Great Christian Fiction

I also enjoy Christian Fiction, and there are a few that can be life changing because they're so very, very good. These are the books I've found to be just that good:
I highly recommend the books:
 
A Voice in The Wind -Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers. 
 An Echo in the Darkness-Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers.
As Sure As the Dawn -Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers.

Here's a bit about all 3:
Francine Rivers has once again captured the Roman empire of the 1st century AD. Rome, Ephesus, and Israel come alive with compelling people and small historic details. The theme of God's love and the power of forgiveness are beautifully shown through the lives of these characters. The ending was so powerful, I'm sure it will stay with me for quite some time.

....The MARK trilogy is set in the Roman Empire, shortly after the fall of Jerusalem. Using a Hebrew slave girl (Hadassah) and a German gladiator (Atretes; think the film GLADIATOR) as the main characters, three books are crafted around themes of faith, redemption, forgiveness, and sacrifice. Rivers is one of the best at writing characters and those that she creates here are absolutely convincing -- flawed and heroic on multiple layers, with developmental conflicts that relate to and parallel modern times almost seamlessly.
As with most Rivers books, this one if life-changing. This series is what the Lord used to bring me back to Him after 3 years of trying things my own way--what a gentle Lord He is. I highly recommend this series. The characters are believable, you feel for them, and you get a better sense of how God works in life (even though it is fiction). It will challenge your walk with the Lord, in a good way. 

Each night I've wound up sobbing my heart out to the Lord when I'm reading it because it touches me so very deeply. These are fiction books but they're so very powerful! I've read most of her other books too and they're all good, but to me this is more like it was actually inspired by God Himself and when I read it, the Lord speaks directly to me from it. It's really amazing and very much appropriate for us who know we are in the end times.

Next are some Christian fiction books by Bill Myers that can also be life changing. If you let it, it can really open your eyes into an even deeper relationship with the Lord. These books will really make you think!

Blood of Heaven (Fire of Heaven Trilogy, Book 1) by Bill Myers
Mysterious blood has been discovered on the remains of an ancient religious artifact. Some believe it is the blood of Christ. And experiments with specific genes from the blood have brought surprising findings. Now it's time to introduce those genes into a human. Enter Michael Coleman: multiple killer, death-row resident . . . and, if he is willing, human guinea pig. There are no promises. The effects may kill Coleman or completely destroy his sanity. He agrees to the experiment, with results so astonishing that the research must continue--but not in prison. Given a new identity and new employer, Katherine Lyon, Coleman reenters society. And that's when a plot far darker than science alone could construct begins to emerge. A carefully researched science and psychological thriller, Blood of Heaven is a nonstop page turner that looks deep into the heart of man, examining the nature of good and evil, flesh versus spirit, and the ever-growing controversy over genetically determined behavior.

Threshold (Fire of Heaven Trilogy, Book 2) by Bill Myers
From the realms of science, the paranormal, and Bible prophecy emerges a novel for our times: fast-paced, carefully researched . . . with a warning none can ignore.

Some say Brandon Martus has a mysterious ability to see into the future, to experience what scientists refer to as a “higher dimension.” Others insist he is simply a troubled Generation-X member plagued by the accidental death of his little sister. It isn’t until he teams up with Sarah Weintraub, the ambitious but haunted neurobiologist, that a far deeper secret unfolds.

Utilizing the latest discoveries in brain research and quantum physics, the two carefully wind their way through a treacherous maze of human greed and supernatural encounters that are both legitimate and counterfeit--until they finally discover the astonishing truth about Brandon Martus.
 
Fire of Heaven Trilogy (Fire of Heaven Trilogy, Book 3) by Bill Myers
'My words will become a fire in your mouth that you cannot contain. They will burn until you have warned my Bride. Warn her before it is too late!' So begins a dramatic journey into holiness, as newlyweds Brandon and Sarah Martus accept the call to become Revelation's two prophets. This is not another end-times thriller, but one of the most intense and thought-provoking pieces of Christian fiction to come along in years. As the couple prepare for the final showdown against Satan himself, they must live and proclaim the truths Christ has given his end-times church. From America, to archaeological ruins dating back to Bible times, to the Himalayas, and finally to Jerusalem, Brandon and Sarah battle the forces of man and hell while learning the true cost of following Christ . . . and experiencing a Love far deeper than either could have imagined. Author Bill Myers says, 'Writing this book has changed my life.' Reading it could very well change yours.

Eli by Bill Myers

What If Jesus Had Not Come Until Today? Who Would Follow Him? Who Would Kill Him? A fiery car crash hurls TV journalist Conrad Davis into another world exactly like ours except for one detail---Jesus Christ did not come 2,000 years ago, but today. Starting with angels heralding a birth in the back of a motel laundry room, the skeptical Davis watches the gospel unfold in today's society as a Messiah in T-shirt and blue jeans heals, raises people from the dead, and speaks such startling truths that he captures the heart of a nation. But the young man's actions and his criticism of the religious establishment earn him enemies as ruthless as they are powerful. An intense and thought-provoking novel, Eli strips away religious tradition to present Jesus fresh and unvarnished. With gripping immediacy, Bill Myers weaves a story whose truth will refresh your faith.
 
Thunder in Paradise- Satan's Last Storm by Jonathan R. Sash.

Thunder in Paradise is absolutely fantastic!!!! It's got to be one of the very best I've read! It's about life during the millennium and it's so much better then the Left Behind book about this subject that it leaves it in the dust! I read this in two days because I simply couldn't put it down!

Fallen From Babel By T L Higley.

Fallen From Babel's about a university professor who teaches comparative religion who winds up accidentally being sent back in time to Babylon. He winds up in the body of the chief Magician and finds out first hand where "all religions" really lead!

The Silence: The End Is Near by Jim Kraus

Global catastrophes throw the world into mass panic...and virtual silence. A solar storm burns communication satellites and computers. Earthquakes shake North America. Is it the end of the world? Out of the chaos, Reverend Jerry Moses grows a tiny Illinois farm church into the "Garden of Eden," a cult-like community touting food as the new currency for a world gone silent. Tom Lyton, Megan Smith, and Peter Wilson embark on individual journeys that lead them to confront Moses' heretical teaching. This tantalizing, futuristic novel takes readers on a roller-coaster ride toward the truth as seen through the eyes of engaging characters. When global catastrophe sends the world into chaos and a small-town pastor unexpectedly rises to power, three believers journey to Illinois to challenge his claims.

Very interesting and thought provoking book of what could quite easily happen any time, here and now.
 
Some more great fiction that I'd recommend to give your faith a boost:

Timeflyer by Jeff Cargill.


TimeFlyer is an action-packed Christian science fiction action book. Steve Harrison, the main character, is a fighter pilot in the Air Force who is diligently seeking to honor God with his life. He feels directed to take the job of a test pilot for a top-secret military project in the Nevada desert. Jill, Steve's wife, is brilliant, but suffers from Asperger's syndrome, a mild form of autism characterized by intense concentration. She wants to be 'normal', and doesn't appreciate the gift of intelligence that God has given her. Dr. Choi Daesang escaped North Korea more than 15 years before. He is implementation director of the top-secret project. He is horrified to find that the North Koreans know where he is, and are determined to get him and his knowledge back to North Korea at any cost. The above-top-secret project, in which they are all involved, has built an aircraft that can fly back and forth in time. The first few missions go smoothly. However, the mission back 4,000 years reports physical features on Earth and in space that are totally unexpected. Steve and Jill realize they are seeing results from the global flood of Noah's time. The next mission is to fly back in time 8,000 years. Steve realizes that might be before the time of creation. He has to make a choice - fly the mission and risk the life of aircraft and crew, or refuse and risk a court-martial for disobeying orders.

Last Light A Restoration Novel by Terri Blackstock  
Night Light A Restoration Novel by Terri Blackstock
True Light A Restoration Novel by Terri Blackstock 
 Dawn's Light A Restoration Novel by Terri Blackstock 
 
Birmingham, Alabama, has lost all power. Its streets are jammed with cars that won't start, its airport engulfed in flames from burning planes. All communications---cell phones, computers, even radios---are silent. Every home and business is dark. Is it a natural disaster . . . a terrorist attack . . . or something far worse?
In the face of a crisis that sweeps an entire high-tech planet back to a time before electricity, the Branning family faces a choice. Will they hoard their possessions in order to survive---or trust God to provide as they share their resources with those around them? Yesterday's world is gone. Family and community are all that remain. And the outage is revealing the worst in some.
Desperation can be dangerous when a killer lives among them.
 
Solar Flare by Larry Burkett

In his latest thriller, Larry Burkett describes the potentially awesome power of a major solar flare and dramatic life-changing effects it could have on our electronic-dependent society--changes that not only affect our lives but our faith as well.

And of course there's The Left Behind Series by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye, but I'm sure you're all more then familiar with them!

Well, that's it.  Those are my "most favorite" from over the years.  I hope if anyone else reads them that they get as much out of them as I have.

Essential Non Fiction Christian Books

Here's some essential Non Fiction Christian Books I recommend to everyone:

Why Christians Can't Trust Psychology by Ed Rulkley, PhD

Where should Christians go to heal the deep hurts in their hearts?
Today's search for inner fulfillment has exploded into the Recovery movement, complete with twelve-step seminars, counseling programs, and self-help books. Thousands are looking to Christian psychology to help them attain victory over modern dysfunctions.
Does that mean the Bible alone is no longer adequate for the problems faced by Christians today?
Some say we need the Bible plus psychology. Others say the Bible alone is sufficient.
With deep insight and candor, pastoral counselor Ed Bulkley presents the opposing sides of this issue--and offers trustworthy, biblical answers for those who long to break away from pain and guilt and know true freedom...genuine inner peace...and a fresh beginning.
The pressures to find the solutions to human hurt and suffering have never been greater. Clear answers are urgently needed for the hurting--today.
 

From forgiven to forgiving by J. E.Adams 





What do the following statements about forgiveness have in common? Forgiveness is obtained through apologizing. The best thing you can do is "forgive and forget". You aren't forgiven until you feel forgiven. In this book, Dr. Jay Adams carefully explores all dimensions of the process of forgiveness.A  He can help you understand biblical forgiveness from beginning to end and apply that understanding to everyday situations ranging from forgiving your straying spouse or prodigal child - and being forgiven by them as well.
Dr. Jay Adams is perhaps the most well-known Biblical Counselor in the world today and has trained thousands of others from a Biblical perspective.


God is There in the Tough Times by E. E. Hindson 

No matter what you may be facing, God is there to help you. This message resonates throughout this encouraging, powerful resource designed to help readers struggling with rejection, guilt, fear, depression, temptation, disappointment, personal crises, and more. As readers realize God is always near, they will begin to...

• face crises with confidence
• turn problems into an opportunities
• conquer anxiety, stress, and feelings of failure
• set realistic goals for change
• rest in God’s strength in every situation

A strongly biblical resource that offers a new outlook on life’s disappointments and hurts. Includes a special reference guide that looks at key difficulties people face and the Bible’s answers to those problems. Formerly Overcoming Life’s Toughest Problems.

I Kissed Dating Goodbye By Joshua Harris 

Joshua Harris's first book, written when he was only 21, turned the Christian singles scene upside down...and people are still talking. More than 800,000 copies later, I Kissed Dating Goodbye, with its inspiring call to sincere love, real purity, and purposeful singleness, remains the benchmark for books on Christian dating. Now, for the first time since its release, the national #1 bestseller has been expanded with new content and updated for new readers. Honest and practical, it challenges cultural assumptions about relationships and provides solid, biblical alternatives to society's norm.

Tired of the game? Kiss dating goodbye.

Going out? Been dumped? Waiting for a call that doesn’t come? Have you tasted pain in dating, drifted through one romance or, possibly, several of them?

Ever wondered, Isn’t there a better way?

I Kissed Dating Goodbye shows what it means to entrust your love life to God. Joshua Harris shares his story of giving up dating and discovering that God has something even better—a life of sincere love, true purity, and purposeful singleness. 
 
Our sufficiency in Christ by J. F. MacArthur, Jr. 

Christ's divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness. —2 Peter 1:3
Pure Christianity needs no embellishment whatsoever. We find complete sufficiency in Christ and His provision for our needs.
But too many Christians have bought in to the notion that all the spiritual resources we gain at the moment of salvation are not adequate to meet the real needs in today's complex world. So they look for something more—an emotionally exciting and self-edifying experience not found in God's Word. This failure to understand the sufficiency of Christ has opened the door to all kinds of worldy influences, causing many modern believers to mix biblical truths with seemingly helpful man-made methods such as mysticism and psychology. As a result, they wallow in a watered-down, pseudo-Christanity that has been drained of its vitality, effectiveness, and security.
In this book John MacArthur exposes the main ways Christians have displaced their spiritual resources and explains how to avoid making the same error. It will make you newly aware of how completely God provides—and give you a renewed understanding of what it means to be "complete in Christ."

The power of integrity: Building a life without compromise by J. F. MacArthur, Jr.
 

We live in a society that has largely abandoned moral standards and Christian principles. Unkept campaign promises, false advertising, exaggerated tax exemptions, employee theft--compromise has become a way of life. Such moral concession has even invaded the church. Faced with an opportunity to proclaim Christ to unbelievers, we feel intimidated and keep silent. Or we water down God's Word on ethical issues at work or in our community to avoid rejection. Too often we prefer hypocrisy to integrity.
But God longs for His people to be different--to maintain a commitment to His standards, no matter what the cost. Is consistent obedience to God--integrity--attainable in this world of sin and self? By the grace and power of God, yes!
One of the nation's most respected pastors points the way to persevering character in Christ. Drawing from scriptural examples of godly men who modeled integrity during severe testing, MacArthur makes a compelling case for the impact a man or woman of integrity can have in our world.
A helpful study guide for individuals or groups is included.

The pillars of Christian character: The basic essentials of a living faith by J. MacArthur,  

"To love [God] with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices." –Jesus' words in Mark 12:33
Without question the crucial issue in living the Christian life is the condition of your heart. Actions may be temporarily deceiving, but ultimately our outward behavior will reflect what's inside, because our internal attitudes form who we really are. Those inner attitudes are also what God deems most important.
In this book one of Christianity's most respected Bible teachers and pastors examines the foundational attitudes, or "pillars," of Christian character as outlined in God's Word. Pillars such as genuine faith, obedience, humility, selfless love, forgiveness, self-discipline, gratitude, and worship.
To some degree each trait, on its own, marks a person as one of God's own and reveals an active, living faith. Each is an essential element of mature Christianity. But there is transforming power when you combine them in your everyday living as God commands. Your character will be grounded in godliness; you will see things from an eternal perspective; and your faith, your actions, your witness to others will be revitalized from the inside out.

 
Totally sufficient by E. E. Hindson, & H. Eyrich,   

 Contributors: Gary L. Almy, W. Wilson Benton Jr, Edward G. Dobson, Howard Eyrich, Ronald E. Hawkins, Ed Hindson, Arnold Hyndman, Wayne A. Mack, Paul Madtes Jr, David Powlison, C. Dwayne Shafer, Chris Thurman, Edward T. Welch.

Christian counselors agree that the Bible's message of salvation can radically change lives. Scripture can lead even the most unlikely people to faith but when it comes to everyday problems – is the Bible really enough?
Here we have more than a dozen highly trained counselors, medical experts and pastors who are highly respected in their fields. Every one has at least one doctorate relevant to the area they examine in this book. Their answers to the question stated above are enlightening, thought provoking and surprising.

All really fantastic books!  Not one of them is "dry" or "boring".  You'll be caught up in each one in not time and not want to put them down.

Favorite commentaries and study guides

Some of my favorite commentaries and study guides are:

1. The Bible exposition commentary By W. W. Wiersbe, (this covers the New Testament) Or the Warren Wiersbe’s Old Testament “Be” Series Or the "Be Commentary Series" by Wiersbe, in which you can buy each book of the bible separately. 

2. The MacArthur study Bible
3. The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures
 
I just LOVE Wiersbe's Be series of commentaries as I said before.  He brings every single book alive and makes it very personal.  It really helps you grow a lot! As it's more expensive (at first) to buy the whole New or Old testament series, I also wanted to list the individual titles of the entire Be series as it can be a lot easier to buy them one at a time that way.

Here's the Old Testament ones:

• Be Basic: Genesis 1-11
• Be Obedient: Genesis 12-25
• Be Authentic: Genesis 25-50
• Be Delivered: Exodus
• Be Holy: Leviticus
• Be Counted: Numbers
• Be Equipped: Deuteronomy
• Be Strong: Joshua
• Be Available: Judges
• Be Committed: Ruth & Esther
• Be Successful: 1 Samuel
• Be Restored: 2 Samuel & 1 Chronicles
• Be Responsible: 1 Kings
• Be Distinct: 2 Kings & 2 Chronicles
• Be Determined: Nehemiah
• Be Patient: Job
• Be Worshipful: Psalms Vol. 1
• Be Exultant: Psalms Vol. 2
• Be Skillful: Proverbs
• Be Satisfied: Ecclesiastes
• Be Comforted: Isaiah
• Be Decisive: Jeremiah
• Be Reverent: Ezekiel
• Be Resolute: Daniel
• Be Concerned: Amos, Obadiah, Micah, Zephaniah
• Be Heroic: Haggai, Zechariah, Ezra
• Be Amazed: Hosea, Joel, Jonah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Malachi

Here's the New Testament ones:

• Be Loyal: Matthew
• Be Diligent: Mark
• Be Compassionate: Luke 1-13
• Be Courageous: Luke 14-24
• Be Alive: John 1-12
• Be Transformed: John 13-21
• Be Dynamic: Acts 1-12
• Be Daring: Acts 13-28
• Be Right: Romans
• Be Wise: 1 Corinthians
• Be Encouraged: 2 Corinthians
• Be Free: Galatians
• Be Rich: Ephesians
• Be Joyful: Philippians
• Be Complete: Colossians
• Be Ready: 1 & 2 Thessalonians
• Be Faithful: 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon
• Be Confident: Hebrews
• Be Mature: James
• Be Hopeful: 1 Peter
• Be Alert: 2 Peter, 2 & 3 John, Jude
• Be Real: 1 John
• Be Victorious: Revelation

Another very good one that I recommend for a fantastic study of the gospels is: 
The Life of Christ: A Study Guide to the Gospel Record by M. S. Mills 
It can be hard to find but if you keep watch on amazon they have had it once in awhile for a decent price. Honestly though, it's priceless, it's so good! Having studied it, I'd recommend any study you can find by him.