Robert also tried to read more in 2017 and hopes to challenge himself in this area even more in 2018. He's going to take over this post and tell you about the books he read in 2017.
I did not read as much as Amy this last year, but I did up my game. I read slower and more methodically than most people so if I say a book is long and you are a fast reader it may not be that long for you. My favorite books of the year were as follows from three to one: The Compelling Community, Parenting, Desiring God.
1. Mere Christianity
Mere Christianity is a book from C.S. Lewis taken from a radio show he did during WWII. The book answers what the basics of the Christian faith are. A more challenging read that will require you to stop and think a few minutes every so often.
2. Desiring God
This book has probably shaped my theology more than any other book besides the Bible. John Piper expounds upon his personal theology that he calls Christian Hedonism. His main point is that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him. This is a very challenging book where you will have to read over sections multiple times. Piper never claims to be easy, but you will be richly rewarded with some of the most eloquent and moving writing you will ever read.
3. The Pleasures of God
This is the "sophomore album" so to speak to Desiring God. This book elaborates on the idea that God finds His ultimate pleasure in Himself and the things He does. Not as thrilling and moving as Desiring God, but still a good book.
4. Church Discipline
Jonathan Leeman is a very easy to understand writer. He takes complex ideas and makes them very easy to understand. This book is about how the church should approach discipline. Pretty straight forward and an easy read.
5. Church Membership
Membership is the basis for a healthy functioning church. Leeman outlines how membership in the church is how we tell the world who Jesus really is.
6. Student Ministry that Matters
Simple, quick book encouraging student pastors to stay focused on what is really important in ministry.
7. Family Worship
This is a small book written by Donald Whitney about how a family can practice worship within the home every day. The principles are practical but difficult to apply without the help of the Holy Spirit. Good encouragement for how fathers in particular should be the leaders of their family in worship.
8. God and Politics
Short book on how we should view politics through the Christian lens. Nothing really life-changing.
9. Adoption
Short book on how we should view adoption and the sanctity of life. Good, quick read.
10. Every Waking Hour
I really wanted to love this book seeing as how I know one of the authors, but it is so academic in nature it never really "swept me up." The book is about how a Christian should view work. The principles in it are theologically sound and a good challenge, but it is a dry read for the most part.
11. Simple Church
I love research. This book is full of research that shows all of us in church leadership are way over complicating how we do church. This book encourages us to trim down on what we do at church to be more effective and focused in our approach to ministry and evangelism. Loved this book, and even though it is longer it feels like it reads quicker.
12. The Compelling Community
This might be in my top three books I loved this year. This book challenges us to make church a place that people actually want to be at. It challenges us to be the kind of people that nonbelievers want to be around. Excellent read!
13. The 12 Week Year
This book was assigned to our staff by our pastor this year. If you are into organization, accomplishing tasks, and spreadsheets this book is totally for you. The premise of this book is that we get too bogged down by trying to plan out an entire year all at once. This challenges the reader to break up their planning into measurable and reachable 12-week goals. Their research shows that people who plan this way are far more effective than those who do not.
14. The Ideal Team Player
I chose to read this after the author spoke at the Global Leadership Summit. The book lays out the characteristics of the kind of person who makes a good team player. Fairly easy read.
15. Onward
I really wanted to love this book. The concept and the author gave it great potential, but I couldn't get into it. Every chapter seemed to be just a variation on the theme but not enough to make it interesting.
16. Parenting
Challenging. That is the one word I would use to describe this book. Tripp knows how to write and has a lot of experience in parenting and pastoring. Do yourself a favor and read this book. You will not regret it!
17. Exposition: Revelation
This and the next book are commentaries. Not exactly page turners for the every day reader, but these are phenomenal little commentaries for anyone looking to gain a better understanding of the scriptures without spending a lot or having a seminary degree.
18. Exposition: 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus
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