- Gilead by Marilynne Robinson. The only fiction I’ve read in a while and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The story is about an aging pastor and is mostly in the form of a letter written for his only son so that when he passes, he can pass on his life lessons. I don’t know much about the author, but she has done a remarkable job in capturing the day to day life of a pastor, the things that dwell in his mind, and the struggle to live out the sermons he preaches.
- God, Greed, and the (Prosperity) Gospel by Costi Hinn. Hinn is the nephew of the famous prosperity proponent Benny Hinn. Costi grew up in the world of prosperity teaching, being indoctrinated in that view of the gospel, and eventually was part of his uncle’s entourage. In this book he shares how the true gospel eventually transformed his life and how he came to see the distortion of the gospel through prosperity teaching fails to offer true salvation and manipulates the masses. Costi is now an evangelical pastor. I read this book while on mission in a third world country that is saturated in prosperity teaching. It was both insightful and heartbreaking to read it in that context.
- Remaining Faithful in Ministry by John MacArthur. In celebration of 50 years of ministry, MacArthur shares 9 essential convictions for every pastor that will help them persevere in ministry. In typical MacArthur fashion, it isn’t a book about him but rather an exposition of Paul’s writings concerning ministry, the church, and the gospel.
- Devoted to God by Sinclair Ferguson. Devoted to God is an academic level work on the doctrine of sanctification. Technical in exegesis at times, it is an excellent study on the progressive, lifelong journey of how God slowly, yet surely, transforms our lives into His likeness, and how we, as His children, join Him in that process.
