Everyone seems to be doing it right now, so I'll give my top ten list. I won't include books that I've read for seminary classes, though the list would likely be more interesting but less accessible if I did. These are books I've actually read this year, so some might not necessarily have been published in 2009. That being said, here they are in no particular order:
He Is Not Silent: Preaching in a Postmodern World by R. Albert Mohler (Moody, Sept. 2008). This is a nice treatment of preaching from a seminary president and national talk-radio personality. The thesis of the book is that the postmodern world has lost its passion and commitment to preaching. Preaching is now seen as something supplemental to instead of instrumental to the growth of Christians. Mohler helps lay the groundwork for how and why we need to recapture the glory of the preached word. I would recommend this title to anyone (not including just preachers) who care for and are interested in the place of preaching in contemporary worship.
Survivor's Guide to Theology by M. James Sawyer (Zondervan, 2002). This book is one of the more accessible treatments of theology around (just slightly less accessible than Roger Olson's The Story of Christian Theology, which I also recommend). When I originally purchased it I thought it would be handy reference book that I would occasionally access. That being said, I read it from cover to cover. It's pretty good! If you need an introductory, handy, accessible, and readable book on theology, I recommend this one. That being said, there's nothing better than reading the primary literature when it comes to theology. I'm into Aquinas right now. Contrary to popular opinion when he was young, Aquinas was no dumb ox.
The Three Tasks on Leadership: Worldly Wisdom for Pastoral Leaders edited by Eric Jacobsen (Eerdmans, 2009). This is an edited volume written primarily by faculty at Fuller Seminary. They critically engage with the business/leadership wisdom of Max de Pree. The thesis of the book (collectively) is that very little of what passes for business wisdom being absorbed by church ministry staffs has been theologically scrutinized for its spiritual value. In other words, what has the corporate boardroom to do with the Church? [To paraphrase Tertullian]. Good question. I found the essays challenging and thoughtful, which is why I recommend the book. I have a review of it appearing in the January 2010 edition of the Christian Chronicle.
The End of the Law: Mosaic Covenant in Pauline Theology by Jason Meyer (B&H Academic, 2009). How did Paul understand the relation of the Mosaic and the New Covenants? Was it that the New simply replaced the Old (thus rendering it 'obsolete') or was the relationship in Paul's view more about completion and fulfillment? The strength of this title is that Meyer surveys the various views (fairly in my opinion) and gives an expansive and yet concise (boy is that oxymoronic...) treatment of a perennially confusing and interesting topic.
Baptism in the Early Church: History, Theology, and Liturgy in the First Five Centuries by Everett Ferguson (Eerdmans, 2009). The new, best treatment on baptism out there, by a respected and thoughtful scholar in the Stone-Campbell movement...all wrapped preciously in a heavily-footnoted 912 pages. Nuff' said...now go get it'!
The Lost History of Christianity: The Thousand-Year Golden Age of the Church in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia--and How It Died by Philip Jenkins (HarperOne, 2008). Rarely does a book of history really blow me away with an account of knowledge of which I was totally unaware. This book, however, proves the exception. The title is essentially an historical treatment of the Christian Church in the East...at least...the parts that didn't survive. The book treats primarily the decline of Christianity on the Asian and African continents. Once upon a time, when the church was mired in Europe, it thrived in these places. Go read the book and "see" for yourself.
Love is an Orientation: Elevating the Conversation with the Gay Community by Andrew Marin (IVP, 2009). This is the most helpful book I've read on how to converse with the gay community. The church has not always done this well (what an understatement) and I think this book really lights the way to a better dialog. Highly recommended.
Guyland: The Perilous World Where Boys Become Men by Michael Kimmel (Harper, 2009). I reviewed this book earlier in the year. I had an epiphany that lasted for several weeks after reading it. There are several good books out there that describe the dangerous and decrepit world our young men are growing up in, and this is one of the best. If you have any connection to young men today (that means all of you)---read this book!
Facing Our Failure: The Fellowship Dilemma in Conservative Churches of Christ by Todd Deaver (Self-published, 2009). This is a special and very important book, and I'm proud to include it in the top ten. Bobby Valentine reviewed it here; so did Jay Guin in a series. As Bobby notes, what Deaver has done is expose the "slippery slope of the traditional hermeneutic in the Churches of Christ. If we actually practiced what we preached, where would the division stop?" I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in where the Churches of Christ are going in the 21st century, because I think Todd has exposed one the great problems plaguing our fellowship. Thanks Todd!
Fasting by Scot McKnight (Thomas Nelson, 2009). This is a cool little book, and one of the best I've read on the subject of fasting. If you need one book on the topic, I'd recommend this one!
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