Should Pastors write books?
- Ken Kalis
- 33 minutes ago
- 5 min read
I don't know a pastor who has written a book.
That's because all the pastors I know know their sheep by name.
Knowing, loving, and feeding them is a full-time job demanding full-time attention.
Preachers who build huge followings in multiple locations are entrepreneurs.
They write books to build their brand because they are marketing executives
Use the comments section to let me know your thoughts on this and thank you for your interest in this blog and the things of the Lord.
.
King Solomon* (1034-975 BC) observed, "of making many books there is no end," Ecclesiastes 12:12. Should pastors be writing them?
An asterisk* after a name means the person is in SPIRITUAL https://www.kenkalis.com/shop-spiritual-livesLIVES.
On the surface, it may seem obvious—many well-known Christian leaders have published books—but when we pause to reflect, two deeper questions immediately arise. What do we mean by pastor? And what do we mean by book?
What Do We Mean by “Pastor”?
The word “pastor” comes from the Latin pastor, meaning “shepherd.” In Scripture, a pastor tends Christ’s flock, feeding them the Word, guiding them in truth, and protecting them from wolves. Their first responsibility is the local church—preaching the gospel, caring for souls, visiting the sick, discipling believers, and equipping the saints for ministry (Acts 6:4).
So when we ask if a pastor should write a book, the answer must never eclipse that primary calling. A pastor who neglects his flock to chase a publishing dream has forsaken his duty. But if writing can extend the ministry of the Word—feeding more sheep, clarifying the gospel, or strengthening the wider church—then writing may be part of faithful shepherding.
What Do We Mean by “Book”?
A “book” today can mean many things:
A devotional for the congregation.
A theological treatise for scholars.
A memoir of God’s work in one’s life.
A practical guide to Christian living.
Even a collection of sermons edited for print.
In this broad sense, a book is an instrument—a tool for teaching. Paul’*s (5-67) letters to the churches, the treatises of the early church fathers, the commentaries of the Reformers, and the devotionals of later pastors all served as written extensions of ministry. The question, then, is not simply whether pastors can write books, but whether their writing serves the same purpose as their preaching: the glory of Christ* (4BC-30AD) and the building up of His people.
When Pastoring Becomes Publishing
The question takes on added weight in the age of the megachurch. I know and love people who attend a church where one pastor ministers to 12,000 people across eight locations. That is a staggering responsibility. Yet it raises a question: can one shepherd really know and tend such a flock, or has the role of “pastor” been stretched into something else?
Many pastors of large churches write books. Some are rich in biblical truth, drawn from years of preaching and pastoral care. But others lean toward self-help, aimed at sales more than shepherding. As one critic put it, “They are not pastors but book-salesmen with a pulpit.” There is truth in that sting.
A pastor’s first calling is not to build a brand, launch a product, or climb a bestseller list. His calling is to preach Christ crucified, feed the sheep, and guard the flock (1 Peter 5:2–3). When a pastor’s book grows out of that calling, it may bless thousands. But when the pulpit becomes a platform to market oneself, the word “pastor” has been emptied of its biblical meaning.
The Temptation of Success
There is also the temptation, once a pastor writes a “hit,” to keep writing for the sake of sales rather than shepherding. We saw this with The Prayer of Jabez or with certain popular books on heaven. A single volume struck a nerve, and suddenly there followed an unending series, offered to what amounted to a captive audience.
Even respected families of faith can fall into this. Billy Graham* (1918-2018) was a faithful evangelist, yet the sheer flood of books produced by his children and grandchildren often repeats the same stories with little spiritual depth. Others chase the market with endless speculative books on the end times—designed more to beguile the foolish than to edify the faithful.
A friend once said, “If Jesus came back today to cleanse the temple as He did in Jerusalem, He would start with the Christian bookstore.” That image is sobering. The Lord who overturned the tables of moneychangers would surely grieve to see His gospel turned into a business plan. The danger is real: to make merchandise of Christ’s name and turn the Word of life into a commodity.
Conclusion: Shepherds, Not Salesmen
So, should pastors write books? Yes—if the books are a faithful extension of their calling as shepherds of God’s flock. No—if the books become a substitute for shepherding, a ladder for personal fame, or a way to bind a congregation into a franchise of products.
Jesus warned of hirelings, who care more for gain than for the sheep (John 10:12–13). He contrasted them with the true shepherd, who lays down His life for the flock (John 10:11). That is the test for every pastor who puts pen to paper: Does this writing reflect the heart of the Good Shepherd, or the ambition of the hireling?
When books flow from faithful preaching, they can bless generations. But when they spring from pride or profit, they clutter shelves and cloud hearts. Pastors are called not to sell, but to serve—not to build an empire, but to exalt Christ.
Two-line summary: Pastors are first shepherds of God’s flock. If their writing grows from faithful ministry to exalt Christ and feed His people, their books are a blessing—but if they are written for profit or pride, they risk making merchandise of the gospel.
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.- St. Paul in 2 Timothy 4:2
*****************************
Preach the Gospel, sound it forth,
Tell of free and full salvation;
Spread the tidings o’er the earth,
Go to every tribe and nation.
Refrain
Spread the joyful tidings
In anthem and story
Jesus hath redeemed us,
Oh, give Him the glory!
Preach the Gospel, full of joy,
While on grace and mercy dwelling;
Heart and soul in full employ,
As the story you are telling.
Refrain
Preach the Gospel, make it clear,
By the blood of Christ remission;
Give the message, make them hear,
This alone is our commission.
Refrain
Preach the Gospel full of love,
Christ’s compassion fully knowing;
Seek the power from above,
While His great compassion showing.
Refrain
Preach the Gospel as if God
Sinners lost through you were seeking;
His salvation through the Word
Speak as if the Lord were speaking.
Refrain
Words: Daniel W. Whittle, 1891