The best books to add to your summer reading list

Hooray for holidays! Whether you’re supervising the vast expanse of school holidays, enjoying only public holidays or somewhere in between, summer is a great time to get stuck into some good books. Here are a few suggestions for your summer reading list.

The Art of Group Talk: How to lead better conversations with kids by Afton Phillips and Adam Duckworth

The Art of Group Talk (kids edition) is a fantastic resource. It is very light, practical, and easy-to-read—you can finish it in a couple of hours. Youthworks Children’s Ministry Advisor, Kate Haggar, says, “I’d recommend this book for anyone who is leading a small group of children, from teenage helpers to experienced staff workers.”

All these factors make this little book not only helpful for the individual leader but a great training resource for leadership teams to read together. Available only through the Think Orange.

Best News Ever: Your 100-day guide to the Gospel of Mark by Chris Morphew  

This book was in my 12-year-old daughter’s Christmas stocking but is suitable for children in Years 2-3 up. I’m planning to read it with her at bedtime. There are 100 two-page reflections on Mark’s Gospel. Author Chris Morphew has written this not only for Christian kids but also for those who are unsure or want to know more. Chris writes, “I honestly believe the next hundred days could change your life—not because you’ve read my book but because you’ve read Mark’s book, and because you’ve seen that the good news of Jesus really is the best news ever!” (p14).

Gospel-Centered Youth Ministry by Cameron Cole and Jon Nielson (Eds)

This is the top pick for youth leaders. This book is an introductory exploration of modern, reformed youth ministry. It contains 14 chapters written by practitioners on a variety of important topics relevant to most youth ministries.

Youthworks Head of Ministry Support, Ed Springer, recommends this as “a book that seeks to help youth ministry leaders disciple young people to trust and follow Jesus Christ today and for a lifetime”. This one also comes highly-recommended by Youthworks College Principal, Bill Salier.

Why Don’t Students Like School?: A cognitive scientist answers questions about how the mind works and what it means for the classroom by Daniel T Willingham 

Here’s one for those looking for something a bit different with wider applicability. The book explores how neurosciences can help us teach and learn more effectively. Well-written and clearly divided into chapters that seek to answer one question, this book has depth without density and the jargon you might expect. I loved thinking about how the insights of this book are relevant as I teach my children about Jesus, teach others to minister to children well and seek to keep learning as a disciple of Christ.

Leading KidMin: How to drive real change in children’s ministry by Matt Markins and Edward Stetzer

This book is about children’s ministers leading the change away from ‘trend-solutions’ to aligning their church’s children’s ministry with the whole church’s vision and priorities. Discussion questions are included alongside short, easy-to-read chapters full of stories and examples. Youthworks Children’s Ministry Advisor, Tim Beilharz, observes, “This was not as theologically robust as I would have liked but there are helpful suggestions for leading strategic change.”

Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural studies in the Gospels by Kenneth Bailey

If you’re looking for something more theologically challenging, this is your volume. Kenneth Bailey is a scholar with an enviable depth of understanding in both Middle Eastern theological texts and culture. Each chapter examines one passage from the Gospels and brings fresh perspective and understanding through careful exegesis and the illumination that comes with understanding the society in which Jesus and the gospel authors lived. Useful both as a reference text and as an encouraging read when you want to see a passage in a fresh light.

A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a distracting world by Paul E Millar

Easily my favourite book on prayer. I have this as an audiobook so when my prayer life feels a bit forced or stale, I am freshly reminded and encouraged of the privilege of prayer and the amazing love of our heavenly Father who loves to listen to us. This book is written in short easy chapters, with lots of personal stories from the author’s family. And, perhaps most appealing for those who have read lots on prayer, it is not guilt-inducing.

Evangelism: How the whole church speaks of Jesus by J Mack Stiles

This short but challenging little book is a thought-provoking read. Stiles urges readers to think about how we as church members can do evangelism together rather than just as individuals. It’s an interesting book to discuss within a leadership team as parents and leaders grapple with the question of how children’s ministry and children themselves fit into a church’s desire to be reaching out to their community.

Happy summer reading!