I absolutely believe that leaders are learners and while there are tons of ways to learn, reading books is a must for everyone who wants to grow. You can read the hard copy, e-book, or even listen to an audio version, but it's hard to replace the excellent content you can get from books.
This is a list of ministry books that are great reads for church leaders of all types: children's pastors, youth pastors, executive pastors, senior leaders and everyone else who volunteers or serves on staff in a church. This list was formed by talking with other ministry leaders and asking which books impacted them the most as leaders, pastors, and followers of Jesus. I categorized them, but don't hold me to them since most of these could be put in multiple, better categories than I came up with.
What books would you add? Comment below.
Books About Faith
The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism
What's So Amazing About Grace?
Family Ministry Books
(Children's Ministry Books and Youth Ministry Books)
Children's Ministry Leadership
Children's Ministry Volunteers That Stick
If Disney Ran Your Children's Ministry
Making Your Children's Ministry the Best Hour of Every Kid's Week
Not Normal: Seven Quirks of Incredible Volunteers
Playing for Keeps/Losing Your Marbles
The Unexpected Legacy of Divorce
The Volunteer Project: Stop Recruiting. Start Retaining
Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions
Zombies, Football and the Gospel
Leadership Books
Chess Not Checkers: Elevate Your Leadership Game
Confessions of a Reformission Reverend
Congregational Leadership in Anxious Times
Developing the Leaders Around You
God's Armorbearer: Running With Your Pastor's Vision Volume 3
H3 Leadership: Be Humble. Stay Hungry. Always Hustle
How to Lead When You're Not In Charge
How to Win Friends & Influence People
Leadership Axioms: Powerful Leadership Proverbs
Leadership Pain: The Classroom for Growth
Leading Change Without Losing It
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business
Books on Parenting
Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters
The Legacy Path: Discover Intentional Spiritual Parenting
The Three Big Questions for a Frantic Family
Books on Productivity
Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less
Books About Soul Care
Emotionally Healthy Spirituality
Unstoppable: Running the Race You Were Born To Win
Books on Strategy
It: How Churches and Leaders Can Get It and Keep It
Seven Practices of Effective Ministry
Stretch-Structuring Your Ministry For Growth
The 4 Disciplines of Execution
Preaching: Communicating Faith in an Age of Skepticism
Disclosure: These are my Amazon links, meaning if you buy from them Amazon pays me for the referral at no cost to you. Read my disclosure statement here.
