Daniel Im

Pastor + Author

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A Year (or Two) to Study Timothy Keller

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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:

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

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tim Chan says

    I loved Every Good Endeavor and The Meaning of Marriage. There are very few books that I would read again, but these two would be on that list.

  2. Wes Parker says

    “Prayer” was a hugely helpful book for me and gave me language (eg. “Reformed mysticism”) to express what my heart was feeling and my study was revealing about prayer.

  3. David says

    My favorites have been, generous Justice, reason for God, prodigal god, and the freedom of self forgetfulness.
    He’s one of most humble leaders I’ve noticed, though he’s very smart and capable. I’ve also heard great stories from people who’ve worked with him before and during the start of redeemer.
    My actual favorite read from him was a chapter in a book on different leaderent leases produced by Mac Pier from movement day. Maybe called contrarian leadership?

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