While the month of May has already almost fully waned, it has proved to be a good month for Christian book releases. I sorted through the stacks that landed on my desk and arrived at this list of new and notables. In each case, I’ve provided the editorial description to give you a sense of what it’s all about. I hope there’s something here that catches your eye!
Using Authority Well: A Concise Guide for Men by Jonathan Leeman. “Every position of power—in homes, churches, and boardrooms—has the potential to strengthen people or to harm them. Bad leaders abuse their authority or abdicate it. And their actions breed distrust in authority generally. Yet what do godly authority and leadership look like—the kind that causes people to flourish? Many men today have lost their bearings when it comes to leadership. In this condensed version of his book Authority, Jonathan Leeman equips men to take hold of the authority they’ve received and responsibly steward it for the good of others. Exploring the domains of marriage, fatherhood, church, and the workplace, he offers practical, Scripture-based advice for daily life. This accessible guide, perfect for men’s groups, helps readers submit to God and gain biblical wisdom for their most important roles.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)
The Desecration of Man: How the Rejection of God Degrades Our Humanity by Carl Trueman. “As church attendance falls, suicide rates climb, and birth rates plummet, Christian pundits have suggested disenchantment and the loss of tradition are to blame for our spiritual malaise. But what if the problem is both much simpler and much more serious? In The Desecration of Man, Carl Trueman argues that modern man’s crisis of meaning stems from a rejection of a simple fact—that he was made in the image of God. Unmoored from the basic moral fact that secures human dignity, we violently disrespect our own minds and bodies through abortion, pornography, casual sex, gender transitions, and more—and in this disrespect we blaspheme against God himself, with devastating practical and spiritual consequences. With gentle pastoral wisdom, deep insight into church history, and an impressive command of philosophical genealogies, The Desecration of Man speaks to those troubled by the spiritual sickness of our time and points toward consecration to a God who is alive and loving as a solution. The Early Church triumphed over Rome because it offered life in place of death. It is time for modern Christians to offer the same kind of vision.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)
Free to Weep: Finding the Courage to Grieve and Embracing the God Who Heals by Brittany Lee Allen. “Suffering is good. God is teaching you to be content. At least you don’t have cancer. Have you ever heard—or maybe you’ve said—sentiments like these in the face of suffering? Without being able to put our finger on why, thoughts like these can leave us feeling confused, lonely, and disoriented. Is God frustrated by our tears and weakness? Does He weep with us or is He aloof and uncaring? In Free to Weep, Brittany Allen looks to biblical texts to reveal the God who is “near to the brokenhearted” (Psalm 34:18). In each chapter, Brittany combats and corrects lies and half-truths women (including herself) tend to believe about suffering. What does it look like to suffer well—to grieve life’s losses, big and small? How does God grieve? Looking to the example of Jesus, our Suffering Savior, readers grow in empathy, truth, and grace for themselves and others. God is with you in your pain. When you’re suffering, He invites you to draw near and rest in Him. Join Brittany in discovering the beauty of God’s heart in Free to Weep.” (Buy it at Amazon)
To Live Well: Practical Wisdom for Moving Through Chaotic Times by Alan Noble. “Our lives are shaped by contradictions. Competing voices tell us who to be, what to want, and how to live. The result? A fragmented moral imagination. We’re handed a thousand broken messages and left to cobble together something resembling a life. But instead of clarity, we get exhaustion. Instead of wisdom, we get anxiety. This leaves you asking yourself How can I get through when I feel alone and confused? How can I live well in this broken and chaotic world? In To Live Well, Alan Noble shows you how you can not only endure but flourish in life. Through exploring the seven virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude, temperance, faith, hope, and love, you’ll learn how to choose gracefully, act justly, suffer steadfastly, live moderately, believe soundly, hope resolutely, and love rightly. This book won’t give you a ten-step plan to fix everything. It doesn’t promise clarity overnight. But it will invite you into something deeper: an ancient, time-tested path of habits of heart and mind that shape who we are and how we live.” (Buy it at Amazon)
The Pursuit of Holy Leisure: Enjoying God in Everyday Places by Cara Ray. “Are you longing for a deeper, more joyful relationship with God―one that feels less like a duty and more like a delight? The Pursuit of Holy Leisure: Enjoying God in Everyday Places by Cara Ray is your invitation to experience spiritual rest, renewal, and intimacy with God, no matter your season of life. In this inspiring and practical book, Cara Ray explores the ancient concept of otium sanctum―holy leisure―a mindset that transforms your daily quiet time from a checklist into a soul-nourishing encounter with God. Drawing from biblical wisdom, personal stories, and the lives of saints past and present, Ray guides readers through the hidden, familiar, hard, and fruitful places of life, showing how God meets us in every moment. Each chapter ends with thoughtful reflection questions, making this book perfect for personal study, small groups, or book clubs. If you’re ready to trade striving for rest and rediscover the joy of God’s presence, The Pursuit of Holy Leisure will show you how to lean into the mountain―and never be the same.” (Buy it at Amazon)
The Lord Saves Me: 40 Christ-Centered Family Devotions from the Psalms by Iain Duguid. “Show your children that the Psalms reflect their own experiences—and, more importantly, Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection. Child-friendly translations of select psalms accompany gospel-centered devotional readings and prayers.” Sinclair Ferguson says this: “Wouldn’t it be great if a respected Old Testament scholar who is also a pastor led your family devotions for a month and more? Wouldn’t the children love it if he read his own family-friendly translation of some of the Psalms? And imagine how helpful it would be if he were willing to talk to the whole family for a few minutes and explain what each psalm meant to the Lord Jesus and what it can mean for us. We don’t need to use our imaginations! It’s all here in Dr. Iain Duguid’s The Lord Saves Me. A few minutes a day in these pages is a simple investment that could pay dividends for the rest of your family’s life.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)
Eat, Drink, and Be Merry: A Gospel Call to Bold Enjoyment by Ray Ortlund. “Enjoying the human journey through this world can seem impossible. So much is going wrong in these dark days. And the daily personal demands never let up. Who has the time—much less the freedom of heart—to play, to laugh, to delight? What’s more, those following Christ can also feel duty-bound to live in sacrificial austerity. But God’s strategy for wise living includes bold enjoyment. In fact, any ‘Christianity’ that feels embarrassed about enjoying God’s good gifts dishonors him and leaves Christians with less to give their suffering world. With a pastor’s heart, Ray Ortlund invites readers to embrace God’s strategy for facing reality and living well. Meditating on Ecclesiastes 11:9–10, Ortlund explains how following Christ here in this world is a nuanced mix of both suffering and happiness. Ecclesiastes is a gospel call to accept the suffering and to savor the happiness—and savor it boldly.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)
Conversational Commentaries. Crossway has launched a new series of “conversational commentaries” edited by Lydia Brownback and Megan Hill. Here is the editorial description: “Choosing a Bible commentary can be a daunting prospect. With complex terms and dense exposition, many are tailored to scholarly theologians rather than everyday believers. And for those selecting resources in order to lead a small-group Bible study, speak at a women’s gathering, or simply grow in their knowledge of God’s Word, it can be hard to know where to start.” Here’s how it continues for Ephesians. “With warmth and clarity, Megan Hill makes in-depth Bible study accessible without diminishing the richness of God’s Word. Verse by verse, Hill guides readers through the full ESV text of Ephesians to aid their personal study, group discussion, teaching, and outreach. Ephesians teaches us about how God’s work of redemption makes us alive, why the church is so important, and what it means to live in Christ. Each volume in the Conversational Commentary series includes an engaging introduction, historical and cultural background, key themes, and suggestions for deeper study.” They have launched with volumes on Ephesians and 1 Peter, with more to come later in the year.
Our Hope Is In Help: What Keeps Us from Asking for Help and How We Live by Leaning on God’s Word by Pierce Taylor Hibbs. “In a culture obsessed with self-reliance, Pierce Taylor Hibbs reveals a profound truth: our greatest strength lies not in standing alone, but in learning to lean. Drawing from biblical narratives and personal insights, Our Hope Is in Help exposes autonomy as the dangerous ghost haunting modern life―the stubborn belief that we can ‘go it alone.’ Through the stories of Abraham’s deception, Moses’ rebellion, and David’s tragic fall, Hibbs unveils autonomy’s destructive anatomy: blindness, reductionism, control, mastery, and ultimately, self-idolatry. But this isn’t a book about human failure―it’s about divine rescue. Jesus Christ himself shows us what true strength looks like: complete dependence on the Father. Through his life, death, and resurrection, Christ defeats our autonomous pride and sends the Holy Spirit as our Helper. Now we can discover the joy of asking for help.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)
Raising Gen Alpha: Helping Kids Navigate Everything from Anxiety to AI by Dave Boden. “Gen Alpha is growing up in a world very different from the one their parents did. Born between 2010-2024, this generation faces intense pressure from school, social media, mental health struggles, and the rapid rise of technology. Despite their deep desire to make a difference, parents, educators, and faith leaders often feel overwhelmed by the growing generational divide. How do we bridge the gap to make a connection and ensure these children and teens feel seen, heard, valued, cared for, and safe? Using the acronym ALPHA (Anxious-minded, Leading influencers, Pandemic-impacted, Hyperconnected, and AI-shaped) to explain the challenges and experiences that have shaped them, author Dave Boden equips readers to disciple Gen Alpha with clarity, compassion, and confidence. By understanding the world today’s children are growing up in, we’re better prepared to equip them with the faith and insight they need to thrive.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)
Who Am I and What Am I Doing with My Life? Finding Stability and Purpose in Jesus by Justin N. Poythress. “’Identity crisis’ might be too strong a phrase for what you’re feeling, but it’s close. Life isn’t going how you hoped, and you’re not sure of what to expect anymore. The core of who you are feels unstable, and you probably can’t even pinpoint why. What you’re experiencing is identity pressure. With wit, wisdom and clarity, Justin Poythress helps you make sense of what you’re feeling and offers a biblical path to lasting identity confidence by explaining: How philosophy has impacted the modern understanding of self; Why your identity feels shaky; How the Bible can transform your sense of self; and three principles for living in the identity Jesus gives you. When you build your identity in Christ, you’ll experience clarity, discover your unwavering purpose and move forward with confidence.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)
This Was Never the Plan: Walking with God Through the Heartache of Divorce by Vaneetha Rendall Risner. “Divorce brings a storm of emotions—grief, anger, confusion and shame. Yet while the ache lingers, life goes on. Vaneetha Risner has walked through this pain. In this hopeful and honest book, she draws from Scripture and her own story to offer compassionate wisdom on: Finding emotional clarity and letting go of shame; Trusting God in the uncertainties ahead; Healing relationally, resisting bitterness and finding community; and nurturing hope for the future. She also shares about navigating single parenting, church, dating and the work of rebuilding. Whether you are in the early stages of divorce or beginning to restore your life, this book points to Christ’s faithful presence every step of the way. Helpful ‘check-ins’ throughout invite you to pause, reflect and take hold of God again and again.” (Buy it at Amazon)
New in May
Here is a short list of titles I am looking forward to in May:
- The Letter to the Ephesians: An Exegetical and Theological Commentary by Thomas R. Schreiner. This is about as obvious a “must buy” as you’ll come across, provided you preach or teach Scripture.
- My Story: A Spiritual and Intellectual Autobiography by John C. Lennox. I received an advance copy of this and have been reading it. It has been enjoyable!
- Stand in Awe: How Reverence Transforms Our Worship and Our Lives by Laura Story. It has been a while since I’ve read a book on reverence or awe, so I’d say I’m overdue.
- Battling Unbelief: Defeating Sin with Superior Pleasure by John Piper. This is not exactly an original work, but it should still be of interest to many. The publisher says it offers a “fresh introduction and conclusion paired with distilled application chapters from John Piper’s larger volume, Future Grace.”
