Christian Books To Read In 2023

For Sunday Reading this week I am sharing my stack of Christian Books to read in 2023.

I already shared my stacks of fiction books and nonfiction books that I hope to read in 2023. Today for Sunday Reading, I wanted to share the Christian books on my priority to be read list for 2023.

I had decision fatigue when it came to books in 2022. I have shelves full of books, but I still often can’t decide what I want to read.

When it comes to Christian books though it was more than at. I didn’t have a great year last year when it comes to Christian books. It isn’t so much that I didn’t read any, but I did not read a lot of great ones.

I also had more partially read Christian books and do not finish Christian books than normal in 2022.

A lot of Christians, and really people in general, don’t like to read books that they disagree with or that are from a different point of view. I am not like that.

I like to read all kinds of books. I don’t mind reading books that I disagree with. I like books that challenge me and make me think.

Often times a book that I don’t fully agree with still makes me think and often helps me confirm what I do believe. They also give me empathy for how other people live and think.

A lot of the Christian books that I read in 2022 were not bad books, but the writing felt lacking. In the Christian world today it seems like many authors are published simply because they have a large following, not because they are good writers or have a great story to tell.

I have read some great modern Christian books, but I have also read quite a few books that just were not for me.

Over the last few years, I have collected a lot of Christian books. I need to decide which ones are worth keeping on my bookshelves, which ones I need to clear out, and which ones I can recommend to others. I decided to put together a priority to be read list from my Christian books just like I did for my fiction and nonfiction books.

My goal with this list was to choose a wide range of books and topics. I hope it helps make 2023 a great reading year.

I tend to read Christian books more slowly than other books, so this list may be a bit ambitious. Hopefully, I will at least get through the majority of them.

Christian Books To Read

I read quite a few Christian books in 2023, but only seven were from this list. That isn’t great, but it is better than my nonfiction and fiction goals. I hope to read some of the ones that I didn’t make it to in 2024.

The titles I did read are in bold. Click on the title for the full review.

• When Strivings Cease: Replacing the Gospel of Self Improvement with the Gospel of Life Transforming Grace – Read in March
• Blessed Are the Misfits by Brant Hansen
• Forgive: Why Should I and How Can I by Timothy Keller– I read this one, but didn’t love it. The book was fine, but I struggled with the writing so I did not do a full review.

• What Grieving People Wish You Knew About What Really Helps and What Really Hurts by Nancy Guthrie
• The Characters of Creation: The Men, Women, Creatures, and Serpent Present at the Beginning of the World by Daniel Darling
• Seasons of Sorrow: The Pain of Loss the and Comfort of God by Tim Challies – Read In May. This was my favorite Christian book of the year.
• Heaven Rules: Take Courage, Take Comfort, Our God Is In Control
• Dream Small: The Secret Power of the Ordinary Christian Life by Seth Lewis

• The God of the Garden: Thoughts on Creation, Culture, and the Kingdom by Andrew Peterson – Read in April
• The Loveliest Place: The Beauty and the Glory of the Church

• Introverts in the Church: Finding Our Place in an Extroverted Culture by Adam S. McHugh
• Rejoice and Tremble: The Surprising Good News of the Fear of the Lord

• Beautiful People Don’t Just Happen by Scott Sauls – Read In January
• Find Your People by Jennie Allen – Read In April
• A Still and Quiet Mind by Esther Smith
• Deeper by Dane Ortlund

Have you read any of the books on my list? What should I read first?