The most challenging/practical/memorable books I read this past year: 

• On the Verge: A Journey Into the Apostolic Future of the Church by Dave Ferguson and Alan Hirsch. Hirsch plays the theorists and Ferguson plays the practicioner. Great look into the changing nature of ministry and disciple-making and how to transition our churches to reach people in today’s shifting cultural sands.
• Barefoot Church: Serving the Least in a Consumer Culture by Brandon Hatmaker. As a leader of a church that’s focusing 90% of our energy outward, this book was a huge encouragement. Great ideas and inspiration for creating a culture of ministry and service.
• Cracking Your Church’s Culture: Seven Keys to Unleashing Vision and Inspiration by Samuel Chand. “Culture – not vision or strategy – is the most powerful factor in any organization.” I’ve learned this the hard way as a leader. Great book on shaping the culture of a church or organization. Here’s my brief review.
• Real-Life Discipleship: Building Churches that Make Disciples by Jim Putman. The real call of Christ is to make disciples and this is one of the most practical tools for how to do it, since Disciples Are Made, Not Born. And get the 12-week Training Manual. If the church is going to be good at something it should be disciple-making. This helps. Here’s an overview.
• Journey’s to Significance: Charting a Leadership Course from the Life of Paul by Neil Cole. An interpretive biography on Paul. Really hoping this is the beginning of a series by Cole.
• Truth that Sticks: How to Communicate Velcro Truth in a Teflon World by Avery Willis and Mark Snowden. Avery Willis’ last book as he passed away earlier this year. About bringing Bible-storying to the North American context. Very compelling book demonstrating the need for the lost art of story telling.

A few in process and that I’m looking forward to reading in 2012:

•  Xealots: Defying the Gravity of Normality by Dave Gibbons.
• Thirty Years that Changed the World: The Book of Acts for Today by Michael Green.
• Missional Communities: The Rise of the Post-Congregational Church by Reggie McNeal.
• Outspoken: Conversations on Church Communication by Tim Schraeder.
• Sacrilege: Finding Life in the Unorthodox Ways of Jesus by Hugh Halter.

What else should I add to my list?