Thanksgiving evokes many thoughts and images–family, food, blessings, and (for some reason) the Detroit Lions on TV. One of the icons of the season is the cornucopia–the horn-shaped symbol of an abundant harvest. It actually dates back to Greek mythology and the idea of a goat’s horn filled with milk for the baby Zeus, but don’t tell Grandma. We think of it as a reminder of the first thanksgiving celebrated by the pilgrims.

 

This is also the season we start thinking much about Christmas, so I thought I would use the symbol to offer a few examples of the bounty of resources available today. As a young, poor seminarian I would send my parents a CBD catalogue each November, marking books I hoped Santa would bring me J. 
I preferred good books to good clothes (still do). Today we have amazon and blogs and more resources than we could ever use. So for your Christmas list, either for you, those you love (or in some cases your church library), here are a few examples of the bounty available.

 

FOR PARENTS:

The Southern Baptists of Texas Convention just released a 4 part DVD series I taught called “Inheritance: Passing Down a Legacy of Faith to Our Children.”  It includes learning resources and is aimed at parents who want to share Christ with their children AND to raise them to love and live the gospel.  The resource is 69.95 and would be best for the church library so parents could check it out and use it.

 

FOR PASTORS:

One of my best friends on earth is Doug Munton, pastor of the First Baptist Church of O’Fallon, Illinois. Doug and Vickie moved into the same little apartment unit we did as newlyweds as we were in 1982 at SWBTS. We have been close ever since. If you read my Introduction to Evangelism you read how Doug took FBC Corinth from a little country church to a dynamic, contemporary congregation.  I cannot wait to take my whole band there to do their DNow in January!  Doug just released a helpful book entitled “Warriors in Hiding: The Surprising People God Chooses and Uses.” This book would be a great gift for any pastor, but especially for someone you know going through a hard time in ministry at the moment (that would be most pastors).  You can get Doug’s book for $15.00 by emailing him at dougmunton@integrity.com.

 

And here are a few resources I have enjoyed that you might check out. My noting them of course does not mean I agree with every word (I do not agree with every word in books I wrote lol), but I believe these are must reading for our time:

 

FOR CHURCH LEADERS (in no apparent order):

Alan Hirsch. The Forgotten Ways: Reactivating the Missional Church. From an Australian pushing the church toward missional practice.

 

Erwin McManus. The Barbarian Way. I say we are a movement more than an institution, Erwin says we are barbarians who have become domesticated. Worth reading just to help you think about where we are today. Sometimes we should read things that stir us up in one way or another.

 

Mark Driscoll. Vintage Jesus. Refreshing look at our Lord.

 

Ed Stetzer. Missional Church Planting.  Must reading for anyone thinking about church planting. Plus Ed is my friend and I like him.

 

Sam and Thom Rainer. Essential Church. Another good one to think about our time. Plus I wanted to list Sam before Thom J.

 

Christopher Wright. The Mission of God. Great book by an OT scholar.  Our entire faculty read it. Will not be confused with a Marvel Comic.

 

Tim Keller. The Reason for God. Best book I have ever read on apologetics. Reads like it was written by a guy who has been in the trenches because he has.

 

FOR STUDENTS:

 

Alex and Brett Harris. Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations. Just got this one myself, but youth pastors rave that it is what every student should read (and they say it sounds a lot like my book Raising the Bar which makes me happy).

 

Alvin Reid. Join the Movement: God Is Calling You to Change the World. Okay I threw one of mine in here, so shoot me. This book is for students and describes how God uses young people in great spiritual movements.

 

Feel free to add more suggestions. I could have added a ton more, but these are pretty represented from things I have been reading lately.  Have a blessed Thanksgiving!