Lent is a sacred season of somber meditation. As we sit with the darkness of Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday, we lament our broken world and wrestle with our mortality as we consider Jesus' sacrificial death. When we look ahead to Easter Sunday, we choose to foster spiritual growth as we await the great hope brought by his resurrection.
This year, why not feed your soul with books that will inspire new areas of growth? Whether you'd like to try new prayer practices, examine your mental and emotional health, or reflect on Lenten themes during your daily devotions, you'll find books on this list to refresh your spirit.
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SHOP FOR: ▶︎ Lenten Reflections & Bible Studies ▶︎ Prayer Guides ▶︎ Theology of Lent ▶︎ Mental Health
Incorporate these books and Bible studies into your daily devotional time for a fresh perspective on the season.
In this carefully researched retelling of the story of Jesus, pastor Russ Ramsey invites us to rediscover our wonder at Jesus' sinless life, brutal death, and glorious resurrection. Featuring forty short chapters, this book expands on the biblical narrative of Jesus' life in a fresh and creative way—giving us a taste of what it would have been like to walk next to Jesus and experience his earthly ministry firsthand.
Number of Studies: 40
The events that took place during Jesus' final week on earth—Palm Sunday, the Last Supper, the trial, Jesus' death and his resurrection—are foundational to your salvation and your Christian life. This eight-session LifeGuide® Bible Study allows you to focus more closely on these amazing events and gain new understanding about who Jesus is and how he loves you.
Number of Studies: 8
John Stott presents Bible studies based on his book The Cross of Christ on the meaning and purpose of the cross in our lives. These thirteen-session LifeGuide® Bible Study provide the ever-increasing understanding of the cross needed by every believer.
Number of Studies: 13
Jesus' words from the cross are not Jesus' last words on earth. After his resurrection from the dead, Jesus appeared to his fearful and questioning disciples, encouraged them, and gave them his final instructions. In this eight-session session LifeGuide® Bible Study, you will meet the risen Jesus Christ and hear his words. May he encourage your faith and excite you about engaging others in discussions about him.
Number of Studies: 8
Christ's resurrection changed everything. What does it mean to live in the light of that glorious day? This ten-session LifeGuide® Bible Study explores the role of resurrection in our lives through a survey of both New and Old Testament passages. Discover your calling and identity as a child of the risen Lord.
Number of Studies: 10
This book that takes the story of Abraham in Genesis as the basis for a series of six Lenten studies. Each chapter is followed by a set of questions arising from it, as well as suggested further reading.
The Grace-filled Wilderness connects contemporary encounters of wilderness with the traditional themes of Lent and Jesus’ journey to the cross. Introducing a series of 'double-edged' subjects, the author uncovers how these bring us life as well as potentially drain life from us when we fall into them in the wrong way. How we deal with our appetites; what gives us identity; how to live with the freedom and power — each week progresses from 'wilderness to grace', we move through Lent and Holy Week into the glorious hope of Easter.
Our own desert experience may involve attending to challenges that come upon us suddenly—such as an illness or bereavement—or a difficult relationships or patterns of thinking that have long been draining us of life and joy. This vividly written book includes wide ranging prayers and scripture readings, along with guides to using the material with groups and in preaching and worship.
This sequence of beautiful translations and inspiring commentary on the Psalms provides daily nourishment for your Lenten journey from Ash Wednesday through to Easter. Sorrow and joy are mixed together in daily life—as in the Psalms, and in any spiritual journey.
This delightful book describes and interprets a series of paintings for each day of Lent. Artists often address subjects that our culture seeks to avoid, and Sister Wendy's brilliant and perceptive reflections will help you to read these paintings with a more discerning eye and encounter deeper levels of spiritual meaning than may at first appear.
Focus on the amazing story of Jesus' crucifixion and the gospel in days and weeks leading up to Easter and think yet again how the cross transforms our lives today. With Bible verses, prayers and forty meditations by Chris Wright and treasured, timeless nuggets from John Stott, prepare to be inspired as you contemplate the deep, life-transforming truths of the gospel: 'love so amazing, so divine demands my soul, my life, my all'.
Open The Easter Bible Storybook to meet Mary in a garden, Peter and John, friends out walking and, most of all, Jesus! Written especially for children under five, this is a delightful retelling of the Easter story. This full-color board book has a short amount of text and is the perfect size for small hands.
Bobby Gross presents chapters on each season of the liturgical year, accompanied by weekly devotions based on the Sunday readings of the lectionary cycle. His book offers a flexible weekly format, designed to let you break the devotions down any way you want to.
SHOP FOR: ▶︎ Lenten Reflections & Bible Studies ▶︎ Prayer Guides ▶︎ Theology of Lent ▶︎ Mental Health
The life of prayer is neither efficient nor productive, but it is transformative. As a pastor in Manhattan, John Starke knows the bustle and busyness of our society. But he also knows that prayer is not just for spiritual giants—prayer is for each of us. Here is an invitation to discover, via the church's ancient rhythms and with Starke's clear, practical guidance, the possibility of prayer.
Are we making prayer more complicated than it needs to be? Helping us pare down our words to their most elemental level, Charlie Dawes has identified simple—yet far from simplistic—prayers that unlock the mystery of conversing with God. By focusing our prayers, we can find a new way of connecting with God at a heart level that cannot be mastered with words alone.
Why is it so hard to master consistent and meaningful prayer? MaryKate Morse explores 24 pathways of prayer meant to give readers a vast array of ways to focus and reflect. Whether you are a beginner or a lifetime person of faith, you will find a treasure trove of riches here to guide you into a deeper experience of prayer.
What if we allowed our prayers to inform our lives? What would our lives be like if prayer altered our living and began to shape our daily experiences? Gordon Smith invites us to learn three movements of prayer—thanksgiving, confession, and discernment. Whether you are a beginner in the life of prayer or further along, this small book is a resource for deepening your prayer practice.
You pray for your own needs and for the needs of others. You pray in the face of conflict, and you pray for forgiveness. You pray to pour out your heart to God and to gain a glimpse of God's heart for you. As David Healey leads you through twelve-session LifeGuide® Bible Study on the prayers of men and women in the Bible, you will gain new insights into why, what and how to pray.
Number of Studies: 12
What is it like to be an Enneagram Three? These forty daily readings from Sean Palmer draw wisdom from the deep wells of both counseling and spirituality using illustrations from Scripture and life. Each reading concludes with an opportunity for further engagement such as a journaling prompt, a written prayer, or a spiritual practice.
Number of Studies: 40
Providing a historical and modern context for the unique spiritual discipline of walking a labyrinth, Travis Scholl weaves his own journey with a prayerful study of the Gospel of Mark, guiding readers to powerful encounters with God, even in the midst of quiet solitude, repetition and stillness. These 40 reflections are ideal for daily reading—during Lent or any time of the year.
The Rule of St Benedict, written for monks in the sixth century, continues to hold an extraordinary appeal to people in our day. It offers a balanced approach to seeking God and integrating prayer, work and relationships in a way that is more essential than ever in our stress-riven society.
A deep prayer life is not just something for mystics or religious specialists. It's for everyone, and everyone has a capacity for it. Including questions to aid reflection and discussion at the end of each chapter, this is a popular introduction to prayer and the spiritual life—a guide for Lent and the rest of the year—in the tradition of Ignatius Loyola.
The Way of the Carmelites, rich in reflection on the Bible, is a spiritual companion and guide for Lent, and indeed the rest of the year, that will introduce readers to the riches of Carmelite spirituality.
SHOP FOR: ▶︎ Lenten Reflections & Bible Studies ▶︎ Prayer Guides ▶︎ Theology of Lent ▶︎ Mental Health
These academic books dig into the theology and history of Jesus' resurrection and the events of Easter.
Why should the cross--an object of Roman distaste and Jewish disgust--be the emblem of our worship and the axiom of our faith? And what does it mean for us today? In this thoughtful, comprehensive study of Scripture, tradition and the modern world, John R. W. Stott brings you face to face with the centrality of the cross in God's plan of redemption.
The descent of Jesus Christ to the dead has been a fundamental tenet of the Christian faith, as indicated by its inclusion in both the Apostles' and Athanasian Creeds. But it has also been the subject of suspicion and scrutiny, especially from evangelicals. Led by the mystery and wonder of Holy Saturday, Matthew Emerson offers an exploration of the biblical, historical, theological, and practical implications of the descent.
How could the life, let alone the death, of one man 2,000 years ago be the salvation of the human race? Donald Macleod explains the centrality of the atonement in Christian faith and experience, using seven key words to describe what happened on the cross: substitution, expiation, propitiation, reconciliation, satisfaction, redemption and victory.
In this New Studies in Biblical Theology exploration of Mark's Gospel, Peter G. Bolt looks at why the cross is so prominent in the narrative, asks what contribution Mark's teaching can make to our understanding of the atonement and shows how this teaching can inform, correct and enrich our own preaching of the gospel in the contemporary world.
This book presents the full content of the third and final debate between philosopher Antony Flew--who was, until 2004, one of the world's most prominent atheists--and Christian philosopher Gary Habermas. Included as well are transcripts of the Q A session with the audience afterward, a 2004 conversation between Habermas and Flew shortly after Flew's much-publicized change of position to theism, as well as editor David Baggett's assessment and analysis of the full history of Habermas and Flew's interactions.
Paul Beasley-Murray aims to restore your awe and amazement at the resurrection as he connects the dots between a wide range of New Testament texts that offer witness to the event. The resurrection of Jesus emerges as much more than a point on which to pin apologetic arguments—rather it is climax of God's redemptive work.
Could there be any new and promising approach to the question of the historicity of Jesus' resurrection? Yes, answers Michael Licona. And he convincingly points us to a significant deficiency in approaching this question: our historiographical orientation and practice. He then carefully and effectively applies his principles and methods to the question of Jesus' resurrection.
Jesus stands in the prophetic tradition of those who embody what they teach. The things he did were carefully planned. And in this riveting book, Stephen Cottrell draws out their political and religious significance as Jesus moves toward his greatest and final act—his death and resurrection.
As Passover approaches, the city of Jerusalem is a political tinderbox. When rumors start spreading about the popular prophet Jesus, unexpected alliances emerge between Roman and Jewish leaders. In Killing a Messiah, New Testament scholar Adam Winn weaves together stories of historical and fictional characters in a fresh reimagining of the events leading up to Jesus' execution, shedding new light on our reading of biblical texts.
Regarded by believers as the foundation stone of their faith, and as a stumbling block by those who struggle to believe, the resurrection of Jesus lies at the heart of the Christian gospel. James D. G. Dunn sets out clearly and fairly the arguments for and against Jesus' resurrection, and explains why most biblical scholars believe the weight of historical evidence points in its favor.
With characteristic style, John Pritchard takes us on pilgrimage to the Holy Land, as he unpacks the five great events that made Christianity – Christmas, Good Friday, Easter, Ascension and Pentecost. Absorbing, immediate and full of stories, this volume offers deeply considered theology, brilliantly communicated to connect with life as we actually experience it.
SHOP FOR: ▶︎ Lenten Reflections & Bible Studies ▶︎ Prayer Guides ▶︎ Theology of Lent ▶︎ Mental Health
We all experience dark times. These books will act as hope-filled companions as you journey towards healing.
The church's relationship with depression has been fraught, and we still have a long way to go. Drawing on her own experience with depression, Diana Gruver looks back into church history and finds depression in the lives of some of our most beloved saints, telling their stories in fresh ways and offering practical wisdom both for those in the darkness and those who care for them.
Have you ever felt emotionally wrung out from an ongoing trial? Though suffering often leaves us feeling isolated, God invites us into the community of the Trinity and offers us many companions in Scripture. Journey in these pages with Wendy Alsup through her story of suffering, and more importantly, with the God who walks with us in the wilderness.
In this sequel to Shades of Light, Katherine Rhodes finds her own grief tapped by Wren Crawford's struggles with depression and loss. Katherine reflects on the meaning of Christ's suffering and shares her own story of finding hope, while Wren moves forward in her commitment to paint the stations of the cross. Readers are invited into a similar journey of reflection through Katherine's words and Wren's paintings.
When everything in her life came to a stop, Pastor Juanita Rasmus found that she had to learn to be—with herself and with God—all over again. Offering both practical and spiritual insights, she shares a wise, frank, and witty account of her own story of exhaustion and depression, acting as a trustworthy companion through dark days.
What is healing when our bodies suffer chronic illness? As Liuan Huska went through years of chronic pain, she questioned how the Christian story speaks to our experiences of pain and illness. Countering a gnosticism that pits body against spirit, Huska helps us redefine what it means to find healing and wholeness, even in the midst of ongoing pain.
Have you, or someone you love, experienced the devastation of a traumatic loss? In this raw, vivid narrative, Pastor Mel Lawrenz chronicles how his family struggled to survive the sudden death of their beloved daughter. For anyone whose life has been turned upside down by grief, this beautiful memoir offers hope and companionship.
Jason Gaboury has wrestled with loneliness ever since he can remember. But when he was challenged to see loneliness as a context for friendship with God, things began to change. In these pages God invites you to stop and wait with him in your own moments of isolation and anxiety, journeying from loneliness into a deeper life with God.
Anxiety is that vague feeling that something isn't right, that something bad may happen. In this eight-session LifeGuide® Bible Study, nurse and Bible study writer Skip McDonald looks at a variety of Old Testament and New Testament Scripture passages that cover experiences of general anxiety, worry, and panic.
Number of Studies: 8
Reflecting on the confusion, shame and grief brought on by her mother's schizophrenia, Amy Simpson provides a bracing look at the social and physical realities of mental illness. Reminding us that people with mental illness are our neighbors and our brothers and sisters in Christ, she explores new possibilities for the church to minister to this stigmatized group.
Kelly M. Kapic meditates on how our suffering—particularly our physical suffering—relates to the Christian faith. This is not a theodicy or a book of easy answers. It is an invitation to reshape our understanding of suffering into the image of Jesus. What we discover is that in Christ and through his church, God displays his deep love and provision for his people.
SHOP FOR: ▶︎ Lenten Reflections & Bible Studies ▶︎ Prayer Guides ▶︎ Theology of Lent ▶︎ Mental Health