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Leaders are Readers!

What books would help church planters and church planting teams?

Over the years I’ve read a lot of books on Church Planting, Evangelism, Leadership, Discipleship, Missions, Outreach, Church Administration, Church Growth, Spiritual Disciplines, and so much more. I want to recommend these books on church planting:


The Missional Challenge

Top 20

Church Planting Books

  1. Six-Word Lessons to Discover Missional Living (2010) by David DeVries
    Although I wrote this book for every believer to understand how to align with Jesus’ mission, it’s particularly helpful for church planters and church planting teams. Each lesson is bite-sized and leads to necessary actions for starting new churches.
    (And I’m not ashamed to list it first for many reasons)
  2. The Externally Focused Church (2004) by Rick Rusaw and Eric Swanson
    This is an excellent book for shifting focus from the internal needs of members to the external needs of those in the harvest. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

    Read my amazon review here

  3. Cultivating a Life for God (1999) by Neil Cole
    Neil’s simple idea of Life Transformation Groups provide a great way to start the process of making disciples who make disciples.

    Read my amazon review here

  4. The Shaping of Things to Come (2003) by Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch
    This is a great introduction to a missional incarnational approach to spirituality.
  5. The Tangible Kingdom (2008) by Hugh Halter and Matt Smay
    A very practical understanding from first-hand experience of living in authentic missional community.
  6. Organic Church (2005) by Neil Cole
    This is a must read! All about bringing the church closer to lost people.
  7. Planting Missional Churches (2006) by Ed Stetzer
    Emphasis on the need to develop a missional mindset for reaching North America.
  8. The Master Plan of Evangelism (1963/2006) by Robert E. Coleman
    Although the title is about evangelism, this is an excellent study of how Jesus made disciples. Excellent resource for starting a church by making disciples.

    Read my amazon review here

  9. Houses that Change the World (2001) by Wolfgang Simson
    Timely insights for starting a weekly gathering of believers within walking distance of every person in your community and beyond.

    Read my amazon review here

  10. Launch (2007) by Nelson Searcy and Kerrick Thomas
    Addresses many of the systems and steps necessary for launching large!
  11. Starting a New Church (2002) by Ralph Moore
    Great questions to consider when starting a new church from years of experience.
  12. Church Planter (2010) by Darrin Patrick
    Focused on the heart of the man, the message and the mission.
  13. Movements that Change the World (2009) by Steve Addison
    Identifies essential characteristics of missionary movements.

    Read my amazon review here

  14. Lost in America (2001) and Missing in America (2007) by Tom Clegg and Warren Bird
    Both books provide powerful, practical ways to share your faith with those outside the wall of your church.

    Read my amazon review here

  15. An Unstoppable Force (2001) by Erwin McManus
    Great fuel for thought to become a church that cannot be stopped.
  16. Be Fruitful and Multiply (2006) by Bob Logan
    Stories, ideas and check-lists for multiplying churches.
  17. Viral Churches (2010) by Ed Stetzer
    Looking beyond planting churches to starting movements!
  18. Untamed (2010) by Alan Hirsch and Debra Hirsch
    Definitely will lead you to think outside the box about missional discipleship.
  19. Church Multiplication Guide (1993) by George Patterson and Richard Scoggins
    An incredible field-guide for starting churches with a high priority on disciplemaking in obedience to Christ’s command.
  20. Church Planting Landmines (2005) by Tom Nebel and Gary Rohrmayer
    If you want to avoid the mistakes that many church planters make – read this book!

There are certainly more books available to help church planting teams get started. I hope this list gives you a solid place to start.

(And yes, I realize there are actually 21 books listed. You’re blessed!)

Today’s Missional Challenge

Don’t make the same mistakes of others. Learn from those who have gone before you.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”