Gilbert’s Coaching Tips

Early in my Christian life, one of my Bible study leaders said that a disciple is someone who is a learner. That doesn’t catch the fullest meaning of the word, but practically speaking, as long as we continue to learn about what it means to be a Christian and to follow Christ, we are His disciples. He said that the day we cease to learn, we cease to be disciples. I like that. One elderly gentleman, Mr. Arnold, in a Sunday School class that I used to teach knew more about practically every topic that I spoke on. But, invariably, he would tell me after class what he learned or what he wanted to apply to his life. He was a learner until the day he died.

I like to hear about what others are reading. In this last Coaching Tip of the year, I provide some suggestions for summer reading. About a month ago, I asked our Catalytic team leaders to tell me about their most recent favorite book and why. I thought you would enjoy reading how it benefitted them. Not everyone responded and some could not narrow it to one. I didn’t try to fill out the categories, but here is a beginning list of books from theological development, to ministering to the lost, to developing your walk with the Lord.

Key:   Book/Author Referred by Comments

Resident Aliens/Stanley Hauerwas Pat McLeod–Good treatment of the importance of body life (embodied/faithful witness)

The Logic of Evangelism/William Abraham Pat McLeod Theology of evangelism that begins with the kingdom of God motif

Body Politics/John Howard Yoder Pat McLeod Distinct/defining practices/politics of Christ and his followers

Soul Tsunami/Leonard Sweet John Lancaster Makes you think about change

Don’t Waste Your Life/John Piper John Lancaster Convicting and motivating to keep pursuing Christ  

Foxe’s Book of Martyrs/John Foxe John Lancaster Stories of the saints who have gone before us

The Treasure Principal/Randy Alcorn Trent Murray Worldview possession of material items is challenged in a very real way

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About God (but were afraid to ask)/Eric Metaxas David Moles  

Blue Like Jazz/Donald Miller David Moles

Pursuit of God/A. W. Tozer David Moles

From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya/Ruth Tucker David Moles Choose Life/Bill Hull David MolesEpic/John Eldredge David Moles Searching for God Knows What/Donald Miller John Mitchell Thinking in new ways to love our neighbors as Jesus taughtThe Invisible War/Chip Ingram Kathryn Taylor Balanced look at spiritual warfare from a very biblical perspective

Divided by Faith/Emerson and Smith Brian McCurry Evangelical religion and race in America, particularly black/white relations in church context

Lost Women of the Bible/Carolyn Custis James Kerri Louck How God created women and how hearts were changed when they encountered

God Heaven/Randy Alcorn Kerri Louck Theological view of Heaven and what it might be like  

Now, Discover Your Strengths/Buckingham and Clifton Adam Huminsky Identifying and utilizing specific gifts in student leaders and working with them in those strengths.

Divine Conspiracy/A. W. Tozer Sam OsterlohThe Pursuit of God/A. W. Tozer Jason Dewar DevotionalA Faith Worth Sharing/Jack Miller Scott Moffatt Evangelism