students of jesus

Good pastors lead, but great pastors read (and think, and pray). Wise pastors, the ones who flourish through decades of ministry, set aside time to read, think, and pray. The world is in a rush 24/7. Those Christians who pause each Sunday morning to go to church need a pastor who has taken the time to read, think, and pray; someone who can deliver the good news in with power and insight. That starts with books for pastors capable of deepening our own life in Christ.

The Great Omission, Dallas Willard

Dallas Willard was an ordained Southern Baptist minister, PhD., and professor at the University of Southern California’s School of Philosophy. Perhaps the best introduction to his work is a collection of essays on discipleship, The Great Omission. In The Great Omission Willard points out that following Jesus and teaching others to do the same is the mission of the church. This is accomplished through discipleship:

"Eternal life is the Kingdom Walk, where in seamless unity, we “Do justice, love kindness, and walk carefully with our God.” (Micah 6: 8) We learn to walk this way through apprenticeship to Jesus. His school is always in session. We need to emphasize that the Great Omission from the Great Commission is not obedience to Christ, but discipleship, apprenticeship to him."

Eat This Book, Eugene Peterson

Eugene Peterson is widely known for his scriptural paraphrase, The Message, but his own books are a wealth of wisdom and instruction for pastors. Like Willard’s work, any number of his books for pastors would be an excellent selection, but Eat This Book is an excellent discussion on how to assimilate God’s world into everyday life. It’s a valuable resource for pastors. Here’s a taste:

“Christians don’t simply learn or study or use Scripture; we assimilate it, take it into our lives in such a way that it gets metabolized into acts of love, cups of cold water, missions into all the world, healing and evangelism and justice in Jesus’ name, hands raised in adoration of the Father, feet washed in the company of the Son.”

Prayer, Richard Foster

Ever since publishing Celebration of Discipline in 1978, Foster has been the Godfather of spiritual formation. Over his long and fruitful career, Foster returns again and again to the topic of prayer, so it’s no surprise that Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home is among his most useful books for pastors.

“When we pray, genuinely pray, the real condition of our heart is revealed. This is as it should be. This is when God truly begins to work with us. The adventure is just beginning.”

The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism, Tim Keller

Tim Keller’s recent passing has brought forth a flowering of appreciation for his patient, steady work as a church-planter and pastor in New York City (of all places!). The Reason for God shows us Keller in his sweet spot, a pastor who was always prepared to give an answer for the hope of his faith. Every pastor who wants to learn how to present faith in Christ as a reasonable way of life can benefit from The Reason for God.

“The Christian Gospel is that I am so flawed that Jesus had to die for me, yet I am so loved and valued that Jesus was glad to die for me. This leads to deep humility and deep confidence at the same time. It undermines both swaggering and sniveling. I cannot feel superior to anyone, and yet I have nothing to prove to anyone. I do not think more of myself nor less of myself. Instead, I think of myself less.”

Surprised by Hope, N.T. Wright

Historian and biblical scholar Tom Wright challenges Evangelicals to ask, “what is the point of salvation?” He addresses the vital question of life-after-death by suggesting that most Christians miss the point of “heaven.” Among the many books for pastors available, Surprised by Hope has the power to re-invigorate preaching and Christian living.

“Jesus's resurrection is the beginning of God's new project not to snatch people away from earth to heaven but to colonize earth with the life of heaven. That, after all, is what the Lord's Prayer is about.”

These excellent books for pastors are merely the beginning. But any pastor who dives into these five has made an excellent investment is a sustained life of prayer, preaching and ministry. Where will you start?