As we reach the end of 2021 we wanted to share some of the books we have read this year and recommend them to you! These books haven’t necessarily been written this year - these are just the ones that we have been most impacted by during 2021. You may want to grab a copy of some of them as we start the new year!
Raj
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
Publisher: HarperCollins
So far Joey and I have read The Magician’s Nephew, The Boy and His Horse, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and Prince Caspian. These are thrilling books with great insights into CS Lewis’ great mind and his Christian faith and theology. Brilliant!
Available: https://www.thegoodbook.co.uk/the-complete-chronicles-of-narnia
The God of All Things by Andrew Wilson
Publisher: Zondervan
As with every book of Andrew's, his phenomenal brain and exuberant faith come together to make difficult things easy and applicable and joyful. On my weekly walks, this book has changed how I see the normal things around me and especially the God behind them!
Available: https://www.eden.co.uk/christian-books/personal-life/god-of-all-things/
Reading While Black by Esau Mcaulley
Publisher: IVP
As a student of NT Wright, this black American Anglican vicar helps show us how we apply good exegesis from a different cultural standpoint. He helps us to see theology from a different lens. He opened my eyes to the trauma of black people who loved Jesus and were abused by the church. It helped me lament in the midst of the tragedy of George Floyd but also hope in the truthfulness of God’s word. Loved it.
Available: https://www.eden.co.uk/christian-books/bible-study/academic-bible-study/hermeneutics/reading-while-black/
The Plausibility Problem by Ed Shaw
Publisher: IVP
Another Anglican writer who addresses the difficulties of gay and lesbian Christians being welcomed into the church. The traumas they have faced and the discrimination they have experienced. In many ways it's about biblical community and the openness of the church to those who feel marginalised because of difference. And, in the midst of all his practicality, he helps us understand why the bible is so challenging to all of us as believers…the journey of sanctification. Check out livingout.org for more resources from Ed.
Available: https://www.thegoodbook.co.uk/the-plausibility-problem
We Need To Talk About Race by Ben Lindsay
Publisher: SPCK Publishing
Making a commitment as a younger man to Jesus in one of our Newfrontiers Churches in London, Ben opens up the potential for tension in the church for black people and also possible solutions to work out as team leaders. This is a practical and helpful book, full of stories of highs and lows. It’s relevant to all of us who want to build Multi-coloured Churches and be welcoming to people from all nations!
Available: https://spckpublishing.co.uk/we-need-to-talk-about-race
Eternity is Now In Session by John Ortberg
Publisher: John Murray Press
Another beautifully written book by this funny and theologically uplifting church pastor. Makes me realise how important this life is now in the bigger picture of forever with Jesus. Wow!
Available: https://www.eden.co.uk/eternity-is-now-in-session/
Gavin
10 Questions Every Teen Should Ask (and Answer) about Christianity by Rebecca McLaughlin
Publisher: Crossway
We worked through this book with the older youth group in Jubilee this year - it has been phenomenal! Don’t be put off by the title as this book certainly isn’t just for teenagers. As one of the youth leaders, I got just as much from this book as the young people did. This might be one of the most helpful books I’ve read for engaging with some of the most common questions and issues that people have with Christianity. Written in a really relaxed and simple way, drawing on a number of examples from films and books, Rebecca manages to draw simplicity from some of the most complicated topics, equipping us to be able to deal with these confidently in our own lives. I can’t recommend this book enough to you if you want to be equipped to reach out to those around you, confident of being able to answer questions about your faith. As we think about inviting more and more people to Alpha in the new year, this book will help you grow in confidence to start conversations. If the title puts you off, she has also written a ‘fuller’ version called Confronting Christianity.
Available: https://www.crossway.org/books/10-questions-every-kid-should-ask-and-answer-tpb/
Reappearing Church by Mark Sayers
Publisher: Moody Publishers
One of the statistics often given to us from the media and society in general is that church attendance is dwindling and our society is getting more and more secular. This excellent book by Australian pastor Mark Sayers argues that there is Hope for renewal in the church despite what we see around us, and that actually what looks like decline in the Church may well be the beginning of a spiritual reawakening. People no longer have the same expectations of church and Christianity, and our increasingly secular world can be seen as a blank canvas, a new way of doing things as we look to reach out. I read this book at the start of this year when, as a nation, we were in partial lockdown, I was struggling with online church and wondered how bleak the future may be for us as we move out of the pandemic. This book certainly gave me something to think about!
Available: https://www.eden.co.uk/christian-books/spiritual-growth/evangelism-and-followup/reappearing-church/
Letters to the Church by Francis Chan
Publisher: David C Cook
As I write this, I have just finished reading this fantastic book and let me tell you, I was not ready! Many of you know that I’m not the best at reading books, but I’ve absolutely devoured this one in record time (that includes stopping every few pages and processing the challenge that Francis Chan gives). For those of you who don’t know, Francis Chan was the leader of a mega church in America. It was a hugely successful church which was attracting literally thousands of people. A few years ago, he stepped away from it all and decided to do church differently, focusing on a much smaller, discipleship-based model. This book is his reflections on that journey and his challenge to ‘the Church’ - Christians everywhere. If you want to start your new year feeling uncomfortable and challenged then this is the book for you. I really can’t recommend it enough. Be careful though - it might just change our church for good!
Available: https://www.eden.co.uk/letters-to-the-church/
Simon
Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund
Publisher: Crossway
The introduction starts ’This is a book about the heart of Christ’ and it really is! The chapters are fairly short and each looks at a different aspect of Jesus’ hearttowards us. As someone who needs regular reminders that Jesus is able to sympathise with my weaknesses, deals with me gently and will never cast me out, I found it so encouraging. A chapter a day will do your soul good!
Available: https://www.thegoodbook.co.uk/gentle-and-lowly
Overpowering Nemo by Ginny Burgin
Publisher: MD Publishing
Some of you will remember Ginny visiting Jubilee a few years ago. Ginny has a remarkable prophetic gift, but rather than writing a book on prophecy, Overpowering Nemo is primarily the story of her life, how she came to faith in the midst of an extremely difficult childhood and how God has healed, shaped and used her over the years. It’s also a book that reminds us that Jesus has a plan and purpose for our lives, no matter how challenging our past or our present are.
Available: https://www.eden.co.uk/christian-books/spiritual-growth/overpowering-nemo/
Called to be Friends by Ian Galloway
Publisher: Hodder and Stoughton
Ian was a leader at City Church Newcastle for over 30 years and, again, is a friend of Jubilee, visiting us on a number of occasions. This is a longer book than the other two, and Ian seeks to show the reader that the Gospel of John has been written to form a temple space, where we are invited in to meet Jesus. I had planned to read this book in a week whilst on holiday, until I read the part where Ian says ‘You can read the book all the way through if that works for you. But I reckon you will get more from it if you pace yourself’. So that’s what I’ve been doing. Reading it slowly and reading it alongside John’s gospel. It might stretch you to read it but it will help you to connect all the accounts and events in that gospel and most importantly it will deepen your friendship with Jesus!
Available: https://www.aslanchristianbooks.com/called-to-be-friends-unlocking-the-heart-of-johns-gospel-9781529356823/
