Books on Topics Related to Christian Education and Formation
General
Children
Youth and Adult
Cross-cultural
Christian Higher Education
Christian Education and Faith Formation in Church
Jesus as Teacher
Children
Youth and Adult
Cross-cultural
Christian Higher Education
Christian Education and Faith Formation in Church
Jesus as Teacher
General
- Karen B. Tye, Basics of Christian Education (Atlanta, GA: Chalice Press, 2000).
- Parker Palmer, The Courage to Teach (Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 1998/2007).
- Marlene D. LeFever, Creative Teaching Methods, 2nd Edition (Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook Publishing, 2004).
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Children
- 2008. Allen, Holly Catterton (ed.) Nurturing Children’s Spirituality: Christian Perspectives and Best Practices (Cascade).
- 2008. Moore, Walker. Rites of Passage Parenting: Four Essential Experiences to Equip Young Kids for Life (Nelson).
- 2007. Marty, Martin E. The Mystery of the Child (William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company).
- 2005. Greene, Sheila (editor). Researching Children’s Experience (Sage Publications)
- 2005. May, Scottie, Beth Posterski, Catherine Stonehouse and Linda Cannell. Children Matter: Celebrating Their Place in the Church, Family, and Community (William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company)
- 2005. Mercer, Joyce Ann. Welcoming Children: A Practical Theology of Childhood (Chalice Press).
- 2004. Beckwith, Ivy. Postmodern Children’s Ministry (Zondervan/Youth Specialties)
- 2004. Krych, Margaret A. The Ministry of Children’s Education: Foundations, Contexts and Practices (Fortress Press)
- 2004. Radcliff, Don. (Editor) Children’s Spirituality: Christian Perspectives, Research & Applications (Cascade Books)
- 2004. Yust, Karen Marie. Real Kids Real Faith: Practices for Nurturing Children’s Spiritual Lives (Jossey Bass)
- 2003. Miller-McLemore, Bonnie. Let the Children Come: Reimaging Childhood from a Christian Perspective (Jossey Bass)
- 2002. Keefer, Mikal. Children’s Ministry that Works! Revised edition. (Group Publishing)
- 1998. Coles, Robert. The Moral Intelligence of Children: How to Raise a Moral Child (Plume)
- 1998. Stonehouse, Catherine. Joining Children on the Spiritual Journey (Baker Books).
- 1997. Dawn, Marva V. Is It a Lost Cause?: Having the Heart of God for the Church’s Children (William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company)
- 1991. Berryman, Jerome W. Godly Play: An Imaginative Approach to Religious Education (Harper San Francisco)
- 1990. Coles, Robert. The Spiritual Life of Children (Houghton Mifflin Company)
- 1979. Bushnell, Horace. Christian Nurture. Reprinted from 1861 edition, with introduction by John M. Mulder (Baker Book House)
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Youth and Adult
- 2006. Dean, Kenda Creasy. Practicing Passion: Youth and the Quest for a Passionate Church (Zondervan).
- 2004. LeFever, Marlene. Creative Teaching Methods, 2nd edition (David C. Cook)
- 2003. Graham, Donovan L. Teaching Redemptively: Bringing Grace and Truth into Your Classroom (Purposeful Design)
- 2003. Grahmann, Bob. Transforming Bible Study—Understanding God’s Word Like You’ve Never Read It (Inter-Varsity Press)
- 2002. McKenzie, Leon and R. Michael Harton. The Religious Education of Adults (Smyth & Helwys)
- 2001. Dunn, Rick. Shaping the Spiritual Life of Students: A Guide for Youth Workers, Pastors, Teachers and Campus Ministers (InterVarsity Press).
- 2001. Simmons, Harry R. and Jane Wilson. Soulful Aging: Ministry through the Stages of Adulthood (Smyth & Helwys)
- 1999. Merriam, Sharon B. and Rosemary S. Caffarella. Learning in Adulthood, Second edition. (Jossey Bass)
- 1994. Cranton, Patricia. Understanding and Promoting Transformative Learning (Jossey-Bass).
- 1999. Tisdell, Elizabeth J. Exploring Spirituality in Adult and Higher Education (Jossey Bass).
- 1998. Dean, Kenda Creasy and Ron Foster. The Godbearing Life: The Art of Soul Tending for Youth Ministry (Upper Room).
- 1990. Brookfield, Stephen D. The Skillful Teacher (Jossey-Bass). Inter-generational Learning
- 2008. Nelson, C. Ellis. Growing Up Christian: A Congregational Strategy for Nurturing Disciples (Smyth & Helwys).
- 2008. Martineau, Mariette, Joan Weber and Leif Kehrwald. Intergenerational Faith Formation: Learning the Way We Live (Twenty-third Publications).
- 2008. Vanderwell, Howard (editor). The Church for all Ages (The Alban Institute).
- 2004. DeVries, Mark. Family-based Youth Ministry, Revised Edition (InterVarsity Press).
- 2000. Westerhoff III, John. Will Our Children Have Faith? Revised Edition (Morehouse).
- 1989. Harris, Maria. Fashion Me a People (Westminster/John Knox).
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Cross-cultural
- 2007. Hill, Kenneth H. Religious Education in the African American Tradition: A Comprehensive Introduction (Chalice Press).
- 2004. Conde-Frazier, Elizabeth, S. Steve Kang and Gary A. Parrett (eds.) A Many Colored Kingdom: Multicultural Dynamics for Spiritual Formation (Baker Academic)
- 2004. Van Engen, John (ed.) Educating People of Faith: Exploring the History of Jewish and Christian Communities (Wm. B. Eerdmans).
- 2003. Holtz, Barry. Textual Knowledge: Teaching the Bible in Theory & Practice (Jewish Seminary of America)
- 2003. Antone, Hope S. Religious Education in Context of Plurality and Pluralism (Quezon City, Philippines: New Day Publishers, and Hong Kong Christian Conference of Asia)
- 2003. Lingenfelter, Judith E. and Sherwood G. Lingenfelter. Teaching Cross-culturally: An Incarnational Model for Learning and Teaching (Baker Books)
- 2003. Talvacchia, Kathleen T. Critical Minds and Discerning Hearts: A Spirituality of Multicultural Teaching (Chalice Press)
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Christian Higher Education
- 2008. Bass, Dorothy C. and Craig Dykstra (Editors). For Life Abundant: Practical Theology, Theological Education and Christian Ministry (William B. Eerdmans). If you are looking toward a vocation in the academy, involved in education of a new generation of church pastors and leaders, this is a collection of rich reflections by experienced theological educators and pastors.
- 2004. Palmer, Parker. A Hidden Wholeness: The Journey toward an Undivided Life (Jossey-Bass).
- 2004. Wolterstorff, Nicholas. Educating for Shalom: Essays on Christian Higher Education (Wm. B. Eerdmans).
- 2002. Jones, L. Gregory and Stephanie Paulsell (eds.) The Scope of Our Art: The Vocation of the Theological Teacher (William B. Eerdmans).
- 2002. Wolterstorff, Nicholas P., edited by Gloria Stronks and Clarence W. Joldersma, Educating for Life: Reflections on Christian Teaching and Learning (Baker Academic)
- 2001. Groome, Thomas. Educating for Life: A Spiritual Vision for Every Teacher and Parent. Thomas More Press.
- 1999. Hodgson, Peter C. God’s Wisdom: Toward a Theology of Education (Westminster/John Knox Press)
- 1998/2007. Palmer, Parker J. The Courage to Teach (Jossey-Bass).
- 1991. Christensen, C. Roland, David A. Garvin and Ann Sweet. Education for Judgment: The Artistry of Discussion Leadership (Harvard Business School Press).
- 1988. Farley, Edward. The Fragility of Knowledge: Theological Education in the Church and the University (Fortress Press).
- 1984. Kolb, David. Experiential Learning: Experience as the Source of Learning and Development (Prentice-Hall).
- 1982. Adler, Mortimer J. The Paideia Proposal: An Educational Manifesto (Macmillan Publishing Company).
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Christian Education & Faith Formation in Church
- 2009. Carkuff Williams, Cassandra D. Learning the Way: Reclaiming Wisdom from the Earliest Christian Communities (Alban Institute). An interesting look into how the church has formed disciples from its earliest days and what we can learn.
- 2009. Parrett, Gary A. and S. Steve Kang. Teaching the Faith, Forming the Faithful (IVP Academic).
- 2008. Chester, Tim and Steve Timmis. Total Church: A Radical Reshaping around Gospel and Community (Crossway Books). These pastors focus on three critical themes in their church-planting: gospel, mission and community, with many dynamic educational principles. One of the best books I have read on contemporary critique of church.
- 2006. Yust, Karen Marie and E. Byron Anderson. Taught by God: Teaching and Spiritual Formation (Chalice Press).
- 2005. Osmer, Richard. The Teaching Ministry of Congregations (Westminster/John Knox Press)
- 2005. Robinson, Anthony B. What’s Theology got to do with It?: Convictions, Vitality and the Church (Alban Institute). Though not a book on CE as such, it has a brilliant chapter on education in the church from a pastoral perspective. Anything by Robinson on pastoral ministry is rich and insightful reading. He was for many years a pastor in the United Church of Christ in Seattle, and now is a consultant to church renewal. His website is a rich resource for pastors (www.anthonybrobinson.com).
- 2004. Burgess, Harold W. The Role of Teaching in Sustaining the Church (Bristol House, Ltd.)
- 2004. Murphy, Debra Dean. Teaching that Transforms: Worship as the Heart of Christian Education (Brazos Press).
- 2003. Bracke, John M. and Karen B. Tye. Teaching the Bible in the Church (Chalice Press).
- 2003. Farley, Edward. Practicing Gospel: Unconventional Thoughts on the Church’s Ministry (Westminster/John Knox Press). Again, not a book on CE, but it has a whole section on CE and pastoral care. Farley is a theologian with the church at heart.
- 2002/1994. Copenhaver, Martin B. To Begin at the Beginning: An Introduction to the Christian Faith, Revised and Expanded (The Pilgrim Press) Copenhaver seeks to bring us back to the catechetical model of faith formation in the early church.
- 2002. Halverson, Delia. Teaching & Celebrating the Christian Seasons: A Guide for Pastors, Teachers, and Worship Leaders (Chalice Press).
- 2002. Willimon, William H. Pastor: The Theology and Practice of Ordained Ministry (Abingdon Press). See especially chapter 8, “The Pastor as Teacher: Christian Formation.”
- 2001. Anthony, Michael J. Introducing Christian Education: Foundations for the 21st. Century (Baker
- 2001. Burgess, Harold. Models of Religious Education: Theory and Practice in Historical and Contemporary Perspective (Evangel Publishing House)
- 2000. Karen B. Tye. Basics of Christian Education (Chalice Press)
- 1998. Dykstra, Craig. Growing in the Life of Faith: Education and Christian Practices (Geneva Press). Dykstra taught CE at Princeton Seminary for many years before becoming VP Religion at The Lilly Endowment, an active charity that supports the education, religion and social development in US. A very helpful discussion of the Christian practices in Christian education and faith formation in the church.
- 1998. LeBar, Lois E. Education That is Christian (Baker) LeBar occupied the chair of CE at Wheaton College for many years and under her tutelage, many pastors and CE professors have carried her legacy all over the world.
- 1998. Melchert, Charles F. Wise Teaching: Biblical Wisdom and Educational Ministry (Trinity Press International)
- 1997. Bass, Dorothy C. (Editor). Practicing our Faith: A Way of Life for a Searching People (Jossey-Bass). Mainline churches are looking into the traditional practices (disciplines) of the Christian church as an important source of Christian formation in the church.
- 1997. Gangel, Kenneth O. and Howard G. Hendricks, ed. The Christian Educators’s Handbook on Teaching (Baker)
- 1997. Keely, Barbara Anne. Faith of Our Foremothers: Women Changing Religious Education (Westminster/John Knox Press).
- 1997. Seymour, Jack L. Mapping Christian Education: Approaches to Congregational Learning (Abingdon Press) A thoughtful presentation of what CE is, and a helpful overview of the common approaches in the church.
- 1992. Gregory, John Milton. The Seven Laws of Teaching, Revised ed., 32nd. Printing (Baker Book House)
- 1991. Williamson, Clark M. and Ronald J. Allen, The Teaching Minister (Westminster/John Knox Press) A clear and concise call for pastors to fulfill their major role as educational leaders for the congregation and a rich biblical theology for this responsibility. One of the best books I have read on pastor as teacher in the church.
- 1998. Anthony, Michael J. ed. Foundations of Ministry: An Introduction to Christian Education for a New Generation (Baker).
- 1990. Osmer, Richard Robert. A Teachable Spirit: Recovering the Teaching Office in the Church (Westminster/John Knox Press).
- 1988. Farley, Edward. The Fragility of Knowledge: Theological Education in the Church and the University (Fortress Press).
- 1985. LeFever, Marlene. Creative Teaching Methods: Be an Effective Christian Teacher (David C. Cook).
- 1980/1999. Groome, Thomas. Christian Religious Education: Sharing our Story and Vision (HarperSanFrancisco/Jossey-Bass). This is considered a “classic” by many, both in mainline Protestant and Roman Catholic schools.
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Jesus as Teacher
- Nicholas Burbules, "Jesus as a Teacher," is a reflection on his teaching style for moral education. See website: http://faculty.ed.uiuc.edu/burbules/papers/jesus.htm (on faculty at U of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign).
- 2000. La Verne Tolbert, Teaching Like Jesus: A Practical Guide to CE in Your Church (Zondervan).
- 1998. Horne, Herman H. Jesus the Teacher: Examining His Expertise in Education. Revised and updated by Angus M. Gunn (Kregel).
- 1994. Robert H. Stein, The Method and Message of Jesus' Teachings (Westminster/John Knox Press).
- 1990, reprinted 1991/1995/1998. Pheme Perkins, Jesus as Teacher (Cambridge University Press).
- 1982. Grassi, Joseph A. Teaching the Way: Jesus, the Early Church, and Today. University Press of America. Nonformal Education/Social Justice
- 2009. Preskill, Stephen and Stephen D. Brookfield. Learning as a Way of Leading: Lessons from the Struggle for Social Justice (Jossey-Bass).
- 1990. Freire, Paulo. Pedagogy of the Oppressed. Thirty Second Printing. (Continuum) 1970. Illich, Ivan. Deschooling Society (Harper & Row).
- 1963/1938. Dewey, John. Experience and Education (Macmillan Publishing Company).
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