Resources That Hold Under Pressure
These are books I’ve returned to again and again
Recommended for pastors and leaders committed to forming men of substance
Whiskey, Wounds and the Way of Christ
Tough Trials, Honest Faith
by Kent Bailey
Working Book Cover, Book Coming Spring 2026
A true story of how God uses wounds, failure, and endurance to form honest faith.
Written for men tired of polished answers and shallow faith, this book traces how real trials — abuse, loss, hidden wounds, and long obedience — became the training ground where faith was stripped down and rebuilt around Christ.
This is not a recovery story. It’s a formation story.
Foundation Builders
Authors who equip leaders to train men, not just answer questions
Patrick Morley excels in writing books for men, designed for group studies. My own men’s group calls them the practical side of deeper faith.
Pastoring Men—I used this book to build the Men’s Ministry at my own church and have used it as a guide for consulting leaders in multiple other churches. It is a step-by-step plan for leaders who are building or restructuring Men’s Discipleship
The Man in the Mirror—I recommend this book to any group just starting out. It is a fantastic guide for all men to answer, “who am I?” and “what is authentic faith?”
The Christian Man—My men’s group found this book to be an excellent springboard for conversation. It explores how to live out authentic faith in today’s world.
How God Makes Men—As a deeper dive into Scripture, this book gives men permission to get back up again and follow God, the way men in the Bible did it.
A Man’s Guide to Spiritual Disciplines-Patrick Morley avoids the stereotypical man-centered imagery. This book explores the deeper meaning of disciplines like worship, prayer, fasting, small groups, stewardship and service. I found these to much more helpful in deepening faith.
What if Christianity is True?—For personal or one-on-one discipleship, this book addresses deep questions of the heart, not a list of intellectual facts. It is very useful for those men who seem interested but are hesitant to take that step of faith.
Vince Miller excels in writing Bible Studies for men’s groups and small mentoring groups. I enjoy his brevity and depth, with solid biblical clarity.
Sculpting Men—Another excellent book for leaders wanting to build or revamp their ministry to men. Vince Miller addresses both the “why” and the “how to” in biblical foundations, mentorship and practical tools for authentic biblical discipleship. This is not a book with another formula, it is a lens for seeing your men more clearly.
The Blacksmith’s Discipline (Forged Series)—In this series, Miller defines tools of discipleship in a way that truly resonates with men. He does a fantastic job of pointing out why we need Brotherhood, Scripture, Prayer and the like.
30 Virtues That Build a Man—This book shows what I like best about Miller. It is an easy-to-use guide to establish markers of biblical manhood. Men need things straight to the point. Vince Miller delivers.
any of his Bible Studies—Vince has a unique gift, the ability to draw deep meaning from the text without sounding overly intellectual or preachy, he speaks to every man from a position of masculine authenticity.
Steve Sonderman
Mobilizing Men for One-on-One Ministry—I’m drawn to honest “how-to” books. Sonderman does a great job at not only calling us to one-on-one ministry but also giving us a roadmap of how to do it.
Seeing Men Clearly
Books that reshape how leaders understand men, struggle, and faith.
Henry and Richard Blackaby
Experiencing God Workbook-You don’t need the whole book. The workbook stands on its own. I have personally done this study 3 times over the last 25 years. This is the workbook that changed everything for me. Blackaby and son taught me how to change my thinking, from trying to please God with my ideas, to seeing where God is working and joining Him in it. Patrick Morley calls it switching from pursuing the god you want to pursuing the God who is. The Workbook expertly teaches you how to embrace Christ as Lord, not just acknowledge Him as Savior.
David Murrow
Why Men Hate Going to Church—True to the title, this book is not so much a list of complaints as it is a look into the mindset of men and why they feel overlooked in today’s churches. I use this book to open eyes to the unintended messages men see in churches.
Jeff Myers
Unquestioned Answers—I’ve always been one to question answers. This book is a way to get your mind in gear for digging deeper into what Scripture really says, not just what men repeat to other men.
Brant Hansen
The Men We Need—So many books give men a list of actions to maximize their manhood. Hansen’s approach is far more meaningful and attainable. He emphasizes character over actions, and answers questions of faith, godliness and biblical manhood. I use quotes from this book often
Jim Ramos
Dialed In—This does not read like a traditional book, rather it is an excellent reference for spiritual check-ins. Ramos writes 20 short, easy to use chapters to examine and challenge men on 20 different masculine characteristics. They are not achievement or goal-oriented qualifications of manhood, but rather deeper qualities of character and honor that serve the cause of Christ over self. Definitely good for small groups and one-on-one discipleship.