Recommended Books

University is a time to be educated: whether in the lecture room, the library or over a cup of coffee, you'll never get another learning opportunity like you'll have over the next few years. Aside from joining the EU, one helpful way for Christians to further their spiritual education is through reading. In addition to carefully reading the Bible, Christians can benefit greatly by reading a whole variety of other books. Below is a list of books that have proved useful to many students and are a helpful place to start when searching for insightful and thought-provoking reading.

New: Proclaiming Jesus Christ as Lord: a history of the Sydney University Evangelical Union. Meredith Lake
"For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord" (2 Corinthians 4:5). Published in October 2005 to celebrate the EU's 75th anniversary, Proclaiming Jesus Christ as Lord looks at the development of the EU in its structure and mission over 75 years. It traces the origins of the EU, its growth from its foundation to the present and the theological, intellectual and political issues that have affected its development. It tells how the EU has sought, from its very beginning, to take the gospel of Christ to the University and beyond. See the Grads Fund site for more information and how to order.

Simply Christianity. John Dickson
Centred on an investigation of Luke's Gospel, Simply Christianity aims to "strip back all the rituals, myths and dogma" that can surround the Christian faith, revealing what the Bible is really on about. A good book to read and and an even better one to give to those friends who want to nail the truth about Christianity. Purchase here.

Out of the Saltshaker. Rebecca Manley Pippert
"There was a part of me that secretly felt evangelism was something you shouldn't do to your dog, let alone a friend." That was Rebecca Manley Pippert. Then she found out evangelism is a way of life! Christians are the salt of the earth. This challenging and amusing book is about getting out of the salt shaker and into life itself.

Know and tell the gospel. John Chapman
You want to tell people about Jesus, don't you? Afraid? Don't know how? The master evangelist gives the why and how of evangelism. A practical book that can easily be adapted to your own style and manner. This is an essential item in your evangelism tool kit and complements Out of the Saltshaker.

Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God. J.I. Packer
You've had a discussion about predestination, right? So if God chooses, why bother telling people about Jesus? In fact, why bother doing anything? Packer carefully reviews the biblical evidence and shows that a right understanding of God's sovereignty is not a barrier to evangelism but an incentive and powerful support for it.

Knowing God. J.I. Packer
"The one thing we most urgently need in Western Christendom is a deeper knowledge of God. We need to know God better." (D.A. Carson) If you want to know your God better, read this book. Knowing God looks at different attributes of God (His wisdom, love, grace, justice, wrath, jealousy…) and inspires you to revere and praise Him. One could never say "it's just a doctrine book"; Packer always engages with the reader, applying what we know of God to human hearts.

Evangelical Truth. John Stott
Written with a clarity that has come to characterise Stott's work, Evangelical Truth serves as a useful introduction to three major aspects of Christian doctrine: the authority of the Bible, the saving work of the cross and the transforming work of the Holy Spirit. These three "evangelical essentials" are discussed against a background of modern counter-Christian ideas. A helpful book for uni students to read.

The Cross of Christ. John Stott
The universal symbol of the Christian faith is not a crib or a manger, but a gruesome cross. Are you unclear of its meaning? Can you understand why Christ had to die? This is a thorough study of the centrality of the cross in God's plan of redemption, exploring the themes of sin, forgiveness and atonement - strong scholarship that doesn't leave daily living alone.

Chris Chrisman Goes to College. James W. Sire
If you find your uni subjects throw up questions which seem to contradict Christianity then here's a good place to start looking for answers. Sire addresses some of the dominant ideologies of our secular university- individualism, pluralism, relativism and privatisation. These complex forces are discussed in an accessible way by following the fictitous Chris Chrisman - an average first year uni student - as he is confronted with such assumptions as: "All religions boil down to the same thing", "It's true for you: it's not true for me" and "God does not exist".

The Challenge of Jesus. N. T. Wright
Is there really anything new to say about Jesus? And if so, could it possibly be true to Scripture and the Christian faith? N. T. Wright, one of the premier scholars investigating the life of Jesus today, thinks we have nothing to fear and much to learn from a historical study of Jesus. The Jesus he unveils has his feet solidly planted in first-century Palestine and yet rings deeply true to the resurrected Christ of Christian belief, worship and experience. Wright compels us to rethink our standard image of Jesus so that we will never read the Gospels in the same way again.

A Call to Spiritual Reformation. D. A. Carson
Paul's prayers are rich with strength and direction. Carson takes us through Paul's prayers highlighting the priorities found in his petitions: having a passion for people, overcoming difficulties, keeping God in the centre of life and praying for ministry. Recommended for all who want a deeper prayer life.

Desiring God: meditations of a Christian Hedonist. John Piper
If you have ever felt that honouring God saps the joy out of life, this is the book for you. Piper is relentless in showing from the Scriptures that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him. He applies this key principle to worship, love, scripture, prayer, money, marriage, missions and suffering. This is a book that will stretch your brain, enlarge your heart and increase your joy.