If you’re a reader and you’re looking for new books to check out, here are a few that I’m really into lately (these will almost always fall in the areas of Christianity, religion, church leadership and business).
What’s ironic about these lists is that everyone has their own preferred style of literature. Even more so, if you don’t work in the same field as me, you might not drift toward a good number of the books I’ll recommend. Here they are nonetheless.
1. Circle Maker by Mark Batterson // A great book exploring the importance of bold prayers. This book, the principles and the stories, helped shed light on what was missing in my life.
2. Multiply by Francis Chan and Mark Beuving // Francis Chan outlines the biblical discipleship mandate and how we can explore different possibilities in achieving it.
3. Coffeehouse Compatibilism by David Lahm // This might be off your radar, but it’s a very interesting read, featuring a “would-be” fictional dialogue between John Calvin, John Wesley, and B.F. Skinner exploring the age-old debate between free will and determinism. The dialogue really makes for some interesting reading, and also brings the ideas to light in a more practical sense.
4. Catalyst Leader by Brad Lomenick // The leader of the Catalyst movement finally wrote a book that explores the very principles that Catalyst. What happens when the head of a leadership movement writes a leadership book on the insights he’s picked up? Pure gold.
5. In The Name of Jesus by Henri Nouwen // This was such a refreshing book exploring the heart of a Christian leader. Henri begins the book explaining his time in a specific ministry setting that really sets the book up. I won’t spoil it. Pick up a copy!
6. Post-Black & Post-White Church by Efrem Smith // Efrem is one of the leading voices in the diversity conversation and I really like what he has to say. Especially if you’re in the south, this is a conversation that needs to happen!
7. Deep And Wide by Andy Stanley // I would say that I saved the best for last, but I alphabetized them by last name (but this was the best book I’ve read in the last few years)! In Deep and Wide, Andy tells stories of his upbringing as a [famous] pastor’s kid. He also explains the setting for the launch of North Point. Then, in true Andy Stanley fashion, he brings the insights in perfectly-crafted power phrases. I went through two highlighters in this book and am already trying to re-read it. This is in my top 5 easily.