This past summer, Jared and Rachel took a sabbatical from the demands of ministry for an extended time of rest and spiritual renewal. Jared spent one month traveling with his family out west, and another month devoted to study and reflection.

Below is a list of the books Jared read over the course of his sabbatical. The first month he devoted to reading through the Gospel of John and reading The True Vine and Pray Like Monks, Live Like Fools. The focus for this first month was on drawing closer to Jesus and growing a deeper affection for Him. The second month he studied Romans and used The Explicit Gospel and Reading Romans Backwards. For this month, his focus was on the Gospel and refreshing his understanding and appreciation of the saving work of Jesus.

We may not have been able to share in Jared’s adventure out West, or participate in an extended time of rest with him and his family— but thanks to his sabbatical reading list, we can share in some of the insight he gained. We hope this reading list inspires you to create some space for your own study and reflection and that it equips you to draw closer to Jesus. Check it out and maybe add a couple to your own TBR list!

Jared’s Recommended Reading from His Sabbatical

1. The True Vine by Andrew Murray
   If I were to recommend only one book from my sabbatical, this would be it. Written over 100 years ago by a South African pastor, it explores the image of “The Vine and Branches” from Jesus’ teaching in John 15. In the form of short daily devotional thoughts, Murray encourages and inspires readers to live in close connection to Jesus so that we might experience His fullness and bear fruit for His glory. This book offers the key to living each day close to Jesus. 

2. Pray Like Monks, Live Like Fools by Tyler Staton
   During my sabbatical, the Lord impressed on my heart the necessity of increased prayer in my life. It has always been a struggle and prayer has often been relegated to short requests when I feel stress. “Pray Like Monks” uses powerful stories of praying people and practical guidance for daily prayer to bring conversation with God to the center of our lives. Prayer is the most personal way we can interact with God and this book will help you grow in it.

3. The Explicit Gospel by Matt Chandler
   The Gospel is unfamiliar to those outside the church and sometimes too familiar to those within it. During this season of rest, I needed to be reminded of the foundation of our faith—God’s love for us, our desperate need for Him, and God’s abundant provision in Jesus. I think we all need that. I also appreciated how Chandler explores the personal and global impact of the work of Jesus. We are renewed by Jesus to renew the world around us, for the glory of God. 

4. Disobedient God by Albert Tate
   If you have ever felt disappointed and discouraged by what God allows to happen in this world of brokenness and pain, this is a must read for you. The subtitle summarizes—“What to do when God goes off script?” Through personal story and Biblical teaching, Tate illuminates many of the ways we react to disappointment with God and inspires us to choose the one way that leads to the comfort and peace our hurting hearts desire. 

5. Reading Romans Backwards by Scot McKnight
   The book of Romans is often viewed as a book about theology—believing the right things about God. As a New Testament scholar and professor, McKnight explains that the purpose of the book is best seen at the end, where the apostle Paul urges and instructs Jewish and Gentile (non-Jewish) believers to put aside their social, political, economic, and religious differences to live as brothers and sisters in the family of God. Starting there (reading backwards) sheds new light on the Gospel teaching that Romans is best known for. 
   Disclaimer: I very much appreciated the content, but it is a tedious book to read. 

6. Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire by Jim Cymballa
   Back in the 90s, a discouraged and tired pastor in Brooklyn cried out to God to do something fresh and new in the name of Jesus. This book tells the story of God’s answer to that prayer that brought revival through Jim Cymballa and Brooklyn Tabernacle. It is inspiring and convicting to hear stories of ordinary people dramatically experiencing the power of God. Nothing aligns our hearts with God and positions us to be used by Him more than steadfast prayer. If we want God to move in our day, we must humble ourselves and pray. 

7. A Savior Worth Having by E.V. Hill
   I heard EV Hill preach almost 30 years ago when I attended a men’s conference called Promise Keepers with my dad. Hill’s passion for Jesus and ability to preach the Word has stuck with me ever since. This book, which is a collection of excerpts from his sermons, had been sitting unread on my shelf for years. Hill’s skill comes out best in his preaching. Instead of reading the book, I recommend listening to the eulogy he preached at his wife’s funeral (https://youtu.be/c_CDtEERSiE?si=Jwlq6KeKHOGdV0oh).