Recommended Reading

This reading list is organized by subject, often identifying the specific editions of the books Dallas used, with links to versions of the books currently available. Dallas extensively studied a wide range of subjects and developed a keen insight into them and the authors who best represented them. These books contributed to his understanding of those subjects in a meaningful way.


Apologetics

A Place for Truth: Leading Thinkers Explore Life's Hardest Questions

Various Authors

Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books, 2010. This is a collection of talks given at Veritas Forums and edited by Dr. Willard.

[See it on Amazon]

Does God Exist?: The Debate Between Theists & Atheists

J. P. Moreland

Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books, 1993.

[See it on Amazon]

Who Is This Man?

John Ortberg

This book is a magnificent piece of work. An appropriate and necessary foundation for revolution in ministry, with pastors as teachers of the world. See my endorsement inside the book.

[See it on Amazon]

Biographies/Autobiographies - Examples to Follow

Confessions of St. Augustine, The

St. Augustine of Hippo

Many editions.

[See it on Amazon]

Interior Castle

Teresa of Avila

Translated and edited by E. Allison Peers. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1961.

[See it on Amazon]

Journal of George Fox, The

George Fox

Edited by Norman Penney. London: Dent, 1948. Also in various other editions.

[See it on Amazon]

Letters by a Modern Mystic

Frank C. Laubach

Foreword by Alden H. Clark. Edited and compiled by Constance E. Padwick. Syracuse, N.Y.: New Readers Press, 1955. First published in 1937. The Association of Christian Schools International brought the book back into print in 2007 with a new Foreword by Dr. Willard (Colorado Springs, CO: Purposeful Design Publications).

[See it on Amazon]

Life of St. Antony, The

Athanasius

New York: Newman, 1978.

[See it on Amazon]

Madame Jeanne Guyon: Her Autobiography

Jeanne Guyon

Edited by Jan Johnson. Jacksonville, FL: SeedSower Christian Publishing, 2008.

[See it on Amazon]

Contemplative Prayer

Prayer: Finding the Heart's True Home

Richard J. Foster

New York, NY: HarperCollins,1992.

[See it on Amazon]

Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, The

St. Ignatius of Loyola

Garden City, NY: Doubleday, Image Books, 1964.

[See it on Amazon]

Way of the Heart, The

Henri Nouwen

New York: Ballantine Books, 1981.

[See it on Amazon]

When The Soul Listens

Jan Johnson

Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 1999.

[See it on Amazon]

Devotional Classics

The Imitation of Christ

Thomas a Kempis

Apart from the Bible itself, this is undoubtedly the more republished work in Christian history. Absolutely indispensable. Many editions available.

[See it on ChristianBook.com]

Introduction to the Devout Life

Francis de Sales

Translated by John K. Ryan. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, Image Books, 1957.

[See it on Amazon]

The Life of God in the Soul of Man

Henry Scougal

This is really a magnificent piece: One of the most influential pieces of writing on the Evangelical side of modern religion. Many of the great modern Evangelicals point back to this book as a landmark in their lives. Read it if you want to really understand the heart of Evangelicalism as a historical movement. Many editions available.

[See it on Amazon]

No Cross, No Crown

William Penn

London: Philips and Fardon, 1806.

[See it on Amazon]

Practice of the Presence of God, The

Brother Lawrence

Many editions available.

[See it on Amazon]

Rule of St. Benedict, The

Anthony C. Meisel

Translated by Anthony Meisel and M. L. del Mastro; Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1975.

[See it on Amazon]

Introduction to Philosophy

Introduction to Logic

Irving M. Copi

When asked for a beginner's book on logic, Dr. Willard always recommended getting an older edition of this book.

[See it on Amazon]

Philosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview

J.P. Moreland and William Lane Craig

Intervarsity Press, 2003. This is an excellent discussion by the finest of scholars and philosophers, who are also Christians. Good as an introduction to Philosophy and Theology for those with limited background and a desire to dig deeper. (Winner of a 2004 Gold Medallion award in the Reference category from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association.)

[See it on Amazon]

Kingdom Living and Spiritual Formation

A Practical View of Christianity

William Wilberforce

Hendrickson Publishers, 2006.

[See it on Amazon]

A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life

William Law

Try to get a complete edition of it.

[See it on Amazon]

Autobiography of Charles Finney, The

Charles Finney

First published in 1877. Many editions available.

[See it on Amazon]

Deeper Experiences of Famous Christians

James Gilchrist Lawson

Anderson, IN: Warner, 1970.

[See it on Amazon]

Humility & Absolute Surrender

Andrew Murray

Hendrickson Publishers, 2005. This is two books combined.

[See it on Amazon]

The Imitation of Christ

Thomas a Kempis

Apart from the Bible itself, this is undoubtedly the more republished work in Christian history. Absolutely indispensable. Many editions available.

[See it on ChristianBook.com]

Invitation to the Jesus Life

Jan Johnson

Colorado Springs, CO: Navpress, 2008. This is Jan's "Curriculum for Christlikeness." Foreword by Dallas Willard.

[See it on Amazon]

Man of Prayer: Selected Writings of a World Missionary

Frank C. Laubach

From "The Heritage Collection" (Within that especially Letters by a Modern Mystic and Game With Minutes.) Laubach Literacy International, 1990.

[See it on Amazon]

Our Favorite Sins: The Sins We Commit and How You Can Quit

Todd Hunter

Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2012. Foreword by Dallas Willard.

[See it on Amazon]

Practical Works of Richard Baxter, The

Thomas a Kempis

Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1981. Practical advice on applying Scripture to all areas of life.

[See it on Amazon]

Revival Lectures

Charles Finney

Old Tappan, N.J.: Fleming H. Revell Company, n.d., 1995.

[See it on Amazon]

Systematic Theology

Charles Finney

Several editions available. Get the unabridged if you can.

[See it on Amazon]

Whole Life Transformation

Keith Meyer

Intervarsity Press, 2010. Foreword by Dr. Willard.

[See it on Amazon]

Moral Development

The Abolition of Man

C. S. Lewis

Many editions.

[See it on Amazon]

Moral Development and Reality: Beyond the Theories of Kohlberg and Hoffman

John C. Gibbs

Sage Publications, 2003.

[See it on Amazon]

Sanctification

A Plain Account of Christian Perfection

John Wesley

Dr. Willard has called this the best explanation of sanctification he has ever read.

[See it on Amazon]

Spiritual Disciplines/Discipleship

A History of Christian Spirituality

Louis Bouyer

New York: Seabury, 1982. This three volume set will be hard to find. Single volumes may also be available.

[See it on Amazon]

Alternative to Futility

Elton Trueblood

Waco, TX: Word, 1972.

[See it on Amazon]

Betrayal of the Body, The

Alexander Lowen

New York: Collier, 1971.

[See it on Amazon]

Celebration of Discipline

Richard J. Foster

New York: Harper & Row, 1978.

[See it on Amazon]

God's Way of Holiness

Horatius Bonar

Chicago: Moody, n.d.

[See it on Amazon]

Gospel Mystery of Sanctification, The

Originallly published in 1692. Several editions available.

Translated by Elizabeth Stopp. London: Mowbray, 1954,

[See it on Amazon]

Habits of a Child's Heart: Raising Your Kids with the Spiritual Disciplines

Valerie E. Hess and Marti Watson Garlett

Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2004. An excellent resource for teaching children and teens about spiritual disciplines.

[See it on Amazon]

Holy Living and Dying

Jeremy Taylor

Many editions. Practical directions on the use of the body for spiritual growth by a great Christian of the sixteenth century.

[See it on Amazon]

Letters and Papers from Prison

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

London: Fontana, 1953.

[See it on ChristianBook.com]

Life of the Servant, The

Henry Suso

Translated by James M. Clarke. Cambridge: Clarke, 1982.

[See it on Amazon]

Life With God: Reading the Bible for Spiritual Transformation

Richard J. Foster

San Francisco, CA: HarperOne, 2008.

[See it on Amazon]

Lives of the Saints

Various Authors

Translated with an Introduction by J. F. Webb. Baltimore, MD: Penguin, 1973.

[See it on Amazon]

Lord, Change Me

Evelyn Carol Christenson

Wheaton, IL: Victor, 1979.

[See it on Amazon]

Mysticism: The Nature and Development of Spiritual Consciousness

Evelyn Underhill

New York: New American Library, 1974.

[See it on Amazon]

On Cleaving Unto God

Albertus Magnus

Translated by Elizabeth Stopp. London: Mowbray, 1954,

[See it on Amazon]

Psychology of Redemption, The

Oswald Chambers

London: Simpkin Marshall, 1947.

[See it on Amazon]

Spiritual Life, The

Edgar Sheffield Brightman

New York: Abingdon Cokesbury, 1942.

[See it on Amazon]

Spiritual Rhythms in Community: Being Together in the Presence of God

Keith Meyer

Intervarsity Press, 2012.

[See it on Amazon]

The Body: A Study in Pauline Theology

John A. T. Robinson

London: SCM Press, 1952.

[See it on Amazon]

The Life You've Always Wanted: Spiritual Disciplines for Ordinary People

John Ortberg

Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002. John has called this his "Dallas for Dummies" book.

[See it on Amazon]

The Screwtape Letters with Screwtape Proposes a Toast

C.S. Lewis

New York: Macmillan, 1962.

[See it on Amazon]

Training of the Twelve, The

A.B. Bruce

Garden City, NY: Doubleday, Doran, 1928.

[See it on Amazon]

True Spirituality

Francis A. Schaeffer

Wheaton, IL: Tyndale, 1971.

[See it on Amazon]

Spiritual Healing

Healing Light, The

Agnes Sanford

Many editions available.

[See it on Amazon]

Is The Kingdom of God Realism?

E. Stanley Jones

New York, Nashville: Abingdon-Cokesbury Press, 1940.

[See it on Amazon]

The Four Gospels

Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, The

Alfred Edersheim

An excellent help in understanding the four Gospels. There are many versions, look for a "complete and unabridged" copy.

[See it on ChristianBook.com]

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