What's On My Radar: New Christian Book Releases for January/February 2025
Welcome to the first edition of What's On My Radar: New Christian Book Releases! Since I’m coming to this a little after the first of the year, I’m going to be covering books that caught my eye that were released in both January and February 2025. For future episodes, I’ll just focus on the previous month.
These are, of course, not the only books that were released in these months; they are just the ones that look interesting to me and that I could see myself reading at some point. I’ll give you a link to each book and also explain why it caught my eye!
Walking with God Through the Valley: Recovering the Biblical Purpose of Lament by May Young
From Amazon: In [this book], Old Testament scholar May Young offers a guide for readers to engage lament texts both in their church communities and in their personal lives. Drawing deeply from key passages in Scripture, including the Psalms, Habakkuk, and Lamentations, Young posits that true lament must come out of a deep understanding of the biblical text. Through practicing lament in our own lives, we can move through pain and suffering and experience God's renewed hope.
Why it caught my eye: I’ve read several other books on lament, and I’m happy to see the biblical principle getting more attention. The fact that this one is written by a woman who is also an Old Testament scholar jumped out to me, because I have noticed that many of the books on Christian formation and theology that I’ve read have been written by men.
Mastering Our Emotions: Biblical Principles for Emotional Health by Dr. Kevin Chapman
From Amazon: Anxiety can keep us up at night. Anger can cause us to fly off the handle. Sadness can drain us of energy. Shame can isolate us. Emotions like these are powerful. They can tax our relationships and distress our souls. No amount of sheer willpower or good intentions are sufficient to overcome them. But God has a good purpose for these core emotions he created. By integrating biblical truth, evidence-based insights from psychology, and spiritual practices, we can move from being mastered by these emotions to living in emotional maturity. Psychologist Kevin Chapman draws on his therapeutic expertise to invite us into a deeper understanding of our own thinking patterns, emotional triggers, and avoidance behaviors―all viewed through the lens of scriptural truth and God's power to change lives.
Why it caught my eye: I’ve read many books on emotions, some better than others. I’m intrigued by the integration the book claims to include, as sometimes Christian psychologists can enter murky territory when attempting to combine secular theories with truths from Scripture. I anticipate not agreeing with everything in this book, but I’d still like to read it.
How to Teach Kids Theology: Deep Truths for Growing Faith by Sam Luce and Hunter Williams
From Amazon: What comes to mind when you think about teaching theological truths to children? Glazed eyes? Over-their-head discussions? Theology doesn’t have to be “too deep for kids.” For kids to stand firm in a culture that suppresses the truth of Christianity, we need to give them a grand view of God that overwhelms their hearts and fills them with wonder. A child’s faith is only as strong as the God they believe in. For their faith to be great, they need to learn about their great God. In each chapter, the authors diagnose problems that hinder leaders from teaching kids theology, explain principles to combat these problems, and suggest practices for applying these principles to your ministry.
Why it caught my eye: Not only am I a mom, but I’m heavily involved in children’s ministry at our church. I’m always looking for resources to better equip me and other people to better teach children about God and his Word.
Households of Faith: Practicing Family in the Kingdom of God by Emily Hunter McGowin
From Amazon: The Christian world tends to have a blueprint for what families should look like, and these models of the family can be hard to live up to. In some circles, picture-perfect families are idealized and even idolized. Many Christians have a gnawing sense that this "traditional family" model is problematic or outdated. But is there an alternative way of understanding family that's neither idolatrous nor revisionist? Theologian Emily McGowin casts a holistic vision for what family can be in light of God's kingdom. Jesus is our first teacher about families in the kingdom of God, and families rightly understand themselves only in relation to God's kingdom and the church.
Why it caught my eye: As I already said, I’m compelled to make sure I’m reading Christian books by both men and women, so the female author got me off the bat. I also have had the blessing of experiencing what it’s like to be part of a family when part of a church, but I know that’s not everyone’s experience. I would love to be better able to encourage men and women from all demographics to find belonging within Jesus’ church.
Safe Church: How to Guard Against Sexism and Abuse in Christian Communities by Dr. Andrew J. Bauman
From Amazon: Drawing on new, firsthand research and in-depth interviews, [this book] allows women to voice the pain they have suffered at the hands of insecure leaders who were often unaware of how their words, actions, and attitudes were harming their sisters in Christ. With practical advice on how to create more equity and less sexism and abuse in the church, this honest look at how misogyny masquerades as biblical truth is a vital resource for pastors, church leaders, and anyone who wants to make a meaningful difference in their own Christian community.
Why it caught my eye: Call it an obsession, but I’m in the process of attempting to read as many books as possible about abuse within the church, whether sexual or spiritual or any other kind. I do not think it is possible to talk about this too much given the number of headlines we see about church leaders behaving badly. This book seems to be more proactive than reactive, and as the wife of a pastor who is invested in being part of a safe church, I want to keep learning how to do that.
The Story of Grace: An Exhibition of God's Love by Horatius Bonar
From Amazon: This lightly updated hardback edition of Horatius Bonar's classic work is a winsome, engaging presentation of the gospel. Beginning in the Garden of Eden, Bonar opens our eyes to the magnificent grace that God has shown in bringing our redemption to completion. He shows how from the very beginning, God has been the one acting to bring his plan about. Horatius Bonar, primarily known for his hymn writing, was a 19th-century Scottish minister who, in The Story of Grace, has made good use of his talent with words to drive the message to the heart of the reader. Read, and allow your heart to be stirred by the display of God's love for mankind.
Why it caught my eye: I am familiar with Bonar as the writer behind many hymns I love, but honestly, it was Sinclair Ferguson’s name that initially caught my eye. I will read anything his name is attached to.
The Steadfast Love of the Lord: Experiencing the Life-Changing Power of God’s Unchanging Affection by Sam Storms
From Amazon: Many believers know that “God is love.” But whether through cultural lies, false beliefs, or years of mulling over the tragedies of the world, it may be difficult to see the true, steadfast, and unchanging love of the Father. Thankfully the Bible offers a clear picture of what God’s love looks like and how, through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, believers experience his affection for themselves. Taking an accessible approach to biblical theology, author Sam Storms explores Scripture to address what God’s love is and what it isn’t. Drawing insights from the Psalms and the life of Jesus, Storms covers God’s sovereignty and the saving power, longevity, and sin-killing nature of his love. The Steadfast Love of the Lord breaks down obstacles that prevent believers from accepting biblical truths and challenges the cultural lies that hinder them from accepting God’s vast and unfathomable love.
Why it caught my eye: I am somewhat familiar with Sam Storms but haven’t read any of his books. Quite honestly, the title was what caught my eye. I don’t think we can ever focus too much on God’s great love for us.
What if Jesus was Serious About Justice?: A Visual Guide to the Good News of God’s Judgment and Mercy by Skye Jethani
From Amazon: Jethani examines the biblical understanding of justice as the restoration of right relationships both among people and between people and God. He considers themes of judgment and mercy in Jesus's ministry and explains Jesus's warnings about God's final judgment of those opposed to his kingdom of justice. Readers will emerge with a better understanding of God's love, wrath, the cross, eternity, and more. In addition, Christians will find new ways to bridge the divide in the church over the importance of personal salvation and communal justice.
Why it caught my eye: I’m familiar with the author from the podcast The Holy Post, and this is apparently part of a series of books he’s written that start with, “What if Jesus was Serious about…” The inclusion of his handwritten drawings is also interesting to me.
Songs of the Son: Reading the Psalms with the Author of Hebrews by Daniel Stevens
From Amazon: The book of Psalms expresses our human experiences through its beautiful prose. But this Old Testament book is more than just relatable poetry―it reveals a rich theology of God, the nature and work of Jesus, and Christ’s voice hidden in Scripture. The Psalms are the songs of the Son. But how can these songs point to Jesus if they were transcribed centuries before his life and death on the cross?Songs of the Son explores 9 psalms cited in Hebrews. Each chapter focuses on a single psalm―exploring its role in the argument of the Hebrews, uncovering the psalm’s central themes, and then reexamining the psalm through the lens of Hebrews’ interpretation. Ultimately, readers will gain a better understanding of the Psalter and discover how all Scripture, including the Old Testament, reveals the preincarnate glory of Christ.
Why it caught my eye: Any book about the Psalms automatically catches my eye, and the fact that this one connects to the book of Hebrews made it jump out even more. My husband, had he decided to get his PhD, would have probably studied the use of the Old Testament in the New Testament. I edited untold numbers of essays on this topic when he was in seminary. As a result, I also pay attention to when the NT quotes the OT, so this book combines a lot of things that are interesting to me.
Gathered for Good: God's Good Design for the Local Church by Jonathan Griffiths
From Amazon: We live in a season when church attendance is still building back to what it was before the pandemic. Many Christians have been separated from their church communities. How do we resume and re-prioritize church life and join back together? Why do we even need to—especially when online church fits so neatly around our schedules? Gathered for Good addresses this felt need with empathy and authority and encourage believers to commit to their local church community as a way to deepen their spiritual growth and invest in treasure that will last.
Why it caught my eye: I’m part of a church that changed drastically after Covid. I see firsthand how many have struggled to return to church or find their place in the local church. I have read many books on this topic, but I’m also eager to read this one.
Your Name is Daughter: What the Unsung Women of the Bible Teach Us about Our Worth by Amy Seiffert
From Amazon: From the beginning, God created women and men equal in dignity, value, and worth. But our identity as God's daughters has been contested, both inside and outside of the church, and we're left wondering where we belong. Sharing stories of the unsung women of the Bible, beloved author Amy Seiffert empowers you to stand firm in your dignity as a Daughter of the King, exchanging fear and doubt for confidence and faith.
Why it caught my eye: There seem to be more and more books focusing on women in the church, women in the Bible, what the Bible says about women, etc. This is a good thing! I have read some that I thought were excellent and some that I thought were lacking. I have no idea where this book will fall on the spectrum, but I’d like to read it.
Which of these are you most interested in reading? I’d love to know!
Some good possibilities!! Thanks!!