Pastor David over at postings from prairie hill compiled a list of his top 15 books (excluding the Bible and other worship resources) he currently uses in his ministry and asked that others do the same. I think this is a great idea to share the various resources that people have found helpful. There are some books on Pastor David’s list that I will be checking out. So here is a list of my top 15 books (they are in no particular order and as Pastor D said, I am sure they will change over time). After you are done reading this (and David’s list) please share your list through a post on your blog. This should be a lot of fun and very educational.
(1) Book of Concord — As far as I am concerned this has to be here. I go back to this quiet a bit when I am teaching confirmation and for my personal reading.
(2) Almost anything by Dietrich Bonhoeffer but especially Cost of Discipleship and A Testament to Freedom.
(3) The Evangelizing Church with Richard Bliese and Craig Van Gelder as editors. This is an excellent book about evangelism.
(4) Continuing down the evangelism front — A Story Worth Sharing: Engaging Evangelism by Kelly Fryer.
(5) The New Daily Study Bible commentary series on the New Testament by William Barclay. I use this a lot for my sermon prep and Bible study.
(6) Ask, Thank, Tell by Charles R. Lane. A great book on Stewardship.
(7) Martin Luther’s Basic Theological Writings edited and compiled by Timothy Lull.
(8) A number of Martin Luther resources including Luther’s Works and Letters of Spiritual Counsel. A great way to peak into the heart of Luther.
(9) By Faith Alone — a devotional book that I use for personal devotions and for other meetings.
(10) Lighten Up by Ken Davis — Sometimes I just need a good laugh while being slapped in the face with the Gospel.
(11) Never Call Them Jerks by Arthur Paul Boers — I received this book from the SW MN Synod office when I was going through a "hairy" conflict situation here at Salem.
(12) I have two books here by Mike Yaconelli, Dangerous Wonder and Messy Spirituality. I read these at least once a year. Nothing to deep but a good read about God’s all encompassing love and grace.
(13) In the Name of Jesus by Henri Nouwen — A great book about Christian leadership.
(14) Most anything by Douglas John Hall. Bound and Free is the latest one I have read.
(15) Christian Dogmatics vol. 1 & 2 — Every once in a while I go back to certain sections to brush up.
I know my list has more than 15 books (so I cheated). Anyway, Please share your books. If you don’t have 15, thats fine. I just think that through this exercise we can find some gems we did not know were out there.
God bless and as always, thanks for stopping by.
-edh-
The Heart of a Pastor 
Great list! Definitely some I haven’t heard of, and will want to check out.
BTW, I hope you are the kind of person who feels that imitation is the best for of flattery, as I used a great deal of your imagery about fire in my sermon last Sunday – you post really got my sermon on track.
Pastor D — That is totally O.K. I am glad it helped.
…Wait …
SW MN? I Just made the connections. It is a small Lutheran world after all.
I had the intern site I did because my supervisor was from East Chain (his wife was from Austin), and he recognized where I was born – Blue Earth County. I was born in Mankato, and lived my first years in St James where my Dad was pastor of Augustana Lutheran.
Howdy, Neighbor.
I have quite a few books by Henri Nouwen. He is one of my all time favorites. And no Lutheran should go without reading Dietrich Bonhoeffer at least once every few weeks.
Pastor D — I know the interim pastor there, Greg Hall. He served in Windom (only 19 miles from Jackson). I also know a couple other pastors in St. James. Small world.
David — I need to read some more Henri Nouwen since I now have my first taste of him now. And you are right, one can never go wrong with a good helping of Bonhoeffer.
I am trying to take all of this in to add to the list of reading everyone has been recommending to me. This is great!
I don’t have a list of my own yet, but I like to read all the great ideas. I am looking for a new devotional book.
Your sis.
Julie — I will try to gather some ideas for you. Does anyone else out there have any good devotional book recommendations?
The question is not do we, but where to start such recommendations. Perhaps another list would be best? But if I had to choose one, not knowing Julie’s situation or personality, I would suggest Dag Hammerskold’s “Markings.”
Eric and David
Hi
A great treat for me would be to have coffie with you guys and just listen
Henri Nouwen I have enjoyed his writeings especially about how he thought he was bringing Chriat to the poor in southamerica only to find those people with nothing had a better faith/belief than him.
Am reading ” The Powers that be” by Walter Wink
WHAT about MAD MAGAZINE?
MAD MAGAZINE? — sure why not. If we get too serious then no one will want to be around us. You got to laugh (and more importantly — be able to laugh at yourself).
My reading list for the next 8 weeks (Lay School)
The Skilled Pastor by Charles W Taylor
Reclaiming the “C” Word by Kelly Fryer
Mark Allen Powell’s “The Gospels”
I just finished Harry Potter, Loved the ending, I was so happy,
rick