Like you, I'm always on the lookout for good books for seekers. You know who seekers are, right? These are the folks who come to your church NOT because they occasionally like to feel less guilty by attending, but because they are actually looking for answers. These are the folks who want to sit down and ask you questions about life, suffering, truth, the Bible, or where is God in all this mess, and seem to genuinely want answers. So...
What are your Big 5 books for seekers?
These will likely be books on the gospel or apologetics. You should try to stick to books that are meant for seekers or books that unintentionally just work very well with seekers. As best you can, stick with general books for seekers and not books on one issue only. If one really stands out to you, that's cool, but I would prefer lists that will help us all with good books for seekers in general. And please don't mention Scripture. We get it, the Bible is good for seekers. :)
Basic salvation issues... "How Good is Good Enough?" (Andy Stanley) and "Hard to Believe" (John Macarthur)
Struggling with faith... "The Reason for God" (duh) for the more intellectual... and "Searching for God Knows What" (Donald Miller) for everyone else.
Struggling with purpose in life... "Don't Waste Your Life" (Piper)
And out of those, I'd say I rec Miller's to more seekers than any other book these days. Its really a good read that draws you into his dilemma's with faith and his hopeful faith.
Posted by: ScottyZ | 06/19/2008 at 02:34 PM
1. The Reason for God - Keller (it has to be #1 on this list)
2. The Cross-Centered Life - Mahaney
3. The Case for ___ - Strobel (Those with an anti-Christian bent can easily dismiss much of these books, but I've seen these as key in many people's journey to faith)
4. Mere Christianity - Lewis (still good)
5. Basic Christianity - Stott
Also ... Christianity Explored bible studies by Tice & Cooper have been good for those really interested in exploring the person & work of Jesus.
My list assumes some openness to the Gospel. I'd probably write a different list if this was about a defense of the faith.
Posted by: Josh Montague | 06/19/2008 at 02:40 PM
I'm interested in what others recommend as well, I'm always looking for good books for skeptics. Something a little more engaging.
I just finished "What's So Great About Chrisitianity?"by Dinesh D'Souza and would recommend it for seekers who are looking at some of the modern intellectual arguments.
I'm currently reading, "The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism" by Tim Keller, so far it's really good too. Keller's book is like C.S. Lewis Apologetics 2.0.
Posted by: Spence | 06/19/2008 at 02:42 PM
1. The Reason for God (Keller)
2. Blue Like Jazz (Miller)
3. Searching for God Knows What (Miller)
4. Mere Christianity (Lewis)
5. Desiring God (Piper)- for those who want to dive into a deep deep pool and yes--I've met them.
Posted by: Mike Edwards | 06/19/2008 at 02:51 PM
I may recommend one over the other based on the questions, presumptions, or objections of the explorer.
1. Mere Christianity - C.S. Lewis (credibility)
2. Reason for God - Tim Keller (brilliance)
3. Vintage Jesus - Mark Driscoll/Gerry Breshears (Jesus 101)
4. The Cross Centered Life - C.J. Mahaney (The Gospel pure and simple)
5. Soul Cravings - Erwin McManus (explores alongside the reader/seeker)
Bonus: Purpose Driven Life - Rick Warren
Posted by: jason | 06/19/2008 at 03:07 PM
1. Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
2. The Divine Romance by Gene Edwards
3. The Purpose Driven Life (I know hokey, but it works) by Rick Warren
4. Simply Christian by N.T. Wright
5. A novel with Christian symbolism to discuss together
Posted by: Thom | 06/19/2008 at 03:15 PM
1. Vintage Jesus - Driscoll, Breshears
2. How to Read the Bible as Literature - Leland Ryken
3. Not the Way It's Supposed to Be: A Breviary of Sin - Cornelius Plantinga Jr.
4. The Screwtape Letters - C.S. Lewis
5. Searching For God Knows What - Donald Miller
Posted by: matt | 06/19/2008 at 05:29 PM
The books I've bought and given to "seekers"
-Blue Like Jazz/searching for God knows what (Miller)
-Jesus among other Gods/The Lotus and the Cross (Zacharias)
-Mere Christianity (Lewis)
-Jesus in the Margins (Mckinley)
-The Message (Peterson)
Posted by: Aaron | 06/19/2008 at 07:25 PM
Oh, and
Story (James)
Posted by: Aaron | 06/19/2008 at 07:27 PM
Wow, a few surprises listed above. Nice work. Here's my 5...
Pursuing God: A Seeker's Guide by Jim Elliff
Vintage Jesus by Driscoll
Blue Like Jazz by Miller
The Reason for God by Keller
How Good is Good Enough by Stanley
Pocket Guide to the Bible by Boyett (for those we encourage to read Scripture for the first time, fun)
Yeah, that's six. So what? Deal with it.
Posted by: Steve McCoy | 06/19/2008 at 09:05 PM
Thanks, Pastor Steve, this is a very big help.
Posted by: Carl | 06/19/2008 at 09:36 PM
Wow. I am impressed that "a reason for God" is on a lot of these lists. I may have to break down and buy one.
Posted by: randy m | 06/19/2008 at 11:30 PM
In chapter two of Mere Christianity. So far a very practical, down to earth and engaging book. Surprised at the short chapters.
Posted by: Eric | 06/19/2008 at 11:40 PM
1.) The Prodigal God - Keller (I know, I know ... it's not out yet ... and I haven't read it)
2.) The Reason for God - Keller
3.) Simply Christian - Wright
4.) A Good Man is Hard to Find - O'Conner short story
5.) Orthodoxy - Chesterton
Posted by: Burly | 06/20/2008 at 06:50 AM
The Reason for God, Keller
Orthodoxy, Chesterton
Simply Christian, Wright
Free of Charge, Volf
Confessions, Augustine
Posted by: David | 06/20/2008 at 08:17 AM
Searching For God Knows What by Miller
One True Thing by Howard Baker
Reason For God by Keller
Everybody Is Normal Until You Get To Know Them by Ortberg
A Life Well Lived by Tommy Nelson
Posted by: ryan | 06/20/2008 at 08:34 AM
Mere Christianity - Lewis
(Instrumental in my own conversion)
Reason For God - Keller
(Mere Christianity for a new generation)
Simply Christian - Wright
(see comments on Reason for God above)
The Universe Next Door - Sire
(philosophical, weighs all worldviews & religions)
The Case for Christ - Strobel
Posted by: Terry J | 06/20/2008 at 10:21 AM
1. Stott- Basic Christianity
2. Pullinger- Chasing the Dragon
3. Keller- Reason for God
4. Lewis- Mere Christianity
5. Yancey -What's so amazing about grace
Posted by: David Cooke | 06/20/2008 at 10:48 AM
For Your Joy - Piper
Mere Christianity - Lewis
Can Man Live Without God - Zacharias
For the suffering question, recommend:
Suffering & the Sovereignty of God - Piper
I don't have 5 general ones and when recommending a book to an unbeliever with a hunger to know God I ABSOLUTELY would not recommend: Warren, Miller, etc. To a thirsty man even bitter tastes sweet but why would I recommend something other than what's pure and right and saturated in a proper handling of the Word?
Posted by: Matt | 06/20/2008 at 10:57 AM
1. Mere Christianity (Lewis)
2. The Christian Life: A Doctrinal Introduction (Ferguson)
3. Basic Christianity (Stott)
4. The Reason for God (Keller)
5. Don't Waste Your Life (Piper)
Posted by: Timmy Brister | 06/20/2008 at 11:16 AM
Matt, this is a post about books you recommend, not other people's lists you want to dump on. Stick to recommendations. Thanks.
Posted by: Steve McCoy | 06/20/2008 at 12:17 PM
A couple not mentioned yet:
1. The God Questions by Hal Seed (40 day devo for seekers! great idea!)
2. Disappointment with God by Phillip Yancey (wonderfully walks through the story of Scripture, while addressing key issue for many outside the faith)
3. The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis (for those more likely to resonate with imaginative writing)
And two that have been:
4. Reason For God (Keller)
5. Mere Christianity (CS Lewis) or Simply Christian (Wright)
Posted by: Ken in Virginia Beach | 06/20/2008 at 02:27 PM
Basic Christianity (Stott)
The Unknown God (McGrath)
Mere Christianity (Lewis)
Life's Big Questions (Vaughn Roberts)
If I Were God I'd End All The Pain (John Dickson)
Posted by: Todd Pruitt | 06/21/2008 at 07:00 PM
The End of Religion (Bruxy Cavey) NavPress
The Liberator (Rob Lacey) Zondervan
The Word on The Street (Rob Lacey) Zondervan
Dinner With A Perfect Stranger (David Gregory) Random House
He Loves Me: Learning to Live in the Father's Love (Wayne Jacobsen) Windblown
These are books I feel will make a genuine connection with seekers. Many of the books that have been listed already have been filtered through the lens of people who are already Christians. BTW, I'm a big fan of Tim Keller's book; but where I live, I think the hardcover format might be intimidating to some seekers.
Posted by: Paul Wilkinson | 06/22/2008 at 09:17 PM
1. Reason for God by Keller
2. Basic Christianity by Stott
3. Mere Christianity by Lewis
4. Blue Like Jazz by Miller
5. Searching for God Knows What by Miller
Posted by: cavman | 06/23/2008 at 03:30 PM
Anchor for the Soul -- Pritchard
Why Did This Happen to Me? -- Pritchard
Case for Christ -- Strobel
Mere Christianity -- Lewis
Disappointment with God -- Yancey
Posted by: Brian Bill | 06/25/2008 at 09:09 AM