*Whew*
Long-time-no-blog.
I’m back because in the process of resigning from the church I pastor I’ve left behind a candidate for ordination. He has the natural giftedness for ministry but needs theological training and development. I encouraged the church to pursue his ordination and encourage the next pastor to work with him toward that end. Not knowing how long the process of finding another pastor would take I decided to leave him a reading list to work through. I believe these books will provide a good foundation for entering the ordination process and thought the list might be useful (even if just for discussion) to other people.
Here’s what I left him (with links to purchase the titles if anyone is interested).
General Christianity
What Is the Gospel? by Greg Gilbert (Aids one in thinking intentionally about the Gospel)
The Holiness of God by R.C. Sproul (A great introduction to the God of the Bible)
Ashamed of the Gospel by John Macarthur
Tell the Truth by Will Metzger (Absolutely the best book I’ve ever read on evangelism).
Desiring God by John Piper (This book presents the most compelling vision of the Christian life I’ve encountered).
Nine Marks of a Healthy Church by Mark Dever (A primer on Ecclesiology and the importance of the local church)
Theology
Know the Truth by Bruce Milne (A concise yet thorough introduction to Christian theology).
Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem or Christian Theology by Millard Erickson (Grudem’s is a bit more accessible, Erickson’s is a bit more thorough; take your pick or get both 
)
Total Truth by Nancy Pearcey (this book is probably the thickest in terms of what it asks of you as a reader. However, don’t skip it – other than the Bible it’s the most profitable book I’ve ever read)
Understanding, Teaching, and Preaching the Bible
Grasping God’s Word by J. Scott Duval and J. Daniel Hays (Will help you study the Bible better).
Preaching: How to Preach Biblically by John Macarthur (Will help you preach the Bible better).
Christ Centered Preaching by Bryan Chapell (Will help you preach the Bible better expositorily)
Ministry as Vocation
Brothers We Are Not Professionals by John Piper (I picked this one because I believe Piper has the right perspective on how to view ministry as a minister).
The Reformed Pastor – Richard Baxter (Probably the best book on pastoring ever written, save the Pastoral epistles. Baxter was a Puritan and by “Reformed” he means “Converted”)
Lectures to my Students – Charles Spurgeon (Spurgeon has a great perspective from a different era and you’ll appreciate his saltiness)
Pastoral Issues
Overcoming Sin and Temptation by John Owen (Best thing I’ve read on sin and sanctification)
The Trellis and the Vine by Colin Marshall (Text on how we build ministry models in a way faithful to Scripture)
The Church and the Surprising Offense of God’s Love: Reintroducing the Doctrines of Church Membership and Discipline – Jonathan Leeman (The subtitle says it all)
Worship: The Regulative Principle and the Biblical Principle of Accommodation – By Ernest Reisinger & D. Matthew Allen (An argument for worshiping in a manner consistent with God’s revelation)
Church History in Plain Language by Bruce Shelley (A good primer/introduction to Church History).
Grounded in the Gospel: Building Believers the Old-Fashioned Way – J. I. Packer
Extras
http://www.whitehorseinn.org/ (This is a podcast that’s just chock full of helpful material; comes in 30 minute doses).
http://www.monergism.com/ (Resources galore on virtually any issue)
Great list Jeff.
The only type of books I could think to add would be some biographies of either events that shaped Christendom or people who did. ‘The Forgotten Spurgeon’ by Iain Murray or any of the biographical sketches that John Piper has done.
Agreed! This is a great list. I’ve read most of them, but will have to look into the Metzgar book and the one on the regulative principle of worship.
Also, a hearty AMEN to your recommendation of “Total Truth”. You should also look into “Saving Leonardo”. The scope is more narrow, but her writing is at least as good as in TT.