Christian Shelves

For Christian women feeling stuck and wondering how to move ahead with healing,  Transformed for Life by Dr. Katherine Lanning is a 9-step process based on a biblical foundation that may offer encouragement, especially when covered within discipleship groups. Taking on a biographical tone, the teachings and concepts in this curriculum can be applied to a myriad of circumstances. It's a hope-filled journey that seeks God's care and guidance with support from an occupational therapist. Many thanks to the author for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Content to be aware of : references to alcohol addiction; self-forgiveness; as this book is more of a workbook, some content may come across as repetitive, but this would be mitigated in reading it spaced apart Book Synopsis In a world filled with messages about self-improvement, wellness, and becoming your best self, it can be difficult to know what true healing and transf...

It's apt that I get to read a book about the Reformation during the month of October! In fact, Reading the Reformation by Zachary Purvis offers an even broader appreciation for this anniversary month beyond Reformation Day by highlighting the countless individuals involved in this significant Christian movement. Many thanks to Baker Academic , Brazos Press , and NetGalley for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis During the Reformation, theologians wrote, colleagues annotated, scribes recorded, and printers toiled, bringing Protestant doctrine and practice to life and transforming European society. Demonstrating the benefit of integrating histories of culture and scholarship with historical theology, this book invites readers to view the Reformation and its writings with fresh eyes. Instead of focusing solely on the printing press as an agent of change, Reading the Reformation recalls the forgotten methods o...

Readers looking for a book that asks questions about the origin of the world and its intended culmination will find much to ruminate on in The Echoes of Eden by R.J. Stevens . It is a philosophical and theological treat to think through the Christian worldview in this ordered and sequential analysis that moves from Genesis to Revelation.  Ideal for personal study or group study, there is a devotional component to this book that allows readers to dive into the material more deeply. Many thanks to the author for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Please note that the author of this work has the same name as another author of romance novels, but are two different people. Book Synopsis "Before you were born, the Echoes of Eden were calling your name." In an age where truth feels negotiable, goodness subjective, and purpose self-constructed, we still sense a quiet longing for a world that was once whole and coherent. The...

It can be easy to think that we just need the right ingredients, meals, and diet plans that will suddenly transform our bodies. However, Jesus Ate Carbs by Abbie Frye probes deeper beyond a physical transformation to a spiritual one that invites God into every aspect of our lives. Obviously not limited to carbs (and acknowledging that allergies exist), this book is one that makes us probe a little deeper about why we eat, what needing to eat says about our relationship with our Creator, and how we can eat in alignment with His original design for it. Many thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Content to be aware of : heavy reliance on Ruth Haley Barton; theology around sentence of “God reveres us and is in awe of us ” (pg. 130); contemplative spirituality practices; direct messages from God to the author, such as “God told me that He has me in the ministry of reconciliation” (pg. 180)...

In terms of being one of the best theological books that I've had the honour of reading this year, Persecuted for My Name by S.E. Wang and Timothy Keller is one that I will recommend for any Christian who wants to better understand how to live under persecution. It is timely and timeless, bringing together ascension theology and a theology of persecution into a way of life that makes sense of suffering for believers. Many thanks to Intervarsity Press and NetGalley for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis What can the persecuted church teach us about walking faithfully with Jesus in our broken world? Persecuted for My Name offers insight and guidance from those who have walked the difficult path of faithfulness under severe persecution. Sixth-generation Chinese Christian S. E. Wang and the late Timothy Keller (1950–2023) reflect on the inevitability, challenges, and opportunities of persecution for all Chri...

This is a book that I started back in May for Asian Heritage Month; however, I took my time savouring its content over the spring and summer. Light of the Word by Susan C. Lim is a book that invites scholarship and devotion in the same tome. It demonstrates that history is worth researching and discovering further answers from while compelling us to look beyond the facts and stories to the Author behind all of history. Book Synopsis While Christians generally acknowledge that the Bible is God's Word, many of us lack robust confidence in the reality of its trustworthiness. We may not be sure if we really believe what we read. But the more we understand how Scripture came to be, the more we discover its power and truth. Historian Susan Lim unpacks how the history of the Bible bolsters our faith and anchors us through the changing tides of time. The story of Scripture, while messy and complicated at times, is also the story of how God shepherded his people throughout the centuries i...

I've greatly enjoyed getting to read books that deepen my understanding of the Bible and of the life-changing Gospel, so when I saw  Gospel Stories by Andrew Wilson floating around, I was keen to work my way through it. It's a punchy volume that packs a lot within its pages with easily digestible chapters, making it a wonderful complement to any Bible and devotional reading. Many thanks to  10 of Those  for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis In fifty-six short narratives, Gospel Stories explores the beautiful, triumphant, often heartbreaking and always glorious stories that make up the gospel of God—Gospel Stories. Just as we have one God in three persons, and one church made up of many people, so in Scripture we have one gospel made up of many stories. Inside readers will rediscover the glorious mission of God, freedom from sin, and how the promises of God never fail. Andrew Wilson brings these G...

This is a book that every church can benefit from, regardless of the makeup of their congregation. Models for a Multicultural Church by Kenneth Robert Nehrbass and Eunice Hong is rich with real-life examples from churches all across the United States. Offering a multitude of ideas on how churches can embrace their changing communities, along with an evaluation tool to assess church life, pastors and lay leaders will enjoy hearing of God's incredible work among the nations right at our doorsteps. Many thanks to Baker Academic , Brazos Press , and  NetGalley  for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis Practical Guidance for Understanding and Assessing Your Congregation's Multicultural Posture In a world where conversations about diversity are often met with both hope and skepticism, it can be difficult to know how to lead a church in cross-cultural practices that faithfully reflect the kingdom of God in...

The topic of home organization appeals to me where, in reflecting our orderly God and Creator, it is nice to be in a calming environment. This book takes that sense of physical space and translates it to our emotional space, helping us clear out the debris that may be taking us away from what God wants for us to experience. Emotional Hoarding by Laurie Davies is gentle without diminishing the pain that can accompany such a state of mind, making it a useful primer on a myriad of feelings that can have us staying down. Many thanks to Moody Publishers for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Content to be aware of : references to Brené Brown and Mark Batterson Book Synopsis We could live free, but cleaning house is hard. Emotional baggage is trendy. We might even joke about it. Yet, one of the early English definitions of luggage is anything of more weight than value. Let that sink in. When we collect, stack, and stockpile b...

Books that touch on culture are almost always at the top of my Christian non-fiction reading. False Peace by  Pricelis Perreaux-Dominguez not only provides an ethnocultural lens on what unity can mean, it also speaks to the Christian culture found within churches. Combining a practical book on Christian living with helpful advice on church life, this book is sure to benefit both audiences once it releases on August 25, 2026. Many thanks to  Brazos Press  for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis Too often, what we call "peace" in our churches and communities is really just shallow unity—while below the surface, division is growing. But what if true Christian unity embraces differences instead of erasing them? In False Peace , Pricelis Perreaux-Dominguez helps us recognize shallow approaches to unity that are rooted in colonialism and comfort. Through her pastoral wisdom, you'll learn to reject the su...

I love books that bring further illumination to the culture and context of the Bible, purposefully seeking them out whenever I can. When I saw the subtitle of  Jerusalem Calls by Tammy Priest , I knew that I had to learn more about how the three Jewish feasts of Passover (Pesach), Pentecost (Shavuot), and The Feast of Booths (Sukkot) all point to our Lord Jesus. This book releases on August 4, 2026 and includes a beautiful testimony of God at work in His people's lives. Many thanks to Baker Books for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis A Compelling Memoir About Judaism's Rich Traditions—and an Unexpected Encounter with Jesus Tammy Priest grew up in love with her Jewish heritage and identity. "I embraced it, dug into it, treasured it." Then one day, everything changed. At age 21, she heard God's audible voice speaking impossible yet unmistakable words: Jesus is the Messiah. It was both thril...

If you've been following April Barcalow for some time, you'll be just as excited to know that she has recently released a marriage devotional. Newsletter subscribers can receive a free copy, and you can learn more about the background of For Us: Seeking God's Heart for Marriage on her website. Many thanks to the author for providing a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis All throughout Scripture, when God wants us to understand the close, intimate relationship He longs to have with us, He uses the imagery of marriage. That’s no coincidence. Marriage is an echo of the lasting love we share with Him, a framework to help us understand, and a gift. But good marriage, the kind that reflects Him, doesn’t happen without intention. Without building each piece on the solid foundation of Christ. Without choosing one another, even when it’s hard. This 30-day devotional weaves together Scripture, personal experience, and story threads to seek God’s ...

I'm grateful that I've discovered such beautiful Christian poetry as a result of meeting talented poets online. Virtue of the Most High by Shay McNally  is one such collection that I look forward to revisiting again based on how much it brought me to a place of stillness and peace. Many thanks to the author for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis Virtue of the Most High is a collection of free verse, confessional Christian poetry drawn from real experience and real faith. The poems move through family history, breaking harmful patterns, grief, depression, healing, love, marriage, calling, friendship, repentance, spiritual warfare, prayer, forgiveness, and the long path of discipleship formed by the Spirit through the Word. Christ stands at the center as the Lord who speaks through Scripture and stays with His people. The writing holds to this truth and enters both the struggle and the grace with candid h...

After reading I Choose Love by Chip Ingram , I knew that I had to read his earlier works on other fruits of the Spirit. I Choose Joy is the perfect complement to that book as it puts into practice the things that we encounter in life and how we can respond as believers while operating from a place of joy. Many thanks to Moody Publishers for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis Joy―our lifeline and strength through life’s suffering. C.S. Lewis said, "Joy is the serious business of Heaven.” Too often, however, joy is missing from our lives. When we look to Scripture, we see examples of early Christians thriving even amid hardship and persecution. How do we recapture that deep and stubborn joy? Pastor and author Chip Ingram takes us to God’s Word, helping us shift away from self-centered happiness and toward lasting joy found in God’s goodness. “Choosing joy in the midst of difficulties goes against all our in...

Classical education has always appealed to me in that reasoning and fruitful living that contributes to society are meant to be admirable and achievable goals. Reflecting a world where cardinal virtues are esteemed, I love that The Pursuit of Character by Matthew Arbo arrives at this vision from a Christian perspective, providing a compelling case for why Christians need to recover this framework and way of life. Many thanks to Baker Books for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis What does it mean to live a good life? Know what makes for a good life Pursue character and meaning Recover the virtues that have guided Christians before us In today's fragmented world, we are encouraged to define for ourselves what is good. But this inevitably fails to satisfy. In The Pursuit of Character , Matthew Arbo argues that we can learn how to live a good life by recovering the virtues that have guided Christians before us....

In the desire to slow down, I've been looking for books that aren't too daunting to implement or too self-focused without an outward expression that focuses on others. As a result, I'm grateful that I've come across The Quiet Resistance by Andrea G. Burke , a book that allows me to adopt manageable actions while having an external posture. Many thanks to Baker Books for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis An invitation to the fullness of a slower, simpler life Discover how to turn off the noise and pay attention Learn to resist the pace of our empty, consumer-driven culture Experience striking beauty, true friendship, tangible quiet, and deep contentment In myriad ways and from every angle, this world calls us to move faster, work harder, digitize, monetize, and turn our lives into 15-second clips to get clicks, likes, and shares. In the meantime, we are missing the good things in life that are a...

Continuing with more reviews for Asian Heritage Month , I was delighted to be able to read Becoming a Friendlier Church by Matthew D. Kim a few weeks prior. It's a fantastic resource for all churches and intentionally includes a cultural lens that can often be missed in books regarding ecclesial life and practice. Churches and congregants desiring to become more hospitable will find that this is a friendly and encouraging way to move beyond the status quo of civility into genuine warmth. Many thanks to Baker Books and NetGalley for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis Help visitors become members Recognize what prevents visitors from feeling welcome Discover methods to welcome new members into your church Identify how you and your church can grow in hospitality In Becoming a Friendlier Church , Matthew D. Kim calls attention to the crisis of unfriendliness that prevents many churches from welcoming new peop...

It shouldn't be surprising that we live in a world where there are many troubles, but it is still a painful experience to encounter them. For Christians who have been fatigued to the point of being unable to adopt the usual spiritual practices, In the Company of the Weary by Becky L. McCoy presents suggestions for alternate ways to worship or spiritually engage with God that don't have to feel like additional burdens. The author's personal story is heartbreaking, and it's completely by the power of God that she has been able to endure, become resilient and reliant on Him, and help guide others facing similar journeys by sharing her spiritual beliefs and practices. This book doesn't quite align with my theological perspectives, but other Christians who are interested in contemplative spirituality will find this to be a thoughtful and well-written story and handbook. Many thanks to  Kregel Publications  for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consi...