5 Books That Every Christian Should Read

In thinking about my next blog, I knew I wanted it to be about books. I wasn’t sure what direction I was going, but I knew I wanted to discuss some of my favorites, which also have practical implications for the readers. I settled on five books that every Christian should read. The works that follow are not in particular order, but I would recommend reading some sooner than others for their implication purposes. If you are interested in purchasing any of these books, just click on the pictures. I have added a link to Amazon. Let’s kick it off.

Holiness by J.C. Ryle.

This is one of my favorite books of all time. I try to read this book once every year to re-center my thinking about holiness. It’s a sledgehammer to the face of lukewarm, comfortable Christianity. It’s a full-throttle declaration that true faith isn’t just about justification—it’s about sanctification, war against sin, about real, gritty, blood-and-sweat holiness. Ryle demolishes the lie that a believer can be saved yet unchanged, exposing the dead faith of those who claim Christ but refuse the cross. His words are fire, warning that the pursuit of holiness isn’t optional, it’s the inevitable mark of the elect. In an age where cheap grace and cultural compromise dominate, Holiness stands as a defiant battle cry: without holiness, no one will see the Lord. If you have never read this, read it today.

Knowing God by J.I. Packer.

This is another brilliant book that every Christian should get very familiar with. It is a theological wrecking ball, shattering shallow, feel-good Christianity and demanding a return to the blazing reality of who God truly is. This book is a necessary corrective in an age where people treat God like a cosmic therapist rather than the sovereign, omnipotent King. Packer doesn’t waste time with sentimental nonsense—he drives straight into the attributes of God, His absolute sovereignty, His justice, His wrath, and his immeasurable grace. He makes it clear: knowing about God isn’t enough; you must know God Himself, and that knowledge will either humble you to the dust or expose your false faith. In a world drowning in self-help spirituality, little “g” gods, cults and doctrinal apathy, Knowing God is a declaration for deep, God-exalting theology that fuels true worship and real discipleship.

The Pilgrim’s Progress by

John Bunyan.

The Pilgrim’s Process is another one of my favorites. Bunyan wrote this tale while imprisoned for preaching outside of the Church of England. That alone should make you want to pick it up. It’s an allegorical tale of a Christian's life, having many hardships and struggles along the way, who ultimately stays the course to reach the final destination. Even though it’s a work of fiction, it’s a theological war drum, pounding out the reality of the Christian life as a brutal, all-or-nothing journey to glory. It has a no-nonsense portrayal of sovereign grace, perseverance, and the absolute futility of self-righteousness. Christian doesn’t save himself—God draws him, Christ justifies him, and the Spirit empowers him to endure. Every trial he faces—Vanity Fair, Doubting Castle, the Valley of the Shadow of Death—is a reminder that faith isn’t for the faint of heart. Bunyan’s allegory exposes the fraud of easy-believism and the weakness of nominal Christianity, making it clear: the road to heaven is hard, the enemies are real, but those chosen by God will make it home. It’s not just a book—it’s a road map for the elect.

The Death of Death in the Death of Christ

by John Owen.

John Owen has had a massive impact on me and millions of others. There are many other books I can recommend but for this list I choose the most personal one to me. The Death of death in the Death of Christ is the theological equivalent of a bomb, obliterating every trace of Arminianism and shallow, man-centered gospel preaching. This book is the ultimate mic drop on the doctrine of definite atonement—Christ’s death was not a vague, potential salvation for all but a victorious, effectual redemption for the elect. Owen dismantles the idea of a weak, pleading Savior who merely makes salvation possible and instead presents the biblical Christ—the conquering King who actually saves His people with unstoppable, sovereign grace. If modern Christianity has watered down the gospel into a sentimental invitation, Owen’s work is a war cry for the true, unbreakable power of the cross. This isn’t feel-good theology—it’s the raw, unfiltered truth that Christ’s death secured salvation, not just offered it, and that reality should shake every believer to their core.

Crime and Punishment by

Fyodor Dostoevsky.

I decided to have a little fun with the last book. You may ask why, on a list of books that every Christian should read, does a “non-Christian” book show up? I would contend. Crime and Punishment is not a Christian book in the way we would describe Christian books today, but Dostoevsky was a confessing Christian and had many Christian themes and discussions in his novels. In my opinion, there is no other non-Christian book in history that’s had a bigger impact on unbelievers’ hearts than this book. The power of this book has changed many lives by making the readers address their sinfulness and repent. If you think I’m over selling it, find out. It's also, probably my favorite fiction book of all time. At least top 3. It’s a dark, relentless plunge into the depravity of man, making it a brutal yet brilliant exposé of total depravity. Raskolnikov’s descent into murder isn’t just a crime—it’s a theological statement on the wretchedness of the human heart when unshackled from God’s law. His tortured conscience, his justifications, his agony—all of it screams Romans 1: sinners suppress the truth, but guilt hunts them down like a rabid dog. Dostoevsky doesn’t offer cheap redemption; he drags his protagonist through hell before allowing grace to break in. This novel is a war between pride and repentance, human arrogance and divine mercy. In an age that denies sin and glorifies self-rule, Crime and Punishment is a gut-punch reminder that without Christ, we are all Raskolnikov—restless, guilty, and condemned. Read this book.