2023 Favorite Reads: Theology

This is the last installment of my favorite books from 2023. This post is dedicated to my top 10 theology reads. Once again, no rereads were considered for my top 10, only books I’ve never read before.

#10. Can We Trust the Gospels? by Peter J. Williams
This book was an easily digestible argument for the authority and reliability of the four gospels. I read one or two other books like this during 2023, but this one was the most intelligent and succinct.

#9. By Water: The Felix Manz Story by Jason Landsel
This was a graphic novel biography of Felix Manz, a christian who was martyred for believing in baptism by immersion. It was a beautifully drawn tribute to one of the heroes of the Radical Reformation.

#8. God of Freedom by Jen Wilkin
This book was part two of Jen Wilkin’s bible study series on Exodus. The lessons went deep and the questions were thought provoking. I got the version with the video teaching sessions by Wilkin included. They were moving and life changing. I highly recommend doing this study, but if you can start from part one (which I completed in 2022) the encouragement will double. Part one is called God of Deliverance. And don’t cheat yourself by missing out on the teaching videos. Jen Wilkin is just phenomenal.

#7. The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language by Eugene H. Peterson
I like to read the Bible in many versions. 2023 I finished reading through Peterson’s popular paraphrased version. In the end, it felt more like reading a biblical commentary to me, and I did not love the cadence of the Psalms in his writing voice, but all in all I found it very uplifting and beneficial read. I enjoyed having his interpretation of some of the scripture passages I regularly struggle with.

#6. Beholding and Becoming: The Art of Everyday Worship by Ruth Chou Simons
This book was so beautiful. Simons is not only a lovely writer of uplifting theological thoughts, but she is also an amazingly talented artist. Her gentle encouragement combined with her vivid and lush watercolor illustrations was just a such a sweet and calming read.

#5. Let Them Be Kids: Adventure, Boredom, Innocence, and Other Gifts Children Need by Jessica Smartt
This book was encouraging, inspiring, and life changing. It is mostly a parenting book, but I included it in my theology list because so much of the advice was God centered. It reminded me of the weight of parenting, but with practical advice for making the best use of our time while our little ones are under our protection. Smartt was very humble in her advice, which made the book generally easier to read and recognize the areas where I need to improve. Highly recommend.

#4. Adorning the Dark: Thoughts on Community, Calling, and the Mystery of Making by Andrew Peterson
Peterson’s music has been very dear to me for many years. This book was a joy and encouragement to read. It talked about the beauty, purpose, and importance of artistic calling within the Christian community; how it encourages and uplifts our brothers and sisters in the Lord. It also had a lot of practical advice for creatively inclined people.

#3. The Common Rule: Habits of Purpose for an Age of Distraction by Justin Whitmel Earley
This book was life changing. I struggle so much with the full, cluttered mode of modern American life. It feels so ungodly to me. I have spent the last couple years wrestling with the theology of Sabbath rest and what it should look like post Christ. This book gave a practical solution to cutting back the clutter of modernity to make more space for God, family, and fellowship. I’ve already gifted copies of it to other people, and I intend to read it again in 2024 and more intentionally follow the practices it encourages.

#2. Echoes of Exodus: Tracing Themes of Redemption through Scripture by Alastair J. Roberts
This book was such a blessing after going through parts I and II of the Jen Wilkin Exodus study mentioned earlier in this post. I am so encouraged by tracing consistent themes through the scriptures. It reminds me of God’s sovereignty and constancy. Each chapter ran chronologically through the scriptures, pulling out stories and showing how clear and distinct the allusions to Exodus repeated over the entirety of the scripture. I technically read this twice last year, once on my own, and then a second time with my husband almost immediately after I closed it. Highly recommend.

#1. This Beautiful Truth by Sarah Clarkson
This book currently lives within my top 10 favorite books of all time. Not just because it was deep, encouraging, and written in prose so beautiful it read like poetry, but also because it came to me at a time clearly God ordained. The morning I received news of my grandmother’s soon passing was the same morning that I read through Clarkson’s account of her own grandmother’s death. It was the LORD’s way of preparing my heart for the trial ahead. I cannot thank the LORD enough for this gift. And that thanks also extends to Sarah Clarkson, who lived through so much pain and used that pain to minister to me in my darkest moment of 2023. God is good. Read this book.

Have you read any of these? Do any of them pique your curiosity? Let me know in the comments.

And happy reading!