Books every minister should read

[Esaias]

Obviously the Bible. And it should be read continuously as the primary instruction manual. But are there other books a minister ought to have read and be familiar with?

I propose the following titles, in no particular order, and why.

Systematic Theology, by Charles Finney. Reading Finney is a good way to exercise one's mind and reasoning ability, regardless of subject matter lol. But his Systematic Theology, focusing on moral government and moral agency, the distinction between gospel justification by grace vs legal justification by works, his treatment of sanctification, and his introduction to the various kinds of proofs in theology are invaluable.

Lectures on Revivals of Religion, by Charles Finney. A series of lectures on the practical work of ministry, prayer, and revival. A veritable "how-to manual" on ministry, for ministers and "laymen" alike. (I hate that term "laymen" btw...lol) If a minister wants to learn to avoid being an irrelevant milquetoast, he would do well to read this book and apply it.

New Testament History, by FF Bruce. Manageable history of the NT era in the ancient mideast. Clears up a lot of confusion people have about who, what, and WHY in that critical time period.

Christology in the Making, by James Dunn. An adventure in biblical theology (as opposed to systematic theology) exploring the new testament presentation of Christ, with extensive OT background info. Takes a theme and follows it through the bible chronologically. Although he tries to excuse post-apostolic trinitarianism with a less than desirable treatment of John's gospel, he essentially proves Oneness christology inadvertently using the bible. Scholarly and very enjoyable and informative.

Horae Apocalyptica, by EB Elliott. Out of print but you can order through interlibrary loan, also available online for free (used to be, anyway). Massive four volume commentary on Revelation. My opinion? THE commentary on Revelation. I have read many but none hold a candle to Elliott's work. Massively detailed and footnoted, also provides a fully documented survey of just about every main scheme of prophecy interpretation out there. Makes Bullinger or Ice look like total amateurs.

Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, by Edward Gibbon. Massive history, secular, covering from just before the rise of the Empire to the 1400s I believe. You cannot understand much of anything in current events without understanding history, and Gibbon is a superb historian. This is a REAL book, not a dry textbook. His bias is evident but irrelevant, as the history of Europe is what it is. Guaranteed to put today's events in proper perspective.

Anything in the 1000 Great Books of classical western culture. Can't understand the culture if you don't understand the culture. Just reading stuff written prior to the 20th century, regardless of subject, will boost your brain power, increase your analytical abilities, improve your writing and speaking and vocabulary and knowledge, and help you discover why, in spite of man's long endless war against God, He still loves us. You'll see a "big picture" after awhile, and realise we are all children, who have lost our way, needing the Shepherd to come find us and bring us home.

Any other suggestions?

[Praxeas]

Some good books on hermeneutics and exegesis. "Exegetical Fallacies" is a good book too by D.A. Carson

Also there are some books essential for understanding first century Judaism as well as understanding figures of speech used in the bible like Bullingers

http://rhetoric.byu.edu/figures/groupings/by%20author/bullinger.htm

[Bowas]

Also, in that every minister should be teaching about the Kingdom of God, an excellent resource on that subject was written by one of our members here on AFF, Mike Blume entitled, "Thy Kingdom Came."

[houston]

Finney, really?

[houston]

By sanctification being a condition of justification, the following things are intended:
(1.) That present, full, and entire consecration of heart and life to God and His service, is an unalterable condition of present pardon of past sin, and of present acceptance with God. (2.) That the penitent soul remains justified no longer than this full-hearted consecration continues. If he falls from his first love into the spirit of self-pleasing, he falls again into bondage to sin and to the law, is condemned, and must repent and do his "first work," must turn to Christ, and renew his faith and love, as a condition of his salvation. . . .
Perseverance in faith and obedience, or in consecration to God, is also an unalterable condition of justification, or of pardon and acceptance with God. By this language in this connection, you will of course understand me to mean, that perseverance in faith and obedience is a condition, not of present, but of final or ultimate acceptance and salvation [Systematic Theology, 368-69].

"[Sinners] are under the necessity of first changing their hearts, or their choice of an end, before they can put forth any volitions to secure any other than a selfish end. And this is plainly the everywhere assumed philosophy of the Bible. That uniformly represents the unregenerate as totally depraved,[3] and calls upon them to repent, to make themselves a new heart" [Systematic Theology, 249].


There is nothing in religion beyond the ordinary powers of nature. A revival is not a miracle, nor dependent on a miracle, in any sense. It is a purely philosophical result of the right use of the constituted means—as much so as any other effect produced by the application of means. . . . A revival is as naturally a result of the use of means as a crop is of the use of its appropriate means" [Charles Finney, Lectures on Revivals of Religion (Old Tappan, NJ: Revell, n.d.), 4-5].

[Esaias]

Yes, Finney. Your select quotes do not provide the WHOLE of his thoughts on either sanctification or revival, though. Those who bother to actually read his works, allowing him to define his terms and concepts as he uses them, one will get a clearer idea of what he taught.

Those who do not bother to actually read his works, relying instead on sound-bites taken out of their larger context, would not be capable of understanding him anyway.

Which usually applies to any author.

[Esaias]

Religion is the work of man. It is something for man to do. It consists in obeying God with and from the heart. It is man's duty. It is true, God induces him to do it. He influences him by his Spirit, because of his great wickedness and reluctance to obey. If it were not necessary for God to influence men--if men were disposed to obey God, there would be no occasion to pray, "O Lord, revive thy work."The ground of necessity for such a prayer is, that men are wholly indisposed to obey; and unless God interpose the influence of his Spirit, not a man on earth will ever obey the commands of God.

From his First Lecture on Revival.

http://www.gospeltruth.net/1868Lect_on_Rev_of_Rel/68revlec01.htm

As you can see, Finney taught that religion consists in man's obedience to God. God commands men to repent, and believe, but men will not do it because of their sinful obstinacy and rebellion. So God must induce man to believe, to repent, to exercise faith. He does this by His Spirit. Finney taught as the FOUNDATION of all his teaching on revival the idea that UNLESS the Spirit of grace be poured out, NOBODY would EVER do the will of God.

[Scott Pitta]

Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster should be on the list of books to read.

[Esaias]

Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster should be on the list of books to read.

Why? Tell me about it.

[Pliny]

Prayer E. M. Bounds http://www.amazon.com/The-Complete-Works-Bounds-Possibilities/dp/1604593822

"Preacher and Prayer" E. M. Bounds:
Study universal holiness of life. Your whole usefulness depends on this, for your sermons last but an hour or two; your life preaches all the week. If Satan can only make a covetous minister a lover of praise, of pleasure, of good eating, he has ruined your ministry.
http://www.amazon.com/Preacher-Prayer-E-M-Bounds/dp/1480088552/ref=pd_sim_b_7?ie=UTF8&refRID=1W9ZE45PAZE36W6VCVBC


In Search of Holiness, David Bernard

[CC1]

1. Readers Digest
2. Every Louis L'amour novel.

[Praxeas]

1. Readers Digest
2. Every Louis L'amour novel.
Preaching material...hear one of RD's had an article on Osama Bin Laden's wives becoming Apostolic :heeheehee

[DaveC519]

Prayer E. M. Bounds http://www.amazon.com/The-Complete-Works-Bounds-Possibilities/dp/1604593822

"Preacher and Prayer" E. M. Bounds:
Study universal holiness of life. Your whole usefulness depends on this, for your sermons last but an hour or two; your life preaches all the week. If Satan can only make a covetous minister a lover of praise, of pleasure, of good eating, he has ruined your ministry.
http://www.amazon.com/Preacher-Prayer-E-M-Bounds/dp/1480088552/ref=pd_sim_b_7?ie=UTF8&refRID=1W9ZE45PAZE36W6VCVBC


In Search of Holiness, David Bernard
I have Bounds' Complete Works on prayer, but his "The Power of Prayer" had the greatest impact on me. It completely changed my outlook on the importance of prayer. As he quotes John Wesley: "God will do nothing but in answer to prayer".

[n david]

I have Bounds' Complete Works on prayer, but his "The Power of Prayer" had the greatest impact on me. It completely changed my outlook on the importance of prayer. As he quotes John Wesley: "God will do nothing but in answer to prayer".
All of Bounds' works on Prayer are available in pdf format HERE (http://www.ccel.org/ccel/bounds/power.html), along with other Christian classic books.

[n david]

1. Readers Digest
2. Every Louis L'amour novel.
I had the privilege of knowing the Yohe's growing up. My parents and the Yohe's ministered together in the early-mid 70s before the Yohe's founded the Lighthouse Ranch.

I used to help Bro. Yohe set up the LR booth at general conferences. He always kept a suitcase filled with Louis L'Amour paperback books which he would sell and trade with other ministers he knew. He once told me the only books allowed at LR was the Bible and anything by Louis L'Amour. :)

[Scott Pitta]

Foster wrote 2 book of note. The other was called "Money Sex and Power" but was rereleased with another title.

Celebration of Discipline covers the disciplines of the christian life in a balanced, thoughtful way. It is the most influential book I have ever read, and I am a well read person.

[Pliny]

I have Bounds' Complete Works on prayer, but his "The Power of Prayer" had the greatest impact on me. It completely changed my outlook on the importance of prayer. As he quotes John Wesley: "God will do nothing but in answer to prayer".

They are good!

All of Bounds' works on Prayer are available in pdf format HERE (http://www.ccel.org/ccel/bounds/power.html), along with other Christian classic books.

Thank you.

[navygoat1998]

I have Bounds' Complete Works on prayer, but his "The Power of Prayer" had the greatest impact on me. It completely changed my outlook on the importance of prayer. As he quotes John Wesley: "God will do nothing but in answer to prayer".

Thank you Dave! "The Power of prayer" arrived today. I am looking forward to getting started.:thumbsup

[mfblume]

I have not read any of Bounds' books since the 80's, but I found his rhymes and play on words to be very, very distracting. lol. I like books that plainly say it. Nothing fancy, just plain reading.

Many have loved his books, though.

[Abiding Now]

David Wilkerson

Why Revival Tarries, Tried and Transfigured, Sodom Had No Bible and his classic book The Cross and the Switchblade.

[mfblume]

The Spiritual Man, and The Normal Christian Life by Watchman Nee

[Esther]

Prayer. The Supreme Need of the Hour...Andrew Urshan

Life changing, the power of One persons prayer.

[navygoat1998]

David Wilkerson

Why Revival Tarries, Tried and Transfigured, Sodom Had No Bible and his classic book The Cross and the Switchblade.

Hey AB, Why Revival Tarries, Tried and Transfigured, Sodom Had No Bible, where written by Leonard Ravenhill.

[Abiding Now]

Hey AB, Why Revival Tarries, Tried and Transfigured, Sodom Had No Bible, where written by Leonard Ravenhill.

Oh Dear, PULEEEZE don't let my wife know that I made a mistake, the woman thinks I'm perfect. :D Thanks. Must have had a senior moment. :thumbsup

[mfblume]

The Highest Life, Gene Edwards

The Holiest of All, Andrew Murray (unbelievably the best read I've ever seen about the Book of Hebrews!)

[Abiding Now]

A friend gave me this one by an Apostolic pastor. Really good.
James Groce Think On These Things


http://www.amazon.com/Think-These-Things-James-Groce-ebook/dp/B00703CI6E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422151314&sr=8-1&keywords=james+groce&pebp=1422151360617&peasin=B00703CI6E