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What Are the Top 10 Books Every Pastor Should Read?

What Are The Top 10 Books Every Pastor Should Read?

Have you ever tried to pick a favorite hymn or Scripture passage when asked? Impossible, isn’t it? At least it is for me. I had similar feelings when my pastoral interns asked me to pick my top books every pastor should read. Too many to choose from and where does the list end? Nevertheless, they demanded this of me and I conceded.

So, I thought I would share it with you hoping it might prioritize your reading list for the future. I have chosen my lists based on the two greatest needs I see modern pastors face:

How to do faithful pastoral ministry?

How to persevere in pastoral ministry.

Therefore, I have two categories of a top 10 list: One category of books that explain how to think through pastoral ministry as you do it; the other set to help a pastor remain steadfast in the work. These are books apart from the Practical Shepherding books we obviously commend to you also. We welcome your thoughts.

Doing Pastor’s Ministry (Top 10 List)

The Christian Ministry (Charles Bridges)

The Reformed Pastor (Richard Baxter)

Lectures to My Students ( C.H. Spurgeon)

Practical Wisdom for Pastors (Curtis Thomas)

On Being a Pastor (Alester Begg/Derek Prime)

An Earnest Ministry (J.A. James)

Brothers, We Are Not Professionals (John Piper)

The Elder and His Work (David Dickson)

The Work of the Pastor (William Still)

Concerning the True Care of Souls (Martin Bucer)

Enduring Pastoral Ministry (Top 10 List)

Jonathan Edwards: A Life (George Marsden)

• C.H. Spurgeon’s Autobiography – Volume 1, Volume 2 (C.H. Spurgeon)

Memoirs of an Ordinary Pastor (Don Carson)

• The Life of George Whitfield – Volume 1, Volume 2 (Arnold Dallimore)

The Life and Diary of David Brainerd (Jonathan Edwards)

John G. Paton, D.D., Missionary to the New Hebrides: An Autobiography

Memoir and Remains of Robert Murray M’Cheyne (Bonar)

Wise Counsel (John Newton)

Letters of Samuel Rutherford (Samuel Rutherford/Bonar)

Archibald G. Brown: Spurgeon’s Successor (Iain Murray)