Books Influence Pastors: A new Barna survey finds Rick Warren’s The Purpose-Driven Life and The Purpose-Driven Church (Zondervan) are the most helpful books protestant pastors have read in the last 3 years. Other popular titles were What’s So Amazing About Grace? by Philip Yancey (Zondervan); Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire by Jim Cymbala (Zondervan); Wild at Heart by John Eldredge (Nelson); Courageous Leadership by Bill Hybels (Zondervan); Spiritual Leadership by Henry & Richard Blackaby (Broadman & Holman); The Next Generation Leader by Andy Stanley (Multnomah); and The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell (Nelson). Warren’s books were mentioned by 30% of the pastors and Maxwell’s by 5%. 54% listed at least one book regarding discipleship or personal spiritual growth. Titles about church growth, congregational health or ministry dynamics were noted by 23% of pastors while leadership books were valued by 22%. Less influential types of books listed were theology (9%), evangelism and outreach (6%), pastoring (6%), prayer (5%), charismatic perspectives (5%), trends and cultural conditions (4%), and preaching (3%). Pastors of small congregations read fewer books and preferred discipleship topics while pastors of larger and mid-size churches opted for leadership titles. Older pastors liked authors from their own generation while those under 40 more frequently mentioned books on prayer. (Barna Update 5/30/05)
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