This week Dr. Richard Mouw and Pastor James Emery White join the conversation to talk about how reading can lift you out of a rut in ministry and keep you fresh. Dr. Mouw is President of Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA and Dr. White is the Founding and Senior Pastor of Mecklenburg Community Church in Charlotte, NC.
Be sure to listen to this episode and then come back to the blog and help other pastors by sharing what books you are reading right now. Let’s keep the conversation going,
Rick
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Pastor Rick Warren, Saddleback Church
12 responses so far ↓
Guy Lister // June 1, 2007 at 5:04 am
I found this to be a really useful discussion. My reading has gone by the wayside a little in recent months. I feel provoked to (realistically) draw up a reading/study plan which will help in my ministry. I also find the format of the podcast to be great to listen to. Its like a book, a sermon, an article and a group discussion all rolled into one! Thanks so much guys! Just wanted to recommend a good book – ‘Growing Leaders’ by James Lawrence, Published by the Bible Reading Fellowship, Oxford, UK. A great insight into Christian Leadership.
Keep up the good work.
Ben Dubow // June 1, 2007 at 7:13 am
Great podcast today! Thanks… encouraging and challenging.
I have found a couple authors very helpful lately, both Christian and non-Christians:
- Anything by Seth Godin (including his blog), but specifically his new book The Dip. Great stuff for pastors and leaders!
- The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber. Again, great for all pastors, especially church planters.
- The Contrarian’s Guide to Leadership by Steve Sample.
- Jim Collin’s monograph on Good to Great for non-profits.
- John Carver on Policy Governance
- In A Pit With A Lion on a Snowy Day by Mark Batterson
- Confessions of a Pastor by Craig Groeschel
- The Blogging Church by Terry Storch
- Anything by Brennan Manning
- Anything by Erwin McManus
- The Long Tail, by Chris Anderson
- Holy Discontent, by Bill Hybels
- Just Walk Across the Room, by Bill Hybels
- Purpose Driven Life (I forget the authors name…)
Mike // June 1, 2007 at 7:35 am
I enjoyed the podcast too and it challenged me to get back into reading. I’ve let it slide in the last year and can feel the impact. Our ministerial in our community picks a book for a summer reading discussion. This has been meaningful for me and our group. We’ve read “The Church of Irresistible Influence” by Lewis, “CitiReaching” by Dennison and this summer “Christ in 10,000 Places” by Peterson. Thanks for reminder of the value of my reading. I needed a kick in the pants in that area.
Paul // June 4, 2007 at 9:36 am
A resource for the non-reader / listening learner types. Christianaudio.com has tons of audio books. I’ve found their stuff to be useful so far.
Thanks for a good podcast that gave me a boost to get my act together with reading!
Henry // June 4, 2007 at 12:03 pm
You guys were so right in striking the balance between daily devotions and reading for grounding and education. I find the soaking of reading is wrung out by God’s challenge to me as I apply his Word to my life. You can’t close the circuit without the two poles!
One of the things I do is take myself down to Barnes & Noble or Borders, grab a coffee and have real fun going through the magazines. I used to do this at the library but the number of magazines is just so HUGE now. I just jot down an article title on the Palm or pad in the pocket and check the magazine website for the complete article. IF you keep current you can find most things FAST on their site. Then I can keep a copy on the computer and use the search engine to pull it.
The book stack never gets any lower but it does change. I am currently reading
Change Your Church for Good: : The Art of Sacred Cow Tipping by Brad Powell
Every Man’s Challenge by Stephen Arterburn & Fred Stoeker
Good to Great by Jim Collins
The Complete English Poems by George Herbert
Simply Christian by NT Wright
Ascension and Ecclesia: On the Significance of the Doctrine of the Ascension for Ecclesiology and Christian Cosmology by Douglas Farrow
Vlad // June 4, 2007 at 12:26 pm
great message.
books that influenced me were
The pursuit of God – AW Tozer
Pastoring without Tears – Sunday Adeladja (pastor of the largest church in Europe)
Abel Dumaup // June 5, 2007 at 11:02 am
This podcast “conversation” is such a great resource. I listen to the first half on my way to work and excitedly continue the 2nd half going home. I’m not a pastor. I host of a small group and have joined in as a new associate community leader(ACL) at Saddleback Chruch who enjoys and hungers for such insights from different pastors. It’s a terrific free material to be encouraged, inspired and equipped as pastors share their struggles and how they dealt with it as they were doing ministry work. I get a lot of practical insights in dealing with different situations. I love the authenticity of the pastors on the program. Now I have a different perspective on my commute to and from work after Pastor Rick’s comment about “university on wheels”! The only tuition fee I need to pay is GAS! Thank you Pastor Rick for this ministry! I am certain that there are a lot more who are non-pastors and pastors who are benefiting from this ministry. Keep it up!
Mike Sorcinelli // June 7, 2007 at 6:32 am
One of the best books I’ve ever read on leadership is called Spiritual Leadership (by Blackaby, not Sanders). But I’m looking for the absolute BEST BOOK on church planting. That’s what my wife and I are going to do. Any suggestions? Email them to me at msorce@mac.com
Albert Mwansa // June 9, 2007 at 6:02 am
i always love hearing from this podcast from defferent men of God with much experience in ministries iam getting a lot of insights i remember some time back when i was a littlebit low in the spirit and i was reading the purpose driven life by the time i was finishing it i was refreshed i have we deffenatly need to good read books to help us stay fresh everytime
God bless,
Oral Hazell // June 18, 2007 at 5:26 pm
These are some books you can read when you are in a slump or in need of help:
1. The Power of Your Words- Don Gossett
2. Seasons of Revival- Frank Damazio
3. Power Through Prayer- E.M. Bounds
4. Secrets to Spiritual Power – Watchman Nee
5. Feeling To Quit- Rev. Stephenson Worme
6. Developing The Leader Within You- J. C. Maxwell
7. It’s All About Him- Nate Holcomb
8. Time Is Running Out- Reinhard Bonnke
9. Courageous Leadership- Bill Hybels
10. Prayer Summits- Joe Aldrich
11. Power Points for Success- Bob Harrison
12. Spiritual Leadership- J. Oswald Sanders
13. Success Habits- Greg Powe
Steve Sexton // July 19, 2007 at 7:22 pm
As a Navy Chaplain with Marines I am in the car and in the gym a lot (I’m not trying to buff out, just run faster than the slowest rifleman). I bought a “download a month” subscription at audible.com and pick books to listen to that I know I wouldn’t otherwise read–Leadership (The Eighth Habit, John Maxwell, Jim Collins), military stuff, political stuff, non-evangelical stuff (Jesus of Nazareth by the pope–talk about mind expanding!).
Podcasts are great! I can get some great messages from churches around the world. I also subcribe to Speaking of Faith with Krista Tippett (NPR) through I Tunes to get a perspective on the religious scene. I actually sat on my right hand once while driving to surpress the urge to shut it off!
OOOORAH & God Bless!
Jack // July 29, 2007 at 4:40 am
Wow! What a much needed breath of fresh air! I have found that reading is not just essential for me having an effective teaching ministry: it is vital for my survival. I find that when I do not spend time each day in study of the Word and reading books that challenge me both intellectually and spiritually, that I begin to wither.