These 5 books about the mission of God are must reads if you want to learn more about what God is doing around the world and how He is leading millions of people to Himself. These books will strengthen your faith and help you learn how you can be involved in the Great Commission – to make disciples of all nations. They will help you cultivate a heart for the lost and encourage you to live radically for Jesus.
1. The Insanity of God- Nik Ripken
Do you want to hear stories from persecuted brothers and sisters all over the world? After serving in war-torn Somalia for 25 years, Nik Ripken began to travel the world to listen to the stories of more than 600 believers in 60 countries. Despite the incredible persecution they face on a daily basis, these Christians are following Jesus with their whole lives because they are convinced He is worth it. Many have come to know Jesus through dreams and visions. In miraculous ways they are lead to a Bible or a believer and hear the gospel for the first time. The Insanity of God will help you understand what God is doing all over the world and how you can pray boldly for our persecuted brothers and sisters in the darkest places on earth.
2. Seeking Allah Finding Jesus – Nabeel Qureshi
Nabeel Qureshi gives his own testimony of how he went from devout Muslim to a follower of Jesus. Though his college friend, David, Nabeel began to search truth and critically evaluate Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. He then looked at Islam and the Qur’an with the same critical eye and discovered truths about Muhammad and the Qur’an that he never knew about. After asking God to reveal truth to Him through dreams, God gave him three dreams that clearly pointed to Jesus. He suffered persecution from his family through his decision to leave Islam and follow Jesus. Seeking Allah Finding Jesus is an incredible book that will strengthen your own faith and help you learn more about Islam so you can share with your Muslim friends.
3. A Wind in the House of Islam – David Garrison
A Wind in the House of Islam shares the stories of Muslim background believers journeys to Christ. David Garrison spent 3 years traveling to Muslim countries – from West Africa to Indonesia – to interview former Muslims who now follow Jesus. He would ask them one question – “What did God use to bring you to faith in Jesus Christ? Tell me your story.” He gains incredible insight from these believers about the greatest turning of Muslims to Christ in history. God uses many common themes to lead Muslims to Jesus. Answered prayers, dreams and visions, 21st century technologies and bold Christian witnesses are the main ways He is moving. You will also learn how to be apart of the greatest turning of Muslims to Christ in history, both overseas and in your own community.
Let the Nations Be Glad – John Piper
John Piper draws on key biblical texts to show that worship is the ultimate goal of the church and that proper worship fuels missionary outreach. He examines whether Jesus is the only way to salvation and issues a passionate plea for God-centeredness in the missionary enterprise. He defines the scope of the task and the means for reaching “all nations.” Let the Nations Be Glad will help you prepare for missionary work and be connected to God’s global purposes.
The Insanity of Obedience- Nik Ripken
In his second book, The Insanity of Obedience, Nik Ripken dives in deeper to what true obedience to Christ looks like and how persecution will become a norm. How believers respond to persecution reveals everything about their level of faith and obedience. The Insanity of Obedience is a bold challenge to global discipleship. Nik Ripken exposes the danger of safe Christianity and calls readers to something greater. This book dares you—and prepares you—to cross the street and the oceans with the Good News of Jesus Christ. How can we embrace casual faith in light of the radical commands of Jesus which are anything but casual?
