Top 5 Recommended Reads for those involved with ministry.
I think I should have said for those who want to have an effective ministry, because the truth is there are a lot of people involved in ministry these days...the question is are they effective..do they meet the needs of the people or are they just spinning their wheels in place. As a Youth Minister and Motivational Speaker I am always reading and looking for ways to better reach the masses. I personally try to read all that I can...because I have grasped the concept that you grow by learning and that once you stop learning..you stop growing. With that said here the list:
- 1. The Bible: One would assume that this book would be number one with all Christians, and in theory it is...but you would be surprised to discover that many Christians rarely pick up their Bibles and read for themselves and actually try and survive a once a week feeding from their pastor or spiritual leader. True ministry can't happen without a Healthy diet of the Bible...it is Food for the Soul as well as our Instruction Manual. The simple truth is...your Spirit doesn't respond to anything but the Word of God...without it you already spiritually malnourished! (Haven't you heard the acronym Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth ;D)[/*:m]
- 2. The 7 Laws of the Learner, Bruce Wilkinson: Bruce Wilkinson, the founder and the President of Walk Thru the Bible Ministry, put together what I think is one of the best must reads for all Christians...not just those in ministry or teachers. I must admit that after reading this book more than ten years ago, my ministry was drastically changed, as well as my ability to share the gospel with everyday people in everyday situations, reproving and correcting students, and how to lead students/people toward repentance and revival. This book is easy to read and understand. To this day I always keep a copy as a desk reference. Wilkinson caused me to change my view of teaching, like many teachers I thought my job was merely to present the information and that it was up to the student to learn...but in his book Wilkinson explains that the teacher has not taught until the student gets it. He points out that the Bible definition of teaching means "to cause to learn" I not only use this book for developing my teaching skills but also for teaching and helping my own children develop into mature Christians. [/*:m]
- 3. Kingdom Principles, Dr. Myles Munroe: This is a book I came across last year and have read it several times. In this book Myles Munroe addresses the Principles, Concepts, and Characteristics of the Kingdom of God. He reveals that the only message ever preached by Jesus was the Kingdom of God, and yet we rarely hear any teaching about the Kingdom of God. This book provides a nonreligious approach to God's intent and purpose for mankind starting from the beginning. This book also reveals that to truly fulfill our purpose here on the earth we must understand our role as citizens in the Kingdom of God. This is definitely an eye opener. This book prepares the reader to hear and understand the message of the Kingdom of God and to effectively share this message with others. [/*:m]
- 4. Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis: I wish I had read this book during my younger years. Most of what I knew about Christianity back then was based on the doctrinal theology of my church's denomination...Mere Christianity tackles the subject of Christianity beyond the lines of denomination and preference. What I liked about it is the fact that it is probably one of the most rational and powerful cases presented about the Christian Faith. I especially recommend this book for those who are not fully convinced about Christianity...or those who allow their intellect to get in the way of their becoming a committed Christian.[/*:m]
- 5. The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis: I rounded out the list with this fictional book by C.S. Lewis. It is a fictional account of letters between a novice(demon in training)Wormwood and his uncle, a higher level demon. Although it is a lighthearted approach it reveals the subtle approach the enemy uses to lure and tempt man away from God. What's more it also reveals that many times people give the devil the credit for things he didn't do. [/*:m]
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indeed those are good as well...
it was hard to to pick five...but I tried to pick the ones that really challenged me to grow spiritually and move beyond the typical or mediocre
...just a little on the rabbit trail... ::) :P
What books do you use as a 'library' resource?
Here's what I use:
(1) NIV Pocket Concordance by John R. Kohlenberger III
(2) The Outline Bible by Harold L. Willmington
(3) Bibles (KJV, AMP, NLT, WEB, NIV) - these are the ones I keep near me
(4) NIV Bible Dictionary by J.D. Douglas and Merrill C. Tenney
(5) Roget's Thesaurus of the Bible by A. Colin Day (good stuff here!)
(6) Unger's Bible Handbook by Merrill F. Unger
(7) Zondervan NIV Exhaustive Concordance (2nd Edition) by Edward W. Goodrick and John R. Kohlenberger III
...just a little on the rabbit trail... ::) :P
What books do you use as a 'library' resource?
Here's what I use:
(1) NIV Pocket Concordance by John R. Kohlenberger III
(2) The Outline Bible by Harold L. Willmington
(3) Bibles (KJV, AMP, NLT, WEB, NIV) - these are the ones I keep near me
(4) NIV Bible Dictionary by J.D. Douglas and Merrill C. Tenney
(5) Roget's Thesaurus of the Bible by A. Colin Day (good stuff here!)
(6) Unger's Bible Handbook by Merrill F. Unger
(7) Zondervan NIV Exhaustive Concordance (2nd Edition) by Edward W. Goodrick and John R. Kohlenberger III
:)I actually use the same...along with
- Strong's Exhaustive Concordance [/*:m]
- Inductive Study Bible[/*:m]
- World Wide Study Bible..which can be used online[/*:m]
- Bibles (NKJV, Message,Good News,to name a few)[/*:m]
- Condensed Biblical Encyclopedia[/*:m]
- Christian Classics Ethereal Library[/*:m]
After years of studying and working in ministry I have tons of stuff...and I challenge myself to stay current as well...I do have an advantage when it come to getting Christian Books and Materials...my kids own their own Christian Bookstore ;D
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Though this isn't the top 5, Christianitytoday.com has an article on the Top 50 Books That Have Shaped Evangelicals - www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2006/october/23.51.html. The link doesn't work all the time, so I provided the list below. I'm going to start from the top and work my way down...
50.Revivalism and Social Reform
Timothy L. Smith
49.Knowledge of the Holy
A. W. Tozer
48.The Hiding Place
Corrie ten Boom with John and Elizabeth Sherrill
47.The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable?
F. F. Bruce
46.Out of the Saltshaker and into the World
Rebecca Manley Pippert
45.The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind
Mark A. Noll
44.The Gospel of the Kingdom
George Eldon Ladd
43.Operation World
Patrick Johnstone
42.The Purpose-Driven Life
Rick Warren
41.Born Again
Charles W. Colson
40.Darwin on Trial
Phillip E. Johnson
39.Desiring God
John Piper
38.The Gospel in a Pluralist Society
Lesslie Newbigin
37.God's Smuggler
Brother Andrew with John and Elizabeth Sherrill
36.Left Behind
Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins
35.The Stork Is Dead
Charlie W. Shedd
34.This Present Darkness
Frank E. Peretti
33.The Late Great Planet Earth
Hal Lindsey with C. C. Carlson
32.The Cross and the Switchblade
David Wilkerson with John and Elizabeth Sherrill
31.The Next Christendom
Philip Jenkins
30.Roaring Lambs
Robert Briner
29.Dare to Discipline
James Dobson
28.The Act of Marriage
Tim and Beverly LaHaye
27.Christy
Catherine Marshall
26.Know Why You Believe
Paul E. Little
25.Boundaries
Henry Cloud and John Townsend
24.The Meaning of Persons
Paul Tournier
23.All We're Meant to Be
Letha Dawson Scanzoni and Nancy A. Hardesty
22.The Genesis Flood
Henry M. Morris and John C. Whitcomb
21.The Master Plan of Evangelism
Robert Emerson Coleman
20.A Wrinkle In Time
Madeleine L'Engle
19.The Cost of Discipleship
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
18.The Divine Conspiracy
Dallas Willard
17.What's So Amazing About Grace?
Philip Yancey
16.Basic Christianity
John Stott
15.The Uneasy Conscience of Modern Fundamentalism
F. H. Henry
14.Let Justice Roll Down
John M. Perkins
13.Evidence That Demands a Verdict
Josh McDowell
12.Power Evangelism
John Wimber with Kevin Springer
11.Celebration of Discipline
Richard J. Foster
10.Evangelism Explosion
D. James Kennedy
9.Through Gates of Splendor
Elisabeth Elliot
8.Managing Your Time
Ted W. Engstrom
7.Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger
Ronald J. Sider
6.The Living Bible
Kenneth N. Taylor
5.Knowing God
J. I. Packer
4.The God Who Is There
Francis A. Schaeffer
3.Mere Christianity
C. S. Lewis
2.Understanding Church Growth
Donald Anderson McGavran
1.Prayer: Conversing With God
Rosalind Rinker
I'd throw in Boundaries (Cloud and Townsend) and Moody's Bible Manners and customs in there as well.