12 Books for 2013

In the past we have had all sorts of reading lists which I am pretty sure nobody has actually looked at because of how many books are on there. We wanted to try something a little different this year. We wanted to suggest a book a month for the 12 months of this year. These books fit into what we hope will be the defining characteristics of our church family and reflect some of the things we are emphasising as a church.

We wanted the books to be:

Biblical: because if they are not they are just wasting your time.
Readable: because if they are not you are unlikely to invest your time

and the schedule to be:

Doable: because time is valuable and you want to see that it is possible to be encouraged to do it.

So here are the twelve, we'll let you know before the start of each month which the next book is.

[amazon-product image="http://ws.assoc-amazon.co.uk/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=1590525787&MarketPlace=GB&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&tag=harvestglasgo-21&ServiceVersion=20070822" type="image"]1590525787[/amazon-product] Living the Cross-centred life- Mahaney

This is my favourite first time book give away. Well presented, great content, readable and short. It doesn't look intimidating for someone who doesn't consider the self a reader. Great at getting the Gospel front and centre in your life and in your conversations. It really helps you to see what the Christian life looks like. If you like it is a description of the gospel with legs on.

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[amazon-product image="http://ws.assoc-amazon.co.uk/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=160006292X&MarketPlace=GB&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&tag=harvestglasgo-21&ServiceVersion=20070822" type="image"]160006292X[/amazon-product] Respectable Sins- Bridges

Most of us would acknowledge that we as sinners without perhaps being able to be specific about what that looks like in our life. That is a major hindrance in us living our lives fully for Jesus because we miss the opportunity to know the freedom His grace brings from things in our life that it is never His intention for us to bear. Jerry Bridges is so easy to read and so challenging in regards to our ongoing growth in godliness.

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[amazon-product image="http://ws.assoc-amazon.co.uk/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=1433514915&MarketPlace=GB&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&tag=harvestglasgo-21&ServiceVersion=20070822" type="image"]1433514915[/amazon-product] Rescuing Ambition- Harvey

We are designed for and called to live for God's glory. The great challenge that we have is that we get distracted by our own agenda. The flip side of this is that we can also live out a false modesty of small prayers and low expectation which in its own way diminishes God. This book is a healthy mix of reminding us of the importance of humility while also calling us to come to God with great expectations of marvellous things.

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[amazon-product image="http://ws.assoc-amazon.co.uk/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=184474552X&MarketPlace=GB&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&tag=harvestglasgo-21&ServiceVersion=20070822" type="image"]184474552X[/amazon-product] A Call to spiritual reformation- Carson

This is probably my wife's favourite and most impacting book on this list. As most of us find prayer the great challenge of our Christian walk this kind of book is so essential. It encourages a level of examination as to what we pray, it provides great encouragement to pray God's Word and does so in such a helpful and readable way. It effectively serves as a Bible study of Paul's prayers in the New Testament.

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[amazon-product image="http://ws.assoc-amazon.co.uk/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0875522017&MarketPlace=GB&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&tag=harvestglasgo-21&ServiceVersion=20070822" type="image"]0875522017[/amazon-product] The Enemy Within- Lundgaard

I think if you asked most of the people who were around Harvest Glasgow from the early days this will be a book they will say had a significant impact on them. In truth it has been well used in our church since. Short chapters with great questions at the end really make this a book that will do your heart good as it searches it.

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[amazon-product image="http://ws.assoc-amazon.co.uk/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=1600063055&MarketPlace=GB&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&tag=harvestglasgo-21&ServiceVersion=20070822" type="image"]1600063055[/amazon-product] Trusting God- Bridges

It is something of an unspoken assumption around the church that if Jerry Bridges wrote it then it is going to be good. We wanted a book on the list that would give you a chance to think about how you respond in trial and that would very much direct you to God. The girls at Friday Flourish are starting their year in this book. We would encourage you to spend some time in this book this year.

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[amazon-product image="http://ws.assoc-amazon.co.uk/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=1935273124&MarketPlace=GB&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&tag=harvestglasgo-21&ServiceVersion=20070822" type="image"]1935273124[/amazon-product]Crosstalk- Emlet

Such a big part of our church culture at Harvest Glasgow is about investing God's Word in one another. Sometimes we can have trouble figuring out how best to do that, where to point people to at particular seasons and how best to impress upon one another the value of God's Word in every day life. This book is a useful look at how best to do that. It runs as a useful accompaniment to the Biblical Soul Care course content and will be useful as you try to serve the people in our church family Biblically.

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[amazon-product image="http://ws.assoc-amazon.co.uk/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=1581349807&MarketPlace=GB&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&tag=harvestglasgo-21&ServiceVersion=20070822" type="image"]1581349807[/amazon-product]Unpacking Forgiveness- Brauns

This is just a great book to read on a subject that to few of us spend time thinking about. If you don't have someone you need to forgive there is a good chance you will have someone in the future. Read it, and if you don't believe me google some reviews of it.

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[amazon-product image="http://ws.assoc-amazon.co.uk/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=1590523261&MarketPlace=GB&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&tag=harvestglasgo-21&ServiceVersion=20070822" type="image"]1590523261[/amazon-product]Humility- Mahaney

My favourite book to give away to young guys in the launch team. We are all more proud than we think and have much more to be humble about than we seen to realise.

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[amazon-product image="http://ws.assoc-amazon.co.uk/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=1433522063&MarketPlace=GB&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&tag=harvestglasgo-21&ServiceVersion=20070822" type="image"]1433522063[/amazon-product]Note to self- Joe Thorn

We speak fairly often of the need for us to preach the Gospel to ourselves everyday. This book is on that very subject. What a transformation there would be if we lived out what we profess to believe as an every day reality. If that is going to happen then we need some everyday reminders. This book will help.

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[amazon-product image="http://ws.assoc-amazon.co.uk/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0842339655&MarketPlace=GB&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&tag=harvestglasgo-21&ServiceVersion=20070822" type="image"]0842339655[/amazon-product]Holiness of God- Sproul

A great book on a massive subject. Most impressive is that it is readable. If we are in pursuit of life transformation rather than mere behaviour modification we need a better view of God's holiness- tho shook goes some way towards providing it.

And our book for January which is...

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[amazon-product image="http://ws.assoc-amazon.co.uk/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=1581344465&MarketPlace=GB&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&tag=harvestglasgo-21&ServiceVersion=20070822" type="image"]1581344465[/amazon-product]God wrote a book- MacDonald (available at the church book store)

If you are going to base your life and belief on a book you should probably spend some time understanding a little bit about it. This book does that in a very readable and practical way without ever being exhausting to read. Anyone I have spoken to in the church who has read it says that they think it is an excellent book and definitely worth taking time to read.