Essential Reads for Restoration and Renewal

No fluff—just powerful, easy reads for restoring your passion and purpose.

Download our 33 Recommended Books

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Don't Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table by Louie Giglio

Discover how to break free from the chains of negative thinking and experience true freedom from unhealthy thoughts and emotions. The Enemy is constantly seeking to fill your mind with destructive and harmful thoughts; whether of fear, worry, insecurity, anxiety, temptation, envy. It’s all too easy for Satan to manipulate his way into a seat at the table intended for only you and Jesus, and to try making himself at home in your mind. It’s an ongoing battle, but one you can win!

  • Drawing from the Bible, the book gives biblical insights on canceling the lies that will wreck your life.

  • A great read to the right steps to live in Christ.

  • The author elaborates how to embrace your true purpose in life even in challenging circumstances and times.

  • Biblical insights from ending destructive thinking.

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Soul detox by Craig Groeschell

How to overcome the three forces that work against us daily: toxic influences, toxic emotions, and toxic behaviors. With a fresh look at the Word of God, vulnerable honesty, and his trademark humor, bestselling author of Winning the War in Your Mind Craig Groeschel unpacks ways to strengthen your spiritual health and your positive influence on others. A video-based study that elaborates on second hand toxins that we expose ourselves to, bringing them wherever we go.

  • A guide towards fighting soul pollution.

  • The book examines the three toxins that affect our health, faith and our witness to others.

  • Pastor Craig discusses things that can prevent us from having peaceful souls.

  • A guide to clean living in an impure world. 

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Replenish by Lance Witt

This book teaches pastors and leaders how to thrive in their interior life and to remain spiritually healthy. For the many ministry leaders who feel alone, in over their heads, or simply worn out, this book will offer welcome relief and a healthy way forward. The author discusses ways to live well so you can be a great leader. The author discusses seven topics that should help pastors and ministry leaders improve productivity while preventing burnout.

  • The book will help you become a high-performing individual.

  • A resource from a pastor to help other pastors do ministry without losing their soul.

  • A critical  read for every pastor or ministry leader.

  • A book that will remind you what is important in ministry.

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Didn’t See It Coming by Carey Nieuwhof

Founding Pastor of one of North America's most influential churches, Carey Nieuwhof wants to help you avoid and overcome life's seven hardest and most crippling challenges: cynicism, compromise, disconnectedness, irrelevance, pride, burnout, and emptiness.

  • The author discusses the seven challenges pastors are likely to experience.

  • A great read to becoming self-aware.

  • Carey provides clear tools and guidelines for anticipation and avoidance.

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Fresh Air by Chris Hodges

Fresh Air offers insightful and applicable guidelines for people who long to resuscitate their spirit, and make them enthusiastic life-breathers to those around them. A great read to discover and rediscover spiritual growth and purposeful Christian living. 

  • A book that leads leaders on a spiritual journey.

  • Personal experiences backed up with Biblical truth.

  • A thought-provoking read providing a fresh perspective in a spiritually led life.

  • A reminder to breathe God's breath in a stale world.

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Necessary Endings by Dr. Henry Cloud

A book that will encourage you to push on and make necessary tough decisions even when things seem to be okay. Cloud challenges readers to achieve the personal and professional growth they both desire and deserve. Dr. Cloud gives crucial insight on how to make those tough decisions that are standing in the way of a more successful business and, ultimately, a better life.

  • The author discusses specific strategies for ending things well.

  • Get a deep dive into understanding what pruning means.

  • Understand strategies that you can implement in your professional and personal life when something needs to end and you to move forward.

  • Understand when to prune healthy branches that are not the best ones.

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Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire by Jim Cymbala with Dean Merill

Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire shows what the Holy Spirit can do when believers get serious about prayer and the gospel. Read a great testimony of how Pastor Jim Cymbala led his congregation of around 20 people in prayer and God started answering their prayers and now the congregation has grown to more than ten thousand.  God moves in life-changing ways when we set aside our own agendas, take him at his word, and listen for his voice.

  • A call back to the word of God and to prayer.

  • A story of a great church and a great pastor.

  • God moves in life-changing ways and this book reveals what happens when we pray and listen to His voice.



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At Your Best by Carey Nieuwhof

Influential podcast host and thought leader Carey Nieuwhof understands the challenges of constant pressure. After a season of burnout almost took him out, he discovered how to get time, energy, and priorities working in his favor. This approach freed up more than one thousand productive hours a year for him and can do the same for you.

  • Break the pattern of overpromising and never accomplishing enough.

  • Master the art of saying no, without losing friends or influence.

  • Develop a personalized plan to recapture each day so you can break free from the trap of endless to-dos.

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Psalms by Douglas S. O'Donnell

The Knowing the Bible series is a resource designed to help Bible readers better understand and apply God’s Word. With contributions from an array of influential pastors and church leaders, these gospel-centered studies will help Christians see and cherish the message of God’s grace on every page of the Bible. 

  • The author includes reflection questions that help in understanding the Bible further.

  • “Gospel Glimpses” in the book helps the reader understand the gospel of grace.

  • “Whole-Bible Connections”  that show how any passage in the book connects to the Bible’s story of redemption.

  • “Theological Soundings” in the book that identifies historic doctrines are reinforced in the scripture.

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Winning the War in Your Mind by Craig Groeschel

We've all tried to think our way out of bad habits and unhealthy thought patterns, only to find ourselves stuck with an out-of-control mind and off-track daily life. Drawing on the Bible and brain science, Groeschel lays out practical strategies that will free you from the grip of destructive thinking and enable you to live the life of peace that God intends you to live.

  • Learn how your brain works and see how to rewire your “ruts”.

  • While this book is an easy read, you may want to read slowly as there are a lot of nuggets to digest.

  • Powerful quotes are littered throughout the book to help refocus on the key thoughts.

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Mad Church Disease by Anne Marie Miller

Does serving in the church hurt your relationship with Christ? As the daughter of a pastor, Anne saw firsthand the struggles leaders face and the toll it takes on their families. As a church leader, she was hospitalized because stress began wreaking havoc on her body. She was flooded with over a thousand responses from people pouring out their stories of pain.

  • Each chapter ends with powerful interviews from ministry leaders.

  • Has several checklists & interactive questions to keep readers engaged.

  • Author recounts her struggles not only with burnout but also her experience with church hurt.

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Leading on Empty by Wayne Cordeiro

This is the number one book that EVERYONE in ministry should read. The author Wayne Cordeiro found himself paralyzed by burnout and recounts his experience and journey back. Here is why this book is amazing:

  • It is a very easy read with a lot of stories included

  • The author’s recounting of his personal struggle makes it relatable.

  • There is practical yet realistic application that helps readers identify their own struggle and how to take steps towards healing.

  • It hits the nail on the head of the slippery slope ministry can be.

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