My Top TWELVE Books of 2025

Another year has come and gone. I think my list of book recommendations grows longer every year. I tried to narrow it down to ten but ended up settling on twelve. If you're looking for some good reads for 2026, here are a few of my favorites from the past year:

12. 100 Bible Verses Everyone Should Know By Heart  by Robert J. Morgan

Why I loved it:

Scripture memorization has changed my life, literally. Having endured my fair share of mental hardship over the years, I began memorizing scripture as a teen in order to combat the lies of the enemy. This book perfectly outlines not only great methods and approaches for memorizing Bible verses, but the importance of doing so. Not to mention it gives you the perfect list of scriptures to work on memorizing!

Who would benefit from it:

If you consider yourself a disciple of Jesus, you should be actively working to hide His Word in your heart. I recommend this book to anyone who is beginning their journey to understand and meditate on scripture. There's even a great PDF guide that accompanies the book that helps you set goals for memorizing verses. Make this one of your goals for 2026!

Quote from the book:

“Memorizing Scripture gives us: 1. clearer thoughts. 2. steadier nerves. 3. healthier emotions. 4. purer habits. 5. happier homes. 6. greater respect. 7. eternal optimism. Isn’t that worth at least five minutes a day?”

11. The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder  by David Grann

Why I loved it:

Ok buckle up, because this is a wild one. This book is vastly different from any other on my list. As most of you probably know, I only read non-fiction. Nothing against those who love to throw themselves into a good fantasy novel, but it's just not my thing. However I love a good, true story, and this one is as fantastical as they come. Set in the mid 1700s, The Wager follows the story of a British Warship as it makes its harrowing journey down and around the southern tip of South America. It's full of action, misery, and betrayal, not to mention twists and turns (and I mean literally, who knew boats could twist and turn like that in the 1700s?!). It will have you gripped from beginning to end.

Who would benefit from it:

This won't be everyone's cup of tea. If you're into history, war, or survival stories, it's right up your alley.

Quote from the book:

“Empires preserve their power with the stories that they tell, but just as critical are the stories they don’t—the dark silences they impose, the pages they tear out.”

10. Practicing The Way by John Mark Comer

Why I loved it:

John Mark Comer continues to be one of my favorite authors. While this is far from one of my favorites of his, I would say this book perfectly sums up his entire approach to ministry. Comer is the "spiritual formation" guy of our time, much like Dallas Willard before him. Practicing the Way is really about taking a systematic approach to implementing spiritual disciplines in our lives in an effort to follow Jesus. While his approach is debated and criticized in some circles, he certainly has a gift for making the ancient practices of our faith simple to understand and apply to our lives in the modern era.

Who would benefit from it:

People who are just starting out in their faith or discipling others who are just starting out will benefit the most from this book. If you've been in Church for years but have struggled to get your footing when it comes to developing spiritual practices in your daily life, this book is a great resource for you as well.

Quote from the book:

“For those of us who desire to follow Jesus, here is the reality we must turn and face: If we’re not being intentionally formed by Jesus Himself, then it’s highly likely we are being unintentionally formed by someone or something else.”

9. Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer

Why I loved it:

Another true story, this time about 24-year-old Chris McCandless, who trekked into the open country of Alaska in an attempt to live off the land. Tragically his body was found months later, and that's no spoiler... it tells you that much on the cover of the book. Into the Wild follows Chris' footsteps in the months leading up to his decision to disconnect from the world and hike into the Alaskan wilderness. This same author has written several books about harrowing journeys, including Into Thin Air, chronicling the disaster that took place on Mt. Everest in 1996. Krakauer has a knack for not only finding good stories but also telling them.

Who would benefit from it:

I tend to turn to books like this when I need a mental break and want something to pique my curiosity. I like to hike and run but I wouldn't consider myself the outdoors-type. So, I like to put myself in a different world from time to time and this book allowed me to do that. If you're fascinated by mystery, tragedy (morbid, I know), or simply the great outdoors, you might like this one in a weird sort of way.

Quote from the book:

"The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun.”

8. The Scandal of Forgiveness by Philip Yancey

Why I loved it:

It would benefit every Christian to read at least one book each year on the subject of forgiveness. I'm slowly building a library full of books that center around forgiving others. Jesus demonstrated forgiveness for all of humanity on the cross. His grace should not only extend TO us, but also THROUGH us and this book zeroes in on how to make that a reality. On top of practical and applicable guidance on how to forgive those who have hurt you, Yancey recounts numerous stories and examples throughout history of how forgiveness has transformed and shaped the lives of the multitudes.

Who would benefit from it:

If you've been hurt by others, read this now. If you haven't, read it anyway; you're bound to be hurt by someone very soon. The reason forgiveness is such a tenant of our faith is because offense is inevitable. Never offending or being offended is not what makes us Christians. Forgiving when offense happens does. This is a great tool for your tool belt that will enable you to keep doing that.

Quote from the book:

“The process of forgiving does not exclude hatred and anger. These emotions are all part of being human. When I talk of forgiveness I mean the ability to let go of the right to revenge and to slip the chains of rage that bind you to the person who harmed you. When you forgive you are free of the hatred and anger that locks you in a state of victimhood. If you can find it in yourself to forgive, you can move on, and you may even help the perpetrator to become a better person.”

7. Disciple by Chuck Lawless

Why I loved it:

This is by far the shortest book on my list. I probably read it in less than a day, but it was so enriching. Chuck asks the questions of Pastors, leaders, and disciple-makers: what are the defining qualities of a disciple? If we can't answer that question, we won't know when we've made one. Yet, the whole mission of the Church centers around making disciples. As a pastor who is constantly thinking about and working on how we can create disciples more effectively, this book was a treasure trove.

Who would benefit from it:

Pastors and Church leaders will benefit the most from this. While disciple-making is certainly the responsibility of all believers, this book is written specifically from the perspective of a Church leader to other Church leaders. It's main focus is on creating systems within your Church for on-going discipleship.

Quote from the book:

It’s not that churches do nothing. They plan, but they don’t always strategize. Christian growth is often equated with “church activity,” and there’s usually a lot of activity going on. The problem is that busy church members remain undiscipled members because the church has no cohesive plan of spiritual formation. They are “doing stuff,” but without the intentionality necessary for discipleship.

6. Even Greater by Reinhard Bonnke

Why I loved it:

If you've never heard of Reinhard Bonnke it's likely because you don't live in Africa. Bonnke was a German Evangelist and Missionary who spent several decades doing crusades throughout continental Africa, preaching to millions. It is estimated that he preached Christ to more than 70 million people who would be without the gospel otherwise. Healing and miracles were a major part of his ministry, given that he comes from the pentecostal/charismatic camp. This book tells 12 different stories of the miraculous happening in the lives of people all over the world. This is the kind of book that fuels my faith to keep believing for the impossible.

Who would benefit from it:

Every believer, but especially those who need an adrenaline shot to their faith. We all wrestle with doubt and can become so easily jaded when the things we're praying for don't seem to be happening. If you need to be reminded of God's ability to do wonders, give this one a read.

Quote from the book:

“We are agents of omnipotence. This means that unlimited power is at our fingertips. It also means that there are no great men working in God’s Kingdom. Rather, there is a great God at work in human beings who have childlike faith.”

5. When God Doesn't Answer Your Prayer by Jerry Sittser

Why I loved it:

I put these two books back to back because of how beautifully they juxtapose one another. Even Greater is about what happens when we believe God for the impossible. When God Doesn't Answer Your Prayer is about what happens when we believe God and yet nothing happens. This book is written by a Pastor who prayed for safety over his family one morning, only to lose his daughter, wife, and mother all in the same tragic car accident. It's a gut-wrenching journey into both the scriptures and the soul.

Who would benefit from it:

I have personally come to recognize times in my life where I was subconsciously holding a grudge towards God for not answering specific prayers. This book will expose where you have done the same. If you have struggled to reconcile the scriptures that say, "Ask and it will be given to you" with others that say, "If we ask anything in the will of God, we know that we have what we asked of Him" - this book is for you. It's less a commentary on the debate between freewill and God's sovereignty, and more a commentary on the nature of God and man.

Quote from the book:

“Although unanswered prayer is indeed a theme of the book, it is not the heart of the book, for unanswered prayer describes a problem but offers no solutions.”

4. Fatherless America by David Blankenhorn

Why I loved it:

This book was written in the mid 1990s but it reads like it was written yesterday. Blankenhorn explores how fatherlessness contributes to the breakdown of society. But what I love most is that he offers both practical and nuanced solutions in response to our dilemma. It should come as no surprise that the downstream effects of lacking fathers are costly, but what can be done to claw our way out of the ditch we find ourselves in? This book provides brilliant and thought-provoking perspectives.

Who would benefit from it:

Pastors, you need to read books that can help shape your strategies for reaching and discipling men. Studies show by far that when men are devoted to Christ, the entire household fares much better in the faith. Ladies flirting with 3rd wave feminist ideas, ("I don't need a man!") give books like this a chance. Hear the other side and realize why God designed the family unit to function the way He did. Young men, read this book before you throw yourself into the dating world. Being a Godly man is synonymous with being a Godly father. Add this book to the collection of books you should be building on how to become a man of God.

Quote from the book:

"The most important domestic challenge facing the U.S. at the close of the twentieth century is the re-creation of fatherhood as a vital social role for men. At stake is nothing less than the success of the American experiment. For unless we reverse the trend of fatherlessness, no other set of accomplishments--not economic growth or prison construction or welfare reform or better schools--will succeed in arresting the decline of child well-being and the spread of male violence. To tolerate the trend of fatherlessness is to accept the inevitability of continued social recession."

3. The Patient Ferment of the Early Church by Alan Kreider

Why I loved it:

I like history and I like theology, so it was inevitable that this book would make my top 3. Kreider does a deep dive on how the early Church operated throughout the first four centuries before Constantine came to power and changed everything for Christianity. While the focus is mainly aimed at how patience was the driving virtue behind the early Church's rise, Kreider paints a very detailed picture of the kinds of systems and processes the Church implemented to ensure they were staying true to Christ's commission to make disciples.

Who would benefit from it:

I'd love for all Christians to read this so they could have a more enriched view of the purpose of the Church, but this isn't exactly a page-turner. History buffs and theology nerds will enjoy it the most.

Quote from the book:

“As Tertullian put it around AD 200, “Christians are made, not born.”

2. God Was Right: How Modern Social Science Proves the Torah is True by Mark Gerson

Why I loved it:

Let me say this upfront: I'm not interested in the Hebrew Roots movement. I'm not "Torah-observant." And I do not have an unhealthy fascination with Israel as a nation and it's role in the end times. I absolutely love the land, I'm intrigued by the people, and I believe they will play a role in God's ultimate plan; however I maintain that Jesus is their only way to salvation. Now that I've said a mouthful, this was a great book. Few know the first five books of the Bible (the Torah) better than a Rabbi, and Rabbi Mark Gerson does a great job at comparing modern findings in psychology, sociology, and the like, to insights from the Bible of what God knew all along. I also love how it's written, with each chapter being detached from the others so that you could potentially skip around and read the chapters that interest you the most.

Who would benefit from it:

If you're even slightly convinced that you should be holding to the entire law of Moses as a Christian, skip this book and read Galatians instead. But if you are able to maintain a healthy and balanced view of how the Old Testament informs and sets us up for the New Covenant in Christ, this this is an enjoyable read. It's extremely thick, so if you don't like long books, Galatians is way shorter.

Quote from the book:

Example of one of the chapters: "Why diversity is better than uniformity and the Tower of Babel proves it."

1. How to Hear God: A Simple Guide for Normal People by Pete Greig

Why I loved it:

Pete Greig is the founder of the 24-7 prayer movement, founding Pastor of The Road to Emmaus Church in Southern England, and the creator of the Lectio 365 resource and podcast. Needless to say the man is a walking billboard for connecting with God, and this book proves how gifted he is at helping people do that. I wish I had this book in the early years of ministry. When I sit with people, most of the time at the root of their struggles is an inability to connect with God and know what He is saying. Like any relationship, our faith walk will disintegrate if we lack communication. This book is by far one of the most practical I have ever read on the subject of discerning the voice of God in our lives.

Who would benefit from it:

Absolutely everyone. It's written in such a way that any believer at any stage will take away a plethora of knowledge for how they can better lean into the Lord and discern His voice.

Quote from the book:

“Jesus is what God sounds like. He’s literally the “living Word of God.” Hearing His voice is not so much a skill we must master, therefore, as a Master we must meet.”