Home Youth Leaders Youth Leaders Blogs It's Halloween, But Christmas is Coming (I.E. Some Books to Buy)

It's Halloween, But Christmas is Coming (I.E. Some Books to Buy)

Tomorrow marks Reformation Day, or Halloween, take your pick. But before you can say trick or treat you will see the costumes vanish from WalMart and the Christmas trees arise.

As you think about what to buy for Christmas, here is an idea: buy something useful. Enough of the materialistic junk we buy that we don’t need. No more fruitcakes that could be doorstops or ties your uncle will never wear. How about a good book?

I am not qualified to suggest novels because I don’t read them. And, the following list is hardly exhaustive. There are more books I would like to suggest than room allows. So forgive me if I left off your favorite (or one you wrote, if you’re an author friend, although without apology I will recommend books by authors who are friends). But here are a few I would suggest:

Of first importance, the Gospel:
J. D. Greear, Gospel. Forget that J.D. was my student and now co-teaches a PhD seminar with me. If I had never met him but read this book I would recommend it with the same enthusiasm. As I said in my endorsement of it, I have read few books that I would give to an unbelieving friend, a new believer, or a veteran pastor. But I would give this one. Read it and recapture a sense of astonishment at the gospel.

David Platt, Radical Together. I love David, and I love this book. It offers a great challenge to church leaders to help those we lead to be fully engaged in the mission. And, it focuses a lot on the nations, which the Great Commission does as well.

Jared Wilson, Gospel Wakefulness. This book deals with sanctification with breathtaking candor and a deep affection for the gospel. I wept and cheered as I read this book, and some people on the plane wondered a couple of times what was wrong with me. Jesus is what is wrong with me.

Dave Harvey, Rescuing Ambition. Read this one a while back, but a great one to help us as believers understand how to run the race hard without the bondage of legalism. I loved reading this book!

Rainer and Rainer, The Millennials. You need to know this generation (roughly youth through the 20s today). The Rainers do a tremendous job helping us know the largest generation in US history, a generation desperately needing the gospel.

Now let me throw in a few books that will make you think, even if sometimes they make you scratch your head. I am not endorsing everything in them (or any of the books above for that matter), for a good reader eats the fish and spits the bones. But I like to read books that both enlighten me and provoke me to think, like these:

Soong-Chand Rah, The Next Evangelicalism. Gives much insight into the Western Church from a non-anglo. Helpful, inspiring, and sometimes irritating.

Kerry Patterson, Crucial Conversations. A lot of people, including too many ministers, have poor communication skills. This book gives great practical insight into what it says, crucial conversations. It may just push you to have some hard conversations you have avoided.

Kendra Creasy Dean, Almost Christian. For student ministers and parents, but also anyone interested in church, culture, or young adults. A frightening but not hysterical view of how we have taught moralism more than missional, and ways to go deep and last long with students today.

John Acuff, Quitter. I liked this one so much I bought several copies for our young pros. Acuff writes well and encourages us to follow our dream but not irresponsibly. I will read this one at least once more for my own benefit. A GREAT book for a Christian who wants to think but not too hard.

John Ratey, Spark. This is not a “Christian” book, but one that will enlighten you about the brain, fitness, and change. I do not buy all the author’s presuppositions, but I see much value in his research.

There. Ten is enough. I have SO MANY MORE. But I will cease and desist with these. Feel free to add yours. Remember, who you are is shaped greatly by the people you meet, the places you go, and the books you read. Read well. Be stretched. Think. Reflect. Grow. Change.

Put down the controller and the remote, and let go of the mouse. Grab a good book or open your Kindle app.

And oh, if you want to buy a book I wrote, on behalf of needy children I thank you…that would be my children. Smile.

Previous articleWhen Good Ideas Go Bad
Next articleThe Necessity of Affirming Teens with Words
alvinreid@churchleaders.com'
Alvin L. Reid (born 1959) serves as Professor of Evangelism and Student Ministry at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina, where he has been since 1995. He is also the founding Bailey Smith Chair of Evangelism. Alvin and his wife Michelle have two children: Joshua, a senior at The College at Southeastern, and Hannah, a senior at Wake Forest Rolesville High School. Recently he became more focused at ministry in his local church by being named Young Professionals Director at Richland Creek Community Church. Alvin holds the M.Div and the Ph.D with a major in evangelism from Southwestern Seminary, and the B.A. from Samford University. He has spoken at a variety of conferences in almost every state and continent, and in over 2000 churches, colleges, conferences and events across the United States.