Some Light Reading: Books on Prayer and Forgiveness

Over the past three weeks I read and glanced at a number of books covering the subjects of prayer and forgiveness as we continue to walk through the Sermon on the Mount.  This is a partial list and my goal is to put some resources in your hands so you can learn more about the subject.

Prayer:

EM Bounds Complete Works of E. M. Bounds on Prayer, The: Experience the Wonders of God through Prayer - This is a classic work



Warren Weirsbe On Earth as It Is in Heaven: How the Lord's Prayer Teaches Us to Pray More Effectively - Much of Weirsbe's work is well worth your time.

John MacArthur Lord, Teach Me to Pray - An excellent and yet brief look at the many components of prayer.


Bruce Wilkinson The Prayer of Jabez: Breaking Through to the Blessed Life - a best-selling book but one that raises a number of dangerous suggestions.  We discussed this last Sunday Night.  There is no magical formula in prayer and this book makes that suggestion.

Hank Hanegraaff The Prayer of Jesus: Secrets of Real Intimacy with God - this book was written after the Prayer of Jabez craze.  It is a good summary of the Lord's prayer.

John MacArthur Alone with God: Rediscovering the Power and Passion of Prayer (John Macarthur Study) - I did not get a chance to read this book, but one I'm sure is well worth our read.  Finding it has turned out to be difficult.

Forgiveness:

John MacArthur The Freedom and Power of Forgiveness - Easily the best book on the subject I have read.  MacArthur covers the doctrine of our forgiveness and reconciliation made through the atonement of Christ and then applies it to us.  An important book that we should all read.  It is theological and practical.  All theology is practical.

Donald B. Kraybill, Steven M. Nolt, and David L. Weaver-Zercher Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy - This is now a Lifetime Movie.  It covers the story of the mass murder of a number of Amish school girls and how the community responded to the heinous act.  In short:  they forgave. 

Denise George Cultivating a Forgiving Heart: Forgiveness Frees Us to Flourish (Secrets of Soul Gardening) - A pretty good book available at our local library discussing the issue of forgiveness.  Well written and practical.


Rabbi Harold S. Kushner  How Good Do We Have to Be? A New Understanding of Guilt and Forgiveness - Kushner is a heretic.  So no, I didn't like this book, but nonetheless it is about forgiveness (at least it is supposed to be).  The theology presented in this book falls short of the gospel to say the least.




General/Other:

Thabiti Anyabwile What Is a Healthy Church Member? (IX Marks) - an excellent short book that includes a chapter on prayer. Read the book!

Karl Barth Evangelical Theology: An Introduction - Barth is a controversial theologian, but this is a pretty solid book.  For those wanting to know how to do theology and the mindset behind it, turn here.

Kevin DeYoung The Good News We Almost Forgot: Rediscovering the Gospel in a 16th Century Catechism - this is a fascinating book that includes a section on the Lord's Prayer.  It is a good introduction to Reformed, sound theology.

Martin Luther Table Talk (Fount Classics Series) - I love Luther's table talk.  You never know what is going to come out of Luther's mouth.

Timothy Lull Martin Luther's Basic Theological Writings (w/ CD-ROM) - A great collection of Luther's most famous and important writings and sermons.  His chapter on prayer is important.

Wayne Grudem Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine - One of the best and concise systematic theologies out there.


As I said before, this is just a short list of some of the books I have consulted for the past 3 weeks.  More could be added, but hopefully this will get you started.