The Essential Christian Classics Collection

Here are four great Christian books you should know, abridged and lightly updated for ease of reading: Check out The Essential Christian Classics Collection, containing The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life by Hannah Whitall Smith, Foxe’s Christian Martyrs by John Foxe, In His Steps by Charles M. Sheldon, and The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan. These books own a well-deserved status as Christian classics, having challenged and encouraged readers over the past four centuries. Now, they’re shortened and simplified for today’s busy reader!

From the creators of Devotional Classics and Spiritual Classics comes 25 Books Every Christian Should Read, the definitive guide to the most spiritually influential and important books for Christians to read. Renovaré, a community of Christians promoting personal and spiritual renewal, put together a prestigious editorial board including Richard Foster, Dallas Willard, Phyllis Tickle, and Richard Rohr, resulting in this wonderful resource for exploring the richness of the Christian tradition.

This clear and comprehensive anthology, culled from the vast corpus of Christian mystical literature by the renowned theologian and historian Bernard McGinn, presents nearly one hundred selections, from the writings of Origen of Alexandria in the third century to the work of twentieth-century mystics such as Thomas Merton. Uniquely organized by subject rather than by author, The Essential Writings of Christian Mysticism explores how human life is transformed through the search for direct contact with God. Part one examines the preparation for encountering God through biblical interpretation and prayer; the second part focuses on the mystics’ actual encounters with God; and part three addresses the implications of the mystical life, showing how mystics have been received over time, and how they practice their faith through private contemplation and public actions. In addition to his illuminating Introduction, Bernard McGinn provides accessible headnotes for each section, as well as numerous biographical sketches and a selected bibliography. Praise for The Essential Writings of Christian Mysticism “No one is better equipped than Bernard McGinn to provide a thorough and balanced guide to this vast literature….This is an anthology which deserves to be read not only by those who study Christian history and theology, but by believers who long to deepen their own lives of prayer and service.” -- Anglican Theological Review “Bernard McGinn, a preeminent historian and interpreter of the Christian mystical tradition, has edited this fine collection of mystical writings, organizing them thematically....McGinn offers helpful introductions to each thematic section, author and entry, as well as a brief critical bibliography on mysticism. Published in the Modern Library Classic series, this is a great value.” – Christian Century "No-one is better equipped than Professor McGinn to provide a thorough and balanced guide to this vast literature. A first-class selection, by a first-class scholar." -- Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury “This accessible anthology by the scholarly world’s leading historian of the Western Christian mystical tradition easily outstrips all others in its comprehensiveness, the aptness of its selection of texts, and in the intelligent manner of its organization.” -- Denys Turner, Horace Tracy Pitkin Professor of Historical Theology, Yale Divinity School "An immensely rich anthology, assembled and introduced by our foremost student of mysticism. Both the scholar and the disciple will find God’s plenty here." -- Barbara Newman, Professor of English, Religion, and Classics, John Evans Professor of Latin, Northwestern University "An unusually clear and insightful exposition of major texts selected by one of the greatest scholars in the field of Christian mysticism, based on his vast erudition and uniquely sensitive interpretation. Like his other books, this one too is destined to become a classic.” -- Professor Moshe Idel, Hebrew University, Jerusalem

There is a wealth of great literature to study in the history of man, some written by Christians and some by non-Christians. However, the Christian student should direct special attention to literature produced by Christians. The empires of man will always crumble and fall, but the kingdom of Jesus Christ will continue forever. This collection covers five of the greatest life narratives of all time. A thorough study of these great books will help students understand the life, theology, and worldview of some of the greatest Christian men in church history. Sit at the feet of some of the best teachers God has given to His church. Augustine Confessions: (354-430) Augustine is perhaps the most influential thinker of the first thousand years of Christian history. This fifth-century Christian wrote Confessions as a biography in the form of a prayer to God. Patrick Confessions: (387-493) Amid the chaos following the collapse of the Roman Empire, Patrick, a man of legendary faith, led the way to the evangelization of the wild and pagan tribes of Ireland. John Knox History of the Reformation In Scotland (c.1510-1572) Few men have lived in more dangerous times than John Knox of Scotland. Yet he led a reformation movement in a very dangerous land, leaving a testimony for generations to come. John Bunyan Grace Abounding (1628-1688) Great men tell great stories because they live them. This is the case with John Bunyan, whose personal testimony, Grace Abounding, records one of the most tumultuous and agonizing spiritual journeys. John Paton Autobiography (1824-1907) The kingdom of God is only taken by force by courageous men of faith like John Paton, whose missionary work among the cannibals in the New Hebrides is nothing short of legendary.

This clear and concise text helps readers grasp the doctrines of the Christian faith considered basic from the earliest days of Christianity. Ronald Heine, an internationally known expert on early Christian theology, developed this book from a course he teaches that has been refined through many years of classroom experience. Heine primarily uses the classical Christian doctrines of the Nicene Creed to guide students into the essentials of the faith. This broadly ecumenical work will interest students of church history or theology as well as adult Christian education classes in church settings. Sidebars identify major personalities and concepts, and each chapter concludes with discussion questions and suggestions for further reading.

A GUIDEBOOK ON DEFINING, SHARING, AND OBEYING THE GOSPEL King Jesus is supplying lifeblood. But our insufficient grasp of the gospel is a dangerous blockage. If a heart ailment is treated haphazardly, death follows. People are hurting. Churches are confused. The gospel vaguely won't suffice. We need clarity, simplicity, and truth--the gospel precisely. But followers of Jesus should beware of harmful imitations. The real gospel in its healing fullness--the one taught by Jesus and his apostles--is the one found in the Bible. Award-winning author Matthew Bates shows that the gospel is about King Jesus. It is about the cross and resurrection--yet surprisingly much more. Find yourself empowered for discipleship and prepared to share the gospel effectively. Includes resources for personal reflection and group discussion. This book takes the best of Bates's previous work and makes it even more accessible. Bravo! -- Scot X. McKnight, Professor of New Testament, Northern Seminary Christians talk about preaching, presenting, and living the gospel, but we urgently need more precision. Matthew Bates has done the church a service by giving us accessible guidance. -- Jonathan Storment, author of How to Start a Riot The Gospel Precisely delivers biblical depth at the grassroots level with a healthy helping of practical pastoral coaching. -- Mark E. Moore, author of Core 52 MATTHEW W. BATES (PhD, Notre Dame University) is an award-winning author and Associate Professor of Theology at Quincy University in Quincy, Illinois. His popular books include Gospel Allegiance (Brazos, 2019), Salvation by Allegiance Alone (Baker Academic, 2017), and The Birth of the Trinity (Oxford University Press, 2015). He co-founded and co-hosts the OnScript podcast.

In his teens, a young man wrote, “I believe in no religion. There is absolutely no proof for any of them.” After serving in the trenches of WW1, the same young man said, “I never sank so low as to pray.” To a religious friend, he wrote impatiently, “You can’t start with God. I don’t accept God!” This young man was C. S. Lewis, the “foul-mouthed atheist” who would become one of the most eloquent Christian writers of the twentieth century. David C. Downing offers a unique look at Lewis’s personal journey to faith and the profound influence it had on his life as a writer and eventual follower of Christ. This is the first book to focus on the period from Lewis’s childhood to his early thirties, a tumultuous journey of spiritual and intellectual exploration. It was not despite this journey but precisely because of it that Lewis understood the search for life’s meaning so well.