I once heard someone quote motivational speaker Charlie “Tremendous” Jones, who said, “You will be the same person in five years as you are today except for the people you meet and the books you read.” At the time, I didn’t know who this “Charlie” guy was, but the quote intrigued me.

It intrigued me so much that I started researching successful leaders and their mainstay habits. Know what I learned? Leaders are readers, and they surround themselves with other leaders. Pretty much what Mr. Tremendous said.

You can find hundreds of “must-read-in-your-lifetime” lists. Amazon has a top 100 books list on dozens of topics. I even have my own list of top reads each year. (Comment below if you’d like my 2018 list.)

But it’s not just the number of books that you read. It’s what you do with what you read. Pastor Andy Stanley said, “Accepting the status quo is the equivalent of accepting a death sentence.” Reading, however, challenges your status quo. What does that have to do with disciple-making? If you want to change your status quo in disciple-making — or any other area of life — start reading. 

Here are five books that challenged my status quo in making disciples and bringing God’s love to life.

Underground Church by Brian Sanders
Challenge your status quo on church structure

The Coffeehouse Gospel by Matthew Paul Turner
Challenge your status quo on disciple-making

Seven Men and the Secret of Their Greatness by Eric Metaxas
Challenge your status quo on leadership

The Principle of the Path by Andy Stanley
Challenge your status quo on decision-making

The Insanity of God by Nik Ripken
Challenge your status quo about unreached peoples

What are some books that have challenged your disciple-making status quo? Share your recommendations below.

Mark Silvers served with Crossworld in the Philippines for 10 years and joined the home office staff as Director of Mobilization in 2009. Mark’s driving passion is the goal of reaching the 2.9 billion people in the world today with no access to the gospel.