I was talking to a Pastor friend last week and he told me that he has all but run out of ideas. “The well has dried up and I’m scratching in the dirt for new idea’s for sermons and teaching” he revealed to me. After some frank discussion and a bunch of questions it turned out that my friend had been so focused on his work over the last year that he has neglected to read any new books, biblical commentaries, study guides, etc. He even revealed that because of his work load he has spent less and less time in God’s Word.

After spending four years in a seminary in which six denominations worked together to hone Christian leaders, I personally believe that reading and study is one of the major keys to developing and gleaning new idea’s, thoughts, insights, and revelations. In fact, one of my professors once told me, “If a person, especially a leader/Pastor, only works from a base of what they know it won’t take too long before they exhaust what they know and begin to run out of ideas.” He went on to say, “It’s only by exposing ourselves to other people’s writing that we will be able to let our minds wander and do some serious thinking.”

In any given year I will try and read at least twelve non-fiction books; most years I read way more than that. They’re not all “Christian” books per say, although most are faith-based books that have helped me think through some major issues that affect me as a Christian, Pastor, husband, father, church member/leader, and so on; I try as much as possible to read on a wide range of topics and issues.

For instance, last year I read the biography of an atheist who became a Christian “There is a God: How the World’s Most Notorious Atheist Changed His Mind” by Antony Flew – on the flip side I read the book “An Infidel Manifesto: Why Sincere Believers Lose Faith” by ex-Christian rocker turned atheist Gary Lenaire. I also read books on preaching, church life, missionaries, media, witchcraft, writing, and leadership, all from a faith-based perspective.

I welcome every opportunity to open my mind up to new idea’s and the chance to work through some stuff I have been thinking through, and in no way am I talking about a new age type of “opening my mind.” I simply mean that as a Christian I like to read books and articles that challenge my thinking, all the while inspiring me to grow in my faith and reach out to those around me.

I have since last week spoken with my friend and he has already gone out and bought a whole stack of books which he intends on reading. In fact, in his last message to me he said that he had already read two books on culture/faith and his head was buzzing with new idea’s for teaching and preaching.

As always keeping it Hardcore for Him ↑

Christian St John M.Div, BChM, ACS
January, 2010

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