Jonathan Leeman

Digital Liturgies

Christian Living

“After the first few chapters, I decided my teenagers should read this book, and maybe their whole school as well. Such good sociological insights. A few chapters later I decided I wanted my church to read it. Such helpful spiritual and pastoral insights too. By the book’s end, however, I realized I needed this book. It applied the gospel to me and my online habits, and I need worthier ones. What that means, friend, is that I’m pretty sure you also need this book. It explains the digital water we’re all swimming in and how that digital water has reprogrammed us more than we realize.”

Finding Faithful Elders and Deacons

Church Leadership & Ministry

“This is a great book. On the surface, it’s an extended meditation on the biblical qualities of elders and deacons that causes you to think carefully about what God intends for his leaders. What should churches look for? Are you that kind of person? But underneath, it’s a radical reorientation of what leadership in the church is. Church leadership does not depend on academic or professional success, but on godliness. This book will help change the way church members and leaders think of leadership, what we value, what we cultivate. Leaders and members both will benefit.”

God the Son Incarnate

Theology

“Good theology depends on good methodology, and here Wellum is second to none. After establishing a philosophical backdrop, Wellum employs exegesis, biblical theology, and historical theology to draw out systematic conclusions that apply Scripture to life. And all our doctrine, he observes, prepares us for Christology or is inferred from it. The theology and life of the church makes sense only when centered on Christ, who is God the Son incarnate, the fulfillment of divine desire and the hope of humanity. Working through these pages, the word that kept occurring to me was 'masterful.' If you only have time for one Christology, start here. I commend it without reservation.”

God's Design for the Church

Church Leadership & Ministry

“Some books I enjoy recommending. A few I’m honored to recommend, as with this one. Conrad Mbewe has labored in faith and love for decades, studying the Scriptures and then leading his flock to follow them. This book shows the accumulated wisdom of all that study and work. It’s wise, pastorally conscientious, rigorously biblical, and excellent. And I plead with pastors to read his book slowly, carefully, prayerfully, with your Bible open, and looking for ways to apply Mbewe’s instruction in your own congregation.”

God's Kingdom through God's Covenants

Theology

“This is not the first volume that has attempted to mediate the dispensational/covenant theology divide, but it may be the culminating presentation of that discussion—just as Bach was not the first Baroque composer but its highest moment. God’s Kingdom through God’s Covenants should be read by all parties, but I won’t be surprised to learn in twenty years that this volume provided the foundation for how a generation of anyone who advocates regenerate church membership puts their Bible together.”

Kingdom through Covenant

Theology

“What do you get when you cross a world-class Bible scholar and a first-rate systematic theologian? You get nine hundred-plus pages of power-packed biblical goodness. You get the forest and quite a few of the trees. This is not the first volume that has attempted to mediate the dispensational–covenant theology divide, but it may be the culminating presentation of that discussion—just as Bach was not the first baroque composer but its highest moment. Gentry and Wellum’s proposal of Kingdom through Covenant should be read by all parties, but I won’t be surprised to learn in twenty years that this volume provided the foundation for how a generation of anyone who advocates regenerate church membership puts its Bible together.”

Local and Universal

Theology

“An astute, irenic, and worthy contribution to a two-thousand-year-old conversation about the church's catholicity. Not many books accomplish that. My own thoughts on the topic were educated, pushed, and edified, and any future conversations on the doctrine of catholicity will need to interact with Fields's careful and compelling work. I am sincerely grateful for the opportunity to recommend it.”

Meg Is Not Alone

Fiction

“One of the biggest blessings of the church for my children is not just the other kids but the other adults. They get to watch many examples of godliness and aren’t restricted to me and their mom. ‘Kids, look at what Christlike love can look like in her and her, and in him and him.’ This is the story of Megan Hill’s tender and sweet book.”

Politics after Christendom

Ethics, Culture & Social Issues

“or the church but wrongly applied to nation-states and their governments. Therefore, it’s difficult to overstate the importance of building our political theology on the whole Bible’s covenantal structure, with specific attention given to the Noahic covenant. Whether you count yourself a Two Kingdoms theologian or not (I don’t), every political theologian needs to follow VanDrunen precisely here. To put it simply, I believe that VanDrunen’s emphasis on the Noahic covenant is the way forward for Christian political theology. Other books offer helpful emphases or counterpoints, but Politics after Christendom offers the starting point for anyone who wants to lay a foundation on the Bible. It just moved into pole position for my top recommendation in the field.”

Talking about Race

Ethics, Culture & Social Issues

“Books and articles on race typically make an argument or offer a perspective, which are good things to do. Yet this book feels different. Isaac writes as a pastor who, more than anything, loves his sheep—Black and White, Asian and Hispanic—and wants to do them good. He wants them to love and to know love. I’ve not read anything else like it on the topic.”

The Gospel at Work

Work, Money & Leadership

“Imagine sitting down with someone for a deeply wise, biblically faithful, and intensely practical conversation about your workplace and work. You’ll find that here. Sebastian Traeger and Greg Gilbert combine real-world practicality and theological fidelity in this immensely pastoral book. After finishing it, I looked up and said to my wife, “Every Christian should read this book.”

Tim Keller on the Christian Life

Christian Living

“You don’t need to agree with everything Tim Keller said to recognize that God gave him uncommon wisdom that can benefit the church and your own discipleship. Matt Smethurst has done an impressive job distilling this wisdom, spread across many books and countless sermons, into ten engaging chapters. Think of it as a ‘Keller’s Greatest Hits’ volume. It’s a remarkable and grace-giving work, one that I’ll certainly encourage my family members and church members to read.”