My Top 20 Favorite Books of All Time (Outside of the Bible) – Revisited

I’m revisiting what I consider to be my all-time favorite books.

The last time I made a blog post listing my favorite books of all time, I was still growing in my Christian walk. Admittedly, since then, I’ve outgrown a few of the titles and perhaps wouldn’t even put one or two in my top 50 books. No, there weren’t any prosperity authors, feel-good “TBN” celebrities, or hyper-charismatic nonsense polluting my list, but there were a few glaring issues that I couldn’t wholeheartedly recommend to blog readers now.

So revamped for 2025 is what I consider to be my all-time, creme de la creme, favorite, most impactful books for me. These encompass what I think is “required” reading for all my blog readers. When I recompiled these, I noticed that all but one have to do with spirituality. and that they are all non-fiction (with a fictional devotional story comprising the second half of one of them).

Here are the typical disclaimers:

• The following are my top reads outside of the Bible, which, of course, is in a league of its own.
• These books are listed in no particular order.
• As always, this list can change next week or next month.

What books do you recommend? Tell me about them in the comments below!

A BODY OF DIVINITY – THOMAS WATSON

Watson may very well be my favorite Puritan. Reading this (and other works, such as The Doctrine of Repentance) was like finding a theological feast served with pastoral warmth. He writes in that classic Puritan style – short, punchy, memorable. I loved how he built his whole book around the Westminster Shorter Catechism, making deep truths accessible and practical. I’d find myself underlining lines that were so quotable they almost sounded like Proverbs. This book reminded me that theology isn’t dry. It’s gourmet food for the soul.

THE SYSTEM – TOM “DOC LOVE” HODGES

Yes, this is not a Christian book.

Doc Love’s The System is certainly the odd duck here. Since this is admittedly a secular dating and relationship book, it may appear to be totally out of place on this list, like a headbanger wearing a Slayer t-shirt would be at a reformed church conference. Plus, with a title like The System, and its cover artwork displaying a pair of female legs, this may look like a sleazy and misogynistic “pick-up artist” guide. So, what’s the deal?

In the decades since I first studied this book, I’ve uncovered that it hit at the core of how men and women act and why cheating and divorce happen. The System actually encourages monogamous relationships and marriage. The aim of the book is to tell you why women act the way they do and what raises or lowers their interest level in men, in a way that produces a “light bulb turning on” moment on every page. If guys studied and practiced the philosophies offered, the divorce rate in Western society would plummet.

Not everything presented in this book comes from a Biblical viewpoint, so keep in mind that God’s Word usurps anything suggested by it. Know your Bible! That having been said, this publication is an absolute goldmine. The System should be required reading for every single man on the planet, no joke.

MERE CHRISTIANITY – C.S. LEWIS

It’s difficult to choose from any of Lewis’ classics as being better than the others. But I’d have to say that Mere Christianity is my favorite. This elegant masterpiece lays a clever and logical defense of Christianity as it meets philosophy, morals, and religion.

THE HOLINESS OF GOD – R.C. SPROUL

This was a game-changer for me. Before reading Sproul, I thought of holiness as simply “being morally pure.” Sproul exploded that shallow definition and showed me that God’s holiness means He is utterly set apart, transcendent, and terrifyingly glorious.

I’ll never forget reading about Isaiah’s vision in Isaiah 6, where the angels cry “Holy, holy, holy” before the throne of God. Sproul helped me see the weight of that passage in a way I had never seen before. It shook me, and it gave me a new sense of reverence in worship. To this day, I can’t think about God’s holiness without hearing Sproul’s voice in my head calling us to fear, awe, and trembling joy before Him.

SOULCON CHALLENGE – CODY BOBAY

Absolutely one of the best, most challenging, and important books any Christian man could ever purchase. Navy vet, personal trainer, and Christian speaker Cody Bobay takes a “special forces” approach to physical, mental, and spiritual discipline through this 6-week guide to bringing men closer to Christ.

EVIDENCE THAT DEMANDS A VERDICT – JOSH MCDOWELL

The greatest book ever written on factual Christian apologetics. If you need encyclopedic evidence that Jesus was a real man, that the Bible is reliable, and that Christianity is indeed true, then the ridiculously exhaustive wealth of information found in this should satisfy and soothe almost any doubt you could conjure. This was a life-changer of a read in high school. This fully expanded and updated 2017 edition has writer Josh McDowell joined by his son, Dr. Sean McDowell, in meticulous research and co-authorship.

KNOWING GOD – J.I. PACKER

Nothing is more important than knowing and understanding God (the latter, at least in terms of how He reveals Himself to us humans). Packer takes the reader on a thoughtful, biblical expedition through several of God’s characteristics and attributes and ultimately points back to the fact that everything in the universe should point back to Him.

THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS – JOHN BUNYAN

This is one of those books that grabs you by the soul. When I first read it, I felt like Bunyan was pulling back the curtain on the Christian life and letting me watch my own journey play out in allegory. Christian’s struggles, the Swamp of Despair, Vanity Fair — it all felt uncomfortably familiar. I didn’t just read this story. I saw myself in it. That’s why it has stood the test of centuries. It’s a mirror for the soul and a devotional disguised as a story.

THE BONDAGE OF THE WILL – MARTIN LUTHER

This book hit me like a sledgehammer. Luther doesn’t pull punches — he basically tells Erasmus, “You don’t get it; this is the heart of the Gospel.” When I first read it, I’ll be honest: it made me uncomfortable. The idea that my will is bound in sin unless God intervenes wasn’t what I naturally wanted to hear. But the more I sat with Luther’s arguments, the more I realized he was simply taking Scripture at face value. It humbled me and magnified the grace of God in salvation.

INSTITUTES OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION – JOHN CALVIN

This one was intimidating when I first picked it up. It’s thick, dense, and old. But as I worked through Calvin’s writing, I realized this wasn’t a cold textbook. It was pastoral, passionate, and soaked in Scripture. I recall thinking, “This man really believed every word of this and lived it out.” Even when I don’t agree with Calvin on every point, I can’t deny the clarity and power. Reading the Institutes gave me categories to think through doctrine and a greater appreciation for the Reformation’s impact on my faith.

TACTICS – GREG KOUKL

Not your average apologetics book. Most apologetics works are about giving you answers — and that’s important — but Koukl takes a different approach. He gives you questions to ask your “opponents,” so that you aren’t stuck always shouldering the burden of proof.

His “Columbo questions” (like, “What do you mean by that?” and “How did you come to that conclusion?”) have completely changed the way I converse with people, especially non-Christians. Instead of feeling like I need to launch into a 10-minute speech defending Christianity, I can simply ask a question that gently pushes the other person to think about what they’re saying. It’s disarming, it keeps the conversation going, and most importantly, it clears the road for the Gospel without making me come across as argumentative.

I’ve used Koukl’s methods countless times in real conversations, and I can honestly say this book gave me the confidence to talk about Jesus more effectively. It’s practical, memorable, and one of the most useful evangelism tools I’ve ever come across.

CONFESSIONS – AUGUSTINE

There’s something raw about Augustine’s Confessions. Reading it felt like sneaking into someone’s prayer closet. In this semi-autobiographical work, Augustine wrestles with sin, lust, pride, ambition — and then he pours out his soul before God in total honesty. When I read the famous line, “Our hearts are restless until they find their rest in You,” it was like he had read my mail. It reminded me that our struggles aren’t new. Christians have been crying out for grace for centuries, and the exact same God who rescued Augustine rescues us.

OVERCOMING SIN AND TEMPTATION – JOHN OWEN

When I finally dove into Owen, it felt like I was sitting at the feet of a surgeon for the soul. He doesn’t let you get away with excuses about sin. He forces you to see it for what it is — deadly, deceitful, and relentless. His famous line, “Be killing sin, or sin will be killing you,” haunted me in the best way.

Like many English writers from 300–400 years ago, Owen can be a bit difficult to read. He is very detailed, and he crafts long, winding sentences that demand your full attention. Even in a modernized edition like this one, I often found myself reading and re-reading a line two or three times, then pausing at the end of a page just to digest and contemplate what he had written. He’s also a deep writer — you don’t skim Owen. You wrestle with him, you slow down, and you let his words press into your heart.

But that’s exactly why Owen is worth reading. The effort pays off. Every ounce of energy you put into reading him is rewarded with insight into the seriousness of sin and the beauty of holiness in the Christian life. Few books have shaped my view of sanctification as much as this one.

RELIGIOUS AFFECTIONS – JONATHAN EDWARDS

This book exposed how easy it is to settle for shallow Christianity. Edwards makes you test yourself: are your affections for God genuine, or are they just surface-level emotions? The first time I read it, I had to put the book down more than once just to pray. It pushed me to examine my heart in light of Scripture. Edwards showed me that true Christianity isn’t just about correct doctrine or outward obedience. It’s about a new heart that truly delights in God.

HOLINESS – J.C. RYLE

Ryle doesn’t sugarcoat anything. When I read Holiness, I felt like he was grabbing me by the shoulders and saying, “Wake up, Scott! God calls you to live differently.” He has this way of being brutally honest but still deeply pastoral. I remember finishing a chapter and thinking, “Okay, I’ve got no excuse left.” Ryle’s clarity on sin, sanctification, and grace cut through all the noise and reminded me that pursuing holiness isn’t optional – it’s normal Christian life.

SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY – WAYNE GRUDEM

This was the very first systematic theology book I ever owned, and for that reason alone, it will always hold a special place in my heart. I remember the excitement of opening it for the first time – here was theology laid out in an organized, structured way, covering everything from the doctrine of God to the end times. It was like having a map of the Christian faith all in one volume.

Now, over the years, I’ve read other systematic theologies that line up a bit closer to my convictions — Louis Berkhof’s and Joel Beeke/Paul Smalley’s, for example, represent Reformed thought in a way that resonates with me more today.

Still, Grudem’s Systematic Theology gave me the foundation. It was the book that introduced me to serious theological study, and I’ll always look back on it with gratitude.

THE CROSS OF CHRIST – JOHN STOTT

When I picked up Stott’s The Cross of Christ, I thought I had a solid grasp of why the cross mattered. But this book opened my eyes to the depth and breadth of what Jesus accomplished there. Stott doesn’t just give you theology — he makes you see how the cross touches every part of the Christian life. For me, it shifted the cross from being something I knew was central in theory to something I saw as the heartbeat of everything. Whenever I feel myself drifting into making Christianity about me, I come back to this book to be reminded: it’s all about the cross.

DON’T WASTE YOUR LIFE – JOHN PIPER

If there was ever a book that hit me right between the eyes and made me rethink how I spend my time on this earth, it’s this one. Piper’s central plea is simple: don’t drift through life chasing the American dream, comfort, or trivial pursuits. Live for Christ.

When I first read it, I couldn’t shake the conviction that I was wasting hours, days, even years on things that had zero eternal value. This book pushed me to reorient my life around God’s glory — not my own plans. Piper’s passion is contagious, and if you let it, this book will light a fire under you to live boldly and sacrificially for Jesus.

THE FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES – GARY CHAPMAN

I’ll admit, when I first heard about this book, I thought it sounded kind of goofy and gimmicky. But when I read it, I realized Chapman had put simple words to something I had experienced in real relationships but didn’t know how to articulate. It made me stop and think about how the people closest to me actually receive love, instead of just assuming they feel it the same way I do. This book has helped me communicate better in my marriage and relationships. It’s not “deep theology,” but it’s been a practical blessing.

THE TOTAL MONEY MAKEOVER – DAVE RAMSEY

Money can feel like a burden and a stress point for so many families — it certainly was for me at times. Ramsey’s Total Money Makeover gave me a clear, no-nonsense framework for handling finances in a biblical, disciplined way. The first time I worked through his “baby steps,” it felt like a breath of fresh air: simple, achievable, and freeing. What I love is how it ties everyday budgeting and saving to stewardship before God. This book made me realize that honoring God with money isn’t just about tithing. It’s about the whole way I view and handle every dollar He’s entrusted to me.

Recommended Reading Order for Beginners

This beginner-friendly path eases you in from accessible and practical reading to deeper theology and the historic classics. It is drawn from my Top 20 list outside of the Bible.

Step 1: Accessible Foundations

Readable, inspiring, and a solid start for a serious Christian walk.

• Don’t Waste Your Life – John Piper
• The Holiness of God – R. C. Sproul
• Knowing God – J. I. Packer
• Mere Christianity – C. S. Lewis

Why here? These titles stir the heart, clarify essentials, and point you to God’s majesty without overwhelming you.

Step 2: Apologetics and Practical Tools

Add confidence in defending the faith and wisdom for everyday life.

• Tactics – Greg Koukl
• Evidence That Demands a Verdict – Josh McDowell
• The Five Love Languages – Gary Chapman
• The Total Money Makeover – Dave Ramsey
• Soulcon Challenge – Cody Bobay
• The System – Doc Love (read with discernment and measure everything against Scripture)

Why here? This is where theory meets the real world: evangelism skills, relationships, finances, and disciplined Christian living.

Step 3: Classic Devotional Depth

Historic voices that call you to holiness and heart examination.

• Holiness – J. C. Ryle
• Overcoming Sin and Temptation – John Owen
• Religious Affections – Jonathan Edwards

Why here? These are deeper reads that reward slow, prayerful reflection. For Owen especially, expect to reread lines and pause to digest.

Step 4: Theology and the Cross

Build a doctrinal framework and center everything on Christ’s atonement.

• Systematic Theology – Wayne Grudem
• The Cross of Christ – John Stott

Why here? Grudem gives a clear map of Christian doctrine, and Stott anchors the Christian life in the cross.

Step 5: Historic Foundations

Step into the giants who shaped the church for centuries.

• Confessions – Augustine
• The Bondage of the Will – Martin Luther
• Institutes of the Christian Religion – John Calvin
• The Pilgrim’s Progress – John Bunyan
• A Body of Divinity – Thomas Watson

Why here? By this point, you will have the categories and stamina to appreciate their depth and enduring influence.

Tip: Read with a Bible open, take notes, and discuss with a friend or small group. Slow and steady beats fast and forgotten.

In Summary

There you go — my Top 20 favorite and most impactful books (for now!). These are the works that have challenged me, reshaped me, and helped me follow Christ with more clarity and conviction.

What books have impacted you? Let me know in the comments – I’d love to hear your list!