A Year (or Two) to Study Timothy Keller

I’ve discovered that if I’m not reading, I’m not learning. And if I’m not learning, I’m not growing. And if I’m not growing, I have no right to be leading.

This was the opening line to an article I wrote a couple years ago on why everyone should be reading multiple books at the same time.

With the number of books I now listen to on Audible (get 2 FREE audiobooks), and the number of podcasts I am subscribed to, the only thing I’d add to that quote (a couple years later) is the word listening.

I’ve discovered that if I’m not reading or listening, I’m not learning.
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As a discipline, I typically read and listen pretty broadly (there are five categories I generally stick to) in addition to my daily Bible reading. However, this year, I wanted to try something different.

I’m going to cut down the volume of reading/listening that I do in other areas to focus on a specific person.

In years past, Lesslie Newbigin has been that guy for me. In the area of missiology and missional life, he is the one who has most informed my thinking and practice. I’m not about to abandon him, but I did want to spend a year (or two) going deep into the theology, thinking, practice, and disciplines of another individual—Timothy Keller.

From a distance, I’ve always respected him. In fact, I’ve led multiple groups through his excellent Reason for God book and small group study. However, a couple months ago, when I met him in person through a leadership event that Ed Stetzer and I convene twice a year (CPLF), I was blown away.

It was like he was on a totally different wavelength.

By the end of our time together, I thought to myself, if I can even just learn a fraction of what this guy knows, I’d be a better leader, pastor, and thinker.

Here are a few things he said during our church planting event on urban ministry:

When you move into a neighborhood and try to make it better, you are a part of gentrifying it.

The last election was a repudiation of cities.

White people don’t realize that the existing rules are white rules.

If you think evangelism is just a presentation, booklet, or done in a set time, then you aren’t urban.

Urban sensibilities are different than suburban sensibilities.

Everyone experiences change as a loss in some shape or form.

More and more so, Christians know the truth in their head, but they’re not allowing it to transform them in their hearts (Rom 12:2).

There’s a lot of wealth out there, and we need more for church planting.

So this year, in 2018, in addition to continuing my discipline of reading/listening broadly, I’m going to try to consume and digest everything Timothy Keller has written, including books I’ve already read. (If I were to also do the same to everything he’s spoken and preached, I’d be doing this for a decade!)

Here’s my list:

Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters
Making Sense of God: An Invitation to the Skeptical
The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God
The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith
The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism
Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God
Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God’s Work
Walking with God through Pain and Suffering
The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness: The Path to True Christian Joy
Jesus the King: Understanding the Life and Death of the Son of God
Center Church: Doing Balanced, Gospel-Centered Ministry in Your City
Generous Justice: How God’s Grace Makes Us Just
Preaching: Communicating Faith in an Age of Skepticism
Hidden Christmas: The Surprising Truth Behind the Birth of Christ

What are your favorites? Are there other articles or books that you could recommend?