Let’s start off by defining “Popular Christian Authors.” These are not people who among “MOST IMPORTANT WORKS OF CHRISTIAN LITERATURE” or “CHRISTIAN LITERATURE CLASSICS.” They are Christians in the public sphere who have written books, poems or articles that have been a blessing to many others and to me personally.
Popular Christian Authors on Evangelizing/Sharing the Gospel
1. Ray Comfort is widely known for the 90 BOOKS AND MILLIONS OF TRACTS he has written to win souls for Jesus. He is not ashamed of the Gospel and debates atheists and teaches that Hell is real, and that Jesus is the only answer. A great blessing to our family, his work continues to grow and wins souls for Jesus.
2. Billy Graham, How to be Born Again, 1977. One of nearly 40 books he has written, How to be Born Again set a record for first printings with 800,000 copies. Simple, direct, and Biblical, I believe it will lead many souls to Jesus. 200 pages.
3. Lee Strobel, The Case for Christ, 1998, 366 pages. A former atheist and investigative journalist for the Chicago Tribune, Strobel was converted by his own investigation and published this book which has sold over 5 million copies.
It is powerful and convincing. I loved it. Also, a fine movie is available on Netflix.
4. Nicky Gumbel is responsible for the Alpha Course on the basics of Christianity.
More than 25 million people have taken the course, and millions of others read his related books, including Questions of Life. Selling more than 1,000,000 and named “Christian Book of the Year” in 1994. 224 pages. I have taken the Alpha Course once and led it once more. Each time people came to Jesus. Praise God!
Popular Christian Authors on Christian Living
6. Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, 1935.
Daily devotions popular worldwide, over 13 million sold. 416 pages.
Cal Thomas and George W. Bush were among those inspired. I used it myself for five years or so. It encouraged me to see what was on my right hand as God’s will for me now.
7. T. D. Jakes, Woman Thou Art Loosed, 1997, (movie 2004), 200 pages. Jakes is a powerful and anointed speaker and writer, and this book on inner healing for women is presented in clear steps and filled with scripture.
It blessed me tremendously when I read it several years ago.
8. Joyce Meyer, Beauty for Ashes, 1994, 272 pages. Sexually abused by her father for years, Meyer was saved and delivered from the abuse and the bitterness and fear it created. Her testimony is powerful and moving. Although written for women, this teaching on forgiveness and turning bitterness into love, moved me greatly. Highly recommended: Unforgiveness, bitterness, resentment, or offense of any kind can render us unable to hear from God. The Word of God is very clear on this subject: if we want God to forgive our sins and offenses against Him, we must forgive others their sins and offenses against us. – Joyce Meyer
9. A.B. Simpson, Thirty-One Kings: Or Victory Over Self, 1992, 26 pages. Simpson was the founder of the Christian & Missionary Alliance and an anointed speaker and writer. Long before it was published as a book, it was popular in Pentecostal circles in PAMPHLET FORM.
It takes its title from the 31 kings Joshua defeated in Canaan. The kings are replaced with 31 inner enemies we face that keep us from victory over our own self-centered idols.
My Dad gave me this pamphlet, and it has helped me tremendously. I gave it to my own son on his 31st birthday!
Popular Christian Authors: Poetry
10. Annie Johnson Flint, 1866-1932. He Giveth More Grace, 100 poems, 202 pages, 2019 The World’s Bible:
Christ has no hands but our hands
To do His work today;
He has no feet but our feet
To lead men in His way;
He has no tongues but our tongues
To tell men how He died;
He has no help but our help
To bring them to His side.
We are the only Bible
The careless world will read;
We are the sinner’s Gospel,
We are the scoffer’s creed;
We are the Lord’s last message,
Given in deed and word;
What if the type is crooked?
What if the print is blurred?
What if our hands are busy
With work other than His?
What if our feet are walking
Where sin’s allurement is?
What if our tongues are speaking
Of things His lips would spurn?
How can we hope to help Him
And hasten His return?
11. Amy Carmichael, Poet missionary. Below is a favorite of my father’s which he sometimes quoted from the pulpit. Moving poem and prayer.
The Flame of God
From prayer that asks that I may be
Sheltered from winds that beat on Thee,
From fearing when I should aspire,
From faltering when I should climb higher
From silken self, O Captain, free Thy soldier who would follow Thee.
From subtle love of softening things,
From easy choices, weakenings,
(Not thus are spirits fortified,
Not this way went the Crucified)
From all that dims Thy Calvary O Lamb of God, deliver me.
Give me the love that leads the way,
The faith that nothing can dismay
The hope no disappointments tire,
The passion that will burn like fire;
Let me not sink to be a clod;
Make me Thy fuel, Flame of God
12. Christina Rosetti, Poems
Grant me the lowest place, or if for me That lowest place too high, make one more low Where I may sit and see My God and love Thee so. — Christina Rossetti, 1830-1894
Popular Christian Authors: Healing
13. F.F. Bosworth, Christ the Healer, 1924. I grew up with this book, the classic on divine healing. Based 100% on Scripture, Christ the Healer teaches that healing is part of the atoning work of Jesus.
It has blessed our family for nearly 100 years, and I recommend it highly to everyone, especially those who are sick. 236 pages.
14. Kenneth E. Hagin, 1917-2003, pioneer of Word of Faith movement. Over 65 million book copies in circulation. Monthly Word of Faith magazine with 600,000 free subscribers. I received this for many years and was healed when I attended one of his meetings in Lakeland, Florida. Praise God!
15. Andrew Murray, Divine Healing, A Scriptural Approach to Sickness, Faith, and Healing, 1900, 120 pages. The title says it all. Born in Scotland, Murray went to South Africa in 1848 where he ministered and wrote for the rest of his life. He wrote about 50 books and was a firm believer in the continuing gifts of the Spirit. See his book on prayer in “CHRISTIAN LITERATURE CLASSICS.”
Popular Christian Authors: Nonfiction
16. Elisabeth Elliot, Through Gates of Splendor, 1957, 274 pages. This is the true story of how Elliot’s husband and 4 other missionaries were killed by the Auca Indians of Ecuador.
The book is a great testimony of her life ministering to those who had killed her husband and encouraged me and many others to see the courage and danger faced by those called to reach the lost.
17. Dave Wilkerson, The Cross and the Switchblade, 1963 15 million copies (1970 movie with Pat Boone). 173 pages. Wonderful testimony by this anointed man of God who founded the Times Square Church in New York City. An exciting story well told and with a culture-changing impact. It grabbed my attention and held it.
18. Soren Kierkegaard, 1813-1855. The Crowd is Untruth, 2015, 26 pages. The renowned Danish philosopher believed Christianity was not an outward form but an inner life. He speaks to us as individuals and this strikingly direct work confronts the reader with stark but clear choices. It is amazingly contemporary for 2st-century1 culture.
“The crowd is untruth. There is therefore no one who has more contempt for what it is to be a human being than those who make it their profession to lead the crowd.”
Popular Christian Authors: Fiction/Narrative
19. Hannah Harnurd, Hinds’ Feet on High Places, 1955. Over 2 million copies in various formats sold since publication. 150 pages. It is a powerful yet touching allegory of a young woman “Much-Afraid” who is led from the Valley of Humiliation by the Great Shepherd. She is helped in her escape from fear by two companions, Suffering and Sorrow, and is transformed into “Grace and Glory,” a new creature at home in the High Places.
My life was changed by this book that helped me let go of both fear and the weed of “longing to be loved” as the divine love of the Great Shepherd took root.
20. C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters, 1942. This novel is in the form of 31 letters written by a “senior Demon” to his nephew, who is just starting out in the business. The uncle dutifully advises his protégée how to lead the soul he is charged with away from “the Enemy” and keep him from what is good. It is a delightfully ironic tale that charmed me while I was in high school and keeps charming generation after generation, still selling 150,000 copies a year. A good gift for a young Christian.
Popular Christian Authors: the Holy Spirit
21. Benny Hinn, Good Morning, Holy Spirit, 1990, 177 pages. This is the testimony of how Hinn was filled with the Holy Ghost and its impact on his life. He presents the Holy Spirit as a Person who wants to be with us in our daily lives. It blessed me tremendously when I first read it and millions of others too. While it testifies to the power of the gifts the Holy Spirit gives us, it also shows how absolutely vital He is in our every day lives. Well worth reading. Over 1 million copies sold.
22. Dorothy Sayers, The Mind of the Maker, 1941, 125 pages. This is a theological book on the Trinity. Using her own literary career as inspiration, Sayers sees God the Father as the Creative Artist who designs, Jesus the Son as the Agent of Creation and the Holy Spirit as the Energy that drives Creation. Jacques Barzun saw this little book as one of the finest works of the 20th century. I read it on his recommendation, and it helped me understand the Trinity in a new way that I can explain to others.
Popular Christian Authors: Prayer
23. Bruce Wilkinson, Prayer of Jabez (2000) – 10 million+ 62 pages. “Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh that You would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.” 1 Chronicles 4:10
This book was everywhere I went on my nationwide travels and provided a great opportunity to talk about Jesus. Sadly, it became a centerpiece of the prosperity Gospel salesmen.
24. Germaine Copeland, Prayers that Avail Much, 1980, 224 pages. Over 4 million in print. This is an extremely helpful guide to specific prayers for specific situations. Each of the hundreds of prayer reference scriptures addressing the issue. I have used it for 30 years and still find it helpful today. I also gave copies of the “for teenagers” editions to my son and daughter who were also guided into effective prayer. An essential book for every Christian.
25. Stormie Omartian, The Power of a Praying Parent, sold over 2 million copies and helped me focus my prayers for my children, now Jesus-loving adults. 1995, 200 pages. Well-written and easy-to-read, this book will be a welcomed resource in training up a child in the way that he should go. It has helped me pray for immediate needs and also for the longtime concerns every parent has.
I have not read as many popular Christian authors as some of you. 2 or 3 times as many as are listed here fell short of the “they blessed me” standard. I hope some of this blesses or has blessed you. If you have one I have missed. Please comment on that and I will be grateful.
I will be more grateful still if you use any of this to share the Gospel to an unbeliever. Let’s all sign up for Jesus’ mission “to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10