Recently I was asked for my favorite book titles on the topic of worldliness — how can we live in this world without being stained by the world and taking on the characteristics of the world? A few books came immediately to mind, and then I scanned my shelves and found some more helpful sources. Here are my favorites. Some of these deal directly with the topic of worldliness (e.g., Mahaney’s book), while others deal with it more indirectly (e.g., Piper’s book). They all have contributions to make. I list them alphabetically, by author:
- R. Kent Hughes, Set Apart: Calling a Worldly Chruch to a Godly Life.
- Kelly Kapic and Justin Taylor (editors). Overcoming Sin and Temptation: Three Classic Works by John Owen. This volume includes Owen’s work, Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers, an essential book that should be read by every believer.
- Tim Keller, Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope That Matters.
- Erwin Luzter, How in This World Can I Be Holy?
- C. J. Mahaney (ed.), Worldliness: Resisting the Seduction of a Fallen World.
- John MacArthur, The Vanishing Conscience: Drawing the Line in a No-Fault, Guilt-Free World.
- J. I. Packer, Rediscovering Holiness.
- John Piper, Don’t Waste Your Life.
- Paul Tripp, A Quest for More: Living for Something Bigger Than You.
