Books that influenced my thinking …

I’ve been asked to respond to a survey by R. Kent Hughes for possible inclusion in a future edition of Disciplines of a Godly Young Man (Crossway).

Here’s what I came up with …

1. Which books have influenced you the most?

Martin Luther, The Heidelberg Disputation (with Alister McGrath, Luther’s Theology of the Cross)
John Bright, The Kingdom of God 
Ron Sider, Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger
Lesslie Newbigin, Foolishness to the Greeks: Gospel and Western Culture
Robert Banks, Going to Church in the First Century
David Powlison, Seeing with New Eyes
Ed Welch, When People Are Big and God is Small

2. Which is your favourite?

David Powlison, Seeing with New Eyes

3. What is your favourite novel?

Iain Pears, An Instance of the Fingerpost or anything by Umberto Eco.

4. What is your favourite biography?

Arnold Dallimore, George Whitefield Vols. 1 & 2.

Kent Hughes was after influences rather than recommendations (with a bit a latitude). Bright had a big influence on my biblical theology, but my recommendations in this field would be different. Of course these are impossible calls to make. I suspect the list is weighted towards more recent works (especially the novels). But what I also noticed is that most of the big influences in my life have not been books at all, but people – my parents, past and present co-workers, and The Crowded House community.

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