Create assignments which will teach analytical thinking skills. For example, if you're teaching a course on Christianity and gender roles, have your students read two non-fiction books each week and write a five-page critical review essay on each book which mentions the author's main messages, any strengths and weaknesses of the books, what contributions the books make to this topic and what further research should be done.
Seek books which are relevant to what you're teaching. If you're teaching a course on the current marriage and family patterns among African-American families, talk to colleagues in your department and ask for recommendations for books which could be useful for your class. Write to academic publishers and request sample copies of books that pertain to the course.
Study current trends in the field of sociology. Read sociology-based journals such as Yale Journal of Sociology, Annual Review of Sociology and the American Journal of Sociology and look through articles which focus on topics relating to your research and teaching interests. Copy articles you're considering for your course and then further research the issues contained within those articles.