With the New Year upon us, I wanted to provide some recommendations on excellent Christian apologetics books to read this year for children, teens, and adults. After many years of reading apologetics books as well as researching the best books for all ages, below are those I highly recommend. The below information is general in nature so feel free to reach out to me if I can provide any specific recommendations.
Children
It’s very difficult to say which books are best for which age levels since kids are so different. However, the following is my best attempt to provide some guidance on this.
Ages 3 – 8
- What Is Truth? by Elizabeth Urbanowicz
- Dr. Craig’s “What is God Like?” God Is Spirit
- Dr. Craig’s “What is God Like?” God is Self-Sufficient
- Dr. Craig’s “What is God Like?” God is All Knowing
- Dr. Craig’s “What is God Like?” God is All Powerful
- Dr. Craig’s “What is God Like?” God Is Everywhere
- Dr. Craig’s “What is God Like?” God is Three Persons
- Dr. Craig’s “What is God Like?” God is All-Good
- Dr. Craig’s “What is God Like?” God is All-Loving
- Dr. Craig’s “What is God Like?” God Is Forever
- Dr. Craig’s “What is God Like?” The Greatness of God
Ages 8 - 12
- Case for Christ for Kids by Lee Strobel
- Case for Faith for Kids by Lee Strobel
- Case for Grace for Kids by Lee Strobel
- Case for Miracles for Kids by Lee Strobel
- Cold-Case Christianity for Kids: Investigate Jesus with a Real Detective by J. Warner Wallace
- Forensic Faith for Kids: Learn to Share the Truth from a Real Detective by J. Warner Wallace
I also highly recommend the 8 - 12 age level take part in J. Warner Wallace’s Case Makers Academy HERE.
Teens
Depending on the age and abilities of the teen, they may be able to read adult level books. In that case they can skip to the next section. Otherwise, below are some great options. Below are also some great options for adults who are new to apologetics too.
- On Guard for Students: A Thinker's Guide to the Christian Faith by William Lane Craig
- Hard Questions, Real Answers by William Lane Craig
- I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist by Norman Geisler, Frank Turek
- The Case for Christ Student Edition: A Journalist’s Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus by Lee Strobel
- The Case for Faith Student Edition: A Journalist Investigates the Toughest Objections to Christianity by Lee Strobel
- The Case for a Creator Student Edition: A Journalist Investigates Scientific Evidence That Points Toward God by Lee Strobel
- The Case for Grace Student Edition: A Journalist Explores the Evidence of Transformed Lives by Lee Strobel
- The God Question: An Invitation to a Life of Meaning by J. P. Moreland
- Evidence That Demands a Verdict: Life-Changing Truth for a Skeptical World by Josh McDowell, Sean McDowell
- More Than a Carpenter by Josh McDowell, Sean McDowell
- Discovering Intelligent Design: A Journey into the Scientific Evidence by Gary Kemper, Hallie Kemper, et al.
- Understanding Intelligent Design: Everything You Need to Know in Plain Language by William A. Dembski, Sean McDowell
Adults
Many of the below options are must read classics in apologetics. There are a wide variety of topics covered below and most books are at a beginner level. For more advanced options, check out HERE on Apologetics Hub.
- Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis
- On Guard: Defending Your Faith with Reason and Precision by William Lane Craig
- Reasonable Faith: Christian Truth and Apologetics by William Lane Craig
- The Case for Christ: A Journalist's Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus by Lee Strobel
- The Case for Faith: A Journalist Investigates the Toughest Objections to Christianity by Lee Strobel
- The Case for a Creator: A Journalist Investigates Scientific Evidence That Points Toward God by Lee Strobel
- Is God Real?: Exploring the Ultimate Question of Life by Lee Strobel
- I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist by Norman L. Geisler, Frank Turek
- Stealing from God: Why Atheists Need God to Make Their Case by Frank Turek
- Tactics, 10th Anniversary Edition: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions by Greg Koukl
- Street Smarts: Using Questions to Answer Christianity's Toughest Challenges by Greg Koukl
- A World of Difference: Putting Christian Truth Claims to the Worldview Test Ken Samples
- Without a Doubt: Answering The 20 Toughest Faith Questions by Ken Samples
- Love Your God with All Your Mind: The Role of Reason in the Life of the Soul by J.P. Moreland
- Kingdom Triangle: Recover the Christian Mind, Renovate the Soul, Restore the Spirit's Power by J. P. Moreland
- Total Truth: Liberating Christianity from Its Cultural Captivity by Nancy Pearcey
- How Christianity Changed the World by Alvin J. Schmidt
- The Historical Jesus: Ancient Evidence for the Life of Christ by Gary R. Habermas
- The Son Rises: The Historical Evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus by William Lane Craig
- The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus by Gary Habermas and Michael Licona
- The Historical Reliability of the Gospels by Craig L. Blomberg
- The Historical Reliability of the New Testament: Countering the Challenges to Evangelical Christian Beliefs by Craig L. Blomberg
- The Soul: How We Know It's Real and Why It Matters by J. P. Moreland
- Imagine Heaven: Near-Death Experiences, God's Promises, and the Exhilarating Future That Awaits You by John Burke
- Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters Christianity by Nabeel Qureshi
- No God but One: Allah or Jesus?: A Former Muslim Investigates the Evidence for Islam and Christianity by Nabeel Qureshi
- The Case for Life: Equipping Christians to Engage the Culture (Second Edition) by Scott Klusendorf
- The Comprehensive Guide to Science and Faith: Exploring the Ultimate Questions About Life and the Cosmos by William A. Dembski, Casey Luskin
- Signature in the Cell: DNA and the Evidence for Intelligent Design by Stephen C. Meyer
- Darwin's Doubt: The Explosive Origin of Animal Life and the Case for Intelligent Design by Stephen C. Meyer
- Return of the God Hypothesis: Three Scientific Discoveries That Reveal the Mind Behind the Universe by Stephen C. Meyer