For years my parents have gifted books to graduating high school students as a witness, an encouragement, and a support to older teens ready to jump headlong in college, a career, or full-time life. The books I’m going to recommend are ones that we’ve gifted to numerous friends and I have been gifted myself. They are excellent for any believer, not just a high school graduate.
So while this list could include hundreds of incredible books for graduating students, here are 5 theologically rich and gospel-centered books I recommend for high school graduation gifts this spring.
#1: The Cross Centered Life by C. J. Mahaney
An absolutely incredible read, every believer should have a copy of The Cross Centered Life readily accessible. A Christian teenager living a cross-centered life will look radically different than the unsaved friends around them. And Mahaney provides clear examples of what that will look like, who the believer should be imitating, and how this will affect their entire life.
With heart-probing questions, gospel-centered exhortations, and practical examples, author C. J. Mahaney asks the reader to examine what their life is truly established on. Is it Christ and Christ alone, or merely legalistic habits and the waves of emotionalism? For graduates ready to jump full-force into the world, this book is a must-read.
This was one of the books I received from my parents at my high school graduation, and I did the Scripture reading assignment and daily devotional for the rest of the year. While I had done Bible-in-a-year plans before, this one included daily devotionals specifically for the passage along with each day’s reading assignment.
Between drawing parallel truths throughout Scripture, highlighting the beauty of the gospel in more difficult Old Testament passages, and keeping readers to a schedule of finishing their entire Bible in a year, Everyday Gospel was a daily encouragement to me as a teenager to intentionally create daily Bible time alone with God. I can’t recommend it more highly!
#3: How to Eat Your Bible by Nate Pickowicz
How to Eat Your Bible by Nate Pickowicz works to help believers slow down and train themselves how to read. Not just glossing through pages of stories, songs, and prophecy. But how to digest the Scriptures, exegete the truth hidden in their pages, and live the lessons it teaches.
I read this book as a 6-week Bible study with friends just a month ago and enjoyed the hours of discussion time we spent pouring over the topics presented in this book. If you want to encourage a graduate to live, learn from, and love God’s Word, How to Eat Your Bible is a great resource!
#4: Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon
Spurgeon has quickly become one of my favorite authors. This year is my second time through Morning and Evening and I’m reminded every page of why I love this Baptist preacher’s work so much. It’s a perfect gift for believers young and old.
In addition to (also) having a Bible-in-a-year plan built into it, every day Spurgeon highlights a verse (or just a portion of a verse) to contemplate, reflect on, and apply to the Christian’s life. I’ve been brought to tears numerous times through this devotional by seeing the beauty of Christ radiated through every page of Scripture as Spurgeon explores the glory of God throughout the entire Bible.
#5: Valley of Vision edited by Arthur Bennett
“Young people, you must pray, for your passions are strong, and your wisdom is little.” – C. H. Spurgeon
The Valley of Vision is a collection of Puritan prayers that have been gathered into a single volume designed to guide a Christian’s personal prayer time. A beautiful gift for any occasion, Christian teenagers will find their souls enriched by the prayers of faithful pilgrims of centuries past. I have used this book to accompany many hours of Scripture study and prayer. It’s such a joy to worship Christ by praying (for yourself or with others) the prayer of a faithful saint gone before.
