Christian Living Books

If marriage shows us the shape of the gospel, singleness shows us its sufficiency.

Much of what we commonly assume about singleness--that it is primarily about the absence of good things like intimacy, family, or meaningful ministry--is either flat-out untrue or, at the very least, shouldn't be true. To be single, we often think, is to be alone and spiritually hindered.

But the Bible paints a very different picture of singleness: it is a positive gift and blessing from God. This book seeks to help Christians--married and unmarried alike--value singleness as a gift from God so that we can all encourage singles to take hold of the unique opportunities their singleness affords and see their role in the flourishing of the church as a whole.

"The ministry of the Holy Spirit is not a luxury; it is an absolute necessity," writes celebrated author and respected pastor Warren Wiersbe. In his first of two books covering Acts, Be Dynamic focuses on Peter's ministry, mostly in Israel and centered in Jerusalem. Through explaining Luke's record of the Gospel's advancement and church expansion, Wiersbe opens the door to understanding the work of the church today.

Using hard-hitting quotes from recognized names like St. Augustine and John Bunyan, Wiersbe proves himself as a well-read author and gifted writer. The depth of his study is astounding, yet the accessibility of his text for every age group is evident as well. He proves what Luke intended-for Acts to be interpreted not as the apostles' glorious acts, but as the life-changing acts of the Holy Spirit. The same Spirit lives in believers today, the same God calls followers to expand His church, and the same basic problems still arise within the church, but the same power available then is still available now to change the nations.

How does the church guard against false gospels?

Every week, many churches around the world read the Bible but miss the main point--and end up teaching false gospels week in and week out. One of the most important safeguards against this danger is an understanding of biblical theology: reading the Bible in light of its main message, culminating in Jesus Christ.

Starting with a framework for understanding the storyline of the Bible and then explaining basic principles for prioritizing the teaching of this message, this book aims to help churches guard the truth of the gospel.

Part of the 9Marks: Building Healthy Churches series.

What does effective church leadership look like?

In this conversational book, pastor Jeramie Rinne sets forth an easy-to-understand "job description" for elders drawn from the Bible's teaching on church leadership.

Offering practical guidance for new elders and helping church members better understand and support their spiritual leaders, this succinct volume will encourage elders to embrace their calling with grace, wisdom, and clarity of vision.

Part of the 9Marks: Building Healthy Churches series.

How Does Understanding Conversion Shape Ministry?

The way a church operates says a lot about how they believe people are saved. When a church truly embraces the Bible's teaching on conversion, they will call people to repentance and faith--not just one-time decisions, therapeutic healings, or moral lifestyles.

This short book was written to help churches rightly understand the difference that a biblical doctrine of conversion should make for teaching, evangelism, discipling, membership, and every other facet of the life of a local church.

Part of the 9Marks: Building Healthy Churches series.

How Can Deacons Mobilize Service in the Church?

Deacons are essential to a church's health--yet confusion abounds regarding their biblical job description. What's their God-given role in a local congregation and how do they relate to the church's overall mission?

In this short book, Matt Smethurst makes the case that deacons are model servants called to meet tangible needs, organize and mobilize acts of service, preserve the unity of the flock, and support the ministry of the elders. Clearing away common misconceptions, Smethurst offers practical guidance for deploying deacons and helping churches to flourish.

Download eighteen free sample questions for deacon candidates.

Drawing Closer to God One Decision at a Time

On an average day, people make countless decisions: Should I get out of bed or hit the snooze button? What should I have for breakfast? Where should we go for this year's vacation? While some decisions are easy to make, others can leave individuals paralyzed and full of anxiety. As Christians living in an increasingly individualistic society, what's the best strategy for making decisions that honor God while becoming more like him in the process?

Writing from her own experience and pointing to biblical examples, Aimee Joseph offers a biblical and theological framework for decision-making. She explains God's design for humans as decision-makers, the biblical model for making choices, common wrong approaches, practical tips, and what to do when you've made a poor decision. With the philosophy that "as we shape our decisions, our decisions shape us," Joseph teaches readers how to worship and draw closer to Christ through their daily decisions.

Practical: Equips Christians to make decisions as God's image bearers

Applicable: Features study questions and helpful resources, including "The Dashboard of Decisions" and a decision-making flowchart

Published in Partnership with the Gospel Coalition (TGC)

Over 650,000 Copies Sold

"If you live gladly to make others glad in God, your life will be hard, your risks will be high, and your joy will be full."

The American Dream beckons people to spend their lives on trivial diversions, slipping through life caught up with seeking success, comfort, and pleasure above all else. But God designed people for far more than this.

In this best-selling book, John Piper makes a passionate plea to the next generation to avoid the dangers of a wasted life, calling us to take risks and make sacrifices that matter for eternity--with a single, soul-satisfying passion for the glory of God that seeks to make much of him in every sphere of our lives.

Evangelism is more than a program.

Every few years, churches jump into the latest evangelistic fad. Leaders administrate the new program, and members go on a raid. But picture a church where evangelism is simply part of the culture. Leaders share their faith consistently and openly. Members follow, encouraging one another to make evangelism an ongoing way of life.

Such is the way of evangelism presented by this brief and compelling book. No program here. Instead, it just might give your church a new way to live and share the gospel together.

Disciple-making is a passion of many, as it should be. It is, after all, our great commission. But much of contemporary discipleship is informed by instinct, and as such it is vulnerable to the whims and trends of the broader culture, which can take us further away from our biblical model and mandate.

Drawing on a 2015 Barna Group study of the state of discipleship in the United States commissioned by The Navigators, bestselling author Preston Sprinkle provides a holistic, biblical response for discipleship, providing accessible tools for all those who are engaged in making Christ-followers in the 21st century. Sprinkle points pastors, church leaders, and frankly, all Christ-followers, to a discipleship that is responsive to this most current research and accountable to the model of Jesus and his earliest followers, who counted making disciples as their most important work.

In an extremely practical fashion, Go helps us to discern, from the Scriptures and from exemplary disciple-making ministries, what discipleship is and is not, what it has become and what it can still be.

A Biblical Case for the Importance and Goodness of Being "Evangelical"

The term evangelical is often poorly defined and frequently comes with cultural and political baggage. As the label has become more controversial, many Christians have begun to wonder if they should abandon it altogether.

Michael Reeves argues from a global, scriptural, and historical perspective that, while it's not necessary to discard the label altogether, Christians must return to the root of the term--the evangel, or "gospel"--in order to understand what it truly means. He identifies the theology of evangelicalism and its essential doctrine--the Father's revelation in the Bible, the Son's redemption in the gospel, and the Spirit's regeneration of the heart--calling believers to stand with integrity as people of the gospel.

A Biblical and Theological Explanation of Evangelicalism: Rooted in Scripture and the writings of figures throughout church history

Globally-Minded: Explores evangelical theology and distinctives outside of narrow cultural definitions

Brief and Accessible: Written for both lay people and church leaders

Updated with Discussion Questions and Two Bonus Chapters

When you say "I do," you begin the journey of a lifetime-- and you have dreams of that journey being perfect. But it won't take long for expectations of the perfect marriage to fade away in the struggles of everyday life. A long-term, vibrant marriage needs to be grounded in something sturdier than romance--it needs the life-changing power of the gospel.

In this rebranded edition of What Did You Expect?, popular author and pastor Paul David Tripp encourages couples to make six biblical commitments to the Lord and to one another. These commitments, which include a lifestyle of confession and forgiveness, building trust, and appreciating differences, will equip couples to cultivate thriving, joy-filled marriages built on Christ.

"If you're hesitant to pull the trigger when things obviously aren't working out, Henry Cloud's Necessary Endings may be the most important book you read all year." --Dave Ramsey, New York Times bestselling author of The Total Money Makeover

"Cloud is a wise, experienced, and compassionate guide through [life's] turbulent passages." --Bob Buford, bestelling author of Halftime and Finishing Well; founder of the Leadership Network

Henry Cloud, the bestselling author of Integrity and The One-Life Solution, offers this mindset-altering method for proactively correcting the bad and the broken in our businesses and our lives. Cloud challenges readers to achieve the personal and professional growth they both desire and deserve--and gives crucial insight on how to make those tough decisions that are standing in the way of a more successful business and, ultimately, a better life.

You may have read books on this topic before--but not like this one. Instead of an instruction manual for church growth, this classic text offers tried and true principles for assessing the health of your church. Whether you're a pastor, a leader, or an involved member of your congregation, studying the nine marks of a healthy church will help you cultivate new life and well-being within your own church for God's glory.

This classic guide has been recently revised to include a new foreword as well as updated content, illustrations, and appendices.

"A Christian without a church is a Christian in trouble."

Since a global pandemic abruptly closed places of worship, many Christians have skipped church life, even neglecting virtual services. But this was a trend even before COVID-19. Polarizing issues, including political and racial strife, convinced some people to pull away from the church and one another. Now it's time to recommit to gathering as brothers and sisters in Christ.

In Rediscover Church, Collin Hansen and Jonathan Leeman discuss why church is essential for believers and God's mission. Through biblical references and personal stories, they show readers God's true intention for corporate gathering: to spiritually strengthen members as individuals and the body of Christ. In an age of church-shopping and livestreamed services, rediscover why the future of the church relies on believers gathering regularly as the family of God.

Published in partnership with the Gospel Coalition and 9Marks.

Why Suffering Exists: God's Purpose for Pain in the Life of Job and throughout Scripture

Why does God allow suffering? The pain of suffering can be overwhelmingly mysterious, but the Bible does provide answers. Throughout Scripture, God allows trials in order to accomplish specific purposes in the lives of his people. When faced with suffering they experience spiritual growth; repentance from sin; or, as in the Old Testament story of Job, the chance to demonstrate devotion to God in the face of inexplicable agony.

In Suffering Wisely and Well, Eric Ortlund explores different types of trials throughout Scripture, revealing the spiritual purpose for each and reassuring readers with God's promise of restoration. The majority of the book focuses on Job, one of the most well-known yet misunderstood stories of suffering. Ortlund thoughtfully analyzes the text chapter by chapter, including the doubt of Job's friends, God's response to Job's questions, and the meaning behind important imagery including references to Leviathan and Behemoth. Suffering Wisely and Well shows readers how to deepen their relationship with God during painful experiences in their own lives and how to comfort others who are hurting.

Explores Lament and Redemption in Scripture: Helps readers understand how to interpret suffering from a Christian perspective

Applicable: Each chapter ends with a "What Have We Learned?" summary

Biblical Advice on Grief and Support: Teaches Christians how to avoid blame or legalism when addressing the suffering of others

Understanding Mark in the Context of the Old and New Testaments

The book of Mark--the first and shortest Gospel written--serves as both a historical and theological account, connecting Jesus to the whole storyline of the Bible. Mark writes against the backdrop of the Old Testament and draws from other New Testament writers, specifically Peter and Paul, to articulate many themes that are found in the rest of the New Testament.

In this addition to the New Testament Theology series, scholar Peter Orr offers an accessible summary of the theology of Mark, examining its relationship to both the Old and New Testaments. Each chapter focuses on a key theological theme--the identity of Christ, the announcement of the kingdom, the call to follow, and more--and explains how it is relevant for the church today.

Part of the New Testament Theology Series: Other volumes include The Joy of Hearing; The Mission of the Triune God; and United to Christ, Walking in the Spirit

Ideal for Anyone Wanting to Study the Bible More Deeply: Perfect for pastors, seminarians, college students, and laypeople

Written by Peter Orr: New Testament lecturer and author of Fight for Your Pastor

Winner of the 2019 Christianity Today Book Award in the Christian Living & Discipleship Category

"This book is going to shake us all up in the most wonderfully destabilizing way." --Ray Ortlund, Lead Pastor, Immanuel Church, Nashville, Tennessee

What did God use to draw a radical, committed unbeliever to himself? Did God take her to an evangelistic rally? Or, since she had her doctorate in literature, did he use something in print? No, God used an invitation to dinner in a modest home, from a humble couple who lived out the gospel daily, simply, and authentically.

With this story of her conversion as a backdrop, Rosaria Butterfield invites us into her home to show us how God can use this same "radical, ordinary hospitality" to bring the gospel to our lost friends and neighbors. Such hospitality sees our homes as not our own, but as God's tools for the furtherance of his kingdom as we welcome those who look, think, believe, and act differently from us into our everyday, sometimes messy lives--helping them see what true Christian faith really looks like.

Understanding Luke's Narrative in the Book of Acts

The book of Acts is unlike any other in Scripture; it has no rival in terms of a book spanning so many different lands. Written by a Gentile, it recounts the birth of the church age and the lives of early Christians that serve as lasting examples for the church today. When believers see how these events worked together to fulfill God's promises, they gain a better understanding of the Trinitarian heart of Acts.

In The Mission of the Triune God, author Patrick Schreiner argues that Luke's theology stems from the order of his narrative. He shows how the major themes in Acts, including the formation of the church, salvation offered to all flesh, and the prolific spread of the gospel, connect. Through Schreiner's clear presentation and helpful graphics, readers follow the early church as it grows "all under the plan of God, centered on King Jesus, and empowered by the Spirit."

Covers Main Theological Themes: A great companion to commentaries on Acts

Studies the Birth of the Church Age: Schreiner examines the lives of early Christians after Jesus's ascension

Informative and Accessible: Tables and graphics help readers visualize key theological themes

Part of the New Testament Theology series

What is an ideal church, and how can you tell?

How does it look different from other churches? More importantly, how does it act differently, especially in society? Many of us aren't sure how to answer those questions, even though we probably have some preconceived idea. But with this book, you don't have to wonder any more.

Author Mark Dever seeks to help believers recognize the key characteristics of a healthy church: expositional preaching, biblical theology, and a right understanding of the gospel. Dever then calls us to develop those characteristics in our own churches. By following the example of New Testament authors and addressing church members from pastors to pew sitters, Dever challenges all believers to do their part in maintaining the local church. What Is a Healthy Church? offers timeless truths and practical principles to help each of us fulfill our God-given roles in the body of Christ.

The church is widely viewed in the world at large as being outdated, boring, irrelevant and filled with backbiting hypocrites.

How different that picture is to how the Bible talks about the new family that Jesus has gathered. It is a precious bride, a sparkling jewel, a lifeboat for forgiven sinners that is precious and holy; nurturing and warm; filled with truth, friendship and all embracing, forgiving love.

Sam Allberry understands the collision between these two views, and how, even as Christian believers, we can lose sight of how truly wonderful church is and what a privilege it is to be part of.

In this brief, accessible but thorough guide to church, Sam outlines what church is and why we need it. And how, when we have got it wrong, we can move closer to what a true church should be.

Part of the Questions Christians Ask series: a range of short, simple books designed to help Christians grapple with the contemporary issues.