Free Book Giveaway 2016

Below is a selection of the books I read in 2016. Each book chosen had a specific impact on my life, ministry, and faith in Jesus Christ. I hope the list may serve you with similar results. While some of the books are more theological in nature, most address the common problems and concerns of living the modern Christian life.

Enjoy,

Brendan Flannagan

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#1. The Conviction to Lead- Albert Mohler

While this book may lack some of the more spiritual themes of the other books on this list, it deserves to be my #1 (and perhaps yours). Without Al Mohler’s insightful direction and specific application, I would not be writing this list, nor would you be reading my blog.

He does an excellent job of completely turning leadership studies on their head. No longer are we pursuing systems, relationships, or corporate networks. Instead, Mohler makes it crystal clear- leadership rests in conviction. He outlines how conviction truly serves to unite, encourage, and propel forward one’s vision.

This book is helpful for both Christian and non-Christian alike, yet Mohler does not hide his conviction, nor does he turn into a preacher. He confidently, without arrogance, asserts conviction best rests in a heart closely aligned with God’s will. Ultimately, this person truly convicted by God with an eternal purpose serves in the most effective manner.

The #1 reason for recommending this book was not for the business and leadership advice- which was excellent! But, the simple chapter titled, The Digital Leader, especially his second paragraph, in which he writes,

“Leaders who talk about the real world as opposed to the digital world are making a mistake, a category error. While we are right to prioritize real face-to-face conversations and to find comfort and grounding in stable authorities like the printed book, the digital world is itself a real world, just real in a different way.”

Wow, this may seem like common sense to you, but if I had a twitter handle before reading this it would have been @youngluddite. This simple concept caused great reflection in my own life, and my refusal to engage the digital culture. But, Mohler helped me see that technology is not evil in itself, instead we have a duty to glorify God and lead in the digital age.

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#2. Do More Better- Tim Challies

Interestingly enough, I read this book before “The Conviction to Lead” and Al Mohler’s great chapter titled the Digital Leader. Yet, if Mohler lays the foundation, Challies builds the house. His book is jampacked with extremely useful and precise methods to streamline your digital life (we all have one, even @youngluddite), effectively lead, and have technology work for you and not the other way around.

I will list a few of the helpful topics, which truly revolutionized how I handle my technology.

Email is not a place to store everything! "What? Are you saying I cannot use my inbox to store every email I ever received and then proceed to search through my entire inbox from the last 4 years to find that single conversation?”
Plan your purpose statement and split your life up into categories. How do you want to use your time? What kind of legacy do you want to leave? This greatly increased my efficiency, helped to clear unhelpful projects, and focused me on completing the tasks, which furthered my personal goals.
Split digital content into events on a calendar, actionable items on a checklist, and stored data. Challies also outlines actual tools helpful to achieve each task i.e. Evernote to store data, Omnifocus to store your checklists, etc.
Others may not watch how you spend your digital time, but God does!

These are just a few examples of the helpful tips found in this productive little book. I appreciate the work of Christians in this category of God and technology, especially Tim Challies and David Murray. Both men approach the pitfalls and benefits of technology straight on and do not run to the blinders of past generations.

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#3. Raising Children God’s Way- D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

This book is a compilation of five sermons preached by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones at Westminster Chapel, London between the years of 1954-1962. He looks at Ephesians 6:1-4 and expounds the Godly way to raise children.

The great part about this book is that it lacks nearly any direct application; instead, Lloyd-Jones presents the theology behind the vocation of parenting. Upon reflection, the application becomes obvious. No legalistic enforcements, complicated instructions, or methodical how-tos.

He focuses on the heart of the matter, which is the human heart. In fact, the natural state of all hearts is an aversion to the things of God. The Psalmist says, “we are born in iniquity and sin” (Psalm 51:5), a concept that Llyod-Jones understands and uses to help parents lovingly and intentionally raise their children.

He covers all topics on parenting by utilizing the Bible as his only source of wisdom. He addresses submissive children, unbelieving parents, discipline and the modern mind, balanced discipline, and Godly upbringing. The ordered thoughts and impassioned presentation of this great preacher grabs the reader and reaches into our own generation with great relevance.

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#4. Why Johnny Can’t Preach- T. David Gordon

David Gordon is not a theologian or a pastor, but a teacher of media ecology. Essentially, he studies media, communication, language, and the history of these fields. Besides his unique perspective, two elements make this book both readable and edifying.

First, he writes from the hospital bed. So, he oozes candor. Next, this book is for the common person in the pew. He expresses all your angst, “many ordained people simply cannot preach,” your confusion, “I would guess that of the sermons I’ve heard in the last twenty-five years, 15 percent had a discernible point,” and your utter disgust, “I suffered through two years of such preaching, as did my wife. Suffered is not too strong a word.”

Ouch! But, he provides a great insight. Johnny can’t preach because Johnny can’t write; Johnny can’t write because Johnny can’t read. Instead of spouting off about the world’s educational systems, he encourages pastors to focus on the craft language and presenting a point.

Moreover, he does all this without questioning anyone’s salvation. He does not doubt many pastors' genuine nature, only their ability. This book is a breath of fresh air for those struggling under poor preaching- an honest and timely assessment to address the decrepit nature of preaching and encourage the church in our time of need.

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#5. George Whitefield: The Life and Times of the Great Evangelist - Arnold A. Dallimore, Vol. 1

A gem of a book! My favorite of the year. With the church inundated with missionary books and sayings- “Ready, Set, Grow”, “All In”, “Be the Church”, etc.- many have burned out in pursuing the great commission and lost in the endless strategies, book studies, and adages. But, Dallimore in his poignant and very readable work on the early life and ministry of George Whitefield soothes are very weary Christian souls.

Here we find a man utterly captured by God. He is not “all in” for God; rather, God is all in him. This produces a prolific and effective ministry based, not on the strategies of men and networks of churches, but upon the power of the word of God passionately, boldly, and clearly preached under the influence of the Holy Spirit.

George Whitefield makes Billy Graham look small time. He was of greater public fame than Benjamin Franklin, and traveled multiple times to the American colonies from his home in England. His success helped launch the ministry of the Wesley brothers and the establishment of Methodism.

But, he is little known within the Christian community for he forewent denominational security and renown for the freedom to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ wherever and whenever.

If you want adventure and the stimulus to simply and clearly present the Gospel with boldness, then this book will encourage you. Whitefield preached despite angry crowds, poor health, and unbearable conditions.

And, God rewarded his labor, allowing him to minister to millions on both sides of the Atlantic, with a melting and supernatural efficiency in conversion. Whether he preached on rickety scaffolding high above crowds numbering over 40,000 or amongst a fleet of naval vessels, during his journey to America, his life will amaze and his faith will inspire.

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#6. The Forgotten Spurgeon- Ian Murray

Simply put, this book shows us the dark lining of a golden-cloaked ministry. Spurgeon was the greatest preacher of his era. Now, know as the “Prince of Preachers”, but a controversy over the inerrancy and sufficiency of the Bible served to deal him a great emotional and spiritual blow, which according to his wife led to his early death.

Spurgeon upheld the veracity of the Scripture. He defended God’s word with great effectiveness, but lost many friends and ministry partners along the way. Yet, he never faltered or diverged from the truth and history asserts the magnitude of his success.

If you are struggling in ministry or even in faith, take a note from Spurgeon and carry on. The Lord sustained him with an immense power and holy fervor, but we also see the real human toll of such work and the inevitable pains of ministry. Spurgeon preached hard and suffered well- a true servant in the Lord’s hands.

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