Top Five Church Plant Books
More then anything I hoping for some good recommendations by writing this but I will give you my own list of recent influences.
Here are 10 books that I have read recently that have got me thinking.
Friends by Ralph Moore
Rediscovering Church by Bill Hybels
Starting New Churches by Ralph Moore
Can We Do That? by Ed Young and Andy Stanley
The Ripple Church by Phil Stevenson
Conspiracy of Kindness by Steve Sjogren
The Emerging Church by Dan Kimball
The Out of Bounds Church by Steve Talyor
Beyond the Box by Bill Eausum and Dave Travis
Dying to Live (I think its what its called) by Leith Anderson
5. Red Moon Rising by Pete Greig
This book has already played a huge catalyst role in my ministry and my life. Red Moon Rising is a narrative about a prayer movement that started almost a decade ago. Pete Greig walks you through his personal journey of discovering a town by the name of Hernhut where its citizens prayed for 100 years non stop. Pete’s youth group intended to attempt to pray for 24/7 for one month but instead has been going ever since.
The miracles, testimonies, and changed lives have all been inspirational to me. This was also my first encounter with a more experimental approach to prayer. Our youth group initiated this with our church and now our church is constructing a prayer tower that will be open 24/7.
4. Hit the Bullseye
This book is specifically about denominations developing a structure for church planting and revitalization. The Kingdom of God has for far to long been lazy in its accountability and mission. The authors give their own account of strategically becoming missional and planter focused.
One huge take away for me was some specific word plays. For example the traditional church has associated the shepherd role with pastoral care when the shepherds’ actual job was to lead the sheep and turn them for a profit. They pose the question of what would it look like to have congregational care and the pastor was leading them in the mission.
3. Unstoppable Force by Erwin McManus
Erwin McManus does more then re-paradigm things in the church but charts an entirely new course. Casting vision for what church not only could be but perhaps should be. The makeup of the book is for the most part a look into the makeup of mosaic.
Many things have been beneficial in my frequent reading of this book. Momentum, culture, and vision are all takeaways. Are we failing to react to what is happening or are we creating the future.
2. Planting Missional Churches by Ed Spitzer
This has been the most nuts and bolts book I have read on church planting. Ed Spitzer doesn’t focus on one method or style of planting churches but many.
I am not finished reading this book but have taken away certain strategies that could work in my current context. It was also helpful in identifying certain things that would not work in my context.
1. Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell
This book charts a course for a different way of thinking or rather believing. Most of the time it is asking questions rather then answering them. Through Rob’s call into ministry to the starting of Mars Hill personal accounts and stories accompany the different theological questions and practices posed.
Rob Bell has had a profound impact on me and my understanding or lack there of scripture. Though there is very little about this book that deals specifically with church planting it has played the highest role in me individually.
What would you suggest? What books have impacted you?
June 20th, 2006 at 9:09 pm
Unstoppable Force - LOVED it. One of my all-time favorites.
Rediscovering Church - also LOVED it. One of my all-time favorites.
I have to admit that The Connecting Church by Randy Frazee was just as helpful and challenging as either of the books above.
I also really liked The Church of Irresistible Influence by Robert Lewis. Excellent stuff about the church’s role in the community.
One of the more “technical” books on Church planting (and very helpful, even though dry sometimes) is Planting Growing Churches by Aubrey Malphurs.
Thanks for your post. Sounds like I will finally have to read Red Moon Rising…
June 21st, 2006 at 2:28 pm
I doubt you will be disappointed with Red Moon Rising.
I will be sure to add “the Church of Irresistible Influence” to my reading list. I am very interested in the Churchs’ role in Justice. Recently someone informed that for to long the church has lived out of four different streams rather then all four streams together. The streams are Justice, Sacrament, Evengelic, and Prophetic. I’m curious to learn more about each of these and how they can relate.
June 21st, 2006 at 2:59 pm
I think you would also like Organic Church by Neil Cole. Very similar to the ones above… but a little different.
June 21st, 2006 at 3:10 pm
Hey Marty, great list. I’ve read your top 3 and they’re just excellent. I don’t have much to add. I wish I could say most of these books were recommended during seminary, but unfortunately i’d have to say most of them weren’t.
I’d add maybe Mustard seed vs. mcworld… it made me want to skip church planting, and plant a city instead!
Maybe tipping point as well, in terms of creating momentum and movement.
June 21st, 2006 at 3:56 pm
Thanks for the list - Erwin is just great, couldn’t agree with you more on Unstoppable.
A book you should check out, “Postmodern Pilgrims,” By Leonard Sweet.
“The World is Flat,” By Thomas Friedman - a book to understand the direction of the world and globalization. I really think for every Christian book you read, you should be reading a book that is not.
JVD
June 22nd, 2006 at 9:50 am
I second “the world is flat” - very interesting read in terms of where everything is going, not just where the church could be going.
I’ll add one more, “Houses that change the world” was quite profound for me.