By The Cross Examinations Group

The Cross Examinations series invites prominent Christian pastors, professors, and writers with diverse points of view to explore questions of vital importance to the church in a coherent and constructive manner. We hope that reflecting together will stimulate thought, focus conversation, and ultimately prove more edifying to online readers and to the church. Previous installments in the series have considered theological renewal amongst evangelical churches, the right relationship between evangelistic and social justice ministries, evangelicalism and homosexuality, and immigration reform. 

The present installment opts for a lighter subject. Here at the beginning of the summer, we thought it would be enjoyable to recommend to one another the books that have most profoundly transformed our lives, and the books that are most commonly and detrimentally overlooked amongst our fellow Christian believers. (And, for the first time, the same question was posed at Patheos' Mainline Protestant Portal.) 

The questions were put thus:

Apart from the Bible, what book has most deeply affected your faith life in the past ten years? And, is there any book that few Christians read, but every Christian should read?

Click below to view the responses:
David Buschart, Professor of Theology and Historical Studies at Denver Theological Seminary
Tim Challies, popular author, editor of Discerning Reader, and leading blogger at Challies.com
Timothy Dalrymple, Associate Director of Content for Patheos.com, and manager of the Evangelical Portal.
Marcus Goodyear, Senior Editor of TheHighCalling.org and the Faith in the Workplace online feature for Christianity Today
Douglas Groothuis, Professor of Philosophy at Denver Theological Seminary, and blogger at The Constructive Curmudgeon
Kathleen Mulhern, Managing Editor of Patheos.com
C. Michael Patton, President of Reclaiming the Mind Ministries and blogger at Parchment and Pen