Every pastor I know has that one book, the one they can’t stop talking about because it changed how they lead, think, or see ministry.
So we asked a few trusted friends in ministry and church leadership a simple question: What’s one book you’d recommend to help pastors and church leaders grow?
What we received was a short but powerful list of six titles. Each one brings a different kind of insight, from understanding your community to building trust, embracing technology, and finding a healthier pace in ministry. These aren’t random picks. They’re books real leaders say have made a real difference.
Q: What’s one book that you recommend to pastors and church leaders to grow?
1. Do you really know your community?
Wade Bearden, COO at Ministry Pass says…
The idea behind Jean Twenge’s book “Generations: The Real Differences Between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers, and Silents—and What They Mean for America’s Future” isn’t complicated. Each American generation possess a different outlook on life. They have different ideas regarding happiness, spirituality, and morality. Some were raised with no technology—some came out of the womb with an iPhone. For pastors, understanding these differences will go a long way toward ministering to our communities. We need to understand the people in our pews, and the people we hope to get in our pews. While the surveys and statistics in Twenge’s book won’t replace face-to-face relationships, they will provide ministers (and anyone for that matter) with important background information that will come in handy when contextualizing the gospel in our churches. It’s one of the best, most insightful books I’ve read over the last few years. It will surely go a long way in helping us reach both our generation (whether that be Boomer or Gen Z) and the generations both younger and older than us.
Connect with Wade:Website| LinkedIn| Instagram
2. Take the Leap: How a Children’s Parable Can Fuel Bold Leadership in Every Pastor
Evan McBroom, Executive Director at Teamness says…
What Do You Do With a Chance? may look like a simple children’s story, but its message strikes at the heart of every leader wrestling with God-given opportunities. Through the eyes of a child facing the decision to reach for—or shrink back from—a soaring chance, pastors will find profound encouragement to push past fear, embrace the unknown, and say yes when God calls. Like the most memorable parables, this book’s simplicity opens the door to deep reflection and courageous action—inviting each reader, young or old, to keep taking bold chances for the Kingdom. Confession: when I read this for the first time, standing in a bookstore, I wept.
Connect with Evan:Website| LinkedIn| Instagram| Facebook
3. The Silent Killer of Church Team Health: Trust Issues
Tyler Smith, Co-founder & CEO at Text In Church says…
If your staff meetings feel a little too polite and your team avoids the real conversations, you’re not alone. It’s actually the first big issue Patrick Lencioni unpacks in The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, a lack of trust. But not just any kind of trust. He’s talking about vulnerability-based trust. The kind where people feel safe saying, “I dropped the ball,” or “I need help,” without fear of judgment. Without that kind of culture, even your most capable leaders will play it safe, and the team ends up stuck in surface-level collaboration. In church work, we often assume we’ve got trust because we’re on mission together. But being spiritually aligned doesn’t mean your team is healthy. You have to create space where people can be honest, disagree with care, and speak up when something isn’t working. One of the most powerful things you can do as a leader is go first… share something real, invite feedback, and model what trust looks like. When teams feel safe, they start to grow. Momentum builds. People lean in. If your team feels stuck, don’t overhaul everything. Start with trust. Because when your team is thriving, your church will feel it too.
Connect with Tyler:Website| LinkedIn| Facebook
4. Stop Living at an Unsustainable Pace
Rich Birch, Founder at unSeminary says…
One of the most helpful books I’ve read in recent years is At Your Best by Carey Nieuwhof. Carey speaks right into the heart of what so many pastors and church leaders struggle with, living at a pace that just isn’t sustainable. Ministry is demanding, and if we’re honest, it often feels like we’re running from one urgent thing to the next, all while quietly wondering if the most important things are slipping through the cracks. Carey gives us a hopeful, practical framework for matching our time, energy, and priorities so that we can thrive, not just survive, in leadership. What I love most is how personal and doable his approach feels. Carey doesn’t just hand out abstract principles; he shows you how to identify your peak energy windows, how to stop feeling guilty about boundaries, and how to actually make your calendar reflect your true priorities. The result? More peace, more focus, and more room for the people and purposes that matter most. It’s been a gift in my own life and leadership, and I believe it could be a game-changer for pastors and leaders who feel like the weight of ministry is slowly burning them out. If you’re looking for one book that will help you serve others from a healthier place, and still have energy left for your family and calling, this is it. Carey’s wisdom is practical, honest, and rooted in the reality of leadership today. I can’t recommend it highly enough.
Connect with Rich:Website| LinkedIn| Instagram| Facebook
5. How Churches Can Become Catalysts for Shalom
Eddie Morales, Director of Marketing at Communio says…
Having served in churches leading community outreach and engagement efforts—from local missions to volunteer mobilization to benevolence funds—I’ve seen firsthand how deeply the health of a church is tied to the health of its surrounding community. That’s why Agents of Flourishing by Amy L. Sherman is such a timely and essential read for pastors and church leaders. Rooted in Jeremiah 29:7, Sherman invites us to seek the peace and prosperity of the places where God has planted us. She shows that the flourishing of the church and the flourishing of the city are not separate pursuits but interconnected realities. At Communio, we often talk about the 4Cs—Country, City, Community, and Church. Sherman’s insights affirm this truth: a church’s mission extends beyond its walls and into every sphere of society. When pastors strengthen marriages, invest in families, and equip members to live out their faith in the public square, the ripple effect transforms not only congregations but entire communities. Agents of Flourishing provides a framework to help leaders embrace this calling with both wisdom and practical vision. For any pastor desiring to lead their church into deeper impact, this book is both encouragement and a roadmap. Sherman reminds us that the local church is not peripheral to cultural renewal—it is central to God’s plan for shalom in every corner of society.
Connect with Eddie:Website| LinkedIn
6. The Great AI Awakening
Yvonne Carlson, Chief Technology Officer at Global Media Outreach says…
In The Coming Wave, Mustafa Suleyman (co-founder of DeepMind and now CEO of Microsoft AI) describes artificial intelligence as the most powerful force humanity has ever unleashed. He portrays AI not as a distant possibility but as a present reality, one that is expanding creativity, solving complex problems, and reshaping the fabric of daily life. Just as the steam engine, electricity, and the internet each marked turning points in history, Suleyman argues that AI will define the era ahead, carrying us into a new age of abundance and innovation. For pastors and ministry leaders, the book is both an invitation and a caution. Suleyman highlights the need for containment guiding these technologies with wisdom so they serve the flourishing of people rather than causing harm. That vision resonates deeply with the Christian call to biblical stewardship. The church has a prophetic role to play in ensuring this wave of technology is harnessed for redemptive purposes whether through equipping communities with discernment, caring for the vulnerable who may be displaced, or exploring creative new ways to share the hope of Christ. In this moment, AI is not simply a tool of efficiency; it is a cultural force, and pastors are uniquely positioned to help their congregations ride this wave with both courage and faith.
Connect with Yvonne:Website| LinkedIn
Six books. Six unique voices.
One clear takeaway: growth happens when leaders keep learning and stay curious.
If one of these titles stands out, grab it and start reading. Even better, discuss it with your team and see what ideas rise to the surface.
The right book at the right moment can spark new clarity, refresh your vision, and help you lead with greater purpose.
And if you have a favorite book that’s been shaping your leadership, let us know. We’d love to share it in the next round of recommendations!
