How to Write a Christian Book: What Every Christian Author Needs to Know Before They Begin
How to Write a Christian Book: Start With Calling, Not Publishing
How to Write a Christian Book: What Every Christian Author Needs to Know Before They Begin
I have been asked many times how to write a Christian book.
Most people expect me to talk about publishing, Amazon, marketing, or book sales. While those things matter, they are not where Christian writing begins.
Before you learn how to write a Christian book, you need to understand why you are writing one in the first place.
What follows is not meant to discourage anyone from writing. Some of the most powerful Christian books ever written came from ordinary believers who simply obeyed God. But I believe there is a warning that needs to be heard, especially in a time when publishing a book has become easier than ever before.
Not every Christian should write a book. And not every book that can be published should be published.
That may sound harsh, but writing and teaching carry responsibility. A Christian book is not just content. It is not merely a product. It is not a vanity project so we can tell people we are authors or position ourselves as experts. It is something that should be stewarded with reverence before the Lord.
Start With Calling, Not Publishing
One of the biggest mistakes aspiring Christian authors make is focusing on publishing before they focus on calling.
James says this clearly:
"Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness."
That verse should make every Christian writer pause.
Because when you write a Christian book, you are not simply sharing opinions. You are helping shape the way people see God, Scripture, truth, suffering, healing, money, faith, obedience, and life itself.
That is a serious thing.
If you are wondering how to become a Christian author, the first question is not, "How do I publish a book?" The first question is, "Lord, are You asking me to write this?"
Why Writing a Christian Book Carries Responsibility
These days almost everyone seems to have a book.
The barriers to publishing have disappeared. In one sense, that is wonderful. Hidden voices can now be heard. People who may never have received a traditional publishing deal can now share what God has placed inside them.
But there is another side to it.
The market has become crowded with books that were never really birthed through prayer, sacrifice, conviction, or revelation. Many are simply rushed ideas, recycled teaching, or shallow thoughts repackaged in a slightly different way.
I want to be honest with you here.
Recently I intentionally sought out books from unknown Christian authors, wanting to give people the benefit of the doubt. What I found was honestly quite sad. Many were dry, repetitive, unclear, and difficult to finish. They felt rushed. They felt like projects created more to say, "I have written a book," than to genuinely help people encounter truth and freedom.
That may sound strong, but motives matter.
Why are you writing? Do you want to become known, or do you want people to be free? Are you trying to build a platform, or are you carrying something God has deeply worked into your life over years?
The Real Reason Most Christian Books Fail
A good Christian book is not written merely from information.
If you want to write a Christian book that genuinely impacts lives, it must flow from surrender, obedience, testing, suffering, study, prayer, and revelation lived out over time. Readers can tell the difference. They can tell when a book comes from Google searches and borrowed ideas. And they can tell when it comes from years of walking with God.
The most powerful Christian books are often written by people who have first allowed God to write the message on their hearts.
Before God writes through us, He usually writes into us.
That process takes time.
Writing a Christian Book Is Harder Than Most People Realise
People often think finishing the first draft means the book is done. It is not. In many ways, that is only the beginning.
I remember hearing Ben Affleck describe how great films are made, and I felt the Lord speak to me through it. He explained that after months of writing and polishing a script, when you finally think it is finished, that is when the real editing begins. You go back line by line, asking: Does this sentence deserve to be here? Does it flow? Does it add something meaningful? Is it clear? Should it be removed completely?
When I heard that, I knew God was speaking directly to me.
My Journey Writing Designed to Bless
At the time I had just finished writing Designed to Bless. I was exhausted. I had already spent more than 200 hours writing it. I had poured my life into that book. I had even printed a proof copy. In one sense, I felt proud that I had made it that far.
But deep down I felt the Lord challenge me.
"You are not finished."
Honestly, I did not want to hear that. I had no energy left. Part of me wondered if I could just release it as it was and improve it later if people complained.
So I stopped for a few weeks. I rested. I prayed. And afterward, I knew what I had to do.
I went back through the entire manuscript with a fine-tooth comb, questioning every line. Does this help people? Is this clear? Can a twelve-year-old understand this? Does this point people toward Jesus or toward me? Could this explain Scripture more clearly?
That process took another 200 hours. Over 400 hours in total, all for a project that nobody might ever read.
But something had shifted inside me.
I no longer saw the book as my project. I saw it as worship unto the Lord. I felt accountable to Him for every page. Even if no one else ever read it, He would. One day I will stand before Him and give an account for how I handled what He placed in my hands.
That changed the way I approached writing forever.
How to Write a Christian Book That Actually Helps People
The purpose was no longer to say I had written a book. The purpose was to serve people faithfully, to help renew minds through truth, to explain Scripture clearly, and to create something that could genuinely help people walk with God.
And the response shocked even me.
People began contacting me saying it was one of the best books on Kingdom finances they had ever read. That was not because I am special. It was because God had spent more than twenty years teaching me those truths through Scripture, life, mistakes, obedience, study, and experience. Then He required diligence, sacrifice, discipline, and surrender to turn those lessons into something clear enough to help others.
I truly believe God partners with people in writing projects. But partnership requires surrender, humility, patience, and excellence. Not perfection. Faithfulness.
The Spiritual Battle Behind Christian Writing
There is also a spiritual battle attached to writing truth.
When you write things that genuinely point people toward freedom, clarity, repentance, healing, or obedience, opposition often comes with it. That is why Christian writing should never be approached casually.
The enemy does not mind noise. He minds truth. And truth carries power.
If God has genuinely called you to write a Christian book, expect resistance. But do not let that resistance stop you. Press through it, keep writing, keep praying, and keep trusting.
Should Every Christian Write a Book?
Yes. Absolutely. But only if they are willing to do the work.
Not a checklist kind of work. The deep kind. The work of prayer and Scripture study. The work of allowing God to deal with your own heart before you try to deal with anyone else's. The work of editing relentlessly, of removing pride, fluff, repetition, and unnecessary words until what remains is clear enough for ordinary people to understand.
And above everything else, the work of writing not for applause, but as worship unto the Lord.
Otherwise, all we end up with is more noise. The world does not need more Christian books merely for the sake of having Christian books. It needs truthful ones. Faithful ones. Clear ones, born from prayer, obedience, sacrifice, and genuine love for people. Books that point people toward Jesus instead of the author.
Frequently Asked Questions About Writing a Christian Book
How long does it take to write a Christian book? A quality Christian book often takes hundreds of hours. Writing the first draft is only the beginning. Editing, refining, checking Scripture references, improving clarity, and removing unnecessary content can take just as long as writing the manuscript itself.
Do you need a publishing company to write a Christian book? No. Many Christian authors successfully self-publish today. But because publishing is easier than ever, quality, prayer, and careful editing matter more than ever.
What should a Christian book be about? A Christian book should be rooted in biblical truth and written with the goal of helping people know God, understand Scripture, grow in faith, or experience greater freedom in Christ.
Can anyone write a Christian book? Anyone can publish a book, but Christian writing carries spiritual responsibility. Before writing, it is wise to ask whether God is leading you to share a message that has first been worked deeply into your own life.
A Final Word
If you are wondering how to write a Christian book, my honest advice is this: pray first, study deeply, live what you teach, write with humility, and edit relentlessly. Ask God to remove pride and self-promotion from your motives. Then create something that genuinely serves people.
Christian books have the power to shape lives and influence how people see God. That is not something to take lightly.
Write as an act of worship. Trust God with the results.
Because in the end, that is the real question every Christian writer must answer:
"Lord, is this from You?"
And if it is, write with everything you have.