I’m a new pastor. I’ve got about $100 and not much of any library. I want hard copies—non of that e-reader stuff. When I was ordained last week a former professor bought me 5 books from your preaching list. Now I need to focus on building a few resources to help me with pastoral ministry. What do you suggest?
Here is my answer:
- Dangerous Calling by Paul Tripp for $12
- The Reformed Pastor by Richard Baxter $8
- 9 Marks of a Healthy Church by Mark Dever $11
- The Conviction to Lead by Albert Mohler $15
- Brothers We Are Not Professionals by John Piper $10
- Instruments in the Redeemers Hands by Paul Tripp $12
- Download this letter from John Newton $FREE
That’s about 70 bucks. Take the next $30 and take your wife out on a date.
Also there are a couple of books that you can get online for free that are great classics. I know you like hard copies so maybe you can save up a little money and print these off somewhere. Lectures to My Students by Spurgeon is an invaluable resource as is Charles Bridges’ The Christian Ministry.
I would also advise you to find an older pastor that is willing to mentor you. He’ll be really helpful also when you have questions about how to do a baptism, how to train a Sunday school teacher, etc. And he will talk you off the ledge when you want to give up after a few Monday’s on the job.
Lastly, find another pastor from history and make it your life ambition to follow him as he follows Christ. I’ve begun a lifelong friendship with John Newton—I just wish he knew it. You can get his 6 Volume works online for about $100.
How would you answer this question?
