You’ve probably heard someone say, “Leaders are readers and readers are leaders.” I cannot pinpoint exactly when I first heard that statement, but I know that many great books have influenced my thinking on a variety of topics.
Sometimes I ask people I meet in ministry to tell me which books have influenced them. I’m amazed how often I’ve never heard of the books they recommend. So for this blog post, I wanted to recommend to you some reading on a variety of topics that have inspired and helped me along the way.
I’m personally a Kindle reader. I love carrying my library in my iPad so that I can read whatever I want wherever I am. I’m often surprised how I can squeeze in some pages while waiting for a meeting or otherwise stranded somewhere.
There are six categories with main headings and two book titles under each heading. I’ll give a brief comment about each book. I’ve included two links below the descriptions, one for the book and one for the Kindle edition. If you are interested in picking them up, I encourage you to follow the link over to Amazon and get a copy!
Inspiration for Christian Living
Follow Me by David Platt
This is one of the first books I read this year. What I enjoy most about authors like David Platt and Francis Chan is that they’re not afraid to call out unbiblical lifestyles and beliefs of modern Christianity. More importantly, they frequently endeavor to remind Christians what is most important in our daily lives.
This book is no different. Platt takes a stand on many ideologies that lead the reader to ask, “Am I truly following Christ as He commanded me to do?” The most helpful part of this book to me was the final section that dealt with our personal involvement in the discipleship of other followers of Christ. His checklist of questions to evaluate our discipleship efforts was eye-opening and challenging.
Awe by Paul David Tripp
I could have put this book in the section about worship as well. Paul David Tripp does a fantastic job in this work to remind us of the glory of our God and our response of awe and worship in everything we do. If we lose our awe of God, we are often distracted by the awe of this world and all it has to offer. Tripp reminds us that keeping an awe for our great God will have a dramatic effect on all we think, do, and say.
Apologetics
ApologeticsI thoroughly enjoyed all my classes at West Coast Baptist College with Tobi England. His mind challenged me to consider deeply many aspects of my beliefs and the arguments that support my positions. Since then, I have become a hobby reader on apologetics and extra-biblical evidence to support my faith.
The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus by Gary R. Habermas and Michael R. Licona
It has been said that the resurrection of Jesus is the crowning proof of Christianity. If the resurrection did not happen, our faith is vain (1 Corinthians 15). This is a lengthy read, but well worth the time. The author walks through many arguments for and against the resurrection. It is a rich source of references to the ancient sources supporting the resurrection. This has been an invaluable source to me in soul-winning and discipleship.
The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus Kindle Edition
Tactics by Greg Koukl
I have a basic rule I follow in all matters of defending my faith with others (this is very important on social media). The rule is simply that I always engage first with questions about their position. I don’t jump right to the defense, but rather I seek first to understand their logic and argument, then I endeavor to point out flaws or (more often) assumptions they’ve made without evidence. Sometimes, I don’t even get to my argument because they’ve presented compelling arguments that I have to study out. In any case, common courtesy is often reciprocated.
This is one of the first books I read on defending my faith. It is a basic approach to simply engaging unbelievers in conversation. The author frequently demonstrates arguments for which most people have no real support. More importantly, he demonstrates how the proper use of questions and dialogue can result in a meaningful and fruitful conversation about our faith.
Biography
Biography50 People Every Christian Should Know by Warren Wiersbe
My pastor gave this book to the staff a few years ago. It is one I have opened many times since to find examples of faithfulness, illustrations of grace, and inspiration for Christian living. Several pages are dedicated to each character mentioned. Some are well-known and familiar. Some I had never heard of before this book. These biographical sketches will enrich and inspire your life.
50 People Every Christian Should Know Kindle Edition
The Poetic Wonder of Isaac Watts by Douglas Bond
The Poetic Wonder of Isaac Watts by Douglas BondWe have all been profoundly influenced by the hymns of Isaac Watts. What inspires me about him is the fact that he was a worship revolutionary. He found the worship in his church to be dull, failing to engage the hearts and minds in true worship of God. His father one day reproved him saying, “If you don’t like the songs we sing, write better songs.” That’s exactly what he did.
This biography will give you a deep understanding of the life, theology, and poetry of this hymn writer. More importantly, it will heighten your sense of good poetry fitting for congregational worship. I believe deeply that a rich text is the foundation of a great song.
The Poetic Wonder of Isaac Watts Kindle Edition
Personal Improvement
The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson
We will be tomorrow what we are becoming today. Success at those things that matter most is most often a matter of daily, consistent, and unwaivering habits we build into our lives. Jeff Olson, in this short read, gives us the principles for having the “slight edge” on everyone else by building such habits and doing them over and over again.
The Slight Edge Kindle Edition
Platform by Michael Hyatt
Platform by Michael HyattThis is one of the books I read before starting a blog. Michael Hyatt is an effective communicator on his blog and in his books. The world is a busy place, and it is getting more and more difficult for our message to be heard above everyone else. The difference is our platform. This book deals with the basics of understanding what you have to say, developing the tools to be heard, and passionately and effectively communicating that message.
Worship/Music
Worship/MusicWorship in Song by Scott Aniol
This has probably been the most influential book I’ve read recently on the topic of corporate worship. Scott Aniol is a theologian and editor of “The Artistic Theologian,” a scholarly journal on matters of worship. He effectively deals with the heart of matters pertaining to biblical worship without interjecting personal opinions of style or cultural nuance. This book provides the Christian with a solid understanding of what is essential in worship and how to make informed decisions about our worship styles and practices.
Worship in Song Kindle Edition
Worldliness edited by C.J. Mahaney
Worldliness edited by C.J. MahaneyWhile I think this little book is very helpful in dealing with the sticky topic of worldliness, the most helpful aspect of this book (for me) was the chapter dedicated to music. In the chapter, “God, My Heart, and My Music,” Bob Kauflin presents what is, in my opinion, the most concise treatment of music philosophy (particularly pertaining to personal worship) that I have ever read. I require this reading in my philosophy of music class and I recommend it to any worshiper desiring to maintain a heart of integrity before the Lord in the area of music.
Marriage and Family
Marriage and FamilyLove and Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs
This one is a classic for marriage. I’ve taught it in our young couples class, and it continues to be a favorite of ours in understanding not just biblical family roles, but also for understanding each other’s needs. We all feel love in different ways. It is our responsibilty to understand how to express love in a way that is meaningful to our spouse, even if it isn’t meaningful to us. I recommend this book for couples, counselors, and connection group leaders.
Love and Respect Kindle Edition
The Exemplary Husband by Stuart Scott
The Exemplary Husband by Stuart ScottMen, this one is pretty blunt. It is a large book and very thorough in pointing out our basic problems. Most importantly, it provides a biblical perspective that helps us understand the example we set as a spouse and father. If you’re convinced you ARE the exemplary husband, this might not be your book. If you understand as I do that I have much room to grow in my example, then pick up this book and humbly allow the biblical teaching to tear down your thinking and rebuild in you the mind of Christ.
The Exemplary Husband Kindle Edition
