As I have done for several years now, I am sharing my favorites in a variety of categories. All items listed were released or have taken place during the first half of 2025, except for books, which reflect books that I read during the first half of 2025, regardless of publication date. I hope you enjoy this list!

Movies
Top Pick: Mission: Impossible The Final Reckoning

Other movies that I’ve enjoyed, in no particular order, were:

• September 5
• Paddington in Peru
• Bono: Stories of Surrender
• The Amateur

Books
Top Pick: Roots & Rhythm: A Life in Music – Charlie Peacock

Other books that I’ve enjoyed, in no particular order, were:

• Dangerous Calling: Confronting the Unique Challenges of Pastoral Ministry – Paul Tripp
• Spurgeon: A Life – Alex Diprima
• When Work Hurts: Building Resilience When You’re Beat Up or Burnt Out – Meryl Herr
• The Elder-Led Church – Murray A. Capill
• Faith & Work: Galvanizing Your Church for Everyday Impact by Missy Wallace and Lauren Gill
• Truths We Confess: A Systematic Exposition of the Westminster Confession of Faith (Revised Edition) by R.C. Sproul.

~Music~

Songs
Top Pick: Victory in Jesus (Christ Won the Victory) – Keith & Kristyn Getty and Matt Boswell

Other songs that I have enjoyed, in no particular order, were:

• Heaven on My Mind – TobyMac
• He Will Be – CityAlight
• Never Let Me Go – Ringo Starr
• He is Making All Things Right – Bryan Fowler, Skye Peterson and Ben Shive
• Down to Joy – Van Morrison
• Swimming in the Ocean – Wilder Woods
• The First Hymn – Chris Tomlin and Ben Fielding
• Homesick for Heaven – Phil Wickham
• Heaven on My Mind – TobyMac and Forrest Frank
• Celebration – Forrest Frank
• Your Way’s Better – Forrest Frank
• Light of the World – Shane and Shane
• Come, Christians, Join to Sing – Keith & Kristyn Getty, Matt Boswell and Matt Papa

Albums
Top Pick: Sing! The Songs of the Bible (Live from the Getty Music Worship Conference) – Keith & Kristyn Getty and Friends

Other albums that I have enjoyed, in no particular order, were:

• Heaven on My Mind – TobyMac
• Cover Story – Russ Taff
• Curioso – Wilder Woods
• Hear the Hallelujahs Roar (EP) – CityAlight
• Look Up – Ringo Starr
• Psalm 119 Volume 1 (EP) – Stillcreek
• Remembering Now – Van Morrison
• Walk This Road – Doobie Brothers

Concerts
Top Pick: Nate Bargatze: Big Dumb Eyes at the Peoria Civic Center in Peoria, Illinois

Other concerts that we enjoyed, in order were:

• Crowder and Matt Maher at the Virginia Theater in Champaign, Illinois

Television
Top Pick: The Pitt

Other shows that I have enjoyed, in no particular order were:

• All Creatures Great and Small
• Night Agent
• Shetland
• The Recruit
• Full Swing
• Severance
• Paradise
• Protection
• The Bear
• I, Jack Wright
• Dept. Q
• Death Valley

Blogs/Websites
Top Choice: Tim Challies’ Ala Carte

This blog is required reading for me each Monday through Saturday morning. Challies includes helpful Kindle deals, links to a wide variety of helpful articles and quotes using SquareQuotes (that he encourages you to share). Check out Tim’s site and subscribe here.

Other blogs/websites I’ve enjoyed, in no particular order, were:

• Ligonier Ministries
• Desiring God (John Piper)
• The Gospel Coalition
• Clearly Reformed (Kevin DeYoung)
• Truth for Life

Podcasts
Top Pick: The Briefing

This podcast is required listening for me each weekday morning. Albert Mohler hosts a podcast featuring worldview analysis about leading news headlines and cultural conversations. The podcast runs about 25 minutes and is usually posted by 5:00am. Check out Dr. Mohler’s website and subscribe here.

Other podcasts that I have enjoyed, in order, were:

• Things Unseen (Sinclair Ferguson)
• Ask Pastor John (John Piper)
• Five Minutes in Church History (Stephen Nichols)

Apps
Top Pick: Ligonier Ministries

This app is like carrying a vast theological library on your devices, filled with thousands of discipleship resources that you can read, watch, and listen to anytime. Find resources from R.C. Sproul, the Ligonier Ministries Teaching Fellows, and more of your favorite pastors, authors, and teachers.

Other apps that I have enjoyed, in order were:

• ESV Bible
• Truth for Life

Recommended Resources
Top Pick: Signed, Sealed, Delivered: An Introduction to Covenant Theology Teaching Series by J.V. Fesko

Conferences
Top Pick: Ligonier National Conference: I Will Building My Church

Other conferences that I enjoyed were:
Gospel Coalition National Conference: Alive Together

These are my favorites in a variety of categories for the first half of 2025. I hope it gives you some ideas on books to read, music to listen to, and movies and television series to watch.

What were some of your favorites for the first half of 2025? Please share.