Guides to the Enduring Christian Classics
Some books have outlived every generation that tried to bury them. These are reader's guides to the enduring Christian classics — the ones believers keep coming back to across centuries. Each guide tells you what a book is actually about, why it still matters, and how to begin, so a title that once looked forbidding becomes a doorway. They are for anyone who has meant to read the great books and never known where to start. Read the guide in a few minutes, then open the classic itself — the whole work, free — and let a wiser, older voice do what only these books can.
Explore books, sermons and scripture on this topic
A Brand Plucked from the Fire by Julia A. J. Foote: Summary and Study Guide
A reader's study guide to Julia A. J. Foote's autobiography A Brand Plucked from the Fire — its story, themes of sanctification, the call to preach, and perseverance through racism and opposition, plus reflection questions. Read the free full text on Ochorus.
A Call to the Unconverted by Richard Baxter: Summary and Study Guide
A warm summary and study guide to Richard Baxter’s A Call to the Unconverted — his tender, urgent plea on Ezekiel 33:11, “Turn ye, turn ye… why will ye die?” Themes, who should read it, and questions for reflection.
A Retrospect by Hudson Taylor: Summary and Study Guide
A reader's study guide to Hudson Taylor's A Retrospect: his conversion, his call to China, the answered prayers that taught him faith, and the founding of the China Inland Mission — with themes, reflection questions, and the free full text.
A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life: Summary and Study Guide
A plain summary and study guide to William Law’s A Serious Call: its argument, themes, the Flavia and Miranda portraits, and how to read it today.
A Short and Easy Method of Prayer: Summary and Study Guide
A reader's study guide and summary of Jeanne Guyon's A Short and Easy Method of Prayer — her classic on the prayer of the heart, its four movements, central themes, and how to read it today. Free full text on Ochorus.
All of Grace by Charles Spurgeon: Summary and Study Guide
A reader's study guide to Charles Spurgeon's All of Grace: a chapter-by-chapter summary of his plainspoken gospel classic on free grace, faith, and assurance, with themes, who should read it, and reflection questions. Read the full text free on Ochorus.
An Autobiography by Amanda Berry Smith: Summary and Study Guide
A summary and reader’s study guide to Amanda Berry Smith’s An Autobiography — the story of a formerly enslaved woman turned worldwide holiness evangelist, with themes, reading tips, and reflection questions.
Days of Heaven Upon Earth by A. B. Simpson: Summary and Study Guide
A reader's study guide to A. B. Simpson's daily devotional Days of Heaven Upon Earth — its aim, arrangement, central themes of the indwelling Christ and moment-by-moment trust, and how to read it. Free full text on Ochorus.
Divine Healing by Andrew Murray: Summary and Study Guide
A reader’s study guide to Andrew Murray’s Divine Healing: why he wrote it, how the thirty-two chapters are structured, its central themes of faith, the body, and the will of God, and how to read it honestly today.
Finney’s Lectures on Revivals of Religion: A Study Guide
A reader’s study guide to Charles Finney’s Lectures on Revivals of Religion: what a revival is, how it comes, the new-measures controversy, key themes, quotes, discernment, and reflection questions. Read the full text free on Ochorus.
Freedom of the Will by Jonathan Edwards: A Study Guide
A plain-language study guide to Jonathan Edwards’s Freedom of the Will — its argument that the will follows the strongest motive, the crucial natural-vs-moral inability distinction, key themes, and how to read this demanding classic.
Gleanings Among the Sheaves by Charles Spurgeon: Summary and Study Guide
A study guide to Spurgeon's Gleanings Among the Sheaves: what this book of short devotional readings is, how its twenty themes are arranged, its central notes of grace and communion with Christ, and how to read it as brief daily portions.
Godliness by Catherine Booth: Summary and Study Guide
Catherine Booth’s Godliness calls readers past a merely nominal faith into real, heart-deep holiness. A study guide to its message, themes, and how to read it.
Holy in Christ by Andrew Murray: A Study Guide
Andrew Murray’s Holy in Christ teaches that holiness is a gift received in Christ, not earned by effort. A guide to its message, themes, and how to read it.
Jesus Himself by Andrew Murray: Summary and Study Guide
A reader’s study guide to Andrew Murray’s Jesus Himself: the Emmaus road, the four stages from a sad to a satisfied heart, the abiding presence of the living Christ, and how to read this short classic today.
Power Through Prayer by E. M. Bounds: Summary and Study Guide
A reader's summary and study guide to E. M. Bounds's Power Through Prayer — its central conviction that men are God's method, its themes, who should read it, and reflection questions. Read the full text free on Ochorus.
Prayer and Praying Men by E. M. Bounds: Summary and Study Guide
A reader's study guide to E. M. Bounds's Prayer and Praying Men — his thesis that God's cause advances through praying people, its portraits of Abraham, Moses, Elijah, Daniel and Paul, key themes, and how to read it. Full text free on Ochorus.
Prevailing Prayer by D. L. Moody: Summary and Study Guide
A reader’s study guide to D. L. Moody’s Prevailing Prayer: what the book is, its elements of prevailing prayer, key themes, who should read it, and reflection questions. Read the full text free.
Purity of Heart by William Booth: Summary and Study Guide
A reader's study guide to William Booth's Purity of Heart — what the holiness classic is about, how it's organized, its central themes, who should read it, and questions for reflection. Read the full text free on Ochorus.
Purpose in Prayer by E. M. Bounds: A Study Guide
A reader's study guide to E. M. Bounds's Purpose in Prayer: its thesis that prayer must be definite and persistent, its themes, who should read it, and questions for reflection.
Religious Experience and Journal: Summary & Study Guide
A summary and reader’s study guide to Jarena Lee’s Religious Experience and Journal — the first woman authorized to preach in the AME Church tells her own story, with its themes, reading tips, and reflection questions.
Selected Sermons of George Whitefield: A Study Guide
A reader's study guide to the Selected Sermons of George Whitefield — what the collection is, which sermons to start with, and its central themes of the new birth, justification, and Christ freely offered.
Talks to the Farmer: Summary and Study Guide
A plain summary and study guide to Charles Spurgeon’s Talks to the Farmer: its farming images, central themes of sowing and reaping, grace and harvest, who should read it, and how to read it today.
The Epistles of Ignatius: A Summary and Study Guide
A reader’s guide to The Epistles of Ignatius (c. AD 107) — seven letters from a bishop on the road to martyrdom: their summary, themes, and how to read them today.