Best Books of 2025: Ministry and Pastoral

I had the privilege of reading a large number of ministry-oriented books this year.  The volume of books is primarily due to the fact that I can walk for exercise in our church gym and read at the same time.  Of course, that means that I find I don’t have a lot of time to sit, read something deeper and take notes.  Sigh….

Here are the best books I read this year, and the rest.

God, Technology and the Christian Life by Tony Reinke.  A book on a Christian perspective regarding technology might be one that could get dated very quickly.  But Reinke’s book is not about specific technologies, but about the blessings and troublesome aspects of technology for a Christian.  It is incisive, balanced and sane in every respect and will, I believe, stand the test of time.

2084 and the AI Revolution:  How Artificial Intelligence Informs our Future by John C. Lennox.  This was a remarkable book about the growth and expansion of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in our society.  Lennox gives an excellent summary of the benefits and dangers of AI, as well as its limits.  His special focus is on the dreams of futurists, who postulate some kind of trans-humanism where AI and human beings merge.  In the last third of the book, he then holds those ideas up to the lens of Scripture.  Excellent stuff!

No Apologies:  Why Civilization Depends on the Strength of Men by Anthony Esolen.  Esolen’s book is well-written and strident, argued from a Roman Catholic perspective.  He faces down society’s assumption that masculinity is often toxic, dangerous and unnecessary in today’s world.  Esolen argues the opposite – that our world depends on masculine men who live their lives in conformity to the pattern laid down in God’s word.

Understanding Trauma:  A Biblical Introduction for Church Care by Steve Midgley.  Trauma is a word that is thrown around a lot today.  People assume everyone has trauma, which means that trauma can become an excuse for bad behavior.  Steve Midgley is a former psychologist who now directs Biblical Counseling UK.  In this brief book, he defines trauma and its causes, admits that often severe trauma requires some kind of professional, focused help, but also has many practical, ordinary ways that the church can care for and support those who have experienced trauma.

The Lord of Psalm 23:  Jesus our Shepherd, Companion and Host by David Gibson.  This book was a balm to my soul.  We have all read Psalm 23 – perhaps we have it memorized.  It is one of the most famous passages in the Bible.  In this book, David Gibson, walks slowly and carefully through the psalm, arguing that it ultimately points to the care and companionship that believers find in Jesus.

Radically Whole:  Gospel Healing for the Divided Heart by David Gibson.  Gibson’s book on Psalm 23 was so good, I also picked up his book on the letter of James.  Again, the book is wonderfully insightful.  Gibson argues James’ prevalent theme is the danger of the divided heart and he follows that theme into some powerful, thought-provoking interpretations and applications.

The Clay Pot Conspiracy:  God’s Plan to Use Weakness in Leaders by Dave Harvey.  My only regret in reading this book is that it was not printed prior to my current preaching series on 2 Corinthians.  Harvey’s book is at times hard to read – mainly because it is so challenging and convicting regarding our tendency as leaders to lead out of our own strength and reject or run from the path that God has actually laid out for us, which of course involves His strength and our weakness.

Songs of the Son:  Reading the Psalms with the Author of Hebrews by Daniel Stevens.  This book is the most surprising one on the list.  I was not sure what to expect when I started to read this beyond the fact that the topic was intriguing.  Stevens’ book explores every messianic psalm quoted in the book of Hebrews, interpreting it in its original context and then discussing how the author of Hebrews used it in his argument.  This is a fascinating read.

Lest We Drift:  Five Departure Dangers from the One True Gospel by Jared C. Wilson.  I have read a number of Jared Wilson books over the years, and I would put this one up with his best, including The Pastor’s Justification.  As the title makes clear, Wilson is warning church leaders about the many ways we can drift from a gospel-centered ministry focus.  His tone is urgent and his words are powerful.  For me, chapter 4 was worth the whole price of the book.

Other great reads from this year:

Tying the Knot:  A Premarital Guide to a Strong & Lasting Marriage by Rob Green

Truth in a Culture of Doubt:  Engaging Skeptical Challenges to the Bible by Andreas Kostenberger, Darrell Bock and Josh Chatraw

The Shepherd Leader:  Achieving Effective Shepherding in Your Church by Timothy Witmer

Blessed:  A History of the American Prosperity Gospel by Kate Bowler

Unearthing the Bible:  101 Archeological Discoveries that Bring the Bible to Life by Titus Kennedy

The Deconstruction of Christianity:  What it is, Why it’s destructive and how to Respond by Alisa  Childers and Tim Barnett

Happy Lies:  How a Movement you (probably) Never Heard of Shaped our Self-Obsessed World by Melissa Dougherty

A New Apostolic Reformation?  A Biblical Response to a Worldwide Movement by R.  Douglas Geivett and Holly Pivec

It’s Not Like Being Black:  How Sexual Activists Hijacked the Civil Rights Movement by Voddie T. Baucham Jr.

How to Lead Your Family:  A Guide for Men Wanting to be More by Joel R. Beeke

Expositional Leadership:  Shepherding God’s People from the Pulpit by R. Scott Pace and Jim Shaddix

Managing Your Households Well:  How Family Leadership Trains You for Church Leadership by  Chap Bettis

Dispensational Hermeneutics:  Interpretation Principles that Guide Dispensationalism’s Understanding of the Bible’s Storyline by Michael J. Vlach

The Air we Breathe:  How We all came to Believe in Freedom, Kindness, Progress and Equality by Glen Scrivener

J. R. R. Tolkien’s Sanctifying Myth:  Understanding Middle-Earth by Bradley Birzer

4 Chair Discipling:  Growing a Movement of Disciple-Makers by Dann Spader

The Immortal Mind:  A Neurosurgeon’s Case for the Existence of the Soul by Michael Egnor

Disciplines of a Godly Man by R. Kent Hughes

Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges

Lies My Therapist Told Me:  Why Christians Should Aim for More than just Treating Symptoms by Greg Gifford

Holding the Rope:  How the Local Church can Care for its Sent Ones by Ryan Martin

Heart and Habits:  How We Change for Good by Greg E. Gifford

A Brief History of Sunday: From the New Testament to the New Creation by Justo Gonzalez

Mental Health and Your Church:  A Handbook for Biblical Care by Helen Thorne and Dr. Steve Midgley

They Smell Like Sheep:  Spiritual Leadership in the 21^st Century by Lynn Anderson

Crazy Like Us:  The Globalization of the American Psyche by Ethan Watters

Pre-Millennialism:  Why there Must be a Future Earthly Kingdom of Jesus by Michael Vlach

 

Somewhat disappointing reads:

Roots & Rhythm:  A Life in Music by Charlie Peacock (I love Contemporary Christian Music, but Peacock’s autobiography is at times fascinating, but at others aimless and hard to follow.)