The below list of book are books recommended by Frank Viola. I already wrote a post on books to have, by different Christian leaders or organizations, that you’ll find here.
What is different on Viola’s list is that he doesn’t recommend those “must have” or “core” books, instead he gives a list of books that are “outside the status quo”, a list of “exceptional” books.
So here are the list, by different categories without being listed in any particular order:
Mission & Ministry Shelf
The Stewardship of the Mystery, by Theodore Austin Sparks
Created for Community: Connecting Christian Belief with Christian Living , by Stanley J. Grenz
Destined for the Throne: How Spiritual Warfare Prepares the Bride of Christ for Her Eternal Destiny, by Paul E. Billheimer
The Character of God’s Workman, by Watchman Nee
Prophetic Ministry, by J. Austin Sparks
Nudge: Awakening Each Other to the God Who’s Already There, by Leonard Sweet, Ph.D
Gospel of the Kingdom: Scriptural Studies in the Kingdom of God, by George Eldon Ladd
The Release of the Spirit, by Watchman Nee
The Community Life of God: Seeing the Godhead As the Model for All Relationships, by Milt Rodriguez
Church Life Shelf
Paul’s Idea of Community: The Early House Churches in Their Cultural Setting, Revised Edition, by Robert J. Banks
God’s Spiritual House: A Classic Study on the Ministry of Jesus Christ in the Church, by T. Austin Sparks
The Normal Christian Church Life, by Watchman Nee
Community 101, by Gilbert Bilezikian
The Community of the King, by Howard A. Snyder
Body Politics: Five Practices of the Christian Community Before the Watching World, by John Howard Yoder
Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Faith in Community, by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
A Church Building Every 1/2 Mile: What Makes American Christianity Tick?, by Jon Zens
Spiritual Growth Shelf
The Normal Christian Life, by Watchman Nee
Sit Walk Stand, by Watchman Nee
A Generous Orthodoxy: Why I am a missional, evangelical, post/protestant, liberal/conservative, mystical/poetic, biblical, charismatic/contemplative, fundamentalist/calvinist, anabaptist/anglican, methodist, catholic, green, incarnational, depressed-yet-hopeful, emergent, unfinished Christian (Emergentys), by Brian D. McLaren
Experiencing God Through Prayer, by Guyon Jeanne
Prayer, by Rosalind Rinker
The Spirit of Christ, by Andrew Murray
Hearing God, by Peter Lord
Changed Into His Likeness, by Watchman Nee
Mere Christianity, by C. S. Lewis
Love Not the World: A Prophetic Call To Holy Living, by Watchman Nee
Classic Christianity: Life’s Too Short to Miss the Real Thing, by Bob George
The Misunderstood God: The Lies Religion Tells About God, by Darin Hufford
Satisfy Your Soul: Renewing the Heart of Christian Spirituality, by Bruce Demarest
The Butterfly in You: Discovering Your True Identity in Christ, by Milt Rodrigues
What Shall This Man Do?: A Fresh Approach to the Study of Christian Service, by Watchman Nee
God’s Chosen Fast, by Arthur Wallis
Church History Shelf
The Reformers and Their Stepchildren (Dissent and Nonconformity), by Leonard Verduin
The Torch of the Testimony, by John W. Kennedy
Paul Apostle of the Heart Set Free, by Frederick Fyvie Bruce
New Testament History, by Frederick Fyvie Bruce
Spreading Flame: The Rise and Progress of Christianity from Its First Beginnings to the Conversion of the English, by Frederick Fyvie Bruce
Biblical Tools Shelf
The Chronological Study Bible: New King James Version, By Thomas Nelson
The Narrated Bible in Chronological Order (NIV), by F. LaGard Smith
The Message of the New Testament, by Frederick Fyvie Bruce
Thompson Chain Reference Bible-NASB, by Frank Charles Thompson (editor)
Essential Evangelical Parallel Bible, by John R., III Kohlengerger (editor)
The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, by Craig S. Keener
The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament, by John H. Walton, Victor H. Matthews, Mark W. Chavalas
Comparative Study Bible, Revised (Zoncervan)
Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels (The IVP Bible Dictionary Series), Joel B. Green, Scot McKnight, I. Howard Marshal (editors)
Dictionary of Paul and His Letters (The IVP Bible Dictionary Series), Gerald F. Hawthorne, Ralph P. Martin, Daniel G. Reid (editors)
Dictionary of the Later New Testament & Its Developments (The IVP Bible Dictionary Series), Ralph P. Martin, Peter H. Davis (editors)
Dictionary of New Testament Background (The IVP Bible Dictionary Series), Craig A. Evans, Stanley E. Porter (editors)
New Bible Dictionary, I. Howard Marshal, A. R. Millard, J. I. Packer, D. J. Wiseman (editors)
A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd Edition, by Walter Bauer (author), Frederick William Danker (editor)
Alleged Discrepancies Of The Bible, by Haley John
Tools for Writers
Sally Stuart’s Guide to Getting Published (Reference/Literary), by Sally Stuart
Christian Writers’ Market Guide 2011, by Sally Stuart
The Classic Guide to Better Writing: Step-by-Step Techniques and Exercises to Write Simply, Clearly and Correctly, by Rudolf Flesch
My Books, you decide if they are “must have’s” or not (I would say “must”)
From Eternity to Here: Rediscovering the Ageless Purpose of God, by Frank Viola
Jesus Manifesto: Restoring the Supremacy and Sovereignty of Jesus Christ, by Leonard Sweet, Frank Viola
Reimagining Church: Pursuing the Dream of Organic Christianity, by Frank Viola
The Untold Story of the New Testament Church: An Extraordinary Guide to Understanding the New Testament [Illustrated], by Frank Viola
Finding Organic Church: A Comprehensive Guide to Starting and Sustaining Authentic Christian Communities, by Frank Viola
Pagan Christianity?: Exploring the Roots of Our Church Practices, by Frank Viola, George Barna
Frank Viola’s blog: Reimagining Church http://frankviola.wordpress.com/
Frank Viola’s official website: Present Testimony Ministry http://www.ptmin.org
Thanks for posting this. It’s appreciated. Readers can order any of these books if they like direct from my list at: http://www.ptmin.org/library
Blessings,
Frank
You are welcomed. I (we) have to thank you for the list, making it available, and allowing it to share.
God bless you and your work. Hope that your books will be translated into Hungarian and Romanian. Pagan Christianity is already translated into Romanian, reading it right now.
Csaba
Dear Brother,
I am a Sri Lankan Pastor in Charge of a Church. I have tried to get the book Destined for the Throne but failed. If possible send me one.
Thanking you.
yours in Christ,
kennedy
Dear Kennedy,
I don’t have one myself, but try it from here:
http://www.alibris.com/booksearch?qisbn=9780871233097&qwork=1610310&author=Billheimer,+Paul+E&browse=1&qsort=p&matches=48&cm_sp=works*edition*buyused
Blessings from Hungary.