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!
Remember Heaven: Meditations on the World to Come for Life in the Meantime by Matthew McCullough. “What we expect from our future has tremendous power over our experience in the meantime—that’s why the Bible places the hope of heaven at the center of the Christian life. But even if we affirm the reality of our heavenly future, we often struggle to long for heaven, much less to connect the promises of the world to come to the concrete details of life in this world as it is. If and when we think about heaven at all, it’s easy to think of it like an insurance policy that will be there when we need it. But the Bible defines our future hope as an inheritance—a trust fund that is certain, inexhaustible, and freely accessible here and now. In this book, Matthew McCullough offers a series of meditations that model how to draw on the hope of heaven for everyday life in the meantime. Chapters connect specific struggles of life in this world—from dissatisfaction and inadequacy to anxiety, grief, indwelling sin and more—to specific promises of the world to come. Drawing on insights from Christian writers of the past, McCullough shows how the Bible uses the hope of heaven to help us now.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)
Prioritizing Missions in the Church by Aaron Menikoff & Harshit Singh. “What role should the local church play in the mission to spread the gospel to the ends of the earth? Many Christians view missions work as a task for large churches or parachurch ministries. But God commands all believers in churches of all sizes to protect and proclaim his word. Working together patiently and faithfully, we can reach nations with the gospel. In this brief guide, pastors Aaron Menikoff from Atlanta, Georgia, and Harshit Singh from Lucknow, India, share their journeys leading missions-centered churches in two different settings. Through their personal stories, they teach Scripture-led methods for fostering missions-minded congregations. Emphasizing the importance of patient training and church planting—in terms of years, not months—Menikoff and Singh help pastors and staff overcome geographic, cultural, and linguistic barriers to passionately start and strengthen churches around the world.” (Buy it at Amazon)
The Stories of Women: An 8-Week Bible Study by Colleen D. Searcy. “As image-bearers of God’s creativity, compassion, and courage, women offer a unique lens into the nature of the living God. Through the stories of Scripture’s daughters, sisters, mothers, single women, and wives, we are better equipped to see how God engages with women and invites them into his work. This addition to the Meet Me in the Bible series presents a practical 5-step framework for examining stories of women in Scripture. Ideal for personal use and groups at any level, this inductive study helps readers observe and interpret Scripture and apply it to everyday life. Each chapter explores a section of the biblical text, covering stories such as Sarah and Hagar, Elizabeth and Mary, Anna and Tabitha, and more.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)
Body Image: Valuing God’s Good Gift by Andrea Lee. “In this imperfect world, even good gifts—like your body!—come with major challenges. Whether you’re struggling with shame, wrestling with questions about diet and exercise, or simply wondering what it means to live a God-honoring life in a female body, the Bible is filled with beautiful truths to help and encourage you. Andrea Lee writes as one who understands the pain of body-image struggles—and as one who can point you to the deep hope of the gospel. Two-page devotional readings, accompanied by prayers and reflection questions, will help you appreciate God’s amazing design for you. In the 31-Day Devotionals for Teenagers series, adults who care about young people look at what the Bible has to say about the everyday issues you face. Through personal stories and relevant examples, they show that Jesus brings hope for every challenge.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)
Helen Roseveare: A Life in Her Own Words by Helen Roseveare. “All three volumes of Helen Roseveare’s autobiography combined for the first time, with a foreword by John & Noël Piper, and an introduction and afterword by Betsy Childs Howard. Throughout her eight years in training for the mission field and her first twelve years in the Congo, Helen Roseveare had prayed that God would give her a mountain–top experience of his glory and power. God’s answers formed the basis of her best–selling autobiography, Give Me This Mountain. However, after enduring civil war, brutal mistreatment, and having to rebuild work from scratch, and later while caring for her elderly mother, she realised that God’s work is also done in the valleys. The third of her autobiographies, written after her mother passed away, emphasises her faithful, daily obedience, digging ditches as God led and trusting him to fill them with life–giving water in his time. These three books are combined in one volume for the first time giving an overarching view of the amazing ways God used Helen’s life. Includes the books Give me This Mountain, He Gave Us a Valley and Digging Ditches.” (Buy it at Amazon)
The Language of Rivers and Stars: How Nature Speaks of the Glories of God by Seth Lewis. “Experience God and the gift of his creation in a deeper way as you use God’s word to understand what he is saying to us through his world. For many of us, being in the great outdoors surrounded by the beauty of nature helps us to feel peaceful and connected to God. Seth Lewis helps us to experience God and the beauty of creation in an even deeper way by giving us a biblical understanding of what God is saying to us through the world he’s created for us. As we view the plants, the animals, the skies, the earth, the seas and everything else God has created through the lens of his word, we will experience heartfelt joy as we worship him for who he is and what he has made. So take the time to slow down and enjoy the gift of God’s world as you interpret it through the gift of God’s word. These reflections can be used devotionally.” (Buy it at Amazon)
Faith Simplified: What We Believe and Why We Believe It by Aaron Armstrong. “The Christian faith has incredible life-changing power. And yet too many people—Christians included—know too little about it. The more we truly come to know God, his words, and his works, the more our lives become ripe for transformation. With practical teaching and relatable storytelling, Faith Simplified unpacks the faith-defining truths of Christianity and their profound bearing on how you live each day. Addressing the curious, the questioning, and the committed alike, author Aaron Armstrong draws on biblical knowledge and centuries of Christian theology to cast light on the faith’s potential to powerfully affect your life. With abundant insights and engaging discussion questions in every chapter, Faith Simplified will inspire both individuals and groups to embrace faith in fresh, compelling ways. This accessible guide will help you take these truths to heart so you can understand and experience the blessings of Christianity at their fullest.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)
Beyond the Back Row: Rediscovering the Beauty of the Local Church for Your Family by Katie Polski. This is “A timely and inspiring call to renew our love and commitment to the local church. In an era where church attendance is declining and many find themselves disconnected from religious communities, Polski offers a compelling vision for why the church matters and how it can transform our lives and the lives of our families. Drawing on her experiences as a pastor’s wife, mother, and active church member, Polski addresses the growing trend of disengagement from church life with empathy and biblical wisdom. She acknowledges the challenges and imperfections of church communities while highlighting the profound beauty and necessity of Christ’s bride.” (Buy it at Amazon)
You Were Never Meant to Do It All: A 40-Day Devotional on the Goodness of Being Human by Kelly Kapic. “Are you exhausted, anxious, and sick of feeling like you should always be doing one more thing? In this 40-day devotional, award-winning author Kelly Kapic helps you embrace the truth that God never intended for you to do it all. Topics include: facing your limits in a world that demands more, more, more; why God’s love isn’t contingent on your behavior; the goodness of your body and the importance of embodied worship; finding beauty in humility, dependence on others, and rest; cultivating gratitude and embracing the rhythms and seasons of life. Each devotion begins with a meaningful quote and ends with reflection questions. Kapic shows that limitations aren’t sinful but rather that God purposefully designed humans to have limits and depend on one another. Rightly appreciated, these good limits promote freedom, joy, growth, and community.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)
How to Lead Your Family: A Guide for Men Wanting to Be More by Joel Beeke. “The Good News? You’d die for your wife and kids. The Bad News? That’s the easy part. Being a godly husband and father isn’t about one big heroic moment–it’s about showing up every day. You need a simple, biblical plan to help you stay faithful in the daily grind of leading your family. This short, practical guide unpacks how Jesus’ ministry should shape our leadership at home. With Christ-centered encouragement and no-nonsense wisdom, Joel Beeke challenges us to step up to God’s calling–while reminding us to rest in the finished work of Christ alone. Straightforward and full of real-world lessons, it sets high standards. But it also gives us the biblical foundation, encouragement, and practical advice we need to pursue those standards. Read it, and prayerfully lift your entire family through steady, loving leadership.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)
AI Shepherds and Electric Sheep: Leading and Teaching in the Age of Artificial Intelligence by Sean O’Callaghan & Paul A. Hoffman. “Since ChatGPT burst into the public consciousness in 2022, AI has thoroughly infiltrated everyday life. Machines can now take on work once thought to be solely the domain of human beings–from writing college essays to composing worship music. How should Christians respond to this brave new technology? In this accessible introduction to AI, Sean O’Callaghan and Paul Hoffman explore its social and ethical impacts for ministry and teaching. The authors shed light on the biblical vision for human flourishing–and on how AI can help or hinder that flourishing. Avoiding both alarmism and uncritical acceptance, O’Callaghan and Hoffman offer resources and practical tools for using AI in our classrooms and congregations. AI can write a generic three-point sermon, but it cannot replace an authentic encounter between humans and the divine. In a time of cultural confusion, O’Callaghan and Hoffman encourage readers to embrace the clarity found in the gospel.” (Buy it at Amazon)
