Happy New Year! Here are eight books that really inspired me in 2021! I hope they do the same for you.
Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Peter Scazzero
Peter provides seven biblical, reality-tested steps to become emotionally mature:
- Become your authentic self
- Break the power of the past
- Let go of power and control
- Surrender to your limits
- Stop to breathe by practicing rest and Sabbath
- Learn new skills to love well
- Love Christ above all else
4 Stages of Psychological Safety: Defining the Path to Inclusion & Innovation by Timothy R. Clark
“Psychological safety is a condition in which you feel (1) included, (2) safe to learn, (3) safe to contribute, (4) safe to challenge the status quo—all without fear of being embarrassed, marginalized, or punished in some way.” pg. 2
How We Read the Bible: 8 Ways to Engage the Bible with Our Students by Matt Laidlaw
“This book is for anyone who has struggled to know how to open the Bible with young people in large groups, Sunday school, mentoring relationships, or through camps and retreats. Drawing from years of Fuller Youth Institute research with young people and churches.”
It’s the Manager: Moving from Boss to Coach by Jim Clifton and Jim Harter
“Gallup’s largest study of the future of work, It’s the Manager shows leaders and managers how to adapt their organizations to rapid change — from new workplace demands to the challenges of managing remote employees, the rise of artificial intelligence, gig workers, and attracting and keeping today’s best employees.”
Lead: 12 Gospel Principles for Leadership in the Church by Paul David Tripp
Paul David Tripp challenges the reader to recapture a biblical approach to leadership in the church. These 12 principles are deeply relational because the Gospel is. The principles are built on characteristics such as humility, dependency, and accountability.
Multipliers by Liz Wiseman
Multipliers are leaders who inspire others to stretch themselves to deliver results that surpass expectations. Wiseman notes two types of leaders, Multipliers and Diminishers and then identifies five disciplines that distinguish Multipliers from Diminishers. “These five disciplines are not based on innate talent; indeed, they are skills and practices everyone can learn to use.”
ReCalibrate: A New Measure for Family Ministry by Ron Hunter
“This book helps you see family ministry from 14 distinct areas of your church, enables you to spot unhealthy norms, and most importantly provides ways to measure each area.” Pg. 3 The book is a collaboration of 15 authors.
Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership by Ruth Haley Barton
“Ruth Haley Barton invites us to an honest exploration of what happens when spiritual leaders lose track of their souls.” The book explores topics such as:
- Responding to the dynamics of calling
- Facing the loneliness of leadership
- Leading from your authentic self
- Cultivating spiritual community
- Re-envisioning the promise land
- Discerning God’s will together
