Reading Suggestions

To be a leader, one needs to be in tune with a variety of subjects. A person should also read books outside their area of interest or their normal reading plan. A good leader will read no less than 2 or 3 books a month. The minimum anyone can read can continue to maintain a mind that is growing is one book a month. To read is to grow, learn and be able to communicate with people on various levels.

Here are some suggestions of books you need to read before this time next year.

• Read 4 chapters a day in the Scripture and you’ll read through the Bible in a year.
  
  
• Read the Bible in a different translation than you normally read.
  
  
• At least 4 times a year, take one book of the Bible and read it every day for a month – make notes on what you learn – then, after you’ve read it for a month, buy a commentary on the book (Wiersbe or someone else who is credible) and compare notes.
  
  
• Manley Beasley’s FAITH WORKBOOK (available at Sherwood).
  
  
• Ron Dunn’s SURVIVING FRIENDLY FIRE.
  
  
• Jim Cymbala’s FRESH POWER.
  
  
• One of the CLASSIC SERMON books written by Warren Wiersbe – see how great preachers of the past dealt with specific topics.
  
  
• If you are preaching/ teaching – you must read Warren’s PREACHING & TEACHING with IMAGINATION -if you are serious about improving your ability to communicate – a seminary class in one book.
  
  
• James Lawson’s DEEPER EXPERIENCES OF FAMOUS CHRISTIANS – one of the books God has used to touch thousands through the years – a classic.
  
  
• John Bisagno’s LETTERS TO TIMOTHY – although a handbook for pastors, it is helpful to see how it’s supposed to be done.
  
  
• John Maxwell’s 21 INDISPENSABLE QUALITIES OF A LEADER.
  
  
• Leith Anderson’s WINNING THE VALUES WAR IN A CHANGING CULTURE.
  
  
• Tom Bisset’s WHY CHRISTIAN KIDS LEAVE THE FAITH.
  
  
• Donald T. Phillips’ THE FOUNDING FATHERS ON LEADERSHIP.
  
  
• Bob Whitesel & Kent R. Hunter, A HOUSE DIVIDED, BRIDGING THE GENERATION GAPS IN YOUR CHURCH.
  
  
• THE GREAT AMERICAN BATHROOM BOOK – Single Sitting Summaries of the All Time Great Books -you need this kind of book or one of ‘Uncle John’s Bathroom Readers’ – these books give you a thumbnail sketch of information on issues/books/ history that makes you more well rounded as a person. Don’t ever limit yourself to just books on religious subjects – you need to know facts about lots of stuff or else you will not be able to connect with people on various levels. Jesus was a fisherman, but he knew something about taxes, fishing, and other subjects of interest in his day.
  
  
• Pick up one of the DON’T KNOW MUCH ABOUT….books. They have them on history in general, the Civil War, and other topics. Easy reading and gives you a broader awareness of history.
  
  
• A biography – in fact, at least two a year – one about a Christian leader and one about a secular leader. Read the new book about John Adams or Theodore Rex or about Teddy Roosevelt. Read a biography of a Christian leader.
  
  
• Any of E.M. BOUNDS’ books on prayer.
  
  
• Tom Brokaw’s THE GREATEST GENERATION – to find out why we owe a debt of gratitude to those who have gone before us.
  
  
• OS Guinness’ TIME FOR TRUTH – LIVING FREE IN A WORLD OF LIES, HYPE AND SPIN.
  
  
• John Piper’s A GODWARD LIFE.
  
  
• Thom Rainer’s SURPRISING INSIGHTS FROM THE UNCHURCHED AND PROVEN WAYS TO REACH THEM.
  
  
• Magazines should be read weekly. This will keep you abreast of what’s going on in the world. I would suggest WORLD magazine or U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT as two to read.
  
  
• Pick up a copy of the New York Times or Wall Street Journal at least once a week and scan through it. You can get both at Books A Million.

If you are not a disciplined reader, you will eventually put a lid on your leadership. It’s not just about scanning material but retaining the information that is valuable and that could be used down the road. The average person could read a book a month if they would just cut short conversations that have no purpose or add no value. You can also get your reading done waiting in lines, in the doctor’s office, while you are on hold for someone, etc. Think of ways you could improve your reading time, grow your personal library and grow your mind.

Most of the books I read would fall into five categories, built around the word ‘truth’. T – THOUGHT PROVOKING. These books make me think, challenge me and stretch me as a pastor and leader.

R – RELATIONSHIP BUILDING. These books help me in dealing with people.

U – UNDERSTANDING SCRIPTURE. These books, stretch me to want to learn more about the Word of God. (doesn’t include commentaries which are separate from this list).

T – classify as TE – TESTIMONIES, BIOGRAPHIES. I want to find out what made these folks great. What made them trust God and what caused them to be used by God.

H – HOLINESS. These books are part of what God has used in my life to develop me spiritually.

THOUGHT PROVOKING:

• Real Worship – Wiersbe
  
  
• Preaching in Black and White – E. K. Bailey, Wiersbe
  
  
• Don’t Just Stand There… Have Faith – Ron Dunn
  
  
• The Bride – Swindoll
  
  
• Be The Leader You Were Meant To Be – Eims
  
  
• Think for a Change – Maxwell
  
  
• Disciples Are Made – Not Born – Walter Henrichsen
  
  
• Body Life – Ray Stedman
  
  
• The Elements of Preaching – Wiersbe
  
  
• They Cry Too – Lavender
  
  
• Robert E. Lee on Leadership – H. W. Crocker III
  
  
• Stonewall Jackson’s Maxims
  
  
• Spiritual Leadarship – J. Oswald Sanders
  
  
• Preaching & Teaching with Imagination – Wiersbe
  
  
• Out of Season – Junior Hill
  
  
• Letters to Timothy – John Bisagno
  
  
• The Words of Gardner Taylor – 4 volumes
  
  
• When God Builds a Church – Bob Russell
  
  
• Feed My Sheep – A Passionate Plea for Preaching – Soli Deo Gloria Publications
  
  
• Not Peace But A Sword – Vance Havner
  
  
• A Drink At Joel’s Place – Jess Moody

RELATIONSHIP BUILDING:

• Well Intentioned Dragons – Shelley
• Surviving Friendly Fire – Dunn
• Improving Your Serve – Swindoll
• The Winning Attitude – Maxwell
• The Measure of a Church – Gene Getz
• The ‘One Another’ series by Gene Getz
• Pastor to Pastor – Erwin Lutzer

UNDERSTANDING SCRIPTURE:

• Living by the book – Howard Hendricks
• Reflections on the Gospels – Havner
• With the Word – Wiersbe – 365 devotional
• The Ministry of the Word – G. Campbell Morgan
• Great Chapters of the Bible – Morgan
• What the Bible is all about – Henrietta Mears
• Basic Bible Interpretation – Roy Zuck

TESTIMONIES & BIOGRAPHIES:

• Living With The Giants – Wiersbe
• In Pursuit of God, The Life of Tozer – James Snyder
• A Passion for Souls – D.L. Moody – Lyle Dorsett
• The Burning Heart – John Wesley – Skevington Wood
• The Life and Diary of David Brainerd – Jonathan Edwards
• Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret
• The Shadow of the Broad Brim – Spurgeon – Day
• A Man of the Word – G. Campbell Morgan – Jill Morgan
• C. T. Studd – Norman Grubb
• Praying Hyde – Francis McGaw
• C. S. Lewis – Green & Hooper

HOLINESS:

• The Knowledge of the Holy – Tozer
• Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire – Cymbala
• Repent or Else – Havner (letters to the 7 churches)
• The Making of a Man of God – Redpath
• When Heaven Is Silent – Ron Dunn
• How to Develop a Powerful Prayer Life – Dr. Gregory R. Frizzell
• The Calvary Road – Roy Hesson
• The Strategy of Satan – Wiersbe
• No Magic Formula – LeRoy Eims
• Spiritual Warfare – Ray Stedman
• Hearts Afire – Vance Havner
• Rivers of Living Water – Ruth Paxson
• Your God is Too Small – J. B. Phillips
• The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life – Hannah Whitall Smith
• The Morrison Classic Sermon Series – George H. Morrison
• The Crises of the Christ – Morgan
• Quest for Renewal – Walt Kaiser, Jr.
• Revival – Richard Owen Roberts
• The Awakening That Must Come – Lewis Drummond
• The Works of E.M. Bounds on Prayer – now in 1 volume
• Knowing God’s Secrets – John Hunter
• The Key To Triumphant Living – Jack Taylor
• Laws for Liberated Living – Manley Beasley
• When Being Good Isn’t Good Enough – Stephen Brown
• The Christian in Complete Armour – William Gurnall (3 volumes)
• Victorious Christian Living – Alan Redpath

FAVORITE AUTHORS:

SUBSCRIPTIONS:

WEB SITES:

• www.abe.com – website for searching for used books
• www.christianarsenal.com – website that features a number of links
• www.crosswalk.com – site includes various resources, including word studies
• www.spurgeon.org – Spurgeon archives
• www.pastors.com – Rick Warren’s website for preachers. Includes an email account
• www.rondunn.com – website for Ron Dunn
• www.vancehavner.com – website for Vance Havner

Michael Catt

Dr. Michael Catt has served as senior pastor of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia, since 1989, and is the executive producer of the popular films Flywheel, Facing the Giants, Fireproof and Courageous, which originated from the congregation. He has also served as Executive Producer for the Erwin Brothers’ film Woodlawn. He is also the founder of the ReFRESH® revival conferences (ReFRESHconference.org).

Michael is the author of several books, including The Power of Desperation, The Power of Persistence, The Power of Surrender, The Power of Purpose, Prepare for Rain, Upgrade, Courageous Living, Courageous Teens, Fireproof Your Life, Fireproof Your Life for Teens, and the Refinance Bible Study for LifeWay, as well as co-authored the Love Dare Curriculum.

Michael served as the President of the Large Church Roundtable, the Southern Baptist Convention as an IMB Trustee, President of the Georgia Baptist Convention’s Preaching Conference, Vice President of the Georgia Baptist Convention, and President of the 2008 Southern Baptist Convention Pastors’ Conference. He has spoken at conferences, colleges, seminaries, rallies, camps, NBA and college chapel services, well as The Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove. Michael is the recipient of The Martin Luther King Award, The MLK Unity Award, and a Georgia Senate Resolution in recognition of his work in the community and in racial reconciliation.

Michael and his wife, Terri, have two grown daughters, Erin and Hayley.