Jonathan K. Dodson

A Big Gospel in Small Places

Church Leadership & Ministry

“There are billions of people living in small places, yet they are often ignored by ministry-minded people like me. Sure, rural areas are downstream of mainstream ideas, innovation, and trends, but small places are thick with culture and rife with opportunity for gospel ministry: poverty, depression, suicide, racism, injustice, and souls stranded in sin unacquainted with the love of God in Christ Jesus. As Stephen points out, both rural and urban places are easily romanticized. What the world needs is Christians who value the small even in the big—disciples who move slowly and are attentive enough to bring a grand gospel into the nooks and crannies of life. This book has just about everything you need to help you do that, especially if you live in a small place. It offers rigorous research on rural trends, demographics, and the subtleties of smallness; it motivates ministry in those areas with the gospel of grace; it equips you to develop a theological vision for the place of your calling; it immerses you in real stories of rural ministry; and it challenges urban ministry biases with winsome wit, but most of all it calls us to love in place and discover something more of the immeasurable love of God in Christ Jesus for all the world.”

Becoming a Missionary Church

Theology

“Ironically, much of what has passed for ‘missional church’ has been untethered from the careful theological reflection and wisdom of its forefather, Lesslie Newbigin. Goheen and Sheridan re-tether the church to mission by grounding the whole life of the church in its true missionary identity. They call us to embrace suffering, cultural exile, vocation, and Sunday gatherings as an intended part of God’s mission. Their critiques are incisive, even-handed, and charitable. The nuanced missiological reflection in this book is a priceless gift to readers. I was inspired to continue leading churches into God’s mission while trusting the results to him.”

Enough about Me

Christian Living

“Jen Oshman deftly walks through a variety of challenges to following Jesus in the modern world. Each time she helpfully exposes the shortcomings of living for the self, while also pointing to the joy of living for and in Christ. I will give a copy to each of my daughters and pray they absorb Oshman’s godly instruction.”

Facing Leviathan

Work, Money & Leadership

“Unlike any leadership book I have ever read, Facing Leviathan traverses the waves of Western history and exposes dangerous cultural currents in order to land us safely ashore a leadership that is neither pragmatic nor pietistic. Sayers charts a course right through the storms of vocational pride, ministry travails, and personal suffering by keeping a bead on God's profound, personal providence. Littered with insights, I couldn't shake the book after I read it. It haunted me, beckoning me into deeper self-reflection, while also inspiring me to lead underneath God. As you read, you'll get to think, repent, and refocus. On top of all that, it's a literary feast with morsels for all to enjoy.”

Gospel-Centered Counseling

Counseling, Grief & Mental Health

“Gospel-Centered Counseling is an immense help to both counselors and counselees. Bob frames every counseling issue within the drama of redemption and in the hope of the gospel. The result? A book that belongs on every pastor’s shelf! It is wise, filled with exegetical insights that flower into rich, everyday counsel. It is deep, addressing the whole person, mind, body, and spirit. It is broad, deftly moving from Scripture, into the soul, and back out into real life with wonderful clarity. It is compassionate. I felt loved and understood by Bob, the sign of a good counselor. Most of all, it is true, imparting the hope of Christ into the heart of people — “Behold, I am making all things new!”

Inexpressible

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“Michael approaches the rich concept of God's hesed love from many different angles. The result is an edifying collection of reflections on the shocking, loyal, and limitless love of God in Christ for us and the world. Read it and you will not only learn but sing hesed!”

Pastor, Jesus Is Enough

Church Leadership & Ministry

“In Jesus Is Enough, Jeremy addresses pastoral idolatries head-on: personal reputation, ministry metrics, doctrinal correctness, church influence, and more. He helps leaders take humbling inventory of our own temptations, while also inspiring us to build our worth and ministry on the incomparable sufficiency of Jesus. Like a best man in a wedding, this book urges us to not steal the bride’s attention, but to rejoice in her attentiveness to the great Groom. I believe God will use this book to diminish petty pastoral idolatries and increase our estimation and enjoyment of Jesus Christ.”

Reading Black Books

Theology

“With literary nuance and careful theological reflection, Claude takes the reader on a potentially transformative journey. The world needs more theologically reflective books on substantive literature, like this one. It deserves wide reading.”

Reading the Bible, Missing the Gospel

Christian Living

“Among the morass of books written to help us read the Bible, this one stands out. Its prose is clear, and illustrations are compelling. It helpfully exposes common errors in Biblereading and guides readers into more faithful interpretation. It also avoids complicated hermeneutical discussions while handing the reader the ultimate interpretive lens—the gospel of Jesus Christ. Here is a theologically rich yet eminently practical way to read the Bible with Jesus!”