We recently sat down with several CCEF faculty members and asked them the following question: “What is one book you are reading or plan to read this year?” Here’s how they answered.

Alasdair Groves

A recent book that stands out would be Zack Eswine’s, The Imperfect Pastor. A few different people recommended it to me and I found the title compelling. I started reading it on the plane after our Emotions conference and kept having to put the book down, look out the window at the clouds, and both repent and worship. It has been refreshing to my soul at an important season when I’m feeling both weary and encouraged. The book has been a timely gift from God bringing conviction and freedom.

Aaron Sironi

One book?! That’s a hard question to answer. I’ll give you two. An interesting read so far this year has been a dated secular book titled, After the Fight: Using Your Disagreements to Build a Stronger Relationship (1993). Although Daniel Wile does not come from a Christian perspective, the way he describes marital conflicts and what goes on inside the heads of spouses AND counselors (as a couple “snaps” into an “adversarial state”), is brilliant, humorous, and captures us in a compassionate and humble way.

Another book that has been enriching is Conflict & Community in Corinth: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary on 1 and 2 Corinthians (1995) by Ben Witherington III. I can find myself struggling to put this book down and trying to justify why I keep turning the pages even beyond the Scriptural passages I’m mining. Please tell me I’m not the only person who reads biblical commentaries for fun!

Ed Welch

If I am eyeing a book that I really wanted to read this year, I would have already read it. I just finished Representing Christ: A Vision for the Priesthood of All Believers. The one odd book that I plan to read is by Mary Higgins Clark. I haven’t decided which one yet—since my daughter has read them all I will rely on her recommendation. I want to see how she pulls you in and keeps you turning one more page.

Read more March ministry updates here.