Books that you may find helpful:

Apostola, Nicholas, Editor. A Letter From Christ to the World: An Exploration of the Role of the Laity in the Church Today. Geneva: World Council of Churches, 1998.

Bennethum, D. Michael. Listen! God Is Calling!: Luther Speaks of Vocation, Faith, and Work. Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, 2003.

Benson, Peter L. and Eklyn, Carolyn H. Effective Christian Education: A National Study of Protestant Congregation. A Summary Report on Faith, Loyalty, and Congregational Life. Minneapolis: Search Institute, 1990.

* Bliese, Richard; Miller, David W.; and Moret, Pamela J. Living Out Our Callings in the Workplace. Minneapolis: Centered Life, 2005.

Bouman, Stephen. Baptized for this Moment: Rediscovering Grace All Around Us. Chicago: ACTA, 2016.

Cobb, John B. Lay Theology. St. Louis: Chalice Press, 1994.

Come, Arnold B. Agents of Reconciliation. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1960.

Crabtree, Davida Foy. The Empowering Church. Herndon, VA: Alban Institute, 1989.Daubert, Dave. Luther’s Priesthood of All Believers: A Simple Model for 21st Century Disciples. Elgin, IL: Day 8 Strategies, 2014.

Daniel, Lillian. Tell It Like It Is: Reclaiming the Practice of Testimony. Herndon, VA: Alban Institute, 2006.

Daubert, Dave, Luther’s Priesthood of Believers: A Simple Model for 21st Century Disciples. Elgin, IL: Day 8 Strategies, 2014.

Diaconate As Ecumenical Opportunity: The Hanover Report of The Anglican-Lutheran International Commission. London: Anglican Communion Publications. 1996.

Diakonia In Context: Transformation, Reconciliation, Empowerment. Geneva: The Lutheran World Federation. 2009.

Dickhart, Judith McWilliams. Church-going Insider or Gospel-carrying Outsider? A different view of congregations. Chicago, IL: Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, 2002. This book, published by the ELCA and available only through their offices, is now out of print. But a pdf download of the manuscript is available here (click to view; right-click to download to your computer). This book details how congregations can become strong as they focus identity and programming on members’ daily ministries.

De Dietrich, Suzanne. The Witnessing Community: The Biblical Record of God’s Purpose. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1958.

Diehl, William E. Christianity and Real Life. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1976.

Diehl, William E. In Search of Faithfulness: Lessons from Christian Community. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1987.

Diehl, William E. Ministry in Daily Life: A Practical Guide for Congregations. Herndon, VA: Alban Institute, 1996.

Diehl, William E. The Monday Connection: A Spirituality of Competence, Affirmation, and Support in the Workplace. New York: HarperCollins, 1991.

DuBois, Dwight L. The Scattering: Imagining a Church that Connects Faith and Life. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2015. See a video preview on YouTube. Owners of a print or digital copy of the book may download and print one copy of the study guide for use in their ministry context.

Everist, Norma. Seventy Images of Grace in the Epistles…That Make All the Difference in Daily Life. Eugene, OR: Cascade, 2015.

Everist, Norma Cook, and Nelvin Vos. Where in the World Are You? Connecting Faith and Daily Life. Herndon, VA: Alban Institute, 1996.

Fanucci, Laura Kelly. To Bless Our Callings: Prayers, Poems, and Hymns to Celebrate Vocation. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2017.

Faivre, Alexandre. The Emergence of the Laity in the Early Church. David Smith, translator. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist, 1984.

Fanucci, Laura Kelly. To Bless Our Callings: Prayers, Poems, and Hymns to Celebrate Vocation. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2017.

Folk, Jerry. Worldly Christians: A Call to Faith, Prayer, and Action. Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1983.

Fortin, Jack. The Centered Life. Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, 2006.

Fox, Matthew. The Reinvention of Work: A New Vision of Livelihood for Our Time. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1994.

* Frerichs, Wendell. More Real Prayers. Minneapolis: Centered Life, 2004.

Goetting, Paul F. Members Are Ministers: The Vocation of All Believers. Eugene, OR: Cascade, 2012.

Grimes, Howard. The Rebirth of the Laity. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1962.

Harkness, Georgia. The Church and Its Laity: The Nature of the Church and the Place of the Layman. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1962.

Haugk, Kenneth C. Christian Caregiving: A Way of Life. Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1984.

Herman, John D. Called to Follow. Mechanicsville, VA: Rambling Star Publishing, 2013.

Herman, John D. The Body of Christ: Christ-Shaped and Spirit-Sent. Mechanicsville, VA: Rambling Star Publishing, 2016.

Howell, James C. Worshipful: Living Sunday Morning All Week. Eugene, OR: Cascade, 2017.

Kise, Jane A.G., Stark, David, and Hirsh, Sandra Krebs. Lifekeys: Discover Who You Are. Minneapolis: Bethany House, 2005.

Kolden, Marc. Christian’s Calling in the World. Minneapolis: Centered Life, 2002.

Kolden, Marc. Luther on Vocation. Word & World 3 (1983): 382-390.

Kraemer, Hendrik. A Theology of the Laity. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1958.

Krueger, David A. Keeping Faith at Work: The Christian in the Workplace. Nashville: Abingdon, 1994.

Kruse, Ed. Baptism Is Making a Difference: A 366 Day Devotional. Bloomington, IN: WestBow Press, 2024.

Kujawa-Holbrook, Sheryl A., and Fredrica Harris Thompsett. Born of Water, Born of Spirit: Supporting the Ministry of the Baptized in Small Congregations. Herndon, VA: Alban, 2010.

Larson, Duane H., Editor. From Word and Sacrament: Renewed Vision for Diaconal Ministry. Chicago: Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. 1999.

The Life of Faith Initiative: A Radical Paradigm Shift for Christian Mission. Theme Issue of Currents in Theology and Mission 46 (January 2019): http://currentsjournal.org/index.php/currents/issue/view/55 Includes several key articles and is available online.

Lose, David J. Preaching at the Crossroads: How the World and Our Preaching Is Changing. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2013.

Luther, Martin. The Freedom of a Christian. Mark D. Tranvik, editor. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2008.

Luther, Martin. Three Treatises. From Luther’s Works [Volumes 31, 26, 44] edited by Helmut T. Lehmann. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1970.

Miller, David W. God at Work: The History and Promise of the Faith at Work Movement. New York: Oxford University Press, 2007.

* Minus, Paul M. Taking Faith to Work: Next Steps for Christian Discipleship. Minneapolis: Centered Life, 2004.

Montover, Nathan. Luther’s Revolution: The Political Dimensions of Martin Luther’s Universal Priesthood. Cambridge, MA: James Clarke & Co, 2012.

Mott, John R. Liberating the Lay Forces of Christianity. New York: Macmillan, 1932.

The Neighbor, Word and World: Theology for Christian Ministry. 37, no.1 (Winter 2017).

Neill, Stephen Charles and Hans-Ruedi Weber, Editors. The Layman in Christian History. Philadelpha: Westminster Press, 1963.

Nessan, Craig L. Beyond Maintenance to Mission: A Theology of the Congregation. 2nd ed. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2010.

Nessan, Craig L.. Shalom Church: The Body of Christ as Ministering Community. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2010.

Ogden, Greg. Unfinished Business: Returning Ministry to the People of God. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2003.

Page, Patricia. All God’s People Are Ministers: Equipping Church Members for Ministry. Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, 1993.

Peck, George, and John S. Hoffman, eds. The Laity in Ministry: The Whole People of God for the Whole World. Valley Forge, PA: Judson, 1984.

Prentiss, Demi and Lowe, Fletcher. Radical Sending: Go to Love and Serve. New York; Morehouse, 2015.

Scharen, Christian. Faith as a Way of Life: A Vision for Pastoral Leadership. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, 2008.

Schuurman, Douglas J. Vocation: Discerning Our Callings in Life. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, 2004.

Snyder, Timothy K. Lived Vocation: Stories of Faith at Work. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2023.

Stevens, R. Paul. Liberating the Laity: Equipping All the Saints for Ministry. Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity, 1985.

Stevens, R. Paul. The Other Six Days: Vocation, Work, and Ministry in Biblical Perspective. Vancouver, British Columbia: Regent College Publishing, 1999.

Taylor, Barbara Brown. An Altar in the World: A Geography of Faith. New York: HarperCollins, 2009.

Tranvik, Mark D. Martin Luther and the Called Life. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2016.

Tucker, Drew. 4D Formation: Exploring Vocation in Community. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2022.

Veith, Gene Edward. God at Work: Your Christian Vocation in All of Life. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2002.

Veith, Gene Edward. Working For Our Neighbor: A Lutheran Primer on Vocation, Economics, and Ordinary Life. Grand Rapids: Christian’s Library Press, 2016.

Volf, Miroslav. Work in the Spirit: Toward a Theology of Work. Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock, 2001.

Warren, Tish Harrison. Liturgy of the Ordinary: Sacred Practices in Everyday Life. Downer’s Grove, IL: IVP Books, 2016.

Waters, Brent. Common Callings and Ordinary Virtues: Christian Ethics for Everyday Living. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2022.

Watson, Markus. Beyond Thingification: Helping Your Church Engage God’s Mission. San Diego: Spiritual Life and Leadership, 2020.

Weber, Hans-Ruedi. Living in the Image of Christ: The Laity in Ministry. Geneva: World Council of Churches, 1986.

Weber, Hans-Ruedi. The Militant Ministry: People and Pastors of the Early Church and Today. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1963.

Weber, Hans-Ruedi. Salty Christians. New York: Seabury Press, 1963.

Wengert, Timothy J. Priesthood, Pastors, Bishops: Public Ministry for the Reformation & Today. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2008.

Wingren, Gustaf. Luther on Vocation. Carl C. Rasmussen, translator. Eugene: Wipf & Stock, 2004.

Worship & Daily Life. Nashville: Discipleship Resources, 1999.

* books marked with an asterisk are likely only available at Select Learning.