Leadership Journal's Golden Canon

One of the tasks that no leader can delegate is to make sure he or she continues learning, continues growing spiritually and professionally. That's why Leadership created The Golden Canon, the year's books of most value to church leaders. The winners were selected by a diverse group, our contributing editors, who selected the best in two categories: The Leader's Inner Life and The Leader's Outer Life. We commend this list to you as you continue to develop your leadership, inside and out.

The Leader's Inner life

Best of the Best:
Bonhoeffer
Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy
by Eric Metaxas (Thomas Nelson)
"Like all good Christian biography ought to, this book breathes new life into you as you encounter a powerful example of a life given over to Christ."—David Swanson

Our very short list:
Giving Church Another Chance
Finding New Meaning in Spiritual Practices
by Todd D. Hunter (IVP)
"No matter how messy it can be, the church is central in God's ongoing mission to the world. We work out our salvation in the context of the church. The spiritual practices of the community of faith are essential to our formation."—Mike Lueken

Rescuing Ambition
by Dave Harvey (Crossway)
"I'm grateful for this book that helps us gain a healthy and biblical understanding of how ambition can and cannot fit in a godly life."—Kathryn Callahan-Howell

Whole Life Transformation
Becoming the Change Your Church Needs
by Keith Meyer (IVP)
"Like the author, I suffered my own 'transformation gap,' that chasm between what we know and teach and what we actually live. Most ministers—and Christians—have one too. This is a great guide to identify your gaps and start closing them."—Matt Woodley

The Power of a Whisper
Hearing God and Having the Guts to Respond by Bill Hybels (Zondervan)
"How dare anyone claim to have heard from God? How dare we not when God speaks through Scripture, events, people, and the Holy Spirit? Hybels helps us listen, discern, and hear fresh the power of a Whisper."—Charles Kyker

The Leader's Outer life

Best of the Best:
Sticky Teams
Keeping Your Leadership Team and Staff on the Same Page by Larry Osborne (Zondervan)
"Sharing from his mistakes and his wisdom, Larry Osborne offers a helpful tool for creating a culture of both leadership and unity."—Paul Atwater

our very short list:
Untamed
Reactivating a Missional Form of Discipleship
by Alan Hirsch and Debra Hirsch (Baker)
"Alan and Debra Hirsch are prophets to a church imprisoned by domesticated, consumer values. Untamed is a vision of life with Jesus that goes beyond what other authors have covered."—Skye Jethani

The Strategically Small Church
Intimate, Nimble, Authentic, and Effective
by Brandon O'Brien (Bethany House)
"As pastor of a small church, this was very apropos and gave me clear direction on how to leverage our strengths."—Lee Eclov

Transformational Church
Creating a New Scorecard for Congregations
by Ed Stetzer and Thom Rainer (B&H Books)
"Based on research, the book offers some good indicators and clues for missionality." —Alan Hirsch

Top recent releases:
One Life
Jesus Calls, We Follow
by Scot McKnight (Zondervan)

The Next Christians
The Good News about
the End of Christian America
by Gabe Lyons (Doubleday Religion)