Great question. Besides theology and other older and newer classics that are well worn, here is a sampling of what our team will be journeying through:
THE BIBLE. Anyone worth their dust will read the Bible cover to cover many times. I am working chapter by chapter through the OT. I am currently in 1 Kings. And I don’t mean reading when you are studying for a sermon or small group.
Leadership:
*21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. Maxwell
*Developing the leader within you. Maxwell
*Developing the leaders around you. Maxwell
*Courageous Leadership. Hybels
*Good to Great. Collins (there is also one written for the non-profit sector)
Spiritual Growth:
*Into the Depths of God. Calvin Miller
*The Sacred Way. Tony Jones
*The Forgotten Ways. Alan Hirsch
*Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire. Jim Cymbala
*Prayer Series. C. Peter Wagner
*Humility. CJ Mahaney
*Dig into the church structure of Mars Hill, Seattle. Elder/Deacon/Etc. I think there is a book coming out on this, or is it out? They seem to have a nice grasp on the topic, especially when dealing with multi-site churches as well.
Church Planting:
*Planting Fast Growing Churches. Stephen Gray
*Planting Missional Churches. Ed Stetzer
*Simple Church. Ranier
*The Present-Future. Mcneal
*Attend “First Steps in Church Planting Seminar” Taught by Yours Truly or Someone else.
What would you suggest we add to this list?
Some Classics: Ablaze for God by Wesley DuewelSpiritual Leadership by Oswald SandersChristian’s Secret to a Happy Life, by Hannah Whitehall SmithPreacher and Prayer by E. M. BoundsThe Reformed Pastor by Richard BaxterSome newer books:It by Craig GroeschlThe Ultimate Blessing by Jo Anne LyonJesus the Pastor by John FryeAxiom by Bill HyblesLeadership Gold by John Maxwell
Launch by Nelson Searcy.Redeemer Church Planting Manual by Timothy Keller.
Great books up there.Would add “The Deliberate Church” by Paul Alexander and Mark Dever. I definitely would not follow it as a manual, but the ideas in there are interesting to think about and broaden our perspective on church. Definitely agree with Mark on my favorite book Spiritual Leadership by Oswald Sanders. Contrarian’s Guide to knowing God by Larry Osborne. Transforming Discipleship by Greg Ogden really reformed my views on how we do discipleshipPutting Christ Back into Christian by a barely known author named David. This one is kind of broad topiced but says some things that need to be said about ways in which the church has failed in the past and how we can start to change it towards giving Christianity a good reputation again.
Launch by Nelson SearcyGo Big by Bill Easum and Bil Cornelius