"I appreciate [Gilbert] Rendle’s emphasis on discovery rather than prescription. We do not need another program for renewal and evangelism; ... We need to discover what God is already doing in the world," writes Phil Reed.
"This book may help congregations that are far, far away from the sale of their church property avoid this seemingly inevitable fate." — Beth Guzman
Myisha Cherry argues that it is more fruitful to view forgiveness as a journey, not a single decision, writes Paul Dornan.
Greg Garrett agrees with Baldwin on the questions that lead from bad faith to one based on wisdom and truth: “Who is God, who am I, what is sacred community, how are we supposed to live, why exercise faith?”
"While the reflection questions and content could be tailored to suit a small group, this is a particularly rich choice for individual reading for Lent this year," writes Amy Pagliarella.
Luther E. Smith Jr. proclaims that Hope is Here! as he invites us to practice and pursue justice in our churches and communities.
"While Daniel Reinhardt is one of many voices in the police-reform conversation, his personal experiences, combined with a calm yet passionate tone, provide a welcome addition to a complex topic," writes Amy Pagliarella.
Kara Root’s message is this: Receive what is. Receive what is difficult. Receive what God is doing. Receive what God has already done. Receive what will be. Receive it all. — Philip J. Reed
Here's a short list of books appropriate for that quiet reading time after Christmas. Enjoy!
Carey Wallace and Khoa Le create a book that is a gift for early elementary-age children and adults alike, writes Amy Pagliarella.
"All this leads McCaulley to ask: If there is a God, why has racism persisted for so long?" — Colin Farmer
David Brooks pens "a deeply engaging book that reads like a guide to pastoral care, yet is equally applicable to professionals and caregivers, helping all of us bring more curiosity and compassion to our conversations," writes Amy Pagliarella.
“Women have been fruitful matriarchs for millennia, including those of us who never gave birth,” Elizabeth Felicetti writes in her new book reviewed by Elizabeth B. Dickey.
In Anna Carter Florence's book, "Prophets become petulant and loving. Certain women, perhaps considered sassy or labeled as illicit, become exemplars of faith ...," writes Jo Forrest.
"Amy Butler invites readers to imagine a creative 'new way of being a church in the world,' one requiring an 'open-minded and open-hearted redirection of resources ...'" — Aram Feinberg
Amy Pagliarella has devotional recommendations for individuals, small groups and Jane Austen fans.
"Karen Eber’s 'The Perfect Story' brilliantly demonstrates how to craft memorable stories that change hearts and minds," writes Amy Pagliarella.
"Using the cycle of the moon’s phases as a guide, [Garrett] Mostowski exposes the reader to experiences with love that weave a complex picture of hope and despair," writes Walter Canter.
Creating and sustaining life can look many different ways. Here's a list of books that can help birthing people and their pastors approach topics like surrogacy and infertility.
"In many ways, [J. Kameron Carter's] book is a prayer that brings about a childlike sense of imagination. It becomes more than an intellectual work and something I view as deeply pastoral," writes Jordan Burton.
"[Kevin W.] Hector makes complicated ideas feel more familiar, covering abstract and complicated debates within Christian theology in a way that even those new to the conversation can understand," writes Samuel McCann.
"Pizor Yoder and team unearthed stories that create an 'unfiltered' description of 'nones' and 'dones' driven by more curiosity than judgment and more empathy than analysis." — Rocky Supinger
There are so many Advent resources for church leaders to wade through, so we did some of the heavy lifting. Here is Amy Pagliarella's short list for 2023 Advent materials.
"Seibert offers a path toward healing wounds found in the death and destruction of long-ignored Scripture," writes Jo Wiersema.
"In this age of church decline, (Andrew) Root focuses us on the ongoing revelation of the living, acting God," writes Philip J. Reed.
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