I was looking at my bookshelf the other day and realized that this year was a fairly good reading year for me. So, I started trying to remember what I read and how I liked what I read. So, I’ve decided to share that here. I was going to post my thoughts all at once, but when i was done writing I had six pages of text! That’s way too much to read so I am going to post them one section at a time.

Book Reviews to come in the next few days:

This first section is what I read in the area of Missional Theology.

The Open Secret by Lesslie Newbigin
Simply put this is a top ten book of all time. If you are looking for a good (yet deep) and well thought out introduction to Missional Theology this is a decent place to start. I posted a paper I wrote on this book here. Newbigin is the one who all the missional guys were reading first. He was a missionary in India for 40 years and when he came back from the mission field was struck by how Europe was now a mission field unto itself. This dude’s thinking is amazing. I’ve made a goal to read everything he has written in my lifetime. I’m pretty sure I’ll never do it, but its nice to think about.

The Forgotten Ways by Alan Hirsch
I loved Hirsch and Frost in The Shaping of Things to Come. This was no let down. The two most helpful and meaningful sections were on “Jesus Is Lord” and his explanation and discussion of apostolic leadership (as i feel like he explained me fairly well there).

Exiles by Mike Frost
Again, this was a great addition and follow up to Shaping of Things to Come. I have thought a lot recently about how our church needs to see it self in more of a mentality as an exile. I read this early this year so its not quite as fresh but I’m sure I’ll be referencing this again before too long.

The Great Giveaway by David Fitch
David is a smart dude. That’s all I’ve got to say. I ran into him when I was in Chicago visiting my family this summer and I was happy to say that I like him even, and this book, even more now. Its funny, I pictured him as a young, 35 year old, but in all reality he’s old! (Ok, so 40 something isn’t old but he was nothing like i pictured! Don’t worry, I told him that to his face!). Regardless of all that, this book is well worth the time and he really speaks a good prophetic voice that the american church needs to at least listen to and consider.

The Like Jesus but Not the Church by Dan Kimball
I don’t know Dan at all but I have heard great things about him. If nothing else I really, really appreciate his continual call to not let us forget about the importance of evangelism! That said, this book didn’t do too much for me personally. But, it was very insightful and I have recommended (and gifted) it to a few pastor friends who are trying to catch up with how our culture views Christianity and the church.

Okay, that’s it for now. More reviews to follow in the next few days.