By Brent Lacy

The pastor who stops reading stops growing. And the pastor who stops growing stops leading well.

But most small church pastors, especially bi-vocational ones, do not have hours each day to read. They have 20 minutes in the morning before the kids wake up, or 30 minutes at lunch, or a few pages before bed. The question is not whether to read. It is what to read and how to make it sustainable.

Why Pastors Stop Reading

The most common reasons pastors give for not reading are time, money, and guilt. They feel guilty reading when there are visits to make, sermons to prepare, and meetings to attend. Reading feels self-indulgent when the church has needs.

This is backwards. Reading is not a luxury for pastors. It is part of the job. A pastor who does not read is a pastor who is slowly running out of things to say, ways to think, and resources to draw from. Reading is how you stay sharp.

The Four Categories Every Pastor Should Read

1. Scripture

This is not optional and it is not the same as sermon prep. Read the Bible devotionally, for your own soul, not for what you can use on Sunday. A pastor who only reads Scripture to find sermon material will eventually find that their own faith is running on fumes.

A simple plan: read through the Bible in a year using a reading plan that takes 15-20 minutes per day. The M’Cheyne plan, the Discipleship Journal plan, or the simple chronological plan all work. Pick one and stick with it.

2. Theology

Every pastor should be reading theology. Not necessarily academic theology, though that has its place. But books that help you think more clearly about God, Scripture, and the Christian life. One solid theology book per quarter is a reasonable goal for a busy pastor.

Start with the classics: Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology, J.I. Packer’s Knowing God, or John Stott’s The Cross of Christ. These are not quick reads, but they will shape how you think and preach for years.

3. Pastoral Ministry

Books about how to do the work of ministry. Preaching, counseling, leadership, church health, pastoral care. This category keeps your skills sharp and gives you new tools for the work you are already doing.

Good starting points: Eugene Peterson’s The Contemplative Pastor, Paul Tripp’s Dangerous Calling, or Timothy Keller’s Preaching. Each of these will challenge how you think about pastoral ministry.

4. General Reading

History, biography, literature, science, culture. Pastors who only read ministry books become narrow. The best preachers are people who read widely and bring the whole world into their sermons. Read a biography of a historical figure. Read a novel. Read something about the community you serve.

A Simple Reading System

The goal is not to read as many books as possible. The goal is to read consistently and to actually absorb what you read. Here is a simple system that works for busy pastors.

One book at a time

Finish what you start before you start something new. Pastors who have 12 books going at once finish none of them. Pick one book, read it to the end, then pick the next one.

15 minutes per day minimum

Fifteen minutes per day, every day, is enough to read 12-15 books per year. That is more than most pastors read. The key is consistency, not marathon sessions.

Keep a reading journal

After finishing each book, write one paragraph about what you learned and one sentence about how it will change how you think or minister. This takes five minutes and dramatically increases retention.

Build a small library

You do not need a large library. You need a good one. Fifty well-chosen books are worth more than five hundred random ones. Buy books that you will read more than once. Invest in reference works that you will use for years.

Free and Low-Cost Reading Resources

• Your local library. Most libraries have interlibrary loan programs that can get almost any book. Free.
• Libby app. Free ebooks and audiobooks through your library card. Excellent for audiobooks during commutes.
• Logos Bible Software free tier. Includes a significant library of theological resources at no cost.
• Christian Audio. Regularly offers free audiobook downloads of ministry and theology titles.
• Used books. ThriftBooks and AbeBooks sell used ministry books for $3-5 each.

MinistryPlace has a full library of free resources for small and rural churches. No email required, no subscription, no catch.