My Top 10 Favorite Reads of 2018
I created my list of favorite books I read this year using a spreadsheet and rating the books next to each other. Was the book I read better than the one above or below? My determination was subjective. Here are some questions that helped me sort out which book came out on top:
- Was it interesting?
- Did it challenge me?
- Did it engage me?
- How well was it written?
This was a particularly fun year of reading. I read so many good books this year that it was hard to list only ten. I plan to reread many of them. In the coming days, I will publish my runner-ups. I have reviewed more than I have listed. Moreover, I have read more than I have reviewed. I hope you find a book to your liking on this list.
- Preaching and Preachers
by Dr. D. Martyn Lloyd Jones. This was a wonderful book. If you are a pastor, you must read it. If you are an elder, please read it. Dr. Martyn Lloyd Jones left medicine to serve the Lord as a pastor and preacher, and the church is better for it. His insight, over 50 years old, is timeless and timely, pointed and persuasive.
- Practicing the Power: Welcoming the Gifts of the Holy Spirit in Your Life
by Dr. Sam Storms was another powerful book. I consider myself open to the Holy Spirit moving in my life and my church. Dr. Storms went to the Bible and pushed me further along. I appreciated what he said. Again, if you are a church leader, this is a must-read.
- A Call to Spiritual Reformation: Priorities from Paul and His Prayers
by Dr. D. A. Carson. Carson uses Paul's prayers to revolutionize one's prayer life. I think Donald Whitney's book on Praying the Bible is an excellent follow-up to this book. Carson introduces praying the Bible in a fresh way. If you need help in prayer, this is your book. This is your book if you want to revitalize your prayer life or hunger to meet God this year. You won't regret reading it.
- Nine Marks of a Healthy Church
by Dr. Mark Dever. The book captured several areas in which the American church could improve even after the third edition. I love how Mark writes and teaches. He brings up very important topics for pastors, elders, and church leaders to consider (i.e., Expositional Preaching, the Gospel, Evangelism, Membership, and Church Discipline).
- The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration
by Isabel Wilkerson. This book won the NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD WINNER, the LYNTON HISTORY PRIZE WINNER, the HEARTLAND AWARD WINNER, and it was a DAYTON LITERARY PEACE PRIZE FINALIST. I was astounded by what the three histories demonstrated in my own country. Life is full of suffering, and some have experiences that I could never imagine. I would encourage every adult to read this book. It is beautiful, harsh, and eye-opening.
Alexander Hamilton
- Lost in the Middle: MidLife and the Grace of God
by Paul David Tripp. This book was sobering. Where do I find my value? What do I do with disappointment and frustration? How do I handle my body breaking down, finding the meaning of my work, not what I thought it should be, or my family passing away and breaking up? Where is my identity? This book shockingly takes a hard look at life and values. I think if you are between the ages of 40-80, this book is for you, but be prepared for a challenge. It is not one you can take without a degree of self-reflection.
- Gospel Eldership: Equipping a New Generation of Servant Leaders
by Robert Thune. This is a short workbook for elders on their role. It has excellent questions to engage the reader, and I think it would be a fabulous tool for all church leadership. The church leader will explore idols, motivation, and their own hearts as they answer the questions at the end of each chapter.
- The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo
by Tom Reiss. This book looks at the history behind the Count of Monte Cristo, written by Alexander Dumas. It was a page-turning biography taking you from Hispaniola to France, the Alps, Italy, and Africa. The well-sourced book paints France as a progressive nation on one continent and oppressive in their island plantations. It is set in the 17th century, and I think you will enjoy it in the 21st century.
Praying the Bible
by Dr. D. Martyn Lloyd Jones. This was a wonderful book. If you are a pastor, you must read it. If you are an elder, please read it. Dr. Martyn Lloyd Jones left medicine to serve the Lord as a pastor and preacher, and the church is better for it. His insight, over 50 years old, is timeless and timely, pointed and persuasive. 
by Dr. Sam Storms was another powerful book. I consider myself open to the Holy Spirit moving in my life and my church. Dr. Storms went to the Bible and pushed me further along. I appreciated what he said. Again, if you are a church leader, this is a must-read. 
by Dr. D. A. Carson. Carson uses Paul's prayers to revolutionize one's prayer life. I think Donald Whitney's book on Praying the Bible is an excellent follow-up to this book. Carson introduces praying the Bible in a fresh way. If you need help in prayer, this is your book. This is your book if you want to revitalize your prayer life or hunger to meet God this year. You won't regret reading it. 
by Dr. Mark Dever. The book captured several areas in which the American church could improve even after the third edition. I love how Mark writes and teaches. He brings up very important topics for pastors, elders, and church leaders to consider (i.e., Expositional Preaching, the Gospel, Evangelism, Membership, and Church Discipline).
by Isabel Wilkerson. This book won the NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD WINNER, the LYNTON HISTORY PRIZE WINNER, the HEARTLAND AWARD WINNER, and it was a DAYTON LITERARY PEACE PRIZE FINALIST. I was astounded by what the three histories demonstrated in my own country. Life is full of suffering, and some have experiences that I could never imagine. I would encourage every adult to read this book. It is beautiful, harsh, and eye-opening. 
by Paul David Tripp. This book was sobering. Where do I find my value? What do I do with disappointment and frustration? How do I handle my body breaking down, finding the meaning of my work, not what I thought it should be, or my family passing away and breaking up? Where is my identity? This book shockingly takes a hard look at life and values. I think if you are between the ages of 40-80, this book is for you, but be prepared for a challenge. It is not one you can take without a degree of self-reflection.
by Robert Thune. This is a short workbook for elders on their role. It has excellent questions to engage the reader, and I think it would be a fabulous tool for all church leadership. The church leader will explore idols, motivation, and their own hearts as they answer the questions at the end of each chapter. 
by Tom Reiss. This book looks at the history behind the Count of Monte Cristo, written by Alexander Dumas. It was a page-turning biography taking you from Hispaniola to France, the Alps, Italy, and Africa. The well-sourced book paints France as a progressive nation on one continent and oppressive in their island plantations. It is set in the 17th century, and I think you will enjoy it in the 21st century. 
That is it for my list for the year. I plan to publish the books that almost made my list. Looking back, I realize that many of them are for pastors. None of them are novels or classics. Only one of the books was written by a woman. There are so many more books to read. My encouragement to you is to choose wisely.
If you pick one of my suggestions to read, I would love to hear your thoughts.
If you pick one of my suggestions to read, I would love to hear your thoughts.
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