Ten Books We Ought to Read

I have talked with several people, in recent days, about seminary. I enjoyed my seminary experience tremendously and am grateful for my friends, professors, and opportunities to learn and grow that seminary provided. That said, I think much of what is learned in a seminary can be learned from a few strategic resources. Further, I think a lot of seminary focused on methods rather than principles. Principles rarely change across times and contexts; methods must change to fit the times and contexts. 


So I felt compelled to share a list of ten books to help men and women along the journey to better know theology, missiology, and all the other -ology's that seem so important. "Leaders are learners," said Jon Randles, one of my mentors (I think he stole it from some guru). This list, therefore, is a great starting place. Finally, I confess, this is my list. I don't share it because I think people are sitting around wondering what I'm thinking. This list has helped me, and I hope it can you. The books are in no particular order, though I would say our methods and principles of church and faith are pointless if our theology stinks or we don't "get" the Bible. It also leads me to ask, What is on your list?  

1. Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, or Mark Driscoll, Doctrine. These men don't hide the fact that they are coming from a particular theological angle, but we all are... at least they confess it.
2. Bruce Shelley, Church History in Plain Language
3. C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
4. Tim Keller, The Reason for God
5. Paul Copan, True for You, But Not for Me
6. Ed Stetzer, Breaking the Missional Code
7. John Eldridge, Wild at Heart (for men), and Stasi Eldridge, Captivating
8. Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch, The Forgotten Ways or The Shaping of Things to Come
9. Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart, How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth and How to Read the Bible Book by Book
10. Wayne Cordeiro, The Divine Mentor

Ten seems really limited, and technically this list is 11 books. I would also add in Donald Miller's Blue Like Jazz and Gary Chapman's Five Love Languages. I hope we would all make a commitment to know Jesus through his Word, the Bible, most of all. I don't want to preach, but I have been so refreshed of late to read the psalms and, after each chapter, ask what the passage says about God, me, and the change I need to make to be more like him.