Books by Timothy Keller
Timothy Keller (1950–2023) was the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan where he served from 1989 to 2017. Within that time, the church grew from 50 to over 5,000 people in attendance each Sunday, becoming “one of Manhattan’s most vital congregations” (Christianity Today). In all his writing, Keller draws on his experiences as a pastor, addressing issues he would deal with time and time again with people he met. He distinguishes himself from many authors by the breadth of his reading, the depth of his thinking, and the refreshing clarity of his writing. Several of his books have appeared on the New York Times bestseller list.
The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith (Penguin, 2008).
Keller uses the Parable of the Prodigal Son to describe God’s grace, addressing both those who are irreligious (like the prodigal son) and those who think religion is about earning moral points (like the elder brother). Into this context comes the loving Father who recklessly pours out his love and acceptance for both the rebellious and the self-righteous. His Reformed theological perspective is evident in his summary of the gospel: “The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.”
The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism (Penguin, 2018).
This books draws on thousands of conversations with New Yorkers who were somewhere between doubtful of and antagonistic towards the Christian faith. Here Keller “addresses the frequent doubts that skeptics, and even ardent believers, have about religion. Using literature, philosophy, real-life conversations, and potent reasoning, Keller explains how the belief in a Christian God is, in fact, a sound and rational one. To true believers he offers a solid platform on which to stand their ground against the backlash to religion created by the Age of Skepticism. And to skeptics, atheists, and agnostics, he provides a challenging argument for pursuing the reason for God” (from the back cover).
Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God (Penguin, 2014).
“Christians are taught that prayer is the main way to experience God. But aside from learning prayers by rote, few receive guidance in how to make the most of this essential Christian act. In Prayer, renowned pastor Timothy Keller shows us how to make prayer genuinely meaningful. With his trademark insight and energy, Keller offers brilliant and inspirational biblical guidance, as well as prayers for specific situations, such as dealing with grief, love, and forgiveness. Using great model prayers from the Bible and great Christian teachers throughout history, he discusses ways to make prayers more personal and powerful, and how to establish a practice of prayer that works for each reader” (from the back cover).
Hope in Times of Fear: The Resurrection and the Meaning of Easter (Viking, 2021)
Written while he was undergoing chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer, and in the aftermath of the worst of the COVID pandemic, here Keller presents the resurrection of Jesus as the foundation for human hope. One reviewer comments: “Keller doesn’t want to simply tell us that Jesus is alive. He wants to show us what a difference it makes for what we’re facing. To get us there, he moves quickly and touches a stunning range of themes, from idolatry to justice, from sexual ethics to self-forgetfulness, from spiritual experience to resilient identity to the formative power of Christian suffering.”
In Counterfeit Gods, Keller explores the theme of idolatry in its contemporary forms—things that people look to, apart from God, hoping to give their lives significance and satisfaction. “Many of us placed our faith in [money, sex, and power], believing they held the key to happiness, but with a sneaking suspicion they might not deliver. No wonder we feel lost, alone, disenchanted, and resentful. There is only one God who can wholly satisfy our cravings—and now is the perfect time to meet Him again, or for the first time” (from the back cover).
Other books by Timothy Keller at St. George’s:
· Forgive: Why Should I and How Can I? (Viking, 2022)
· Walking with God through Pain and Suffering (Penguin, 2013)
· The Songs of Jesus: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Psalms (Viking, 2015)
· Go Forward in Love: A Year of Daily Readings (Zondervan, 2024)