Leonard Ravenhill’s 42 Recommended Christian Books
Essential reading on revival, holiness, prayer and the deeper Christian life.
Leonard Ravenhill was one of the most influential voices calling the Church back to prayer, holiness, repentance and genuine revival.
A passionate preacher, author and student of Christian history, Ravenhill believed the lives and writings of earlier generations held valuable lessons for the Church today. He was drawn to books that challenged comfortable Christianity, stirred a deeper hunger for God and called believers to consecration and prayer.
This collection contains 42 books attributed to Ravenhill’s recommendations, listed alphabetically, not in order of preference. Some are familiar classics. Others are rare works that have largely disappeared from today’s reading lists. Together they offer a glimpse into the influences behind one of the twentieth century’s most passionate voices for revival.
Leonard Ravenhill’s Recommended Reading List
- The Atonement by Albert Barnes
- Autobiography of Richard Baxter by Richard Baxter
- Azusa Street by Frank Bartleman
- Better Things from Above by Gregory Mantle
- Beyond Humiliation: The Way of the Cross by Gregory Mantle
- Bible Characters from the Bible by Alexander Whyte
- Broken Bread by John Follette
- The Christian in Complete Armour by William Gurnall
- Counterfeit Christ and Other Sermons by Gregory Mantle
- Deeper Experiences of Famous Christians by James G. Lawson
- Explore the Book (Six Volumes in One) by J. Sidlow Baxter
- Fair Sunshine by Jock Purves
- Heart Talks on Holiness by Samuel Logan Brengle
- Helps to Holiness by Samuel Logan Brengle
- The Hidden Life of Prayer by David MacIntyre
- Historical Collections of Accounts of Revival by John Gillies
- In the Footprints of the Lamb by G. Steinberger
- Into His Presence (formerly titled Practical Prayer Portions) by various authors
- Invasion of Wales by the Spirit Through Evan Roberts by James A. Stewart
- Knowing God by J. I. Packer
- The Knowledge of the Holy by A. W. Tozer
- The Life of David Brainerd by Jonathan Edwards
- The Life of God in the Soul of Man by Henry Scougal
- Looking Unto Jesus by Isaac Ambrose
- Martyrs Mirror by Thieleman J. van Braght
- Mighty Prevailing Prayer by Wesley L. Duewel
- Milestone Papers: Doctrinal, Ethical, and Experimental on Christian Progress by Daniel Steele
- New Testament Holiness by Thomas Cook
- The Path of Prayer by Samuel Chadwick
- Protestant Saints by Ernest Gordon
- Refiner’s Fire (Two Volumes) by Leonard Ravenhill
- The Reformed Pastor by Richard Baxter
- Samuel Morris by Lindley Baldwin
- The Soul of Prayer by P. T. Forsyth
- The Stundists (author not given in the original list)
- Take Your Glory, Lord by William Duma
- They Knew Their God by E. and L. Harvey
- The Way to Pentecost by Samuel Chadwick
- The Works of E. M. Bounds by E. M. Bounds
- The Works of Edward Payson (Three Volumes) by Edward Payson
- Worldly Saints: The Puritans as They Really Were by Leland Ryken
- The Holiest of All by Andrew Murray
Rediscovering the Books That Shaped Revivalists
One striking thing about Ravenhill’s list is its emphasis on the inner life of the believer.
These are not books about building organizations, developing platforms or achieving personal success. They are about knowing God, cultivating holiness, prevailing in prayer, understanding Scripture and living with an eternal perspective. Consider some of the recurring themes:
Prayer
Books by Samuel Chadwick, David MacIntyre, Wesley Duewel, E. M. Bounds and P. T. Forsyth emphasize the necessity of a genuine life of prayer.
Holiness
Writings by Samuel Logan Brengle, Thomas Cook, Daniel Steele and Andrew Murray explore what it means to live wholly surrendered to Christ.
Revival
Accounts of Azusa Street, the Welsh Revival and other historic awakenings introduce readers to seasons when God moved powerfully through ordinary people.
Christian Biography
The lives of David Brainerd, Richard Baxter, Samuel Morris and others remind us that spiritual influence is often forged through sacrifice, perseverance and extraordinary devotion to God.
Biblical Depth
Authors such as J. Sidlow Baxter, A. W. Tozer, J. I. Packer and Isaac Ambrose challenge readers to a deeper understanding of Scripture and the character of God.
Where to Find These Books
Many of these titles can still be found through used-book dealers, antiquarian bookstores and digital archives. Others may take patience to locate. A few helpful resources:
- AbeBooks: used, rare and out-of-print books
- Alibris: used and collectible editions
- AddALL: book search and price comparison
- Internet Archive: digitized historic books and lending
- Google Books: historic editions and searchable collections
Some older works are in the public domain, while more recent titles remain under copyright.
A Challenge to Read More Deeply
There is a reason books like these have endured for generations. They confront us with questions that never grow old.
Do we truly know God, or have we settled for knowing about Him? Is prayer central to our lives, or something we fit into our schedules? Are we pursuing holiness, or have we grown comfortable with a Christianity that demands little of us?
Ravenhill’s life and ministry kept pointing toward these deeper questions. His recommendations are an opportunity to explore the writings of men and women who wrestled with the same concerns long before our generation.
We cannot inherit another generation’s experience with God. But we can learn from their pursuit of Him.
Perhaps the next book you read will do more than inform your mind. Perhaps it will awaken something in your heart.
Editor’s note: This list is preserved from a collection of reading recommendations attributed to Leonard Ravenhill. Titles and author names have been standardized where appropriate. Some works may appear under alternate titles or in different editions. The original attribution and individual bibliographic details have not been independently verified.
