What books have you read?

Originally posted by Jesaiah
Hi all

Since my calling into the pastoral ministry I have made it my goal to be the best at teaching and understanding scripture because God expects me to do so. I have started reading several books concerning theology and the minsitry in order to help grow in Christ. So I would like to give a list of what I have read or am reading and maybe you too could share what books you have been reading concering the ministry or your particular ministry

Click to expand...

Hi Jesaiah,

I have alot of books but the one's I have read lately (my mom sent me lol)

GOD'S Favorite HOUSE "If You Build It, He Will Come" By Tommy Tenney

He wrote another called "The God Chasers"

I have never read any else by him. His "God Chasers" I really liked, it was his thrist for the Lord. So these sounds like they might fit in.

Even though we can learn so much from others we need to find JESUS for our selfs. What I mean is don't take others views of what God is or is not and believe just what they say. For me I got tired of what others said God can do or not do. So I did and have been doing is staying before him on my face. Not many want to pay the price you know what I mean. All I mean is God, Jesus is SO real. If you open your self and just stand and believe his word then you will NEVER go wrong.

I haven't read a whole lot...but I want to.

Who Will Go For Us? by Dennis Campbell is a book on decided whether or not a person wants to go into the ordained ministry or any other form of ministry.

Christian Theology by Alister McGrath is what I'm reading now. It's pretty much a book on what its title says.

I've also read a small booklet on Worship in the United Methodist Church for Worship Leaders, which I am. And I've read a few on worship services (both traditional and contemporary) in my lay speaking studies.

I'm looking for some good books on working with Youth, as that is what I'm doing now.

"read letters from a skeptic" by dr. boyd...also "just like jesus" by max lucido...im going into the whole pastor thing as well..

Ragamuffin Gospel had an impact on my ability to minister.
Cost of Discipleship is a must read.
Spiritual Care is another Bonhoffer must read for a pastor.
First Fruits Living is a great book that is under-read.

Though I think it's important for the message to be delivered by a healthy messanger, I recommend A MORE EXCELLENT WAY by pastor Henry Wright that looks at the spiritual roots of disease.

It helps ministers minister one to another!

Hmm.  I read a lot.  But, most of the stuff I read probably isn't very relevant.

I suggest that you carefully study the rapture before you preach any given position on it.  Be certain to read a good book from each side.  I don't know of any good pre-trib books though  

The Rapture Question Answered Plain and Simple by Robert Van Kampen is a great book on a new position that seems to have strong scriptural support (it's called "pre-wrath").  The only other tenable position in my book is post-trib.  I can't recommend any books on that yet since I haven't read any.  Van Kampen's The Sign is a much thicker book which presents a possible end-times chronology that is based on the pre-wrath rapture position (well, Van Kampen would say it's based on the Bible ).

I would stay away from Timothy LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins books (read the fiction if you can stomach it, but stay away from their theology).  I tried Are We Living in the End Times and found it to be extraordinarily shallow.  They didn't really defend or demonstrate anything, they merely presented a view as if it were obviously true (and it wasn't even presented well imo).

I also suggest that you consider the "charismatic" movement very carefully before either embracing it our rejecting it.  There seems to be strong scriptural support for it, but at the same time, great potential for abuse as well.  I don't know of any good books, but this website will at least prevent you from rejecting it completely: http://www.layhands.com  Perhaps Deliver us from Evil by Basham, would be a good book on the charismatic movement.  However, it is specific in focus and written from the inside (i.e. it's a look at demonic possession and not a critical look at charismatic practices; yet it contains the life story of a charismatic evangelist).

As far as apologetics go, the Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics by Norman L. Geisler is a great value (30 bucks) for the amount of information in it.  I think Baker has some other "encyclopedias" that are worth looking at as well (though I don't have any of them).  The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel is also an excellent apologetic regarding the existance of Christ and the historical reliability of the New Testament.

A Word Study Greek-English New Testament by McReynolds (or something similar) can be a great help in shedding additional light on difficult scripture passages.

Consider reading some books on the debate about the nature of Hell also.  Honestly, I haven't found a book on the subject that I am in agreement with though.  I'm actually considering writing a book on the subject myself one of these days!  Before I do that, I'll buy all of the other books to see if there is a need.  Though you may not have any qualms about the common doctrine of eternal torment, some may want to talk to you about it.  It would be good for you to know just how far the scripture really goes in specifying eternal torment, and also the common arguments for an against it.

Most importantly, do not trap yourself into only accepting the doctrines of a parent organization.  Though you may be preaching in a denominational church, I strongly recommend keeping a non-denominational outlook on the correctness of doctrine.

A great book is "Courageous Leadership" by Bill Hybels. If you are planning on serving in leadership in your church, this is the book to read. 5 stars.

The Release of the Spirit by Watchman Nee

I have read others but for the effect this one had on me, the others paled in comparison.

I recently ordered his book on How to study the Bible. It seems like it goes well beyond other how too books.

I have read most everything he has written. He knocks my socks off!!!

Laura

Spiritual Entrepeneurs is another great one that you must read by Michael Slaughter.

Jesaiah said:

Hi all

Since my calling into the pastoral ministry I have made it my goal to be the best at teaching and understanding scripture because God expects me to do so. I have started reading several books concerning theology and the minsitry in order to help grow in Christ. So I would like to give a list of what I have read or am reading and maybe you too could share what books you have been reading concering the ministry or your particular ministry

Here is my list:

The Reformed Pastor by Richard Baxter

Holiness by JC Ryle

Practical Religion by JC Ryle

The Raggamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning

Rediscovering Expository Preaching by John MacArthur and Professors at the Master's Seminary

Rediscovering Pastoral Ministry by John MacArthur and Professors at the Master's Seminary

The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Exegetical Fallacies by DA Carson

The Supremacy of God in Preaching by John Piper

The Attributes of God by Arthur Pink

The Sovereignty of God by Arthur Pink

Preaching and Preachers by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Click to expand...

One more book to add to your list that has helped me out a great deal as a starting out preacher...

Biblical Preaching: The Development and Delivery of Expository Messages by Haddon W. Robinson

I would highly reccomend Revolutin in WOrld missions available free from www.gfa.org Also WHy wont they listne by Ken Ham www.answersingenesis.org. God bless.

Here's a list of my favorite Christian books:
---------------------------------------------

*A Life God Rewards-Dr. Bruce Wilkensin

*A Heart Like Jesus-Reverend Max Lucado

*Secure In The Everlasting Arms-Elizabeth Elliot

*The Name-Reverend Dr. Franklin Graham

*How To Study The Bible & Enjoy It-Skip Hertzig

*Matching the Weight of Your Words

*The Prayer of Jabez-Dr. Bruce Wilkensin

Great books, Jesaiah. I haven't read them, but the authors are very good. Desiring God by John Piper is another good book you might want to get.

Disciplines of a Godly Man is a wonderful book about the various practices that godly men keep, highly recommended by John MacArthur and others.

Haddon Robinsons Biblical Preaching book is a good book about preaching expositorily straight from God's Word rather than the topical preaching that goes on today.

Basically anything by Piper and MacArthur is good.

Have you read "The Reformed Pastor"? That sounds like it might be good. Let me know if you have.

Escape from Church, Inc. by Glen Wagner is good. It talks about getting away from the CEO mentality many pastors and churches have. Usually not a big problem in Reformed churches, but an interesting read nonetheless. I read that for my pastoral ministry class last year, along with The Purpose Driven Church, which I really did not like.

Hope this helps.

God bless.