Books
Free copies of each of these books are available at the church. Just ask :)
EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY SPIRITUALITY
Author: Peter Scazzero
Why we recommend it: This book teaches that it is impossible to be spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature. This books opens our eyes to the emotional burdens we carry, and instructs us on how to grow in maturity with our emotions.
why bother with church?
Author: Sam Allberry
Why we recommend it: This short little book addresses a question many of us ask today, “why do I even need the church today?” If you’ve ever asked this question, this book helps explain why its existence is so meaningful for modern people.
The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism
Author: Timothy Keller
Why we recommend it: It is thoughtful, respectful to your intellect, deeply engaging to the modern person’s concerns about religion. But it is also unapologetically hopeful and confident about why Jesus is the answer to our deepest longings.
Practicing the way: Be with Jesus, become like him, do what he did
Author: John Mark Comer
Why we recommend it: This is a beautiful book all about what it means to be an apprentice of Jesus. It gives 9 key practices to spiritual growth and gives practical help with developing a personal “rule of life.”
SPIRITUAL AND RELIGIOUS: THE GOSPEL IN AN AGE OF PAGANISM
Author: Tom Wright
Why we recommend it: Salem is a city where spirituality is assumed, but religion… not so much. How do these 2 terms relate? This book is a thoughtful, compelling book about how the gospel of Jesus powerfully gives us what we need most.
EAT THIS BOOK: A conversation in the art of spiritual reading
Author: Eugene Peterson
Why we recommend it: Want to know not just why to read the Bible, but actually how to read the Bible? This book is fabulous, and easy to read. This book challenges us to read the Scriptures on their own terms.
Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers
Author: Dane Ortlund
Why we recommend it: It is all about the heart of Jesus Christ himself. It is biblical, direct, to the point. For those looking to see who Jesus is and how he described himself, this book is excellent.
Confronting Christianity
Author: Rebecca McLaughlin
Why we recommend it: This book discusses 12 hard questions that people have about Christianity, the world’s largest religion. It is direct, but also gentle in how it answers these questions.
Why I Am A Christian
Author: John Stott
Why we recommend it: John Stott is one of the best Christian thinkers of the past century. This is his heart-felt explanation as to why he believes in the gospel as the one true hope of the world.
Water from a Deep Well
Author: Gerald Sitser
Why we recommend it: This is a history book that discusses how the Christianity of today didn’t just appear out of nowhere. There is 2,000 years of traditions, stories, and people that comprise this beautiful faith.
Bible Resources
These are wonderful resources to help you read & understand the Bible.
CASKET-EMPTY timelines
Authors: Carol Kaminski & David Palmer
Why we recommend them: It can be so confusing to know where you are in chronological order when reading the Bible. These timelines help not only with that, but also with helping understand the one big overarching story of the Bible - Jesus Christ himself and how he fits into the whole story from Genesis to Revelation.
Online Resources
These are excellent resources to help you understand God and his ways.
“bible project” videos on youtube
Why we recommend it: If you have questions about specific books of the Bible, hard topics, how themes relate to one another, or other similar questions, the Bible Project does a wonderful job of providing clarity. With beautiful short videos, podcasts, articles, and visual helps, the Bible Project can be such a help to your daily Bible reading.
“321 Course” by speak life
Why we recommend it: Perspective is everything. How do you see life? 321 is a course that invites you to see life the way Jesus does. Inspired by Jesus’ vision of reality, 321 is designed to help you think about God, the world and yourself through immersive videos and thoughtful illustrations.
