Radically ordinary hospitality. Does this term seem oxymoronic to you? The concept that something deemed “radical” could also be described as “ordinary” is difficult to comprehend. And, further, how could hospitality be considered “radical” in the first place? In The Gospel Comes with a House Key, Rosaria Butterfield’s entire thesis rests upon this concept—Christian hospitality, when lived out in accordance to examples set forth in Scripture, will look radical in our 2020 world, but should feel ordinary as well.
Post-Christian: A Guide to Contemporary Thought and Culture
“Postmodernism” has been used frequently to describe our culture. However, this concept, which has been around for quite a while now, no longer seems to fit our society today. But what does that mean? Are we still living in a world dominated by a postmodern worldview? And if we’re not, what kind of age are we in now, and how should we as believers respond?
Women of the Word: How to Study the Bible with Both Our Hearts and Our Minds
Women of the Word is Jen Wilkin’s approach to studying and teaching the Bible. Fond of alliteration, as so many teachers seem to be, she’s broken down the art of Bible study into Purpose, Perspective, Patience, Process, and Prayer. In a simple, down-to-earth manner,
she explains timeless concepts like “metanarrative,” “genre,” and “context.” I appreciated that she included prayer in her study structure and that she advises us to hold off on consulting commentaries until after we have thoroughly examined the passage, its context, and any cross-references we see in our Bibles.
Art and the Bible
Once again, Francis Schaeffer blew my mind and brought such joy to my heart in this book simply titled: Art and the Bible. I’ve come to love Schaeffer’s passion for truth and the way he brings to light the way we live out the lies we don’t even know we believe. His practical philosophy gets to the heart of the modern believer, and this book was no exception.
Kregel Pictorial Guide Series
Do you know . . . how the Bible came to be, what daily life was like during Bible times, or what the Jewish festivals were all about? These are just a few of the questions answered within Kregel’s Pictorial Guide series. As you can see from the list below, with so many books available within this series it might seem overwhelming at first. However, each short booklet provides simple, colorful insights to a variety of biblical topics, making each of them very interesting for both older kids and adults.
How Can I Help? God’s Calling for Kids
Mary J. Moerbe and Gene Edward Veith have done it again—they have written an excellent resource on vocation, this time for children! If you’re not familiar with the doctrine of vocation, it’s not just jobs, careers, or how we make a living, but it’s the areas of life God has called us to so that we can love and serve our neighbors. This does include the workplace and also the family, society, church, etc. Even children have vocations, and this book is a great way to introduce them to how they can love and serve their neighbors by being a helper!
Trials of Theology: Becoming a ‘Proven Worker’ in a Dangerous Business
If you would like to read one book that summarizes the attempt of seminaries to impart pastoral wisdom to its students, The Trials of Theology: Becoming a ‘Proven Worker’ in a Dangerous Business is such a book. This little (190-page) book, using theologians from the past and present, attempts to encapsulate fundamental pastoral training.
Pastoral Care Under the Cross: God in the Midst of Suffering
Pastoral Care Under the Cross had been on this writer’s “need-to-buy-from-Parish-Ed-wishlist” for a number of years. And once it was purchased and read, the book did not disappoint. In the messiness of the world’s problems, pastors find themselves dealing with issues that leave them feeling overwhelmed and underequipped. What is your view of suffering? Is it a result of something I did wrong? Is God trying to teach me a lesson through it? Where is God in the midst of suffering? And what is my pastor’s role when I go through suffering? These questions, and many more, are handled with care in Richard C. Eyer’s book.
Perspectives on Family Ministry
How does the local congregation minister to families? As churches seek to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with families, the approach taken has varied across a broad spectrum. This book assembles practitioners from three major approaches to present how they pursue healthy family ministry. It then offers space for the others to respond to each one’s approach. The result is an effective resource for biblical evaluation to apply discernment for serving families in your congregational context.