Apologetic Books for Highschoolers (and Adults)

It was requested that I put together a list of apologetic books I would recommend for high schoolers, and so here we are. 

Here’s the thing, though: I didn’t really care to go searching for a market of books specifically geared for high schoolers (that doesn’t mean there aren’t some here from that category), but instead, I selected books that I think high schoolers can handle – many of which adults may be interested in as well.

This means that the books may be challenging, which means more substantial growth. One must also remember that apologetics can be inherently difficult, and if one dumbs down points too much, they simply become ineffective and useless. I would also stress that knowing the faith well is an essential part of good apologetics, especially when you’re moving into apologetics regarding cults.

Moving on from that, there are different approaches to apologetics, and that means that some of the angles in the books will differ. Further, a necessary disclaimer is that I don’t necessarily agree with everything in these books. It doesn’t mean they’re theologically iffy (I left out pop-apologists that I don’t trust theologically), but that I don’t necessarily find every argument or approach to be the best or agreeable. 

Also, there are a lot of books out there on specific aspects of apologetics. This list of recommendations will ultimately be pretty limited because I simply can’t cover them all. This will not be, nor can it be, exhaustive, and I’d be happy to expand it with more as time goes on. If you have any suggestions, leave a comment!  

Note: the links here are affiliate links, so if you choose to purchase from these links, I get a small commission from Amazon at no extra cost to you.

• Making Sense of Your World: A Biblical Worldview by Phillips, etc. is a book that seeks to define, outline, and shape one’s understanding of a Worldview so that one can think properly within that worldview. The book looks at various worldviews, helpfully and categorically, and then compares those worldviews to the Biblical worldview. This is one of the first books I read as a Christian, and so my memory of some minute details is vague. However, it was extremely helpful and impactful in thinking of ‘systems’ from a big picture while solidifying a working Biblical worldview in my own walk. The book aids in really getting down to root questions and presuppositions regarding various worldviews.
• The Absurdity of Unbelief: A Worldview Apologetic of the Christian Faith by Jeffrey Johnson is one of my favorite books in the field of apologetics. I’ve recommended it dozens of times, and we even picked up a copy for a class of high school seniors as they were getting ready to transition into college. Johnson evaluates systems on the merits of their worldviews and presuppositions. It comes from the position of presuppositional apologetics and is just a well put together book on the topic.
• Tactics by Koukl has become a go-to for good reason. It has been a while since I’ve read it, but I recall it being more focused on general conversation approaches. The benefit of this book, I think, is less in the specific tactics (ironically, I don’t remember some of the names and scenes he sets up) and more in how it shapes one’s understanding of effective engagement. For me, this book personally led me to see the importance of asking questions so that the one in discussion has to reason through their own position when engaging in conversation. Additionally, I remained impacted by the simplicity of some of Koukl’s points (to the point where I had forgotten where they came from), such as being content to leave a rock in someone’s shoe for them to wrestle with after the conversation was over. This isn’t the only benefit of this book, of course! It is also a pretty easy read.
• Defending Your Faith by R.C. Sproul comes from the position of classical apologetics but delivers a book that argues that Christianity is rational. He focuses on the topic of God’s existence and the Bible’s authority. An extra benefit of this work is that there are lectures that can be used along with the book itself here. I would also include Now That’s a Good Question as a good Sproul book on the subject of Apologetics.
• The Popular Encylopedia of Apologetics is another book that has been on my shelf for quite a long time. It’s a smaller “encyclopedia” that touches on numerous issues ranging from theological/worldivew issues, ethical, scientific, cults, and so on. It’s a good place for a quick rundown on a particular topic and can help individuals to, at the minimum, start asking the right questions about a given topic. It likely will be used more as a reference work, but that use makes it a helpful tool in the long run.
• Cold Case Christianity by J. Warner Wallace, and his other book, Person of Interest are exceptional in uniquely and critically thinking through some basic questions. His background as an atheist detective and experiences make the read particularly interesting, and I think he will keep the attention of any student. Taking more of an evidentialist approach, Wallace is just an interesting and thought-provoking read. I still find points he uses coming up when thinking through issues. For example, Wallace’s explanation of the Synoptic Gospels and Eye Witnesses for painting a picture of an event that was seen by multiple people is a really easy way to conceptualize what is happening in the text. Wallace also has a version of Cold-Case Christianity for younger kids that my daughter (who was 7 at the time) really enjoyed. Here’s a short review I have of Person of Interest.
• More than a Carpenter is one of those books that are considered classics and are known for their readability. For that reason, I’ve included it here. That said, I haven’t read it since before I was a Christian! I remember reading it and being intrigued by it when I was agnostic, and it was likely one of the rocks in my proverbial shoe. The style of the book should be a pretty easy read as it is designed for accessibility and as an evangelism tool.
• Evidence that Demands a Verdict is another book by McDowell that can be more of a reference tool similar to the popular encyclopedia. Some of the articles will be challenging to read through but deal exceptionally well with challenging issues. It really is an excellent book dealing with many challenges and myths Christians face.

Two Books you likely don’t expect but that every Christian needs to read:

• Scribes and Scripture is a book about the Bible’s formation, and it is written in a manner that is extremely accessible. This is not just for the kids, but every Christian should read this book as many apologetic issues surround the bible itself and its formation. It is also good for Christians to understand the book’s contents beyond apologetic interests. This book provides information on the subjects of transmission, canon, translation, etc., in a clear manner. It is fresh and thus up to date, written by individuals in that specific field, contrary to some books that are often recommended on the topic with a more apologetic bent. It is a book worth working through and re-reading.
• 2000 Years of Christ’s Power Vol. 1 is like the book just mentioned, but regarding church history. Needham’s volumes are exceptionally accessible and enjoyable; a high schooler could most certainly read and enjoy this book. But like the previous book, this is not just for your kids. Instead, every Christian should read this book as so many apologetic issues can be solved by understanding some basic church history. Vol. 1 covers the first to sixth centuries, which is a sufficient chunk of church history for the purposes being expressed on this page. I wouldn’t be surprised if you decide to pick up Vol. 2 after reading Vol. 1 though.

Additional books that I have seen recommended but have not read personally:

• 10 Questions Every Teen Should Ask (and Answer) About Christianity
• Chasing Love: Sex, Love, and Relationships in a Confused Culture
• The Case For Christ (and basically every Strobel apologetics book, which also has teen editions)
• Truth for You but Not for Me
• Apologetics to the Glory of God
• The Fallacy Detective: Thirty-Eight Lessons on How to Recognize Bad Reasoning 
• The Thinking Toolbox: Thirty-Five Lessons That Will Build Your Reasoning Skills 

See more of my book (and other) recommendations here. Some websites may have more for you to consider, such as Biblical Training, likely having apologetic courses (for free).