Books for Christian Ministry

Holy Bible
Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [John 1:1]

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. [2 Timothy 3:16-17]

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. [Mark 13:31]

Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms. [Luke 24:44]

The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. WHAT ON EARTH AM I HERE FOR? Over 34 million sold. 

unlikely, SETTING ASIDE OUR DIFFERENCES TO LIVE OUT THE GOSPEL by Kevin Palau. Founding editor of https://citygospelmovements.org/. How Portland Oregon formed hundreds of church/school partnerships.

BREAKING THE HUDDLE.  How your community can grow its witness.  by Don Everts, Doug Scharp, and Val Gordon. How skeptics cross five thresholds becoming believers. From distrust to trust, indifference to curiosity, closed to change to open to change,  meandering to seeking, lost to saved..

CHARITY DETOX, What Charity Would Look Like If We Cared About Results by Robert D Lupton. Lupton worked in Atlanta Georgia 40 years to alleviate poverty, including moving his family to the inner city.  He found that charity without reciprocal exchange elicits:

• at first appreciation
• then anticipation
• then expectation
• then entitlement
• … and finally dependency.

• “…all people were created with an innate desire to be useful.”
• “Doing for others when they have the capacity to do for themselves is debilitating.”
• “…the most effective programs require participants to assume responsibility for their own development.”

A FIELD GUIDE TO BECOMING WHOLE, Principles for Poverty Alleviation Ministries,  by Brian Fikkert & Kelly M. Kapic. Below are some of the 20 principles.

• How to love materially poor neighbors.
• “Christian poverty alleviation ministries must be rooted in and lead back to the local church.” 
• “Use supportive, gospel-centered groups as much as possible.”
•  “All the ministry stakeholders should “pray without ceasing””
• “Narrate God’s story of change throughout life.”
• “Use relief, rehabilitation, and development appropriately.” 
• “Use participatory rather than blueprint approaches.”
• “Start by focusing on assets, not needs.” 
• “All interventions should be pro work.”
• “Encourage all stakeholders to give sacrificially”
• “Verbally invite unbelievers to saving faith in Jesus Christ.”

“Prepared, What Kids Need for a Fulfilled Life” by Diane Tavenner

“A personalized, project-based learning curriculum that puts students “in charge” of their own learning. Courses are built around projects done at students’ own paces instead of traditional coursework “ See much more at Project Based Learning.

WHAT COLOR IS YOUR PARACHUTE? By Richard N. Bolles. A PRACTICAL MANUAL FOR JOB-HUNTERS AND CAREER-CHANGERS. The best-selling job-hunting book in the world.