Pastors often get asked their opinions on authors. Sometimes it is an easy answer, and sometimes it is complicated. Some books I would recommend highly. Some books are “gleaners”—meaning that one can glean some good things out of it, but I can’t stand behind all of it. Some books are too difficult for me to recommend.
Long ago, Kevin Sauder, now senior pastor at New Castle Bible Church, interned at Bethany Community. He put together a great resource for us called a Discernment Guide. It helps us to think through whether a resource is man-centered or God-centered.
At the end of the resource, an “incomplete list of recommended authors” is listed. I love the wording of it. It is not saying that the guide has the corner on the market on knowledge. There are others that are just as good if not better.
In that vain, let me give you my incomplete list of recommended authors that have blessed me beyond measure:
Kevin DeYoung: DeYoung is a pastor who just moved to help lead a church in Charlotte, North Carolina. He has a great blog located on the Gospel Coalition site (https://blogs.thegospelcoalition.org/kevindeyoung) and has authored some very helpful books like:
Crazy Busy
Taking God at His Word
Just Do Something
Mark Dever: A pastor in our nation’s capital and leader of 9Marks ministries, Dever’s love for the local church and desire to equip her are something for other pastors to model.
Helpful books to me by Dever are:
9 Marks of a Healthy Church
What is a Healthy Church?
Discipling
Other great audio, video and resources at www.9marks.org
John Piper: Piper’s name will be long remembered in Christiandom from his time as pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minnesota to his works and messages logged at www.desiringgod.org. Helpful books:
Don’t Waste Your Life
A Godward Life
Desiring God
Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ
Let the Nations Be Glad
Tim Challies: A pastor in Canada, I am most familiar with him through his blog where he writes but also posts a list of the 5-7 most helpful articles/blogs he finds on the internet each day.
I am so thankful for the many resources available—of these men and so many other men and women. There are so many more I could list. Hope this helps.
Pastor Ben
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