Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith by Fr. Robert Barron
This book is part bible study, part catechesis, part history and part biography of various saints and figures in the Church. Basically, Fr. Barron is boiling down the heart of the faith into 200-some pages in his intellectually stimulating yet still really fun to read way. If you're looking into Catholicism or if you're already Catholic, look no further for an entertaining compendium on the teachings of the faith.
Master Plan of Evangelism by Dr. Robert E. Coleman
There is still a bit to be desired in terms of biblical theology in this book, but this is the best study of discipleship (Jesus' method of investment and evangelism) available. This is a requirement for the FOCUS missionaries, and every time I read it I find something new. If you're wondering what we're doing on the college campus and what the vision of our ministry looks like, read this.
Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel) by Pope Francis
We're reading and studying this as a team. This is the fruit of the Synod on the New Evangelization in Rome in 2012. Pope Francis, in his signature down-to-earth, passionate way exhorts the Church to embrace the practice of radical evangelization through self-giving and the experience of joy in Christ. Really awesome, really readable.
The Real Story: Understanding the Big Picture of the Bible by Curtis Martin and Ted Sri
This is a really bare-bones run-through of Salvation History (from Genesis to Jesus and beyond) that helps draw out big themes from the narrative story in the Bible. I've been using this to help my bible studies study scripture on their own and then discuss it more deeply together for the past few months.
I want to recommend this audio series of talks by one of my professors, Deacon Keating. He is a Holy and Just man.
ReplyDeleteThe talks are free online to stream or download and put on a CD for the car.
Here is the link;
http://www.discerninghearts.com/?page_id=4210
Deacon James Keating, PhD, the director of Theological Formation for the Institute for Priestly Formation, located at Creighton University, in Omaha, is making available to ”Discerning Hearts” and all who listen, his series of programs entitled “Listening For Truth”.
Listening for Truth leads men and women in a search for a fuller experience of God that begins in prayer, grows in the rediscovery of our spiritual being, and grounds itself in the truth of Jesus Christ. A presentation of the Christian life as an engagement of the whole person — body, mind, and soul — in the challenge of daily living.
Thanks!! We've been recommended this quite a few times, and I think Zach has an app for it. I have yet to actually check it out! But I will make a point to now!
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