What I read in 2025
This year was a huge change for me. Years ago, God called me out of Kidmin into something bigger. Five years later that’s becoming the Lead Pastor at Encounter Church in Toccoa, Georgia.
I’ve found it's hard to maintain reading the quantity and quality of the books I normally read, while teaching full-time. So, I read a lot more fiction this year. Thankfully, making the jump to Lead Pastor in August gave me more time to read what I like.
This year, I read 14 books, which is more than last year, but still less than my regular reading habits. I’m looking forward to what 2026 has in store.
Spiritual Formation
1. Whisper by Mark Batterson
Every year in January I alternate between this book and The Circle Maker. I use the books as part of my prayer practice during 21 Days of Prayer.
Whisper is a great book to learn about the 7 ways God speaks to us. If you’re looking to hear from God, this book is for you.
2. The Principle of the Path by Andy Stanley
One of Andy Stanley’s earlier books, he lays out how to set up your life to get to where you’re going and avoid the obstacles and pitfalls that may keep you from it. This book is great for younger leaders or any leader feeling stuck and wanting to move forward.
3. The Spirit of the Disciplines by Dallas Willard
Spiritual disciplines are essential to your Christian walk. I talk about them frequently in posts like this one. I wanted to get better at living out the disciplines, so I can get closer to God. Williard not only shows you how to do that, but why the disciplines are so important to any Christian’s walk. If you want to get closer to Jesus, this is a great book to learn how.
4. The Problem of Pain by C.S. Lewis
Back in April, I hurt my back so badly that I’ve been in wheelchair since September. I’m continually praying for healing, but I live in daily pain. Reading Lewis’s work on pain helps us all understand why God allows pain in the world and what we can learn from it.
So many times, in ministry, we deal with people in pain. Having a theology behind it will help you minister better to them in their darkest times.
Ministry
1. Next Level Kidmin by David Reneau
This year, I put out my first book. I never knew how much you have to read your own book before it’s released. Before it released, I read it at least 4 times in 3 months.
If you’re looking to take your kidmin to the next level, this book is for you.
2. The Taxman Cometh by Scott Larsen
The Taxman Cometh is a self-published book by Scott Larsen who’s a CPA and CFP. He lays out how to master ministerial taxes and make sure you get the most money out of your paycheck, taxes, and retirement. If you’re a pastor, this book is a must read.
3. Seven Practices of Effective Ministry by Andy Stanley, Reggie Joiner, and Lane Jones
Another of Andy Stanley’s early books, the message is core to my ministry philosophy. I read this over 15 years ago and dusted it off while moving across the state. I was surprised how much it influenced my leadership and ministry. If you want to grow your ministry to reach more people than you ever thought possible, this book can get you there.
Leadership and Personal Development
1. The Leadership Challenge by James Kouzes and Barry Posner
I’ve tried to read this book several times over the years. It’s a super dense leadership book. If you pick this one up, make sure to take your time and take notes. The Leadership Challenge gives you literally all the tools you need to become an effective leader. You can read it in a month, but it will take a lifetime to master.
2. Developing the leader Within You 2.0 by John Maxwell
In my new role, I'm leading all new leaders. I read the first version of this book over 20 years ago and found it very beneficial. I wanted to give them foundational principles to lead their ministries. This updated version from 2019 has new chapters and gives the foundational principles any leader needs.
3. Work How You’re Wired by William Vanderbloemen
This is the sequel to Vanderbloemen’s book Be the Unicorn. He dives deeper into the 12 habits of standout leaders and connect them to workplace happiness. I found the book helpful in discovering why I was so unhappy at some churches and bloomed at others. My hope is to use this book to create a happy work environment for those I lead.
A caveat to this book. If you get it, you need to be well versed in DISC, the Enneagram, and the Habits before reading. Without that prior knowledge you’ll struggle to connect the ideas to your life and others.
4. The Seven Primal Questions by Mike Foster
As a pastor and leader, it’s essential to understand yourself and others. Similar to the Enneagram and Working Genius, Seven Primal Questions help you understand your core fear and how to overcome it. Mike Foster is a counselor and CEO of People of the Second Chance. He uses this framework with his clients with great success. If you’re looking for a resource to better understand your volunteers, this is a great book to use.
Fiction
1. The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask by Akira Himekawa
One thing about full-time teaching and part-time pastoring is that there isn’t a lot of thinking room needed for non-fiction books. My son picked this out for me at the library since I was playing the game. It was an interesting retelling of the classic game.
2. The New Rebellion by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
Similar to Majora’s Mask, I just needed to turn my brain off, so a good Star Wars novel is a good way to do that. This book was taken out of canon when Disney bought Lucasfilm. But if you want solid Star Wars action, this book is a great read.
3. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
Needless to say, I read a lot of fiction this year. I saw the movie of the same name years ago and decided to give the book a try over the summer. Ender’s Game is a futuristic story that follows young Ender as he trains to defeat an alien menace threatening Earth. It’s a fun YA sci-fi novel and good for fans of the genre 12 and up.
That’s it! Only 14 books, but a lifetime of wisdom. If you don’t read regularly, I encourage you to do so. You can see my other reading lists below. And be sure to get a copy of my new book Next Level Kidmin. My book and the others will help make you a better leader, minister, and person.
What did you read this year?
