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- Ask Pastor John: 750 Bible Answers to Life’s Most Important Questions by Tony Reinke
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- What a Fool Believes: A Memoir by Michael McDonald with Paul Reiser
I enjoy books in a variety of genres (theology, biography, leadership, etc.), and always have an “on deck” list of titles I’m waiting to get to. Here are 13 new and upcoming books that you might be interested in, along with two new and upcoming teaching series from Ligonier:
Faithful Work: In the Daily Grind with God and for Others by Ross Chapman and Ryan Tafilowski
From the Amazon description:
“One-third of our waking lives is spent at work. Work is where we make culture and come into contact with our world. Work is central to God’s mission to redeem souls, systems, and structures. And God works through our work to bring hope to the brokenness and fallenness of our surrounding culture.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is good news for the world, and that includes the transformation of our ordinary work into a sacred calling. Ross Chapman and Ryan Tafilowski show how work is a way to love God, serve our neighbors, and demonstrate the gospel. With a broader understanding of God’s work in the world, we are able to engage our daily work as part of how God makes all things new.
This guide invites you to reflect on the meaning and purpose of your life’s work and to transform your work into service to those around you.”
Here is my review of this book.
Ephesians: An Expositional Commentary by R.C. Sproul
From the Amazon description:
“The book of Ephesians is cherished for its doctrinal depths and devotional beauty. Paul’s letter sets before us the blessings of salvation: new life in Jesus Christ and a new family in His church. As we read the prayers and doxologies woven through its verses, we see how the grace of God stirs us to lives of worship and gratitude. In this volume, Dr. R.C. Sproul delves into the rich teaching, praises, and exhortations contained in one of his favorite books of the Bible. Take up this verse-by-verse guide to gain greater insights into the grace of the gospel and the glory of the Lord in the redemption of His people.
Dr. Sproul’s expositional commentaries help you understand key theological themes and apply them to all areas of your life. Drawn from decades of careful study and delivered from a pastor’s heart, these sermons are readable, practical, and thoroughly Bible-centered. Here is your opportunity to learn from a trusted teacher and theologian as he leads you through God’s Word and shares his perspective on living faithfully for God’s glory. This is a series to serve pastors, small groups, and growing Christians who want to know the Bible better.”
Here is my review of this book.
The Sacredness of Secular Work: 4 Ways Your Job Matters for Eternity (Even When You’re Not Sharing the Gospel) by Jordan Raynor
From the Amazon description:
“Does your work matter for eternity?
Sadly, most believers don’t think so. Sure, the 1 percent of the time they spend sharing the gospel with their co-workers matters. But most Christians view the other 99 percent of their time as meaning very little in the grand scheme of things.
But that’s not how God sees it.
Jordan Raynor, a leading voice in the faith and work movement and bestselling author, offers a revolutionary message about how our daily jobs—from baristas and entrepreneurs to stay-at-home parent and coaches—have intrinsic and eternal value. In The Sacredness of Secular Work, he reveals unexpected ways our work truly matters. In these pages you’ll discover:
• How a low regard of our work limits our understanding of God and His Kingdom
• Inspiring ways your work can reveal God’s kingdom on earth here and now
• Surprising strategies for ensuring your vocation has an eternal legacy
• Vital insights on what God’s view of work tells us about heaven
Combining research, Scripture, and storytelling, Jordan Raynor proves that work, in its diverse forms, is one of the primary activities that brings God delight. This biblical perspective will set you free to pursue your passions and skills and—perhaps for the first time—experience the Creator’s delight in the work of your hands.”
Here is my review of this book.
Are We Living in the Last Days? by Bryan Chapell
From the Amazon description:
“Will Jesus’s return be preceded by a single world government? Will every person have a government-issued ID or mark? Does Christ return once or twice? Will believers go through a Great Tribulation? Will there be a literal battle of Armageddon? Does it even matter what we believe about future events?
Biblical prophecies about the end times have confused, confounded, and even divided God’s people for centuries. But the reason Scripture gives us hints about the future is to provide the encouragement we need to endure the present, confident that God keeps his promises.
In this balanced look at four major views of the end times, bestselling author Bryan Chapell explains the primary ways Christians have interpreted biblical prophecy about the last days, not so that we might pick a hill to die on but so that we can cling to what unites us in Christ. No matter what end times view we find most compelling, in God’s plans we can find strength for today and hope for tomorrow.”
Uncommon Greatness: Five Fundamentals to Transform Your Leadership by Mark Miller
From the Amazon description:
“Uncommon Greatness is the key many leaders have been searching for their entire career. This book will reframe much of what you know about traditional leadership theory and practice, challenge some of your deeply held assumptions, and provide scores of practical and concrete ideas you can use today.
Former Vice President of High-Performance Leadership at Chick-fil-A, Inc., Mark Miller believes it’s possible for all leaders to lead at a higher level and increase their impact on the world. Uncommon Greatness offers every leader the opportunity to:
- Achieve unprecedented levels of performance
- Discover new levels of joy and fulfillment from your work
- Become a leader people want to follow
- Create impact beyond your wildest imagination
Every leader has a choice to make when it comes to how they lead. What are you striving for? Don’t settle for mere greatness! Raise your sights. Uncommon Greatness is within your reach.”
Here is my review of this book.
Ask Pastor John: 750 Bible Answers to Life’s Most Important Questions by Tony Reinke
To be published March 5.
From the Amazon description:
“Navigating the Christian life in a secular world will inevitably stir questions in the lives of thoughtful believers. Motivated by the need for sound biblical advice, Ask Pastor John was formed, a podcast featuring pastor-theologian and bestselling author John Piper’s answers to audience-proposed questions about life’s toughest topics. Podcast episodes have been played over 230 million times and have become a staple in the lives of Christians around the world.
In this unique book, Ask Pastor John host Tony Reinke summarizes and organizes ten years of their most insightful and popular episodes into accessible, thematic sections. Readers will be able to quickly and systematically access Piper’s insights on hundreds of topics including Bible reading, dating, social media, mental health, and more. We discover afresh how asking good questions strengthens faith and grows our understanding of God’s word.
- Based on John Piper’s Well-Known Podcast Ask Pastor John: Questions and answers are distilled by journalist, author, and host Tony Reinke
- Widely Accessible: Appeals to new believers, seasoned Christians, church leaders, and young adults alike
- Useful Reference Tool: Great for looking up commonly questioned topics related to life, Christianity, and the Bible.”
Why Everything That Doesn’t Matter, Matters So Much: The Way of Love in a World of Hurt by Charlie Peacock and Andi Ashworth
To be published March 12.
From the Amazon description:
“A hopeful and practical model for what it means to be a Christian and a culture-maker in a world of hurt and wondrous possibility, from multi–Grammy winner Charlie Peacock and his wife and author, Andi Ashworth.
Do you feel powerless and overwhelmed by the pain and suffering all around you? Have you ever asked, What can I do to mend the world, my family, or my own life? And if I could, why bother? Does my own small part even matter? If so, here comes hope from two guides who are further down the road. Charlie and Andi have written a collection of letters to Christians and spiritual seekers who think deeply and care acutely about the state of the world and their personal spheres of influence.
In Why Everything That Doesn’t Matter, Matters So Much, beloved and trusted mentors, Charlie and Andi offer you:
- Thought-provoking explorations into the many facets of Christian culture care and making, from the kitchen to Carnegie Hall.
- Practical guidance for how to care for and improve the quality of human life, locally and globally, no matter your vocation.
- A theology of imagination and creativity that provides a framework for all of life.
- A model for expressing love in marriage, friendship, citizenship, and every kind of work—even in the midst of cynicism, fear, exhaustion, and oppression.
It might be said of Christians that our lives are either moving in the direction of the redemption Jesus has on offer, or away from it. Each of these letters is a gentle nudge in the direction of God’s powerfully ordinary purpose for each of us, no matter what the future holds, to participate fully in the beautiful, redemptive work of Christ.”
Drive: The Lasting Legacy of Tiger Woods by Bob Harig
To be published March 26.
From the Amazon description:
“In April of 1997, the world of golf was forever changed. At the age of 21, a young Tiger Woods won the most prestigious golf tournament in the world, the Masters, by a record of 12 strokes. Woods became the youngest golfer ever to win the Masters and the first African or Asian-American player to win a major. History had been made – and would continue to be made over the next 15 years.
Woods transformed the game, turning golf geeks into keen observers, casual golf fans into ardent followers and even indifferent sports fans into curiosity mavens. He will undoubtedly be known for the raw numbers: 82 PGA Tour titles, 15 major championships, and according to Forbes, a billionaire who amassed more than $110-million in official PGA Tour earnings. Woods has proven to be a complicated figure through his decades in the spotlight. Plagued by marital scandal, a DUI arrest, and severe back injuries that resulted in what even he believed would be a career-ending spinal fusion surgery in 2017, Woods’ career finally seemed to be coming to an end. That all changed through 2018 and into 2019 as Woods returned slowly from the surgery. In 2019, on the same course where he won for the first time in 1997, Tiger Woods made history once again, winning the Masters one final time. The 2019 Masters brought together all the qualities that ultimately make up someone who has been an enduring figure for 30 years.
In this captivating and emotional portrait of one of the most famous figures in sports, Bob Harig brings readers the true story of the grit and perseverance of Tiger Woods in the final years of his career. Drive will show that Woods’ true legacy is one of resolve and redemption.”
Joseph: From Dreamer to Deliverer by R.C. Sproul
To be published March 28.
From the Ligonier description:
“The life of Joseph is one of the Bible’s most cherished stories. After a beloved son is betrayed by his resentful brothers, he must endure years of slavery, false accusations, and wrongful imprisonment. At every turn, Joseph’s faith is tested, culminating in a pivotal question: Will he save his brothers in their hour of need? In this dramatic telling, Dr. R.C. Sproul shows how Joseph foreshadows the greater Deliverer, Jesus Christ, and encourages Christians to trust in the sovereign God who works all things for our good.”
Jesus Strong and Kind by Sinclair Ferguson
To be published May 14.
From the Amazon description:
“Using the words from the popular children’s song by CityAlight and Colin Buchanan, and stories from the Bible, Sinclair Ferguson shows children how they can turn to Jesus when they feel afraid, lost, thirsty or weak. He shows that God is powerful and merciful, good and faithful.
The beautiful color illustrations by Angelo Ruta bring this hardback to life. An essential addition to any family’s library.”
What a Fool Believes: A Memoir by Michael McDonald
To be published May 21.
From the Amazon description:
“Doobie Brothers. Steely Dan. Chart topping soloist. Across a half-century of American music, Michael McDonald’s unmistakably smooth baritone voice defined an era of rock and R&B with hit records like “What A Fool Believes,” “Takin’ It to the Streets,” “I Keep Forgettin’,” “Peg,” “It Keeps You Running,” “You Belong to Me,” and “Yah Mo B There.”
In his candid, freewheeling memoir, written with his friend, the Emmy Award-nominated actor and comedian Paul Reiser, Michael tells the story of his life and music. A high school dropout from Ferguson, Missouri, Michael chased his dreams in 1970’s California, a heady moment of rock opportunity and excess. As a rising session musician and backing vocalist, a series of encounters would send him on a wild ride around the world and to the heights of rock stardom—from joining Steely Dan and becoming a defining member of The Doobie Brothers to forging a path as a breakout solo R&B artist.
Interwoven with the unforgettable tales of the music, Michael tells a deeply affecting story of losing and finding himself as a man. He reckons with the unshakeable insecurities that drove him, the drug and alcohol addictions that plagued him, and the highs and lows of popularity. Along the way he relays the lessons he’s learned, and that if he’s learned anything at all it’s that there’s often little correlation between what you get and what you deserve.
Filled with unbelievable stories and a matchless cast of music greats including James Taylor, Ray Charles, Carly Simon, and Quincy Jones, What a Fool Believes is a moving and entertaining memoir that is sure to be a classic.”
Let Earth Receive Her King: Daily Readings for Advent by Alistair Begg
To be published August 1.
From the Good Book Company description:
“24 Advent devotions spanning the whole of Scripture that celebrate Christmas and Christ’s return.”
Joni Eareckson Tada: The Girl Who Learned to Follow God in a Wheelchair by Kristyn Getty. Illustrated by Hsulynn Pang
To be published August 26
From the Good Book Company description:
“Children’s biography of Joni Eareckson Tada: an inspirational example of trusting God and loving others even when life brings great challenges. A part of the “Do Great Things for God” series.”
Bonus: Here are two new and upcoming teaching series:
Sojourners and Exiles: The Message of First Peter by Sinclair Ferguson
From the Ligonier description:
“Many Christians today feel like outcasts in a hostile world. How can we navigate life in a society that seems increasingly opposed to our faith? In the first century, the Apostle Peter wrote a letter to believers who faced a similar situation, revealing to them—and to us—how the gospel strengthens God’s people in times of adversity. In this teaching series, Dr. Sinclair Ferguson presents the encouraging message of 1 Peter. The promise of our glorious future with Christ sheds light on our present trials, empowering us to live faithfully as pilgrims heading toward our heavenly home.”
The Life of Peter: Molded by the Master’s Hands by Derek Thomas
To be released March 28.
From the Amazon description:
“Simon Peter was a man with two names and two opposite inclinations. Many Christians see themselves in his wavering between faith and failure. But as we trace the trajectory of Peter’s life, we also see a man powerfully renewed in his walk with Jesus Christ. In this teaching series, Dr. Derek Thomas surveys the story of Peter from his first encounter with the Lord to his defining moments in the book of Acts. Understanding Peter’s transformation from the brash fisherman into the bold Apostle can guide us in pursuit of our own growth in grace.”
What new and upcoming books or teaching series are you looking forward to?
