“Read two old books for every new one.”
Today, more than ever, we have an abundance of digital resources, webinars, training videos, and templates for church planting. However, as you might already know, not all resources are created equal. (That’s why Ed Stetzer and I created and lead NewChurches.com together—an online hub for church multiplication.)
Having said that, there really is nothing that replaces a good book! I love what the great theologian J.I. Packer says about books, “Read two old books for every new one.” Or how about this quote from Francis Bacon, “Some books are to be tested, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested.”
While less books on church planting are being published today than in years past, there is still a steady stream of new books coming out on a regular basis.
The purpose of today’s article is not to create some sort of bestseller list or rank some church planting books higher than others, but rather to give you perspective on five new and five old church planting books you should be aware of.
Five Old Church Planting Books
- Moore, Ralph. How to Multiply Your Church: The Most Effective Way to Grow. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2009. Ralph is the authority to write on the multiplication of churches since he’s started over 2000+ in his lifetime. No, he didn’t plant them all himself, but these are churches that have been planted from churches that have been planted from churches, etc. And all 2000+ of them originate to the ministry of this man.
- Allen, Roland. Missionary Methods, St. Paul's or Ours? Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1962. Though not directly related to North American church planting, this is a seminal book on missiology. Allen posits that the key to evangelizing the world is the adoption of “Paul’s strategy.” Paul relied on trained lay leadership as pastors and elders. Allen’s prescriptions can be applied to the North American scene with the development of lay church planting strategies. His focus on the Holy Spirit’s role is also key to fostering church planting movements today.
