The Best Periodicals

by Joe Thorn on April 30, 2008

I am looking to sign up for a few more periodicals, but thought I would get some recommendations from my readers. From The Founders Journal to Fast Company there is some great stuff out there for the thoughtful Christian engaged in ministry. So, here’s the question: if you could only get three periodicals (magazines, journals, etc.) regularly delivered to your home, which ones would they be?

{ 28 comments }

1 James Gordon April 30, 2008 at 8:51 pm

Joe,

I have really enjoyed my subscription to Relevant. They keep very up to date with the most recent bands and cultural stuff. Occasionally a good article by Piper or Driscoll will pop up, but a lot of the writing is more for engagement than encouragement; however, overall I have benefited from the magazine (especially since it is a very cheap subscription).

For my second pick I would get Faith and Philosophy.

I would have a hard time deciding between Time and Wired for my third pick.

2 Robert April 30, 2008 at 9:03 pm

That’s a good question. At this time I would say:

1. Touchstone
2. The Economist
3. Paste

3 jody April 30, 2008 at 9:13 pm

Discipleship Journal

4 James Grant April 30, 2008 at 9:17 pm

Touchstone & First Things

5 James Grant April 30, 2008 at 9:18 pm

By the way, I would also subscribe to Mars Hill Audio. That one is a must.

6 Mark April 30, 2008 at 9:43 pm

Joe,
Which ones do you currently get?

7 Bob April 30, 2008 at 10:23 pm

1. Leadership
2. Discipleship Journal
3. ?

8 James April 30, 2008 at 10:29 pm

books and culture

9 Bill April 30, 2008 at 11:12 pm

1. Wired
2. Fast Company
3. Modern Reformation

10 David Cooke May 1, 2008 at 1:30 am

1. Prospect

2. Economist

3. Spectator

4. Sunday times Books and Culture section (available on line)

11 68guns May 1, 2008 at 3:34 am

You really need to take a look at “The Briefing” from the UK.

It is Church of England based, but some very , very good, stimulating articles!

….and for a Rest of the World subscription of only £20 for a year – where can you go wrong?!

http://www.thegoodbook.co.uk/the-Briefing/readmore

or for online resource ( this month – “Let’s do church”) see…

http://www.matthiasmedia.com.au/briefing/issues/current/

12 Tim Etherington May 1, 2008 at 5:54 am

1. Books and Culture
2. Christianity Today
3. (Probably) Wired

13 Matt Mitchell May 1, 2008 at 7:01 am

The Journal of Biblical Counseling
The Journal of Biblical Counseling
The Journal of Biblical Counseling

14 Rob Freire May 1, 2008 at 8:36 am

Us Weekly
People
OK Magazine

15 Rob Freire May 1, 2008 at 8:41 am

OK, here’s my real list…

NY Times (available online, but prefer the paper)
Christianity Today
The New Yorker

There are probably better periodicals out there, but these are the ones I read most and would probably limit myself to if I had to choose.

16 Claytonius May 1, 2008 at 10:54 am

Assuming I read the news online…

Paste
Christian History and Biography
Books and Culture

17 Steve McCoy May 1, 2008 at 11:58 am

Because I know Joe better than his wife, here are my thoughts on most of the above suggestions and a few others. Not trying to pick on anyone. We all have different needs and tastes. My top 3, based on what I think would be best for my best friend, are starred.

*Fast Company: get it, best in category, well worth the money
Inc.: new to me, I like it
Leadership: I find some of it very helpful, some not so much
Wired: only partially helpful because some is unpractical, but some is really good
*Christianity Today: I like it quite a bit, helpful for the broader Christian discussion
*Journal of Biblical Counseling: a gem, everything is good, applicable far beyond counseling
Modern Reformation: like, I don’t read enough of it, but has shelf life
Books and Culture: never really read it, shame on me?, I might subscribe
Paste: “music is the new pornography” – Jimmy Swaggert
Christian History and Biography: “I tried it, I didn’t inhale, I didn’t like it” – William Jefferson Clinton, good-ish if you are into it
The Economist: love it, very expensive, great world news source
Touchstone: it’s ok, but I lost interest in it
First Things: same as Touchstone
Discipleship Journal: it can be very helpful for the average Christian, but I don’t find it all that helpful personally anymore
Relevant: fun-ish, not all that interesting to me personally anymore, sometimes I disagree on how they read the culture
Sports Illustrated: Joe no understandy the sporty
The Writer: may want to pick up a writing mag. I’m always reading something on writing.

Sheesh.

18 Heath Lloyd May 1, 2008 at 9:38 pm

Wall Street Journal

Free Grace Broadcaster from the folks at Mt Zion

19 Justin Buzzard May 2, 2008 at 9:17 am

1. Wired
2. World
3. New York Review of Books

20 Jared May 2, 2008 at 10:43 am

OK so I went to find out some info on The Journal For Biblical Counseling and it sounds as they though they are suspending the print format and are considering going digital. Here’s the link: http://ccef.org/product_display.asp?pl=8

Maybe I’m looking at the wrong “Journal” Is this the one that you are all referring to?

21 Jared May 2, 2008 at 10:45 am

I say all that because it looks like I couldn’t subscribe even if I wanted to…. the little. That page that said the print version had been suspended was dated September of 2007

22 Chad Flinn May 3, 2008 at 2:58 pm

top three
1) Paste
2) Relevant
3) Macleans (sorry but I am canadian)

23 Erick C. May 3, 2008 at 11:07 pm

1. Seed
2. Wired
3. The Economist

BTW: Not a periodical but listening to This American Life (NPR Podcast) is very helpful.

24 Brian Brown May 4, 2008 at 8:53 am

1) Good Magazine

2) The Economist

3) Credenda and Agenda

25 Ray Van Neste May 6, 2008 at 10:29 pm

Touchstone magazine is really good.

26 Shelley May 7, 2008 at 10:20 pm

1. WORLD
2. WORLD
3. WORLD

The only magazine I subscribe to. The only one I have subscribed to (and usually read cover to cover) for the last ten years.

27 Phil Taylor May 10, 2008 at 2:23 am

The Briefing
Southern Baptist Journal of Theology
Journal of Biblical Counseling
Reformed Baptist Theological Review
HOW (magazine about design)
Journal of biblical manhood and womanhood
IEEE Software
Communications of the ACM
<>

28 Todd Pruitt May 11, 2008 at 8:53 pm

Touchstone, First Things, Modern Reformation

honorable metion:
Table Talk
The Economist
Books and Culture
The Southern Baptist Journal of Theology
By Faith

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