7 Christian Biographies
A great biography begins with a life well lived, but only a story well told lives on. Subjects of popular biographies range from people involved in politics and business to athletes and entertainers. The most written-about person is likely Jesus Christ, but among mortals, Abraham Lincoln, the UK’s royal family, Shakespeare, Hitler, and Napoleon are widely covered. Popular biographical subjects include Rosa Parks, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Martin Luther King Jr., Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, George Washington, Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, Thomas Edison, Serena Williams, Michael Jordan, Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jackson, and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Faith is often brushed aside for the masses, but for the Church it is central to our story, work, and lives.
From generation to generation, the Church has shared stories about people in the Bible: Adam and Eve, Sarah and Abraham, Moses, Ruth, Samuel, David, Esther, Nehemiah, Peter, Paul, John, Mary, and Jesus. There are stories of saints and Christian heroes in the Protestant world: William Tyndale, Martin Luther, John Calvin, David Livingstone, John Wesley, Billy Sunday, Billy Graham, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, C. S. Lewis, and Jim Elliot. For Church leaders, the theology and values shared are also critical. Throughout the Bible and Church history, an honest account shows the failures and foibles of those attempting to follow Jesus, and the sometimes-miraculous work God has done in and through their lives.
The seven biographies below are stories of Christian lives from athletics: Tony Dungy; politics: Tim Scott and Trey Gowdy, and Mosab Hassan Yousef; history: Lisa Beamer; culture: Chuck Norris; theology: Dietrich Bonhoeffer; and missions: Greg Pruett. None of them are perfect people, but all share stories of God’s presence in and through their lives. The Church will do well to remember their stories reminding us of God’s faithfulness and be encouraged to search and see God at work in our lives today.
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Dietrich Bonhoeffer Although Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s passionate life and dramatic death are familiar territory, Dallas M. Roark’s Dietrich Bonhoeffer traces how his faith and beliefs led him to actively resist the Nazi regime. Roark examines Bonhoeffer’s sermons, letters, articles, and books—offering readers an outstanding introduction to the breadth of his writing and the depth of his profound yet very practical theological thinking. |
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Son of Hamas The oldest son of Sheikh Hassan Yousef, a founding member of Hamas and its most popular leader, young Mosab assisted his father for years in his political activities while being groomed to assume his legacy, politics, status . . . and power. But everything changed when Mosab turned away from terror and violence and embarked on a spiritual journey, embracing instead the teachings of another famous Middle East leader. |
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Quiet Strength Tony Dungy's words and example have intrigued millions of people, particularly following his victory in Super Bowl XLI, the first for an African American coach. How is it possible for anyone to be successful without compromising faith and family? In this inspiring and reflective memoir, now updated with a new chapter, Coach Dungy tells the story of a life lived for God and family—and challenges us all to redefine our ideas of what it means to succeed. |
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Unified In a divided country desperate for unity, two sons of South Carolina show how different races, life experiences, and pathways can lead to a deep friendship—even in a state that was rocked to its core by the 2015 Charleston church shooting. Tim Scott, an African-American US senator, and Trey Gowdy, a white US congressman, won’t allow racial lines to divide them. They work together, eat meals together, campaign together, and make decisions together. Their story as politicians and friends began the moment they met and is a model for others seeking true reconciliation. |
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Let's Roll The best-seller that has brought comfort and hope to millions in the wake of 9/11 is now available in softcover! Let's Roll!—the moving, behind-the-scenes story of United Flight 93 hero Todd Beamer and his widow, Lisa—is so much more than a tribute. A message of character, courage, and undeniable faith in the face of horrifying tragedy, it encourages anyone who reads it to live real life right now . . . and to have confidence and hope for the future. |
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Extreme Prayer Extreme Prayer taps into that longing for connection with God when we need it most by teaching us to pray the kinds of prayers Jesus promised to answer with unlimited power. It’s not about how to pray more . . . it’s about praying differently, and intentionally tapping into all of Jesus’s open-ended promises in a way that achieves maximum Kingdom impact. |
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The Official Chuck Norris Fact Book Chuck Norris facts are a quirky, extremely popular Internet phenomenon that has entertained fans from all over the globe. For the first time ever, in The Official Chuck Norris Fact Book, Chuck gives readers not only his favorite “facts,” roundhouse-kicked by the man himself, but also the stories behind the facts and the code by which Chuck lives his life. Fans from every corner of the globe will enjoy both the fanciful and inspirational from one of the world’s great action heroes. |
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