My Favorite Books of 2024

It is that time of the year again when these types of lists are all over the place. If you are reading this list, I am thankful and hope it nudges you in the direction of some of the books I enjoyed most this year. My book choices might look a little different than those in past years due to so much time working on my doctoral dissertation. While this is written primarily for the people at Kaleo Church, I hope this list serves you well. Enjoy!

FAVORITE OVERALL BOOK

Mistborn (#3): The Hero of Ages by Branden Sanderson

Everything I have read by Sanderson has been great. His ability as a fiction writer to create worlds, develop characters, and make extremely long books exciting is unmatched. This year, I made sure to set aside time to read fiction, and this whole series was so good! To finish a series the way he did made it clear that he wrestles in the realm of creativity to bring about the best imaginable story. Read all three if you can commit to a long journey.

FAVORITE THEOLOGY

To Gaze Upon God: The Beatific Vision in Doctrine, Tradition, and Practice by Samuel Parkison

One of the driving factors in my dissertation is the Beatific Vision. The way Scripture speaks of beholding the beauty of God is a primary way of our transformation. Parkison ties together the doctrine, tradition, and practice of the Beatific Vision in a way that is beautiful, compelling, and particularly grounded in Scripture and historical sources. I couldn’t put this book down.

FAVORITE PASTORAL THEOLOGY

The LORD of Psalm 23: Jesus Our Shepherd, Companion, and Host by David Gibson

I spent two months of my sabbatical slowly going through this. Not only is it well-written and researched, but it is also like balm for the soreness that often comes with being a follower of Jesus. Gibson is both scholarly and pastoral as he exposits Psalm 23, ultimately pointing to the Good Shepherd. This is the kind of book you can give to people of all ages, and one that I will return to again and again.

BEST COMMENTARY/BIBLICAL THEOLOGY

Ministry in the New Realm: A Theology of 2 Corinthians by Dane Ortlund

This might not be a traditional commentary, but if you know me, I have pretty firm convictions that a good interpretation of the Bible must come from a good understanding and practice of Biblical Theology. Like most of his writing, Ortlund traces biblical themes in the Scriptures that highlight what Paul was thinking when he wrote 2 Corinthians. I had been enjoying the themes in 2 Corinthians a lot over the last few years; Ortlund helped me make sense of them in fresh and beautiful ways. It is a great book on what it means to be a follower of Jesus in the new realm as new creations.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Unfortunately, this year, I didn’t read one biography or any military history. However, here are some honorable mentions.

The Soul of Desire: Discovering the Neuroscience of Longing, Beauty, and Community by Curt Thompson

Friendship with the Friend of Sinners by Jared C. Wilson

Jesus and the Powers: Christian Political Witness in an Age of Totalitarian Terror and Dysfunctional Democracies by N.T. Wright and Michael Bird