I occasionally get books for our elders that I think might be helpful to them and to the church. Here are some of the books that would be a benefit for an eldership to read. If you guys add books in the comments that you think should be on this list I will add them in. I started the list with Jesus because, well, that’s where it starts.
Jesus
The Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke & John
Simply Jesus – NT Wright
Jesus Creed – Scot McKnight
Jesus: A Theography by Leonard Sweet & Frank Viola
How to Read/Interpret the Bible
How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth – Gordon Fee
Eat This Book – Eugene Peterson
Blue Parakeet – Scot McKnight
Vision & Communication
Making Vision Stick – Andy Stanley
Visioneering – Andy Stanley
Communicating for a Change – Andy Stanley
Ministry Practice/Process
7 Practices of Effective Ministry – Andy Stanley
Discipling & Mission
Forgotten Ways Handbook – Alan Hirsch
Multiplying Missional Leaders – Mike Breen
Creating a Missional Culture – JR Woodward
Leading:
Leadership Without Easy Answers by Ronald Heifetz
The Making of a Leader by Robert Clinton
21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell
Church & Culture
Center Church – Tim Keller
Deep & Wide – Andy Stanley
Reimagining Church – Frank Viola
UnChristian by Gabe Lyons
You Lost Me by David Kinnaman
Surprising Insights from the Unchurched – Thom Rainer
2 Responses
I’d add a category on Reading the Bible. Under that, for starters I’d suggest Scot McKnight’s “Blue Parakeet”, Peterson’s “Eat This Book”, Fee & Stuart’s “How to Read the Bible…”, et al.
Understanding and getting a handle on the hermeneutical framework out of which we (including elders) base our theology and practical decision making is highly important & beneficial, IMO.
Got it…thanks!