Recommended Reading
|
 |
The Complete Book of Everyday Christianity - An A-Z Guide to Following Christ in Every Aspect of Life
Richard and Paul Stevens Banks
This encyclopedia is a good reference for issues and topics for those times when people ask, "what does the Bible say about..." A great resource book for leaders of all types to help find answers to common questions and issues they might face.
|
 |
Spiritual Leadership; Moving People On To God’s Agenda
Henry & Richard Blackaby
The Blackabys' thorough discussion of Christian leadership tackles many elements of leadership including time, decision making, personal preparation, priorities, and much more. This could be a textbook for a leadership course.
|
 |
Evangelism By Fire; Initiating Your Passion for the Lost
Reinhard Bonnke
Look out! Reinhard's passion for evangelism jumps off the pages. If you're wondering or hoping that God might one day use you to reach others for Him, this book is a great place to start pursuing that desire.
|
 |
Time Is Running Out
Reinhard Bonnke
Originally delivered as a series of seminary lectures, this book is a more theological exposition of issues pertaining to evangelism and revival. These thought-provoking chapters will challenge your paradigms and encourage you to expect more from God, and sooner than you might have thought.
|
 |
Snakes and Ladders
Barney Coombs
One of Andrew's favorite resources on the practicalities of church life and work. "As a young leader, I found this primer invaluable, practical and easy to read. I only wish the book was more well-known, it has a lot to offer."
|
 |
How to Read the Bible Book by Book; A Guided Tour
Gordon Fee & Douglas Stuart
An excellent favorite starting point for understanding what a Biblical book is all about with just a few pages of reading. Each chapter presents an overview of the book's big ideas, historical and cultural context, and main characters. It helps a reader / preacher get more from Biblical books by presenting a brief overview of knowledge about what is going on and how to read to understand.
|
 |
How to Read the Bible for All It's Worth, A Guide to Understanding the Bible
Gordon Fee & Douglas Stuart
This book preceded the one above, and is a general overview of how to read the Bible. Used as a text in Bible colleges worldwide, Fee and Stuart established themselves as respected authorities on Biblical interpretation and understanding.
|
 |
Stories That Open God's Larger Window
DeVern Fromke
A great book of amazing stories about true things God has done. Ideal for devotional readings in any context (family, classroom, personal).
|
 |
Freedom From the Tyranny of the Urgent
Charles E. Hummel
An easy read with some good principles for anyone striggling to get their time under control.
|
 |
Ordering Your Private World
Gordan McDonald
A great book to help understand some of the big ideas regarding rest, pace and stress. Well written and practical.
|
 |
The Trivialization of God: The Dangerous Illusion of a Manageable Diety
Donald W. McCullough
Yikes! You should wear oven mitts when reading this because it is HOT! Professor McCullough challenges Christians to rethink our often casual view of God, and reminds us of His holiness and awesome untameability.
|
 |
The Normal Christian Life
Watchman Nee
This Chinese preacher and thinker of almost 100 years ago still speaks profoundly to today's readers, here explaining powerful truths in simple ways.
|
 |
A Hunger for God
John Piper
If you want to understand fasting, this is probably the best book we've found.
|
 |
Brothers, We Are Not Professionals
John Piper
Our pastors were very impacted by this easy-to-read, short-chaptered book tackling a number of very relevant issues facing church leaders today. We recommend every Christian worker read and ponder this thought-provoking book.
|
 |
Surprising Insights from the Unchurched, and Proven Ways to Reach Them
Thom S. Rainer
Rainer debunks many common assumptions about churches and evangelism and injects a much needed optimism about the North American church's mission to reach this continent for Christ. Using respectable research, Rainer explains why theology and preaching are paramount in the recapturing of people's hearts and lives toward Christ in an increasingly confused and pluralistic age.
|
 |
Playing With Fire; How the Bible Ignites Change in Your Soul
Walt Russell
Russell's book is a less academic version of Fee and Stuart's How To Read the Bible For All It's Worth; if you found Fee boring, try this one; it's easier to read, and covers much of the same ground.
|
 |
Lectures to My Students
Charles Spurgeon
In nineteenth century language, Spurgeon offers loads of insight on everything related to church service and ministry. Spurgeon brilliantly preaches/discusses topics like a minister's depression, a minister's morality, a minister's conversation at parties, and sources for sermon illustrations like newspapers, magazines and personal anecdotes.
|
 |
Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial, and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives
Richard A. Swenson, MD
|
 |
The Overload Syndrome; Learning to live Within Your Limits
Richard A. Swenson, MD
Richard Swenson is a medical doctor, cultural analyst and evangelical Christian whose books discuss profoundly the dangers of busyness and the value of simplicity. We can't recommend his writing highly enough; it is biblically-based, thoroughly researched and easy to read.
|
 |
More Than Meets the Eye; Fascinating Glimpses of God's Power and Design
Richard A. Swenson, MD
If you enjoy science, fasten your seatbelt and pick up this book. Swenson explains how the majesty of creation points to a Creator. But he is not trying to convince anyone or write an apologetic against the Evolutionists. Rather (and probably better), he writes in a friendly, engaging and devotional style that inspires worship and honors God. I (Andrew) read this during my devotional times for several weeks.
|
 |
Still Bored in a Culture of Entertainment; Rediscovering Passion and wonder
Richard Winter
If you like the title of this book, you should read the 160 pages that follow it. An excellent critique and analysis of our culture's pitfalls and plagues, Winter helps the reader reclaim sanity and joy amidst an industry of entertainment and smiley-faced but joyless alternatives.
|
 |
What's So AMazing About Grace?
Philip Yancey
Yancey's classic has revolutionized many popular ideas about the necessity and life of Christianity: grace. We should all read books on this topic frequently; if you haven't read this one, you won't be disappointed when you do.
|
| All books should be available at Christian bookstores; if not, www.amazon.ca or www.chapters.ca usually offer excellent prices and availability.
|
