Every year I post a list of my favorites from the previous year. Many people use this list to make a reading list for their new year. I’m a big believer in having a reading list for the year and setting goals for learning and absorbing new content. Normally I make a varied list with a variety of genres on it. Great leaders are constantly learning from various authors.
It goes without saying that the Bible is the best and greatest book we can put on our reading list for the year! Have you set a goal for reading His Word yet this year?
But apart from the Bible, here’s my short list of the best three books I read last year.
- Lead With Prayer by Skoog, Greer, and Doolittle
- Cabbages in the Dessert by Aila Tasse
- Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer
Let me give you a brief summary of each. If you desire to purchase them, click the link provided and I will get a small commission that will help support our work of making disciples further.
Lead With Prayer
This book was written by a personal friend I’ve known for many years. It is excellent, a must-read for any Christian who leads others.
There are many books on leadership, but few on the importance of how a leader practices prayer in their leadership.
I bought this book for all of my leadership team and all of our coaches to read and discuss. It’s impacted us deeply and we’ve decided to practice this in our ministry in many active ways.
One day I hope we will be a team that prays more than meets. We already valued prayer, but this book took things up a notch for us and both inspired and equipped us to make key changes.
Cabbages in the Desert
This would be my Disciple Making Movement book of the year if I had to choose. Especially for anyone working among Muslims, I highly recommend this book and that you hear Aila’s story.
From a young man who was led to Christ out of a devout Muslim background, to a movement leader with great and growing Kingdom influence, Aila is someone worth sitting at the feet of to hear and learn from his journey.
I’m grateful to Dave Coles for working with Aila to get this story out. You will be impacted by the major shifts that took place in Aila’s life that led to breakthroughs and tremendous fruit among the least reached peoples of East Africa and beyond.
Practicing the Way
If you’ve not yet read any of John Mark Comer’s books, you need to begin! Practicing the Way is my favorite of all he has written so far.
He uses what he believes is a more relevant and appropriate word for disciple- that of apprentice.
One of my many favorite quotes is on page seventeen, “Jesus is not looking for converts to Christianity; he’s looking for apprentices in the kingdom of God.”
I’ve seen no finer summary of the three most important things we must do as disciples of Christ than these; be with Jesus, become like Him, and do as He did.
May God help all of us continue to press in to learn and grow in the New Year. Remember, leaders are learners.
There are lots of other ways you can grow and learn. Podcasts like Dare to Multiply or others are another great and free source of learning. We also offer online courses with video teachings that can help you learn and grow in your disciple-making journey.
How will you intentionally be a learner in the coming year? If you have a list of books you plan to read, or other ideas about that, post them in the comments below.
