49 comments (+ Add)
Vacation Reading
I typically take a break from ministry books on vacation. (If you have a killer recommendation, I might make an exception.)
My recent reading includes:
- What Got You Here Won’t Get You There (Highly recommended. My leaders are taking many staff members though this one.)
- The Shack (Everyone I know has read it. I’m about 1/3 through it.)
- Crazy Love (Chan is incredibly challenging.)
- UnChristian (Very interesting.)
- The American Church in Crisis (I wrote the forward for this but am reading again slowly to digest Olson’s rich and meaningful work.)
- Pop Goes The Church (Tim’s work is extremely valuable for ministers.)
- It All Goes Back in the Box (Ortberg is alway good.)
- Acts and Romans
- Looking forward to Wild Goose Chase
What books have you read recently that you’d recommend to me and to our swerve community?
Visit 
Recently finished Deadly Viper Character Assassins. Also Why We’re Not Emergent (by two guys who should be). Currently reading Hood by Stephen Lawhead. Also just reread Unexpected Journey by Rainer and Messy Spirituality by Yaconelli and Kingdom Assignment by Bellesi
I’m reading Acts as well, and I am reading Ordering your private world again, by Gordon MacDonald. It’s good.
Peppermint filled pinatas was a really good reminder of what it means to be relevant to a culture.
I just recently read “Do Hard Things” by Alex and Bret Harris. It’s a great and quick read. I highly recommend it to any youth pastor or leader. I’m also reading “Walking with God” by John Eldredge and “The Bait of Satan” by John Bevere.
I usually read one fun or personal book on vacation. But the truth is that I like “action” on vacation. So there’s not much sitting quietly, especially with a couple young kids!
Made to Stick: Why some ideas survive and others die by Chip Heath. Every ministry team/pastor should read this one. I read the library’s copy but now I’m getting my own copy so I can highlight all over it.
I did an in-depth study of Romans about five years ago (took me 2 years), and it rocked my world…
It is one thing to hear Romans preached, and another to study it for yourself… I’ll never be the same…
Reading “UnChristian” right now…
I recommend “Revolution in World Missions” by KP Yohannan… if you can read that book and it doesn’t change your life, there’s something wrong with you…
I can’t recommend it enough for the missional minded, and the missional driven…
I am reading a couple of those right now. I just now put the rest in my Amazon wish list. We have similar tastes in books. Thanks for the recommendations.
Deadly Viper. Much needed after a fall of a mentor.
Bill and Kevin, I too love Deadly Viper. Jud and Mike are awesome guys.
Avery, Thanks for the recommendation on the missions book.
Marcus, I agree with you 100% on Made To Stick.
Joe, I have heard others talk about Do Hard Things. I’ll order it. Thanks.
Sheet Music by Dr. Kevin Leman. Me and my wife are reading this book. And the Dip by Seth Goden.
Todays Evangelism is a short little book that will mess you up. it is written by ernest reisinger. also, anything by john piper, especially God is the gospel. that is one of the best books i have ever read. very challenging.
Spiritual Leadership by J.Oswald Sanders and Why Men Hate Church. Totally opposite from each other, but each very challenging.
Here I Stand is the best biography on Martin Luther I’ve ever read - thrice. Luther inspires me.
I’m reading The Normal Christian Life by Watchman Nee right now and it has blown the doors off my understanding of Christ’s crucifixion. You know you’re reading good content when you have to lean back in your chair for a minute and meditate on what you just learned. I think anything by Watchman Nee is kind of like that, though.
Also (sort of) reading Crystal Christianity by Charles Finney. It’s a collection of his sermons that became known as “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” My pastor gave it to me with a chuckle and said, “The first time I read that I wondered if I was really saved.” Which is why I’m “sort of” reading it; each chapter is so thick it really needs time.
“Who’s Your City” by Richard Florida - my biggest take was how demographics shape culture in a specific locality
“Leaving Microsoft to Change the World” by John Wood - easy narrative read of the guy that started Room to Read - deploying libraries throughout the majority world
“Emergence” by Steven Johnson - [reading this right now] lots of people have talked about The Starfish and the Spider - I read that and thought it was just okay - I think this one is going to hit the same ideas but with more depth.
Word of Mouth Marketing by Andy Sernovitz also just discovered Buckingham’s Now, Discover your Strengths (haha get it I just discovered it!)
2 Other books: The Blogging Church (Brian Bailey). Without that book I wouldn’t even be reading this blog and writing my own. And Simple Church by Thom Rainer is one I’m digesting and writing about now.
If you’ve never read anything by Tedd Dekker, you need to give him a try.
I especially love the books “When Heaven Weeps” (imagine Pulp Fiction meets Jesus) as well as the Circle Trilogy, starting with “Black.” Though they’re fiction, few books so accurately portray the evil of sin as contrasted with the daring love of Christ.
Right now I’m reading Erwin McManus’ Soul Cravings. I’m really enjoying it’s journal entry style writing. Great thoughts on desire and longing.
Jesus for President by Shane Claiborne was great. I’m currently reading Chan’s Crazy Love and it’s fantastic. I also recently enjoyed Osborne’s Contrarian’s Guide to Knowing God.
We’re doing a sermon series in July called Summer Reading (got the idea from Batterson who got it from another church). We’ll highlight 4 different books:
In a Pit… by Mark Batterson (love this one)
A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle (for a study on false teachers/truth)
Jesus for President by Shane Claiborne
Diary of a Wimpy Kid (for a study on family)
I’ve already mentioned these first two but can’t emphasize them enough - I read the first book on vacation last year - it’s not just a ministry book, it’s very personal. Reading it on vacation allowed me time to journal and pray as I went through it:
1) Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Peter Scazzero
2) The Emotionally Healthy Church by Peter Scazzero
I’ve been doing alot of studying on spiritual disciplines and dealing with my own inner junk and some books that have been revealing to me on this subject are:
1) An Invitation to Solitude and Silence by Ruth Barton (much to say on topics we’ve been discussing on this blog just this week)
2) Sacred Rhythms by Ruth Barton (again, covers many of these inner healthy issues we’ve been discussing)
3) Invitation to a Journey by Robert Mulholland
4) Coming Home to Your True Self by Haase
And a book I spent a year reading and re-reading:
“The Pursuit of God in the Company of Friends” by Richard Lamb. Very convicting on developing life changing and world changing spiritual friendships. Along the same lines, “Life Together” by Boenhoffer is short but deep.
“Beyond Sex Roles” was another life-altering and encouraging book for me (by Dr. Bilezekian)
I have four other books on tap for July but can’t comment on how good they are:
1)Simple Church
2)Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership by Ruth Barton
3) Gifted to Lead by Nancy Beach
4) Wounded Healer by Henri Nouwen
For recreational reading , anything by Louis L’Amour. Nothin’ like a good shoot ‘em up western dime novel.
I just finished Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson. This was a quick read about handling change.
The other day I was flipping through I Sold My Soul on eBay: Viewing Faith through an Atheist’s Eyes. I found many interesting and thought provoking statements and I plan on reading this soon.
Also, I recently stumbled upon a great site that shows the top 25 books that business execs are reading and buying: http://800ceoread.com/. There are a lot of great books on leadership, vision and personal development.
I just read The Jesus of Suburbia by Mike Erre. It is really thought provoking. Easy read. Makes you think. I highly recommend it.
Craig, how do you find time to read all those books? Lol…
I’m reading Juggling Elephants and Journey of Desire…
The Reason for God by Tim Keller is amazing. Its a must read, I think.
I have absolutely NOTHING in common w/ this guy, but this is in my TOP FIVE of fav. leadership books, EVER: “It’s Your Ship” by Michael Abrashoff
I will once again echo Jan’s recommendation of “Emotionally Healthy Spirituality” and “The Emotionally Healthy Church.”
I would add these as well:
1. Winning on Purpose by John Kaiser
2. Communicating for a Change by Andy Stanley
3. Holy Discontent by Bill Hybels
4. Feeding your Appetites by Stephen Arterburn
5. Disciplines of a Godly Family Kent Hughes
Provocations ~ Søren Kierkegaard
- no, not on the shelf most of these other books are on, but worthy of your search.
“The Pursuit of God” A.W. Tozer -Old, short, POWERFUL
“Instrument in the Redeemer’s Hands” Tripp
Love Ortberg also! “If you want to walk on water you’ve got to get out of the boat”
Ephesians 3:16
This comment has nothing to do with this post, but God used it to bless me today and I hope it does you as well. My neighbor across the street and I (a year after we moved in) finally had the opportunity to meet and talk. I asked if they went to church and where. She said First Baptist, and then asked where we went. I said LifeChurch. She smiled and laughed and said I know the pastor to your church he used to live next door, right there in that house. Which is across the street from our house. She said the kids in the neighborhood use to call him Mr. G. She said he (you) were always outside playing with your kids and the neighbors kids and everyone wanted to play with Mr. G.
It blessed me. The neighborhood remembers you as the dad who played with all the kids (a big kid himself).
What a great way to be remembered.
Not the guy who had the perfect lawn or the guy who started an awesome church. No, the guy who took the time to play with kids. Sounds a lot like another guy…Jesus!
So it got me thinking….how will the neighborhood remember me? I hope its the mom who’s door was always open and out playing with the kids!
Blessings! I cannot tell you how much the Lord used that to encourage me today!!!
Dont suppose any of these books will be new to your readers but here are 3 books I read on a recent spring break.
Embracing Grace - Scot McKnight
Radical Reformission - Mark Driscoll
Chazown - Graig Groeschel
I know its a bit of a suck up to mention Craigs book but it really got under my skin. Its not the sort of book you can just read and I am still working through it and will be for some time to come. Sometimes you wish you had not started!!
Death By Meeting by Patrick Lencioni
The Radical Reformission - Mark Driscoll
Leadership Gold - John Maxwell
James & Hebrews
i finished jesus brand spirituality by ken wilson a couple weeks ago. it was amazing. top 10 takeaways from it here:
http://www.flowerdust.net/2008/05/21/jesus-brand-spirituality/
Wow! Thanks for all the great recommendations!
Anna, You asked how I find time to read all these books. Truthfully, I rarely read a book all the way through. Most often, I skim a book and try to find the high points.
Donna, Your story made my day!
First of all, there’s nothing I love more than a good reading list. Always the making of a great blog entry.
I am a big fan of A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson. Bryson writes from a secular perspective on everything from the formation of the cosmos to the behavior of microbacteria and makes it remarkably readable and witty. He doesn’t attribute anything to God, but reading about creation from such a sterile perspective only makes me love Him more.
Another favorite is Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster. It’s not so much a “beach” read, but one I try to read once a year or so.
Fields of the Fatherless by Tom Davis - a book all about how to live with compassion, with emphasis on those in need (orphans, widows, the hungry and homeless…) A very challenging book!
The Gospel According To Starbucks: Living With A Grande Passion
Leonard Sweet, WaterBrook Press, January 2007
Chasing Daylight: Seize The Power Of Every Moment
Erwin McManus, Thomas Nelson, January 2006
I became a Christian and all I got was this Lousy T-shirt - Vince Antonucci - One of the best books I have read!
Leadership - Rudy Giuliani
Innovate Like Edison: The Success System of America’s Greatest Inventor - Michael J. Gelb
How to use both side of your Brain - Tony Buzan
Lincoln on Leadership - Donald Phillips
I have to recommend “The Hidden Power of Electronic Culture” by Shane Hipps as a must-read for anyone involved in media in the church. He points out the importance of evaluating the effects of the medium on the message of the Gospel. Very thought-provoking.
I’ve added several books from these comments to my own reading list!
I second Steve’s recommendation on Spiritual Leadership. It’s an oldie but goodie. But, what book do I really recommend? Marley & Me by John Grogan (just don’t let any dudes see you reading it.) And, it’s about a dog - not a cat.
Christ and Culture by H. Richard Niebuhr. It is a little older (50+) but so relevant for the church today. The author points out that Christians have basically 5 different perspectives about how Jesus engages culture (and wants us to). For example, there is Christ against culture which tends to be a view held by those who are more about direct evangelism and less about a relational approach. Then there is Christ transforming culture which is highly relational for the purpose of relational evangelism, as well as 3 other views. Basically, it became important to me as a pastor when trying to discern how I was going to lead our church to engage culture. Our views are reflected in the message and worship style we communicate. It did not take long to hear the various “opinions” people had about message and music style and understand they feel deeply about those things because they ultimately are a reflection on who they think Jesus is. It definitely made more sympathetic towards people and allowed me to help them understand the various perspectives many people have and how we can come to a common ground on it all based on Scripture. Not a quick read, but a good one nonetheless.
Re-discovered a Eugene Peterson gem called “A Long Obedience in the Same Direction”. Peterson explores the Psalms of Ascent. Very powerful. And, for laugh-outloud-fun and insight A.J. Jacobs “The Year of Living Biblically”. A non-practicing Jew tries OT living for a year. Enjoy–
A Christianity Worth Believing - Doug Paggit
Theirs Is The Kingdom - Robert Lupton
Who Gets To Narrate The World - Robert Webber
Christianity Rediscovered by Vincent Donovan.
I’ve got a review of it here:
http://www.bartlettpublishing.com/site/bartpub/blog/2/entry/16
[...] What does a great leader read? Here’s you answer… [...]
[...] Joseph at “Seasons of Change” mentioned “Peppermint filled pinatas was a really good reminder of what it means to be relevant to a culture” in response to Craig Groeschel’s post on “Vacation Reading.” [...]
“Surprised by Hope” by N.T. Wright. You can’t skim through this book though, or any of his work for that matter. What he explores here should have some significant impact on what we actually believe and then on our we implement that belief.
My just read books…
I became a Christian and all I got was this lousy tshirt by Vince Antonucci… I want everyone to read that one.
Fasting bu Jentezen Franklin Really challenged me.
Pop goes the church by Tim Stevens…
And finally Our staff is reading Honor’s Reward by John Bevere together.