Resources

Books on Topics Related to Christian Education and Formation
 

 

General

 

Children

 

Youth and Adult

 

Cross-cultural

 

Christian Higher Education

 

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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