Pastors’ Book List
One way we grow as believers is by being students of the Word of God. Our pastors regularly pull together a list of recommended reading that will help you in your understanding and study of God’s Word as it applies to our daily lives. You can purchase them at your local bookstore or order them online through Amazon.com. To see all of the books, use the “Filter & Sort” function and select “Purchased and Unpurchased.” You can also view the books from previous lists on Amazon.
November-December 2025 Recommendations
Rid of My Disgrace: Hope and Healing for Victims of Sexual Assault
By: Justin Holcomb and Lindsey Holcomb
The statistics are jarring. One in four women and one in six men are or will be victims of sexual assault in their lifetime. But as sobering as the statistics are, they don’t begin to speak to the darkness and grief experienced by these victims. Because sexual assault causes physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual pain, victims need clear help, hope, and healing. In Rid of My Disgrace, a couple experienced in counseling victims of sexual assault explains how the grace of God can heal the broken and restore the disgraced.
The Problem of Life: How to Find Identity, Purpose, and Joy in a Disenchanted World
By: Mark Clark
The Western world faces unprecedented levels of depression, anxiety, and loneliness. Despite advancements in wealth, knowledge, and longevity of life, many feel their lives lack significance, leading to a deep longing for fulfillment and happiness. Clark recounts a pivotal moment when he mistakenly informed a woman of her husband’s death. This profound mistake taught him invaluable lessons about existence and purpose. He argues that our relentless pursuit of money, family, and friendships–while important–often distract us from what truly matters, leaving us disenchanted.
Elders in the Life of the Church: Rediscovering the Biblical Model for Church Leadership
By: Phil Newton and Matt Schmucker
Paul and Barnabas made a decisive move toward the end of the first missionary journey: they appointed elders in the churches they had established, entrusting them with responsibility to shepherd the young congregations. The need for faithful shepherding has not changed since that time, yet the leadership structure of most churches no longer follows this model. The authors argue that a return to the New Testament pattern of elder plurality best serves the shepherding needs in a local church.
Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God
By: Timothy Keller
Christians are taught in their churches and schools that prayer is the most powerful way to experience God. But few receive instruction or guidance in how to make prayer genuinely meaningful. In Prayer, renowned pastor Timothy Keller delves into the many facets of this everyday act.
Is Christmas Unbelievable? Four Questions Everyone Should Ask About the World’s Most Famous Story
By: Rebecca McLaughlin
Many people assume that the story of the baby in the manger at Bethlehem is just another made-up fantasy for kids. McLaughlin outlines the evidence that Jesus was a real person, explaining the reliability of the Bible’s accounts of his life and why believing in a virgin birth is not as ridiculous as it might sound. This book shows that there is a rational basis for the belief that the world’s most famous story is fact, not fantasy.
Watch the Light
By: Various authors
Compilation of 50 readings for Advent and Christmas by some of the world’s best-loved writers. These devotions invite the reader to contemplate the great themes of Christmas and the significance that the coming of Jesus has for each of us – not only during Advent, but every day. Whether dipped into at leisure or used on a daily basis, Watch for the Light gives the phrase “holiday preparations” new depth and meaning.
Sounding Joy
By: Ellie Holcomb
A children’s board book. How does joy sound? Does it sound like falling snow, or a kiss on your cheek? Award-winning recording artist Ellie Holcomb explores this question through a delightful collection of Christmastime scenes, leading up to the discovery that joy sounds like the angels singing that Jesus had been born.
