Here are five books every pastor and church leader should add to their reading list this year if they haven’t read them already.
By Logan Pyron
In my family, the month of January comes with goals. Some say they will exercise more. Others mention their hopes for travel destinations, and I place the expectation on myself to read one book a week (a goal I have only met twice in the five years I’ve set said goal). And even though I may fall a little short of my hope of reading 52 books in one year, there are a few I may add to my list to reread this year. And if you haven’t read them already, here are five books that should be on your reading list this year.
Bully Pulpit by Michael J. Kruger (Zondervan)
Leadership matters. While many wrestle with defining leadership roles, others have ignored the subversive issue plaguing many churches in our time. The uplifting of the “CEO” pastor has made heavy-handed, corrupt leadership a more and more evident problem in churches today. Spiritual abusers bruise members of their flock in the name of ministry while domineering and browbeating those under their care.
“Spiritual abusers bruise members of their flock in the name of ministry while domineering and browbeating those under their care.” — @logan_pyron Share on XIn Bully Pulpit: Confronting the Problem of Spiritual Abuse in the Church, Michael Kruger points to this growing problem within the church. He acknowledges that many pastors are gentle, dedicated workers who serve the church diligently. But we cannot ignore the rising number of called kings who have forgotten their roles as shepherds. This book equips both church members and church leaders to identify and confront the issue of spiritual abuse in the church.
Pastoring Small Towns by Ronnie Martin and Donnie Griggs (B&H Publishing Group)
Nashville, Tennessee was my first ministry context. I worked in and out of apartment complexes, malls, and coffee shops. My second ministry context was a town of fewer than three thousand people. Pastoring in a small town comes with big expectations. A quick trip to the grocery store could take nearly an hour while ministering to a member hoping to “catch up.” A pump at the gas station may mean seeing a deacon who wants to run something by you “real quick.”
Ronnie Martin and Donnie Griggs are no strangers to small-town ministry. In their book Pastoring Small Towns: Help and Hope for Those Ministering in Smaller Places, Martin and Griggs provide insight and encouragement for readers to know their work is making a difference; the lives they touch are souls God treasures, and their small ministry setting is making a kingdom impact. This book will not only equip small-town pastors for ministry but will also encourage them by reminding them that they are not alone in this fight and that the work they are doing matters.
“Pastoring in a small town comes with big expectations.” — @logan_pyron Share on XDon’t Follow Your Heart by Thaddeus J. Williams (Zondervan)
One of the most pervasive lies that floats around our congregations is the notion of “as long as your heart is in the right place.” One of the lessons I learned (and taught) in student ministry is that the “if it feels good, do it” mindset will lead one’s life to ruin. And yet, our culture seems filled with the service and worship of self. Anxiety and depression are on the rise, yet the only remedy the world offers is to do what “feels” right.
In Don’t Follow Your Heart: Boldly Breaking the Ten Commandments of Self-Worship, Thaddeus Williams addresses some of the most popular false commandments our society has revered. “You do you,” “Be true to Yourself,” and “Love is love” are just a few of the beliefs society uplifts that Williams boldly debunks. This book calls the reader to courageously move the focus from oneself to the one infinitely more deserving of worship. This book does not just serve as a correction of the commandments of self-worship. It is also a call for believers to dare to refuse to buy into the oldest lie ever told—that we humans could “become like gods.”
You Are a Theologian by Jen Wilkin and J. T. English (B&H Publishing Group)
I saved my theology classes for last during my undergrad. My reason for this was that theology sounded scary. I did not know what theology was. I knew that theology professors used words like “doctrine” and “exegesis.” And even though I finally learned what those words meant, I wish I had had a resource that encouraged me by saying, “You are a theologian…” Because I was intimidated, I assumed I was uninvited into those conversations.
If there is an overarching message in this book, it is that these conversations are important. They are worthy of being discussed, and every Christian has an open invitation into the dialogue. In You Are a Theologian: An Invitation to Know and Love God Well, Jen Wilkin and J. T. English offer an approachable introduction to the doctrines discussed the most in our churches today. Through this book, the reader will discover how the doctrine of the Trinity answers the question ”Who is God?” The reader will find the answer to “Who are we?” with the doctrine of Humanity. The purpose of this book is to do more than introduce the reader to Christian doctrine. It is an invitation to talk about these doctrines because if you are a Christian, you are a theologian.
“It is an invitation to talk about these doctrines because if you are a Christian, you are a theologian.” — @logan_pyron Share on XVictory Over the Enemy by William F. Cook III and Chuck Lawless (B&H Academic)
One of the topics most discussed from the pulpit is the existence of spiritual warfare. For many, the concept of spiritual warfare is one that is difficult to understand. In Victory over the Enemy: Defeating the World, the Flesh, and the Devil, William Cook and Chuck Lawless offer an approachable, balanced discussion on what spiritual warfare is, how to recognize our enemy, and how to identify God’s provisions and live victoriously even in temptation. Though an academic title, this book’s hope is to equip the pastor, the lay leader, and the everyday Christian to understand what the Bible actually says about spiritual warfare and what believers can do to practically apply biblical principles while they walk in spiritual warfare—defeating the world, the flesh, and the devil.
For permission to republish this article, contact Marissa Postell Sullivan.
You Are a Theologian: An Invitation to Know and Love God Well
Jen Wilkin & J.T. English
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