. The “Basic Christian Booklist” website was started June, 2006!

 

I do not sell Christian books on this site; however, I recommend books to buy! I have included internet links to Publisher lists of each book recommended if possible. I have also included internet links to Christian book review lists and links to many Christian book sellers on the internet.

 

My hope is that these lists can be used to help fulfill Jesus Christ’s “Great Commission” commandment: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matt. 28:18-20 NIV) Everyone has permission to use the lists anyway needed!

 

These lists are designed for all stages of a Christian life. All Christians can use the lists to help setup a “Christian Teaching Center” in their home. Unsaved people will be interested in the “World Religions” and “Is Jesus Godω” lists as a resource for a decision. New Christians can use the “Is Jesus Godω” list to clarify issues about salvation, and “Christian Living” as a source to becoming mature. Even mature Christians have troubles and could use the “Life Problems” list to help understand God’s solutions for their problems. Also, mature Christians need to use the “Evangelism” list to do a much better job in fulfilling Christ’s “Great Commission” commandment! All kinds of Christians could use the “Current Issues” list as a resource of God’s wishes about what is occurring in the world today. If a new Christian wants to experience spiritual growth and move to a mature Christian level, he needs to use the “Bible Study” list. Finally, you can use the “Bible Prophecy” list to find out what God has planned for past, present and future Christians!

 

These lists are “basic” and intermediate (not advanced) pamphlets, booklets, and books to read and study! All the books are nonfiction (based on facts and Biblical truth). You could think of the lists as another resource for the world to understand the Bible. Lists 2 and 5 are limited to just twenty books – it is hoped that these two lists could be offered to people who have been witnessed to and who have accepted Christ as their Savior. All the books are paperbacks if possible to save money. The lists are not in alphabetical order, but a suggested order for reading and studying.

 

I attempted to select books that follow the “Golden Rule of Biblical Interpretation” – when the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense, but take every word at its primary literal meaning unless the facts of the immediate context clearly indicate otherwise. Also, the books use the “principle of single meaning” requiring that every Old Testament passage receive its own “grammatical-historical interpretation.” I feel that only by following this standard can a person be sure that God’s Word (and its interpretation) to us be the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow!

 

Excellent basic Christian book series were included: 50 plus Rose Publishing reference pamphlets are 12 pages; eleven Harvest House Publishers’ “What You Need to Know” series reference pamphlets are 15 pages; Ralph O. Muncaster’s 20 “Examine the Evidence” series are 48 page booklets of facts and logical evidence; fifteen “Facts On Series” by John Ankerberg and John Weldon are 64 page researched perspective booklets; Mark Water’s 27 “Bible Made Easy” series  are 64 page reference guide booklets; sixteen “God’s Word for the Biblically-Inept” series edited by Larry Richards are Bible study guide books; Warren Wiersbe has 50 “Be Series” inspirational Bible study books; and finally, Bruce Bickel and Stan Jantz’s excellent “Christianity 101 Bible Study” guide books. I particularly like Bruce & Stan books – they are laypeople who have co-written over 50 Christian books together in everyday plain language.

 

Other Christian pamphlets, booklets or books may be just as good as or better than the ones selected. However, an attempt was made to select the best book at the time a selection was made. I own, have read and studied almost every book on the lists. Books were included on more than one list where determined appropriate. Each list has changed many times – the latest being March 2011. Therefore, THESE LISTS ARE NOT FINAL, but are a work in progress!

 

If you find just a simple mistake, please point it out to me. Simply click the “Contact Us” link and email me. If you think a book should be added to or taken from a list or if you think the suggested order of the list should be changed, please include a biographical form for the book similar to one used in the lists. Also, write a paragraph about the reason for change. Finally, email me if you have a suggestion on how the overall internet site could be improved.

 

The pamphlets, booklets and books were found at LifeWay and Family Christian Bookstores as well as Choice Books displays at grocery and discount stores. You can probably have any local Christian bookstore order any of the books if it is not stocked. An excellent source for discounted books was also found at www.christianbook.com and www.amazon.com. Hard to find books can often be found either at

www.alibris.com/books/religion/featured_in_Christian_books.cfm or www.bookfinder4u.com/browse_books/12290/Christianity.

Internet links lists are provided for the basic Christian book publishers, selected review sites, and selected sellers. Presently, the lists include more than 500 basic Christian books (and pamphlets) and over 400 internet links. An attempt was made to provide as much information as possible on each book including the ISBN number and estimated prices. The estimated prices are the lowest recently found. Each book’s summary was also included where possible. Of course, you should check with your local public library for the book to save money.  Finally, books are noted that are on another list.

 

You are encouraged to add the book list’s internet site www.basic-christian-books.org as a favorite and email it to Christian friends. By putting these lists on a website they can be updated as needed and instantly made available. It is hoped that all Christian church websites will eventually link to this internet site. I have surveyed other Christian booklist internet sites, and this resource site is unique and different. Everyone has my permission to use the lists anyway needed to grow our Lord Jesus Christ’s kingdom!

 

In order to print a list, put your cursor on the selected list page and right click your mouse. Select “Print” again by left clicking from a list of commands that appear. A dialogue print page appears. First, select the printer you want to use at the top of the dialogue page by left clicking on the printer name. Second, left click the “Preferences” button on the right side to change any printing instructions. Third, left click the “OK” button on the bottom when finished changing instructions. Fourth, select the “Page Range” on the left side as “All” by left clicking. Fifth, left click the “Apply” button at the bottom if you changed any settings on the dialogue page. Finally, left click the “Print” button at the bottom to print the entire list.

 

To print a single page or a range of pages follow the above instructions except the fourth step selecting the “Page Range.” Left click “Pages” on the left side under “Page Range.” In the blank enter either a single page number or a page range (for example, 2-3). You can approximate the page range by assuming about 11.5 books per page.

 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the former Discipleship Pastor of the church of which I am a member. He encouraged, advised, and suggested to me before, during, and after the startup of this internet site. I also need to thank and give credit to my wife, Barbara N.Boyd. She has edited essentially everything since the very beginning and understood my commitment to this ministry for Jesus Christ!

I am just a human and there are probably still mistakes in these lists. However, I’m stepping out to make this information available to everyone. I hope to make the web site known first to people living in subdivisions around where I live, next to libraries and Christian Churches and organizations in Texas, America, and finally around the world. As a servant of God I will try to do my part; however, I realize it will be up to God to get people to use the book lists to better understand His plans for them!  

 

Jesus Christ’s Humble Servant,

 

 

Oren S. Boyd

March 2011