Top 10 Books for Church Leaders in 2026: A Curated Reading List

The Importance of Reading for Leaders

• 🧠 Reading is presented as a crucial discipline for leaders, offering access to long-form thinking that stretches the mind and builds intellectual resilience.
• 💡 In an era of shrinking attention spans, engaging with books helps leaders develop clarity and long-term perspective.

Top 10 Books for 2026

• 🏠 Unstuff Your Life! by Andrew Melon: Focuses on organizing physical and digital environments to improve clarity and focus, with a revised edition addressing modern clutter.
• 💭 Bad Thoughts by Judah Smith and Dr. Les Parrott: A guide for reclaiming the mind and soul, addressing the prevalence of negative thoughts among church leaders.
• 🤖 The Coming Wave by Mustafa Sullyman: Explores the profound impact of technology, particularly artificial intelligence, on society and the church, highlighting potential challenges.
• ✝️ The Problem of Life by Mark Clark: Offers a fresh, scholarly, and engaging approach to apologetics, helping leaders find identity, purpose, and joy in a disenchanted world.
• 🐳 Rediscovering Jonah by Tim Keller: Provides a deep dive into the biblical story of Jonah, offering fresh perspectives on God's mercy and the historical context.
• 💰 The Art of Spending Money by Morgan Hel: Presents a refreshing perspective on contentment and happiness through the lens of financial choices, featuring unique stories and quotes.
• 🌟 Tim Keller on the Christian Life by Matt Smethurst: An in-depth analysis of Tim Keller's preaching and thought life, revealing the transforming power of the gospel.
• 🤝 When Hurting People Come to Church by Shanti Feldhan and Dr. James Cells: Offers practical strategies for local churches to address the mental health crisis and provide pastoral care without becoming overwhelmed.
• ❓ The Art of Asking Better Questions by Jr. Briggs: Emphasizes the critical role of question-asking for leaders, presenting the book as the best resource on the topic.
• 🏆 Winning the War in Your Mind by Craig Gchell: Identified as the most influential book read, it aids in diagnosing and processing stress, leading to a healthier and happier state.

Author's Personal Insights and Resources

• 📖 The author shares two of his best-selling books: Didn’t See it Coming, addressing common leadership challenges like cynicism and burnout, and At Your Best, offering a system for managing time, energy, and priorities to recover from burnout.
• 🎧 Several podcast episodes featuring guests like Judah Smith, Dr. Les Parrott, Mark Clark, and Matt Smethurst are mentioned as relevant resources.
• 🔗 Links to the author's social media, website, and the podcast house where the video was recorded are provided for further connection.