Reading is one of my favorite activities in the entire world. Maybe you love reading just as much as I do. I love reading all types of different books, but one of my favorite genres of books is Christian books.
Whether nonfiction or fiction, there are many great Christian books written by Christian authors. Here are nine Christian authors all Christians should know.
1. C. S. Lewis
The first Christian author you should know is C. S. Lewis. C. S. Lewis is best known for his Chronicles of Narnia series. It is hard not to fall in love with this series and the wonderful characters, such as Aslan, the Pevensie family, and Reepicheep to name a few.
The Chronicles of Narnia paints a wonderful allegory of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. In addition to the Chronicles of Narnia, Lewis wrote many other lesser-known works, which have actually become some of my favorite pieces of literature.
The Problem of Pain, A Grief Observed, and Letters of C. S. Lewis are some of my favorite books by C. S. Lewis even though they are not as well-known as the Chronicles of Narnia.
If you are going through a tough season in life right now or you have recently lost a loved one, The Problem of Pain and A Grief Observed are great books to read.
Lewis has many other works including The Screwtape Letters, Mere Christianity, The Four Loves, Surprised by Joy, The Great Divorce, ‘Till We Have Faces and many more. No matter what book you read by C. S. Lewis, you are sure to enjoy it.
2. J. R. R. Tolkien
A second Christian author you should know is J. R. R. Tolkien. J. R. R. Tolkien is known for his famous Lord of The Rings trilogy and The Hobbit. Most people know about Tolkien’s books from the movie adaptions by Peter Jackson.
While the movies are fantastic, reading the books helps you have more character development, and more imagination, and you get to read more about the adventure that the film would have left out.
In addition to his most famous works, Tolkien also wrote Farmer Giles of Ham, The Adventures of Tom Bombadil and Other Verses from the Red Book, Bilbo’s Last Song, The Father Christmas Letters, The Silmarillion, and many more.
Tolkien truly dedicated his time and energy to creating Middle Earth and all of our favorite characters. He even created his own language of Elvish. If you love adventure stories filled with beloved characters, J. R. R. Tolkien’s books are a great place to go.
3. Andrew Peterson
A third Christian author you should know about is Andrew Peterson. Andrew Peterson is one of my sister’s favorite authors. He is known for his Wingfeather Saga. In addition to writing the Wingfeather Saga, he is also a musician, producer, filmmaker, and publisher.
Peterson has also written Pembrick's Creaturepedia, The God of the Garden: Thoughts on Creation, Culture, and the Kingdom, and Adorning the Dark: Thoughts on Community, Calling, and the Mystery of Making.
Through Peterson’s writing, the reader gets transported into another world and is taught key spiritual truths to help in one’s walk with the Lord.
4. Elisabeth Elliot
A fourth Christian author you should know about is Elisabeth Elliot. Elisabeth Elliot is most well known for her involvement with the Aucas. Her husband, Jim Elliot was killed by the Aucas, along with Nate Saint, Ed McCully, Pete Fleming, and Roger Youderian.
Despite her great loss, Elisabeth decided to continue to help the Aucas and lived among them. Eventually, the Aucas were reached with the gospel through the work of Elisabeth Elliot and Rachel Saint, among others.
Elliot is known for her writings, including Through the Gates of Splendor, Suffering Is Never For Nothing, Keep a Quiet Heart, A Chance To Die, The Path of Loneliness, and many more.
Elisabeth Elliot is a wonderful writer, who wrote about her own life as well as the life of many other great missionaries.
5. Priscilla Shirer
Priscilla Shirer is a fifth Christian author you should know. Priscilla Shirer is a modern-day writer who has taken the world by storm through her encouraging and theologically correct writings.
In addition to being an author, she is also an evangelist, motivational speaker, and actress. I first became aware of Shirer in the film War Room by the Kendrick brothers. After I watched this film with my family, one of my friends lent me one of Shirer’s books called One in a Million.
This book was extremely impactful to me personally and helped me grow in my relationship with God. I look forward to reading her other books as many of my friends have said wonderful things about her other books too.
Some of Shirer’s other books include The Armor of God, Discerning the Voice of God, Life Interrupted: Navigating the Unexpected, Gideon: Your Weakness. God's Strength, and many more books and devotionals.
6. David Platt
A sixth Christian author you should know is David Platt. David Platt has got to be one of my favorite authors of all time. Whenever I read one of his books, I am immediately inspired and stirred to action.
David Platt is an evangelical pastor, writer, missionary, and previous president of the International Mission Board (IMB). My favorite book from Platt is Counter Culture, which I had to read for a Christian Ethics class during the completion of my graduate degree.
I encourage you to read at least one of Platt’s books and they will be sure to inspire you and encourage you to make a difference for Christ.
Harsh realities are shared in his books as well as in his own personal experience. Some of the books he wrote include Radical, Something Needs to Change, Follow Me, and many more.
7. Lysa TerKeurst
A seventh Christian author you need to know is Lysa TerKeurst. I was first introduced to Lysa TerKeurst’s writing after a friend from college lent me the book It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way.
My friend had received this book as a gift after her fiancé unexpectedly passed away in a car accident. She shared it with me after she read it because she knew I was still experiencing the pain of the death of my mom.
In all of TerKeurst’s writings, she writes in a personal way that really connects to the reader’s heart. No matter what pain you are going through, TerKeurst’s books can help you understand the situation better, heal from the past, and give all your worries to God.
If you are interested in TerKeurst’s books, some of her titles include Forgiving What You Can’t Forget, Uninvited, Finding I Am, Unglued, and many more inspiring books and devotions.
8. John Piper
An eighth Christian author you should know is John Piper. You may know John Piper through his website Desiring God. Piper is devoted to spreading the gospel, helping disciple believers, and pointing others to know Christ through his writings and sermons.
All throughout my time in undergrad, John Piper was a collective favorite of all of my peers. Piper encourages us to get up and do something for Christ rather than sitting on the sidelines.
A few of Piper’s works include Don’t Waste Your Life, Desiring God, A Hunger for God, Future Grace, among others.
9. Jackie Hill Perry
Jackie Hill Perry is a ninth Christian author you should know. In recent years, Jackie Hill Perry has grown in popularity through her remarkable testimony, her rawness, and her music. Perry is unique and is willing to step on toes to share the true message of the gospel.
In addition to being a writer, she is also a poet, Bible teacher, and hip-hop artist. In her book Gay Girl, Good God, she writes about her past life of struggling with homosexuality and how she was converted to Christianity.
Perry is a strong voice in today’s Christian world to help with moral issues and beliefs. She is the first to admit that even though she is a Christian and is now married to a man with children that she still has temptations of homosexuality.
Perry points out that God’s desire for humankind is to have a relationship with Him, not to cure one of homosexuality, and to have a heterosexual relationship. Some of Perry’s works are controversial to many believers, but her words are true, raw, and genuine.
More people could learn from Perry’s advice if they would read her works and listen to her. Some of her books include Holier Than Thou, Gay Girl, Good God, and Jude Bible study.
For further reading:
Can Christians Learn Biblical Truths from Works of Literature?
How Christian Publishing Is Alive and Well
Why Is Reading the Bible an Important Part of the Christian Life?
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