It’s true that leaders are readers. Or at least they should be.

Books are vital to learning and growth. While today’s pastors tend to focus on leadership material, we should be careful not to neglect books on history and theology.

After all, history provides perspective. Theology expands our knowledge of God.

For a more well-rounded reading list, consider adding the following titles to your library.

History

Pentecostals recognize the value of history. We trace our modern roots to the early 20th century, when God poured out His Spirit on believers. Remembering what God did then strengthens our faith today.

Zooming out broadly, the most comprehensive history of Pentecostalism is The Holiness-Pentecostal Tradition by Vinson Synan.

Synan explores the Movement’s origins, the development of various denominations, and relevant cultural and theological issues.

Zooming in, perhaps the most important story is that of Azusa, as captured in The Azusa Street Mission and Revival by Cecil M. Robeck Jr.

Robeck shares the inspiring story of William J. Seymour and the revival he famously led. The Azusa Street Revival played a crucial role in spreading the Pentecostal message worldwide. The diverse Pentecostalism that emerged reshaped global Christianity.

I also recommend Larry Martin’s biography, William J. Seymour: Pentecostal Trailblazer and Revered Pastor of the Azusa Street Revival.

Of course, the Assemblies of God has its own story within that narrative. The Fellowship has produced multiple popular and academic histories over the past century.

Books like Suddenly, From Heaven by Carl Brumback and The Assemblies of God: A Chapter in the Story of American Pentecostalism, a two-volume history by Edith L. Blumhofer, provide an in-depth look at the AG’s founding and development.

Unfortunately, many of these volumes are outdated or out of print. The most recent history of the AG is People of the Spirit by Gary B. McGee, which was updated in 2014.

My own popular history of the AG, forthcoming in early 2026, seeks to bring the story to a new generation of ministers and church leaders.

From a broader church history perspective, I suggest Introduction to World Christian History by Derek Cooper.

Cooper includes the often-overlooked early history of Christianity as it spread east to places like India and China. He also includes stories of the church in East Africa and across North Africa.

Theology and Doctrine

Since the 1930s, AG ministers have relied on the doctrinal articulations of P.C. Nelson’s Bible Doctrines. William W. Menzies and Stanley M. Horton later created a more academic version by the same title.

Using the AG Statement of Fundamental Truths as a framework, these works give biblical perspectives on the Fellowship’s foundational doctrines.

A few other titles provide a broader look at theology from a Pentecostal perspective.

The first is Pentecostal Theology by Wolfgang Vondey. This book explores theology using the five-fold framework of Jesus as Savior, Sanctifier, Spirit Baptizer, Healer, and Coming King.

Introduction to Theology by Frank D. Macchia considers aspects of systematic theology from a Spirit-filled perspective. Macchia includes helpful chapters about the essentials of Scripture, Christology, the Church, and the Spirit.

Follow the Healer by Stephen Seamands offers a Christ-centered theological template for healing ministry.

Holy Spirit

One of the most recognizable Pentecostal books on pneumatology is Stanley M. Horton’s What the Bible Says About the Holy Spirit. It remains an essential text for understanding the Spirit’s role throughout Scripture.

History provides perspective. Theology expands our knowledge of God.

More recently, The Holy Spirit in the Life of the Discipler, edited by Elly Marroquin, highlights the Spirit’s role in discipleship ministry.

In Christian Peoples of the Spirit, Stanley M. Burgess provides a unique documentary history of the Holy Spirit and His gifts. Burgess includes excerpts on the charismatic aspects of the Spirit from early Church fathers, medieval mystics, and modern figures in history.

A Biblical Theology of the Holy Spirit, edited by Trevor J. Burke and Keith Warrington, is a useful resource. This volume of essays includes pneumatological insights on various books of the Bible by Pentecostal scholars and other notable authors.

A similar book is The Holy Spirit in the New Testament: A Pentecostal Guide by William A. Simmons. Each chapter explores the Spirit’s presence in a book of the Bible, followed by devotional applications to help readers respond to the text.

Bible Study

Growing in Bible knowledge is essential for ministry. In addition to online resources, there are a wide variety of excellent books and commentaries for study and sermon preparation.

A Pentecostal classic is Myer Pearlman’s Through the Bible Book by Book. This series provides a helpful summary of the background and central themes of each biblical book.

For understanding the basic principles of biblical interpretation, few books are more helpful than How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth by Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart. Now in its fourth edition, this guide has helped countless students and ministers learn to interpret Scripture responsibly.

A more recent book by Jacqueline Grey and Paul W. Lewis, Introduction to Biblical Interpretation, offers a Pentecostal perspective on interpreting the Bible, taking into account the historical context, genre, and Holy Spirit’s leading.

Finally, ministers need Bible commentaries. Unfortunately, complete sets are pricey, and one-volume popular commentaries are often limited in depth or overly focused on application.

For a single-volume resource, I recommend The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament by Craig S. Keener. Cultural insights aid understanding of each passage in context so users can teach and preach the New Testament meaningfully.

Ecclesiology

The study of the church, or ecclesiology, is a neglected topic.

There is no shortage of books on how to lead and grow a church. Yet few explore the church’s theology and how that affects our view of ministry, laity, and callings, especially from a Pentecostal perspective.

One author who has helped fill that gap is Terry L. Cross with The People of God’s Presence (about the Church) and Serving the People of God’s Presence (about ministry).

Cross examines how the Church has understood ministry and why creating spaces for God’s presence is its fundamental purpose.

As a Pentecostal, Cross also articulates what sets apart Spirit-empowered church and ministry in terms of leadership, worship, ordinances, callings, and vocations.

Another important work on ecclesiology is Global Christianity by Gina Zurlo. This book shares demographic information on the growth of Global Christianity, including the remarkable expansion of Pentecostalism.

With data, charts, country profiles, and information on diverse Christian movements, Global Christianity provides an overview of what God is doing around the world.

Every ministry leader should indeed be a reader. A collection of quality books will help equip you for a lifetime of learning.

This article appears in the Fall 2025 issue of Influence magazine.