As October draws to its close, I wanted to ensure you know about at least some of the most notable books it brought our way. For each, I’ve provided the publisher’s description to give you a sense of what it’s all about. I hope there is something here that’s of interest to you!
Helping Your Kids Know God’s Good Design: 40 Questions and Answers on Sexuality and Gender by Elizabeth Urbanowicz. “In today’s pervasively secular culture, it’s more essential than ever to guide your children toward a biblical worldview on all issues―including the complex topics of sexuality and gender. But as a parent, how do you have these discussions in an informed, age-appropriate, and Christ-centered way? This how-to handbook equips you to talk about sex, gender, and the Bible with children between the ages of 4 and 12 with confidence and nuance. Inside you’ll find biblically grounded answers to some of Christian parents’ most common questions, including: When should I first have the sex talk with my child? How do I explain sexual sin to my child? How do I teach my child to love others without affirming another person’s sin? How do I talk with my child about what the Bible teaches about same-sex relationships? How do I handle the fear that I’ll have these conversations the wrong way? Discover the tools you need to disciple your child with purpose and grace! Helping Your Kids Know God’s Good Design is a thoughtful, timely, and practical resource that will coach you through some of the most foundational conversations you can have with your children.” (Buy it at Amazon)
Strengthened by the Gospel: A Theology of Romans by Brian S. Rosner. “The book of Romans, often regarded as one of the greatest letters ever written, provides a thorough explanation of Christian doctrine. Yet, in explaining Paul’s gospel, Romans is not just for preachers and people who have not yet come to faith. Paul’s purpose in Romans is to strengthen believers with the gospel of God thereby equipping them for every good work, to live holy lives, be protected from evil, and to live as those who belong to the day of Christ’s glorious return. In this volume of the New Testament Theology series, Brian S. Rosner explores the key theology and themes of Romans, including sin, righteousness, justification, judgment, union with Christ, Christian conduct, hope, and more. By examining the letter’s Old Testament connections and the full scope of Paul’s gospel, this volume seeks to strengthen and encourage today’s disciples of Jesus.” (Buy it at Amazon)
The Bible Is for You: A Devotional Journey Through Every Book of the Bible by Raechel Myers & Amanda Bible Williams. “From Genesis to Revelation, Raechel and Amanda have curated a widely accessible and deeply impactful journey through every book of the Bible to help you engage God’s Word right where you are. Each day includes personal stories and reflections from Raechel, Amanda, and other voices in the She Reads Truth community—but first, it starts with Scripture. Carefully selected passages represent each book, along with passages from across Scripture to connect the dots in God’s story of redemption. And in signature She Reads Truth style, every Scripture reading is printed right there on the page! In 66 devotions, you will encounter the unchanging truth of God’s Word, one book of the Bible at a time. If you are new to God’s Word, the Bible is for you. If you have spent years in the stories of Scripture, the Bible is for you. If your heart feels hopeful or heavy or a little bit of both, the Bible is for you. If you are holding this book in your hand, the Bible is for you. You are meant to read it, and you can start today.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)
Come You Weary: Enjoy Christ’s Comfort by Michael Reeves. “Are you weary? Does the Christian life feel like drudgery? What can lift you up, cure your cold and flattened heart, and fill you with deep and lasting joy? The reality is that we will only be as full as the well we drink from, and many of us drink from very shallow wells indeed. This book is an invitation to every thirsty Christian, however weary and flat you are feeling, however weak and unworthy you consider yourself, to come to the waters and drink deeply. You will do this as you contemplate the sight, the vision, that transforms from glory to glory.’ Michael Reeves invites the weary to come drink at the fountain that never runs dry. This book is comfort, balm, and rest to bruised and worn-out souls. I heartily recommend that you come and drink deeply of Christ.’” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)
A Commentary on the Baptist Catechism by Jim Scott Orrick. “In this Commentary on the Baptist Catechism, Jim Scott Orrick explains phrase by phrase the essential Christian teachings that are summarized in the Baptist Catechism. The Baptist Catechism, based on the Westminster Shorter Catechism, was first published in the late 1600s. There are numerous commentaries on the Westminster Shorter Catechism, but other than Benjamin Beddome’s eighteenth-century Scriptural Exposition of the Baptist Catechism, in which he expands the ideas of the Catechism through asking further questions, this is the first commentary written by a Baptist specifically for the Baptist Catechism. Drawing on his many years of teaching the Baptist Catechism, Orrick writes in an easy-to-understand style, and he often uses illustrations to make the doctrines more readily understood to a modern reader.” (Buy it at Amazon)
Meet the Puritans: A Guide to Their Lives and Books, 2nd Edition by Joel Beeke, Randall Pederson, and Fraser Jones. “If your impression of the Puritans comes from grim portraits, high collars, and joyless sermons, Meet the Puritans will surprise you in the best way. Behind those caricatures lies a warm, Christ-centered spiritual tradition shaped by people who loved Scripture, treasured grace, and sought to glorify God in every part of life. The Puritans took life seriously—because they took God seriously. Grace and guilt, love and sacrifice, heaven and hell weren’t abstractions to them; they were urgent realities. Today, when conviction of sin is dismissed as gloom, when earnest faith is pitied, and when diligent obedience is labeled as legalism, we desperately need their witness. If you hunger for depth, for holiness, for real communion with God, open these pages. Let these lives challenge you and these writings nourish you. Take the time to meet the Puritans—you’ll find in them deep truths, godly examples, and an exalted Christ.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)
CSB Connecting Scripture New Testament by G.K. Beale & Benjamin Gladd. “Developed by leading biblical theology scholars, G. K. Beale and Benjamin L. Gladd, the CSB Connecting Scripture New Testament helps readers connect the New Testament to the grand narrative and overarching redemption story of the Bible. This unique and accessible study resource includes a robust cross-reference system that highlights Old Testament quotations, allusions, and parallels within the New Testament and promotes the underlying unity of Scripture. Book introductions, study note commentary, articles, and helpful charts and infographics are also included throughout to further highlight and explain important theological themes and recurring connections between Old and New Testament books.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)
Not Old, Not Young, Not Done: Following Jesus in your 50s and 60s by Christopher Ash. “Our 50s and 60s are two decades with unique opportunities and challenges. Perhaps you are becoming an empty-nester, considering or entering retirement, caring for elderly parents, or welcoming grandchildren. This stage of life is new and different, but the joyful call of following Jesus is the same. In Not Old, Not Young, Not Done, you’ll find encouragement to faithfully follow Jesus through the ups and downs of this season. No matter what the specific circumstances you might find yourself in during the ‘afternoon of life,’ author Christopher Ash speaks truth to the heart. You’ll be invigorated to walk intentionally through this fresh season of fruitfulness. As you thoughtfully consider your circumstances, you’ll be strengthened to do what God calls you to now, and you’ll be preparing your heart and habits for the years to come.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)
What’s God Saying Here?: How to Navigate Awkward, Troubling, and Bizarre Passages We Would Rather Skip by Eric J. Bargerhuff & Matthew D. Kim. “Preachers and teachers are expected in Scripture to teach the whole counsel of God. Yet, in the Bible, God says some rather odd things, and strange things seem to happen. The natural tendency for preachers and teachers alike is to skip over such troubling texts. We tend to cherry pick from passages that we like and conveniently stray from texts or verses that are confrontational or bizarre. Many teachers of the Bible will ask, ‘How do you teach that? Let’s just move on to the next passage or the next verse.’ In What’s God Saying Here? Eric J. Bargerhuff and Matthew D. Kim offer advice on how to handle and communicate 30 of the most confusing verses, passages, sayings, and stories in the Bible. With the authors’ advice and encouragement and help from the Holy Spirit, preachers and teachers will be less fearful about teaching such confusing passages. Providing suggestions for exegeting, illustrating, and applying these difficult passages, this book offers guiding principles for teaching peculiar texts with greater precision and confidence.” (Buy it at Amazon)
A Theology of Matthew’s Gospel: Jesus Immanuel: Messiah of the Kingdom of Heaven, Israel, and the Church by Michael J. Wilkins. “A Theology of Matthew’s Gospel develops the perspective that Matthew wrote his Gospel to identify, defend, and proclaim Jesus Immanuel, ‘God with us,’ as the Davidic Messiah who fulfilled the OT expectations of humanity’s redemption. Matthew’s Gospel establishes Jesus’s identity as the heir to the promises of Israel’s throne through king David, and heir to the promises of blessing to all the nations through the patriarch Abraham (1:1). So, this first Gospel offers evangelistic hope in Jesus’s message of the gospel to Jews, contending that they should turn to Jesus as their long-awaited Messiah (Matt 11:2-6). But, strikingly, Matthew’s Gospel also offers evangelistic hope to Gentiles, emphasizing that salvation through Jesus Messiah is available to all the nations (28:19).” (Buy it at Amazon)
Overcoming the Darkness: Biblical Help for Spiritual Depression by Nate Pickowicz. “Spiritual depression is defined as the prolonged and pervasive numbing, muting, suppressing, or restraining of the joy of the Lord within the life of the Christian. And more and more Christians are besieged with it. Experiencing feelings of doubt, anxiety, or despair can become the norm of our daily lives. Despite our struggles, the Bible gives us numerous exhortations to battle our downcast condition. But how? Sometimes it feels hopeless, as if nothing can pull us from the mire. Overcoming the Darkness speaks to the deep waters of troubled hearts that feel afflicted or alone in their spiritual struggles. Drawing from the life and wisdom of God’s Word, along with personal experience, pastor and teacher Nate Pickowicz helps us administer God’s balm to our spiritual wounds. Jesus Himself invites us to come to Him for help. He is the ultimate cure for our spiritual depression, but it can be hard to know how to access and experience His healing power. Readers explore the causes of spiritual depression, including calamity, longstanding afflictions, persistent melancholy, fear, persistent sin, and more. And they discover a wholistic, practical road to spiritual health. There is hope for tomorrow, and we can live for it today.” (Buy it at Amazon)
Sunday Evenings with Joni: Conversations about Life’s Chaos and Amazing Grace by Ruth Schleppi-Verboom. “A testimony of courage and hope, Joni Eareckson Tada is considered one of the great saints of our age. The story of her injury as a teenager which left her with quadriplegia, along with her inspiring life of meaning and faithfulness, has encouraged and strengthened Christians for years. In this rare and beautiful glimpse of personal friendship and faith, readers share in Joni’s timeless wisdom. Every Sunday, Ruth Schleppi-Verboom has enjoyed the privilege of caring for the physical needs of Joni. And in those sacred moments of caregiving, Joni has been caring for the heart, mind, and soul of her friend. The two friends have had countless personal and spiritual conversations—from everyday chaos of life to the big God questions. And Ruth has been listening. Eager to capture these insights, Ruth began to keep a written record of her conversations with her dear friend. Sunday Evenings with Joni is a collection of the stories and life moments of two friends. Join Ruth and Joni as they talk through doubts, adversities, and the joys of life. Readers will encounter God’s amazing grace in ordinary moments and discover biblical guidance for their lives.” (Buy it at Amazon)
In the Morning You Hear My Voice by Ronnie Martin. “When David writes, “O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice,” we hear the cries of a man coming before the Lord in desperation. The good news is God will hear his voice, but David also knows his prayers must include a season of waiting before he sees the Lord intercede in his life. David’s poetic and poignant prayers give words to the groanings of our own hearts. In the Morning You Hear My Voice captures the unmistakable and awe-worthy presence of God through both the hard seasons and heavy realities of our daily lives. The 365 daily readings detail honest expressions before God, as well as our praise and thanksgiving to Him for never abandoning us, even in our most desperate seasons of waiting. Starting on whatever day of the year a reader begins this devotional, they receive daily encouragement as he or she prays through brief words inspired by the Psalms. We often need words that speak to where we are and affirm where God is as we wait in hope. In the Morning You Hear My Voice provides short prayers for long seasons that are filled with daily reminders of God’s promise to never leave or forsake us.” (Buy it at Amazon)
Paradox People: Learning to Live the Beatitudes by Jonathan Landry Cruse. “Learn how to engage with cultural issues in a deeply countercultural way. When we embrace the paradoxical character preached by Jesus in the Beatitudes, we experience rich and surprising blessing. As Christians strategize over cultural engagement, cultural disengagement, and cultural warfare, we can easily miss a core problem: The trouble isn’t that we’re in the world—it’s that we’re too much like the world. The solution? To pursue, by God’s grace, the paradoxical character preached by Jesus in the Beatitudes. As he explores these foundations for kingdom living, Jonathan Landry Cruse shows how the surprising course of spiritual growth leads to rich blessing in Christ.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)
When It’s Trauma: A Biblical Guide to Understanding Trauma and Walking Faithfully with Sufferers by Darby Strickland. “Every Sunday, men and women scarred by crises and betrayals worship among us. Our Lord not only calls us to help them but equips us to do so. Out of her careful study of Scripture and years of counseling experience, Darby Strickland has written a comprehensive resource to help counselors, church leaders, and laypeople understand the unique wounds of trauma—and then come alongside sufferers with effective, thoughtful care that shows the love of Christ. You’ll learn how to identify and name common wounds of trauma (physical anguish, shame, hypervigilance, reexperienced trauma, avoidance, faith questions) so people feel understood; use gentle discovery questions and reflection prompts to listen well, pace your care, and avoid further injuring sufferers; and shape church communities that lament honestly, protect the vulnerable, and patiently encourage restoration and healing.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)
Your Wilderness Is Not a Waste: God’s Purpose in Suffering and Struggles by Dustin Crowe. “The wilderness can be scary—a place full of peril and desolation. And it can feel meaningless. But when we read the Scriptures, the wilderness is also the place God reveals Himself and cares for the people He loves. Pastor Dustin Crowe explores the biblical theme of the wilderness, helping readers counter the harsh, seemingly hopeless seasons in their lives with hope and courage. The wilderness is often the place where God grows our faith and proves His faithfulness. But to grow, we must be intentional about listening and leaning into His provision. Looking to wilderness stories of the Bible—including Hagar, Moses, David, Eijah, and Jesus—Your Wilderness Is Not a Waste shows who God is and how He’s at work. Readers will find encouragement in His good purposes as they experience God’s sustaining and shaping grace in their lives.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)
The Mission of God: Unlocking the Bible’s Grand Narrative, Second Edition by Christopher J. H. Wright. “Engage with the latest scholarship on the biblical theology of mission and missional hermeneutics with Christopher J. H. Wright’s classic text—now fully revised and updated! Most Christians would agree that the Bible provides a basis for mission. But Christopher Wright boldly maintains that there is a missional basis for the Bible itself. The entire Bible is generated by and is all about God’s mission. In order to understand the Scriptures, we need a missional hermeneutic, an interpretive perspective in sync with the beating heart of its great mission. Wright gives us a new hermeneutical perspective on Scripture through an understanding of: Who God is; what he has called his people to be and do; and how the nations fit into God’s mission. In this revised edition of The Mission of God, Wright extends his classic discussion to consider the ways that the conversation on missional hermeneutics has developed since its original publication. With fully updated citations and additional chapters focused on gospel-centered holistic mission and on the issue of election and supersessionism, this new edition addresses the questions, criticisms, and insights that have emerged during the intervening two decades.”(Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)
The Genuine Jesus and the Counterfeit Christs: New Testament and Apocryphal Gospels by Simon J. Gathercole. “In this concise and engaging book, New Testament scholar Simon Gathercole shows that crucial theological features link Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John together—and also set them apart from other ancient accounts of Christ’s life. Writing in a clear and highly accessible style, Gathercole analyzes the New Testament Gospels alongside some of the earliest and most controversial apocryphal gospels. He shows that the canonical Gospels share key elements of theological content—content that consistently aligns with what the apostles taught about Jesus. Specifically, what distinguishes Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John is that they faithfully represent Jesus’s messiahship, his saving death and resurrection, and his fulfilment of Scripture. This stands in sharp contrast to the apocryphal Gospels, which either represent such teaching incompletely, ignore it, or actively reject it. In short, what separates the canonical Gospels from their noncanonical counterparts covered in this book is that the former are faithful portraits of Christ the savior; the latter are less-than-authentic representations. The Genuine Jesus and the Counterfeit Christs will appeal to everyday readers who want to know more about apocryphal gospels, and to students in biblical studies who are interested in questions of authority and canonicity.” (Buy it at Amazon)
