Books We’re Grateful For: 2023 Edition

It’s the end of the year, which means everyone is sharing lists of the best books they’ve read this year. But we want to do something a little different. I asked people in the YPT Facebook Group to respond to this question: “What’s one book you’re grateful for?” Here are some of the responses I received, along with a short expression of gratitude. 

You Are a Theologian: An Invitation to Know and Love God Well, by Jen Wilkin and J.T. English

This book is a great 'beginners level' book into theological beliefs that teaches how everyone is a theologian. While it is aimed at adults, this book was perfect for my Jr & Sr's, for it clearly walks through the essentials and provides discussion questions to better engage the content with depth. This book is a must for any student discipleship team.
Kyle Kennicott (Student Pastor: Radiant Bible Church: Avon, IN)

Discipleship Essentials: A Guide to Building Your Life in Christ, by Greg Ogden

I have been using it for 7.5 years, I was also discipled on it. It is a great tool to help connect the dots for students into a deeper Christian walk and knowledge of Theology. It is also a great relationship building tool.
Henry Covert (Director of Student Ministries; Grace Anglican Community; Katy, TX)

The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism, by Timothy Keller

This book helped me in a time when I greatly needed to have a deeper foundation for my faith. Keller's answers to common objections/questions has also greatly benefited me when helping answer questions students have. 
Jack Fitzgibbons (Pastor of Discipleship; First Baptist Church of Cordele; Cordele, GA)

The Expulsive Power of a New Affection, Thomas Chalmers

Thanks to Crossway’s Classics series, I have rediscovered the power and impact of this old sermon. I got this as a quick, personal read in the middle of a hectic summer in youth ministry. This book reignited my own affections and help shape my discipleship and pursuit of my students.
Kendal Conner (Director of Sunday Schools; Redeemer Kansas City; Kansas City, Missouri)

Teaching as Jesus Taught, by Roy Zuck 

Jesus should be the exemplar for how a Christian should love, but he is also the example for how shepherds should teach and lead their flock. This book opened my eyes by unpacking, in a systematic way, all of Jesus’s varied pedagogical techniques. Reading it has made me a better teacher and I think it can do the same for others.
Bryan Barrineau (Student Pastor: First Baptist Church; Enterprise, AL)

Parenting Ahead: Preparing Now for the Teen Years, by Kristen Hatton

This is one of the best books for parents I've read, and I believe it's an essential message for youth workers – as parents themselves and to pass along to the parents in their ministry. Kristen encourages parents to consider the values and purpose of their family and graciously offers ideas for how that should shape a family's schedule, spending, and more. While she writes to parents who are looking forward to the teenage years, she also calls parents of teens to see that it's never too late to adjust course.
Alex Tufano (Youth Pastor; Heritage Bible Chapel; Princeton MA)

The Temple and the Church's Mission: A Biblical Theology of the Dwelling Place of God, by G.K. Beale

This book is dense, but so worth it. I will never look at the Bible the same way again. I have used the biblical-theological ideas in this book many times in my teaching and preaching to our youth.
Nathan Baldwin (Student Minister; First Baptist Church; Hawkins, TX)

Practicing Passion: Youth and the Quest for a Passionate Church, by Kenda Creasy Dean

I love this book even though it’s a bit dated now because it teaches youth workers to present and use the passion of Christ and the cost of following him as a model for youth ministry instead of hiding both those things with entertainment which youth ministry can be guilty of.
Caleb Unrau (Associate Pastor; Community Fellowship Church; Newton, Manitoba, Canada)

Ordering Your Private World, by Gordon MacDonald

Ordering Your Private World is not an organizational leadership book teaching time management techniques to people who are already chronically bad at time management. It is a book about spiritual disciplines that will provide order and pattern which allow the minister of God freedom to use their gifting, instead of being distracted by their weakness.
Peter Koenen (Student Ministry Director; Southpointe Community Church; Nashville TN)

Anxiety: Finding the Better Story (31-Day Devotionals for Teenagers), by Liz Edrington

Every youth worker knows the mental health crisis is serious, and it’s really difficult to find good resources to share with students that point them to Jesus while also taking their mental health seriously. This devotional does just that. Liz Edrington’s experience as a disciple-maker and as a counselor is on display through each day’s devotional reading. Every youth room should have copies of this book to distribute. 
Mike McGarry (Founder/Director, Youth Pastor Theologian) 

Bonus: How to Sharpen and Strengthen your Greek in the New Year, by Timothy Paul Jones

This isn’t a book, but a Bible reading plan that’ll bring you through the Greek New Testament over the year, in order to help you study the NT and to keep up with your Greek. His article linked above provides a PDF download of the Bible reading plan along with suggestions to make this a beneficial experience for you.

note: This article includes Amazon Affiliate links, which bring a small financial benefit to Youth Pastor Theologian. For more book recommendations, visit YPT’s Recommended Resources page for book lists by category.