Summer makes for a great time to read. As I have said before (and it is not original with me), you will become who you are in no small part because of the people you meet, the places you go, and the books you read. Thus I just went to Greece, met some very cool people, and read some books along the way.
Here are two more books I highly recommend. One I just finished, the other I read years ago but commend its new format to you.
The first: Rescuing Ambition by Dave Harvey. Often as I mentor students I talk about the thin line we walk between selfish ambition which the Bible condemns and a vision from God to change the world, which the Bible affirms. Harvey has written the book on this subject. I fonund it compelling, encouraging, and convicting. I especially love the fact that he has a chapter on living out one’s ambition for Christ in the context of the local church. If the 20th century was the century of the parachurch, the 21st is the century of the local church.
Harvey provides a gospel-centric posture toward ambition for the glory of God. He writes against the entitlement attitude so characteristic of the West (including in the church). He argues we were created to be glory chasers, and when we focus on the fact that bringing glory to God offers the greatest of ambitions, we find fulfillment in ways this world cannot compare.
I love this quote: “The gospel shows us that Jesus chooses those who are failures to display his glory.” Wretched sinner that I am, I can display his glory!
Some followers of Christ display opportunistic tendencies over a surrendered life, seeking distinction over discipleship. Jesus becomes a means to gain prestige rather than the reason to live. On the other hand, some see any kind of ambition as wrong, choosing to put themselves down constantly under the guise of humility. This is false humility and is only another form of pride. Harvey helps to see how to balance one’s life centered on Jesus.
Another book I commend comes from my colleague Wayne McDill. His book Making Friends for Christ has been a helpful book on relational witnessing for decades now. The book has recently been updated with helpful material on reaching this generation. You will find some of the most practical, sensible information on communicating the glorious gospel with others.
We witness today a remarkable shift from an attractional and programmatic posture toward evangelism to an incarnational and missional disposition. Such a shift should not be accompanied by a hesitant witness, but with a bold declaration of truth. McDill helps the reader to see how to be both relational and intentional. This is most helpful, for too many books I read on personal evangelism seem to minimize intentionality while increasing a focus on being relational.
By the way, if you are really struggling to find something to read this summer, forgive this little shameless plug of a few books of mine:
Evangelism Handbook: Biblical, Spiritual, Intentional, Missional.
The Convergent Church: Missional Worshipers in an Emerging Culture
Raising the Bar: MInistry to Youth in the New Millennium
Radically Unchurched: Who They Are and How to Reach Them
Join the Movement: God Is Calling You to Change the World
Firefall
And if you like get one of my FREE ebooks Advance or Roar from Alvinreid.com/ebooks.
But do read good books. Read books with which you disagree. Don’t just waste your life reading fiction. Read books that help you to think better about things that matter
