My Favorite Books From 2021
It’s been another year of wonderful books published for the church. Here are twelve books (most of them published in 2021) that I especially enjoyed reading throughout the year, in no particular order. If you’re still looking for some belated Christmas gifts or receive a gift card you need to burn, you know what to do!
Providence — John Piper (Crossway)
As someone who has read many of Piper’s books and would consider him to be one of my most significant pastoral influences, I would argue that Providence is easily within the three most important books he has ever written. No work that I know of touches this subject with this kind of clarity and depth. Providence is a marvelous feast of apologetics, biblical theology, and pastoral wisdom that will galvanize the church into deeper awe and worship. I find it hard to imagine anyone coming to grips with the contents and the conclusions of this book and walking away unstirred.
Bavinck: A Critical Biography — James Eglinton (Baker Academic, published 9/2020)
This book is a critical bio of one of my very favorite theologians. Eglinton is maybe the leading voice on the life and work of Herman Bavinck. This biography reinforces Bavinck’s unwavering commitment to orthodoxy in the midst of a changing society—an example we would do well to learn from.
R.C. Sproul: A Life — Stephen J. Nichols (Crossway)
It’s been four years since this mighty theologian passed away. This is an excellent overview of Sproul’s life and theology. There was simply no theologian like him in his day. Nichols, a master storyteller in his own right, was the perfect fit for taking on this project.
Gospel-Driven Ministry: An Introduction to the Calling and Work of a Pastor — Jared C. Wilson (Zondervan)
Wilson (as most of us know by now) is a gifted writer on many subjects. In particular, this companion to his book Gospel-Driven Church is excellent. This particular volume gets into pastoral qualifications and unfolding a framework for pastoral ministry, all coming from a guy who spent decades in the seat himself. May churches and pastors across the nation strive to implement these principles!
Rejoice & Tremble: The Surprising Good News of the Fear of the Lord — Michael Reeves (Crossway)
The subject of “the fear of the Lord” is often confusing or misinterpreted in the church. Reeves lays out a brilliant and compelling exploration of this concept, helping us see its importance in the Christian life. This book helps readers draw some lines between sinful fear and a proper fear of God. It helps us consider what we need in order to rightly fear God day to day.
Habits of the Household: Practicing the Story of God in Everyday Family Rhythms — Justin Whitmel Earley (Zondervan)
Earley’s “The Common Rule” was a wonderful work on habits & spiritual formation. This book is more of the same but geared toward family discipleship and forming parents/children. Necessary, impactful reading for parents, no matter the age of your kids!
The Death of Porn: Men of Integrity Building a World of Nobility — Ray Ortlund (Crossway)
Easily the best book I have ever read about this subject. The subtitle alone should clue you into the kind of apologetic Ortlund will offer in exhorting believers to sexual purity. Readers are not shamed but rather encouraged and welcomed to a life of holiness. I would encourage every man to pick this one up.
Changed into His Likeness: A Biblical Theology of Personal Transformation — J. Gary Millar (IVP Academic)
Millar is honest about change. It is complex, difficult, gradual. But it is, in the end, nothing to fear. It is simply truthful and good and beautiful news to know that biblical change is, ultimately, God’s work in us. This book is an excellent resource to root us in what the Word says about our potential for change and how we can, indeed, be changed into his likeness.
The Attributes of God: An Introduction — Gerald Bray (Crossway)
I believe that systematic theology is a worthy pursuit of every Christian because doctrine leads to devotion. As our view of God expands, our worship of God explodes. Bray’s work is a great place to begin for those who want to dip into systematic theology. It is a readable, concise guide through some of the most complex aspects of theology. It pulls back the curtain to reveal our Creator for all that he is and welcomes us into his worship.
The Intentional Father: A Practical Guide to Raise Sons of Courage — Jon Tyson (Baker)
This book energized me at the prospect of raising my sons with intentionality, especially as they come of age. Often, we dads just need some practical, “how-to” nudging in parenting. This book gives us some brilliant ideas for how we can cultivate manhood in our boys as fathers, an entire way of seeing them through a process. If you are a father to son: get this book now!
The Pastor as Counselor: The Call for Soul Care — David Powlison (Crossway)
This book is a posthumous work from one of our generation’s most gifted pastor-counselors. Powlison’s work has always encouraged me. This is a short (and potentially overlooked) work, but it is so dense and helpful in the prospect of caring for the souls of people that I’ll return to it often.
A Burning in My Bones: The Authorized Biography of Eugene H. Peterson — Winn Collier (WaterBrook)
Peterson’s writings have been some of the most influential in my life as a pastor. I have admired him from afar for a long time, so I was of course eager to read Collier’s telling of his story. Some biographies are informational; others, like this one, are beautiful. Collier did a tremendous job giving us an honest and insightful look into the life of the man behind the pen.
Zach Barnhart currently serves as Student Pastor of Fountain City Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. He is married to Hannah, and they have three children. You can follow Zach on Twitter or check out his personal blog, Cultivated.