We asked pastors around the world a simple question: what books did you read in 2023 that helped you be a better pastor? We’ve curated their responses below. (See our 2022 list here, 2020 list here, 2019 list here, 2018 list here, 2017 list here.)
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Made for Friendship, by Drew Hunter
“A wonderful blend of theological instruction and practical applications. It was extremely helpful to think about my own friendships, encouraged me to be a better friend, and grew my appreciation for the Friend of friends, Jesus Christ.” – Dave Kiehn, lead pastor of Park Baptist Church in Rock Hill, SC.
The Existence and Attributes of God: Updated and Unabridged, by Stephen Charnock (Edited by Mark Jones)
“I remember hearing John MacArthur saying this was one of his favorite books. Charnock’s book is time tested and helped me see the greatness and beauty of God. I read a few pages every day and found my heart warmed by its theological depth, Christ-centeredness, and practical uses (applications).” – Alex Hong, pastor of Christian Fellowship Bible Church in West Covina, CA.
Knowing Christ, by Mark Jones
“The Bible says, ‘And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another’ (2 Cor. 3:18). As we behold the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are more and more transformed into his image. This book is an eye-feast on the beauty of Jesus Christ: his person and work. Above all, the people you pastor need to see Christ. This book will point you to him and help you point others to him as well. Come taste and see that the Lord is good.”– Joseph Randall, a teaching elder of Olney Baptist Church in Philadelphia, PA.
Bright Hope for Tomorrow: How Anticipating Jesus’s Return Gives Strength for Today, by Chris Davis
“A highly neglected discipline that is common to the apostles was the hope of heaven. Whether it was suffering, waiting, or discipline, Scripture would frequently use our inheritance to help us navigate our lives here on the earth. Chris uses personal antidotes, exegetical analysis, and application to help us root our hopes, dreams, and fears in our true home.” – Nathan Knight, lead pastor of Restoration Church in Washington, DC.
Turnaround, by Jason Allen
“Fascinating story of a seminary’s turnaround, filled with leadership wisdom and nuggets.” – Blake White, lead pastor at South Side Baptist Church in Abilene, TX.
Funerals, by Tim Perry
“These Lexham Ministry Guides are brief, helpful, and beautiful books. Tim Perry packs in the insight in this small book on funerals, those most special and sacred moments of pastoral ministry. It is much more than funerals though. It is an edifying reflection on ministry, death, and eschatology.” – Blake White, lead pastor at South Side Baptist Church in Abilene, TX.
Moving Forward After Abortion: Finding Comfort in God, by Camille Cates
“This is one of the most beautiful, gracious, and hope-filled books I’ve ever read. It brought me to tears more than once—tears of sadness for such loss, and tears of joy for such grace—grace that is greater than all our sin and grace that is for every kind of sinner. Though abortion is not part of my personal story, I know it is for many men and women who grieve and struggle in shame and silence—even in churches—and, as a pastor and counselor, I need and want to grow in compassion. Read this book. If you do, you will never be the same.” – Paul Tautges, senior pastor at Cornerstone Community Church in Mayfield Heights, OH.
Rejoice and Tremble, by Michael Reeves
“This book did two things for me as I read it. It gave me a much better understanding of the two different types of ‘fear’ described in the Bible (one which is right and one which is sinful). But most importantly it left me with an overwhelmed sense of love for God and a desire for still more. In other words, Reeves didn’t just explain biblical fear, he led me to fear God rightly.” – Drew Cunningham, lead pastor of Santa Cruz Baptist Church in Santa Cruz, CA.
Come, Lord Jesus, by John Piper
“Eschatology and Christian Hedonism. A heady brew, to be sure, but much needed. If someone would have taught me eschatology like this as a new believer I would have studied it more carefully.” – Sean DeMars, pastor of 6th Ave Church in Decatur, AL.
The Deep Things of God, by Fred Sanders
“This book is the best kind of theology. It instructs while it leads you to worship God. It challenges our shallow theology while encouraging us that we have the resources within our evangelical commitments to know the deep things of God.” – Kyle Newcomer, pastor of Christ Our Savior Baptist Church in Houston, TX.
Friendship With God, by Mike McKinley
“Mike McKinley makes Owen understandable and applicable. Reading this book helped me think through my own fellowship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit and helped me in the way I teach our church. I was especially helped by the last section on communion with God the Spirit. The Spirit’s work is to ‘give a poor sinful soul a comfortable persuasion. . . that God in Jesus Christ loves him.’ (121)” – Kyle Newcomer, pastor of Christ Our Savior Baptist Church in Houston, TX.
Gospel Patrons, by John Rinehart
“This is a short volume that lifts out three familiar names from church history that God used, but instead of highlighting them, the author draws attention to the financially generous, gospel-passionate donors (patrons) who backed the work of the famous guys. Tyndale, Whitefield, and Newton—we love them! But after reading this book, you’ll love their gospel patrons, and you’ll love the God behind every patron and every significant movement of the gospel.” – Will Pareja, pastor of Addison Street Community Church in Chicago, IL.
The Power of Christian Contentment, by Andy Davis
“This book helped me think through what it looks like for me, even as a pastor (or should I say, especially as a pastor) to grow in true contentment. Though this book is not geared directly for pastors, I found it easy to apply to my heart and situation. And it helped me preach a sermon series on the subject!” – Josh Hayward, senior pastor of Kinney Avenue Baptist Church in Austin, TX.
Bully Pulpit, by Michael Kruger
“Spiritual abuse is a hot topic in evangelical Christianity, and much of the conversation seems to be driven by those outside the church. In Bully Pulpit, Michael Kruger addresses spiritual abuse as someone who loves the church and is giving his life to train church leaders. He shows how spiritual abuse is not a new issue but has roots in the Old Testament, and his careful explanation of spiritual abuse allows him to both uncover the subtle ways in which abusers grow in power and to provide biblical direction for dealing with abuse. If every elder board and pastoral team bought a copy of Bully Pulpit and read it together, spiritual bullies would be exposed and policies put in place to protect those in danger.” – Josh Wredberg, main teaching pastor of Redeemer Community Church in Fuquay-Varina, NC.
Patience and its Perfect Work, by Thomas Goodwin
“He is a model in how to minister to and teach saints to suffer well.” – Ben Lacey, lead pastor of Trinity River Baptist Church in Fort Worth, TX.
Systematic Theology, by Louis Berkhof
“This was a great book to read (mostly) through with a handful of men in my church. While it took some work (most had never formally read much theology), it fostered some wonderfully rich discussions and helped equip future leaders, raising the level of theological discussion among us. Berkhof’s nearly one-hundred-year-old work was written for his own context, yet most of the issues he faced are still very much present. He writes from a reformed perspective with a commitment to biblical fidelity and an ability to articulate amazing truths with succinctness. It’s now my go-to systematic theology text.” – Matt Mihelic, lead pastor of Island Home Baptist Church in Knoxville, TN.
Seasons of Sorrow, by Tim Challies
“Challies reflects on the sudden death of his college-aged son by considering the comfort God provides, while providing an honest window into the realities of grief. He magnifies the Lord’s sovereign care while providing heart-breaking insights into the challenges of facing even the simple tasks of life after loss.” – Eric Brown, pastor of Brainard Avenue Baptist Church in Countryside, IL.
Digital Liturgies, by Samuel James
“The internet has promised (and provided) so much to us. But every tool has pros and cons. And an immersive tool like the internet will shape the way we think and feel in ways we won’t notice unless we pay careful attention. James combines observations from social scientists and media ecologists with sound scriptural wisdom to produce a book that provides serious analysis of the way the internet is shaping us, whether we realize it or not. Not only does James help us consider the ways that the internet-life is counter-catechizing us against Christian faithfulness and wisdom, he does so in a way that is accessible and edifying. This book was helpful for recognizing the way this media has shaped my own thoughts and intuitions as well as the values the internet is catechizing my people in. James also clearly is hopeful and confident in the power of the gospel and the sufficiency of Scripture to teach us how to live in light of these challenges. You will want to read this, and then buy many copies to give away. I hope more books to come build on his work.” – Caleb Greggsen, pastor in Central Asia.
Gospel People, by Michael Reeves
“Really, we should read anything Michael Reeves writes. This book was particularly encouraging as an argument for why we should persevere with evangelicalism–both as a term and an identity. He does, however, call Christians back to the trinitarian root of the term–evangel–and shows how our doctrines of Father, Son, and Spirit are essential. I appreciated Reeves’ emphasis on convictional integrity that embraces all brothers and sisters who hold to the same evangel, even though we may have differences on secondary and tertiary matters.” – Matt Tyler, lead pastor of Bangkok City Baptist Church in Bangkok, Thailand.
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