Recommended Reading

Mott Center Library

Vineyard Church of Ithaca has a vison to create a faith-based campus for coordinated ministry to the universities and the broader community. We have always celebrated and encouraged collaboration with other groups and ministries, so we created the Mott Center. The Mott Center is a joint campus to encourage collaboration, sharing of resources, and unity among the varied expressions of God’s Body in Ithaca.

One expression of the Mott Center is a library that is available to borrow books from.  Books range from theology, to life application, to fiction.  Below you will find a link to the Mott Center Library Catalog and the Mott Center Library Loan Form.

Recommended Reading

Books have always played an integral role in Christian spiritual formation. Indeed, one of the primary ways God has chosen to reveal himself to humanity is through a book, the Bible.

The following are a list of resources that can help you in your relationship with God. Whether you are a new Christian or a seasoned saint, our prayer is you will find this list helpful.

BASICS – books that help give an initial grounding to your faith

Mere Christianity – C.S. Lewis
Basic Christianity – John Stott
Prodigal God – Tim Keller
Knowing God – J.I. Packer
Orthodoxy – G.K. Chesterton
The Purpose Driven Life – Rick Warren
How To Read the Bible For All It’s Worth – Gordon Fee
The Gospel of the Kingdom – George Eldon Ladd
NIV Study Bible

CLASSICS – books that have passed the test of time. Blessing generations of Christians since their first publishing.

Confessions – Augustine
The Imitation of Christ -Thomas A’Kempis
The Pursuit of God – A.W. Tozer
The Institutes – John Calvin

APOLOGETICS – Apologetics is the defense of the Christian faith. These books are good for those wanting to research the arguments of the Christian faith. They are also helpful for those who simply want to learn reasons for their faith.

Mere Christianity – C.S. Lewis
Basic Christianity – John Stott
Confronting Christianity – Rebecca McLaughlin
Reason for God – Tim Keller
Reasonable Faith – William Lane Craig
The Case for Faith – Lee Strobel
The Case for Christ – Lee Strobel
The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament – Craig Keener
Systematic Theology – Wayne Grudem

SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES – The spiritual disciplines are practices we can incorporate into our lives in order to create more space to encounter God. These practices include fasting, prayer, silence and solitude.

Celebration of Discipline – Richard Foster
The Spirit of the Disciplines – Dallas Willard
Survival Guide for the Soul – Ken Shigematsu
Spiritual Disciplines Handbook – Adele Ahlberg Calhoun
The Spiritual Exercises of Igantius of Loyola
Practicing the Presence of God – Brother Lawrence

FAMILY / PARENTING
The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work – John M. Gottman
The Meaning of Marriage – Tim and Kathy Keller
Sacred Marriage – Gary Thomas
Sacred Parenting – Gary Thomas
Grace Based Parenting – Tim Kimmel
The 5 Love Languages for Children – Gary Chapman
The 5 Love Languages – Gary Chapman

PRAYER
Prayer – Tim Keller
Can You Hear Me? – Brad Jersak
Prayer – Does it Make a Difference? – Philip Yancey
Prayer – Hans Urs Von Balthasar
Naturally Supernatural – Gary Best
The Bondage Breaker – Neil T. Anderson
Power Evangelism – John Wimber
Power Healing – John Wimber

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