12 Books of Christmas

What a gift for a pastor--12 books. Well, I’m certain some pastors would prefer gift cards or free babysitters, but I would always take the books. Now, like every book lover, I have more books than I have time to read. Additionally, that fact will not stop me from buying more books in the days ahead. Reading is a great way to see how others have worshiped God and put their ideas out to encourage people to worship with them. Every December I feel the reflection of “I wish I had read more. I wish I had slowed down a little more and enjoyed worshiping God through others’ writings.” About a decade ago, I felt that deeply and decided to make a change. For the last 10 years, I’ve made it my ambition to read twelve books in the month of December. When I started this plan, I was a college pastor, therefore most of my students went home and I had a lot of free time in the month. That has changed just a bit as a Lead Pastor, but I still want to finish the year stronger than I started.  

My “12 books of Christmas” is ambitious, but one of the most joy filled endeavors of my life. It does ensure that I wake before the light of day and push into the later hours of the evening, but it is worth the sacrifice. A couple of times this month, I’ll post some of the books I’m reading and their contents, so that you, too, would be encouraged to pick up a book, two, or dozen in your spare time.  

First, Discipling by Mark Dever. This short book (127pp needed to start get me going) really connects the work of making disciples to the context of the local church. It is helpful to remember the Great Commission was given to the church, and the church is the arena to best make disciples. This short book will help you appreciate how preaching, doing the one anothers, sharing meals, and many other things contribute to the work of making disciples in the local church.  

Second, We Cannot Be Silent by Albert Mohler. Written in 2014, just before the legalization of homosexual marriage, this book opens the world of how America got to that point. Mohler does a great job showing the sexual revolution’s work in shaping the embracing of same sex marriage, which seemed unbelievable just a decade prior. The book really encourages believers to continue to stand for biblical marriage and to do so with truth and love.  

What are you reading? I would love to know some good book suggestions. Email them over: johnr@rainbowforest.com  

-Pastor John Richardson