Best book of the year…
I’ve read many books this year. Unfortunately, I forgot many of them as soon as I finished reading them – they didn’t make much of an impression. As I consider the many books that I’ve read this year, I asked myself, “Does one of the books stand out as the ‘best book’ that I read this year?”
I think the best book (that is, the one that has had the most influence, or that I have learned the most, or that has challenged me the most) this year for me has been Church Without Walls: Moving Beyond Traditional Boundaries by Jim Peterson. There is a brief excerpt from this book in this post.
One of the things that I appreciated about Peterson’s book is that he attempts to understand how the church should operate in neighborhoods, work places, etc. He begins by assuming that a definition of “church” should include its responsibilities in all locations and at all times.
So, what was the best book that you read this year? (And, if you can’t pick just one, you can list two or three.)
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I am a PhD student in biblical theology and a web developer. My interests include PHP and ecclesiology. My dissertation topic is the purpose of the gathering of the church in the New Testament. By God's grace, I try to live what I am learning about the church.
For me it was “The Shaping of Things to Come” by Frost and Hirsch.
1I just started reading Church Without Walls this week. I hope to have it and another finished before the semester starts. I think I can do it!
Happy New Year.
2Lew
Probably “Madman” by Tracy Groot and “Light Force” by Brother Andrew. “Wild at Heart” by John Eldredge gave me some good stuff to think about (and find fallacies of logic in) and was quite inspiring creatively.
I’ve read so many stinkin’ books this year so there are more but these stand out so they must have been the ones that affected me…I would guess?
3Guy,
I have read parts of Frost and Hirsch’s book. I am looking forward to reading the remainding soon, and Hirsch’s new book The Forgotten Ways.
Isabel,
I have not read any of those books. Which one of the three would you recommend over the others?
-Alan
4I’m not sure I could recommend one over the others. They’re all quite different, and all make you think. Madman would touch your heart and historical interests, Light Force would make you want to drop everything and go out to those who need you, and Wild at Heart….hmm. Well, I’d put that last, I guess, but it’s very stirring. Not sure if his logic is correct, but it’s worth a read, even if you disagree.
5A link for you (I wish you could edit posts; I’d put it on my last one):
Madman
The rest of her site is interesting, too.
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