Senior Pastor Gary D. Starbuck

Education

- University of Missouri - Columbia, B.S.
- Moody Bible Institute, Advanced Studies Program
- Dallas Theological Seminary, Th.M.

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Reading List -

I take the preaching of the Word seriously, and so I spend a good amount of time each week studying Scripture. Broad ranging commentaries are useful in providing background material and in exploring the best arguments for proper interpretation of a specific passage.

To provoke fresh theological thinking, I am also generally working through several books that are more topical in nature. Among my favorite authors, I would include:

* C. S. Lewis – Classic writings that ask and answer the bothersome questions we all ask in a refreshing and enjoyable way. (Mere Christianity, God in the Dock) His fictional works are equally challenging and delightful. (The Chronicles of Narnia, The Screwtape Letters)
* John Piper – He gets to the heart of the issue, answering the questions I wish I had thought to ask in the first place. He is unafraid to take on attitudes and activities that the church has generally accepted. (Let the Nations Be Glad
* Ravi Zacharias – A student of culture, his great intellect enhances rather than clouds his ability to communicate truth to those of us who are more intellectually challenged. (A Shattered Visage, Light in the Shadow of Jihad)
* Philip Yancey – A bit more attitude than most that challenges the status quo, he puts into words questions that we sometimes harbor. (Reaching for the Invisible God, What’s So Amazing About Grace).

I can also enjoy good fiction, sometimes to challenge my thinking or just to escape a bit. Randy Alcorn’s books (e.g. Safely Home, Deadline, Dominion) and historical novels by Boede Thoene entertained while engaging my thinking in creative ways. When my children were younger, there was nothing more satisfying than reading aloud to them, whether it was C. S. Lewis, Sigmund Brower, Roger Elmer,

I usually read World Magazine from cover to cover for a Christian perspective on the news, and I like to check U.S. News and World Report or Time to find out what they think is important. I don’t spend a lot of time with the daily newspaper, but I generally scan it for items of interest. I enjoy reading (and occasionally writing) Letters to the Editor, because it helps me identify issues about which people are passionate. As a collector of quotes and illustrations, I am always on the lookout for ways to illustrate truth from current events.

Because of my involvement with Arab World Ministries, I read several books a year on the subject of Islam. I also find books on leadership useful (most recently, books by Aubrey Malphurs, David Lundy, John Maxwell, Andy Stanley, etc.).

Gary