Knowing God by J.I. Packer: This longstanding, top-rated book walks Christians into the beauty, glory, and joy of knowing God—both intellectually and intimately. We need to know things about God in order to know God, just like how we know things about our spouse in order to continue to sustain a meaningful and healthy relationship. Packer shows us that all Christian theology is practical, devotional, and worshipful.

Of course, nothing is more classic than the Bible. Aside from the Holy Bible, however, there are certain books that all Christians who have access to books should read. The following list of books is not comprehensive but should give you a head start on some great literature that will encourage you in the Christian life.

Here are eleven classics (in no particular order) every Christian should read:

1. Basic Christianityby John Stott

“The Bible,” Stott wrote, “isn’t about people trying to discover God, but about God reaching out to find us.” Few books present an intellectually stimulating and satisfying view of the Christian faith as this one. It is chock-full of wisdom and golden nuggets of truth that help us know what we believe and why we believe it.

2. Confessionsby Augustine

This is the famous autobiography of Augustine of Hippo, where he writes with such beauty and clarity the words, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.”

3. Orthodoxyby G.K. Chesterton

In this brilliant work, twentieth-century intellectual giant G. K. Chesterton explains with both style and substance his own reasons for being a Christian.

4. The Pilgrim’s Progressby John Bunyan

This is a story of Christian’s journey to the Celestial City; it is packed full of imagery that is meant to mirror your own Christian life in all of its joys and struggles.

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