William H. Willimon

Prayer & Spiritual Formation

“Warren Smith draws upon the riches of the church's heritage, as well as his own extensive knowledge of Scripture, tradition, and contemporary literature, to give eloquent testimony to the power of the Lord's Prayer. Smith is a master teacher who has a gift for drawing students into passionate engagement with the faith, a deeply committed Christian who believes what he writes, and a gifted writer who ignites fresh insight on nearly every page. Jesus's disciples asked him, 'Teach us to pray . . . ." Warren Smith does just that in his beautiful book.”

The Mystery of Faith

Apologetics

“Here’s a pastor-theologian who hasn’t lost his astonishment that God refuses to be God without us. In these rich, lyrical meditations, Travis Jamieson testifies—not with doctrinal pronouncements but with doxology. He draws on a wide cast of writers, saints, scholars, and fellow strugglers in faith to show us the joy, the strange delight, of believing. Whether you’re just beginning the journey of faith or limping along somewhere in the middle, Travis will give you good company and strong encouragement for the road.”

The Only Sacrament Left to Us

Theology

“There's not much wrong with the illnesses of contemporary preaching that can't be cured with a strong dose of theology. Chris Currie administers just that remedy. Currie gives us a fresh, invigorating reading of Karl Barth's doctrine of the threefold Word of God. He shows how Barth gives Christian proclamation renewed authorization and justification. Here's a rare gift: theology for preaching by one who is not only an informed theologian but also a lover of the challenge of Christian preaching.”

The Oxbridge Evangelist

Evangelism & Missions

“Meet C. S. Lewis the brilliant, unashamed evangelist for orthodox Christianity. Nobody has done a better job than Lewis of addressing thoughtful, intelligent readers with the claims of Christ. And nobody has done a better job than Michael Gehring in presenting a loving but honest portrait of a flawed but brilliant man whom God used in a remarkable way. Gehring shows how Lewis deftly spread the gospel in environs thought to be impervious to the gospel. A joy to read.”

The Pastor as Public Theologian

Theology

“There's not much wrong with the practice of pastoral ministry that can't be cured by a good dose of theological refurbishment. This book gives strong impetus for construing the work of the pastor as authorized, energized, and sanctified by the pastor's theological commitments. A spirited, Spirit-filled book.”

The Pastor’s Bookshelf

Church Leadership & Ministry

“Time and again in my ministry I’ve been rescued from despair by a book. Partnering with novelists, poets, and scholars has stoked, funded, and fueled my ministry. Just last week Dostoevsky saved me from committing a boring sermon. That’s why I so enjoyed Austin Carty’s The Pastor’s Bookshelf and found it to be full of such wonderful, wise, invigorating guidance for pastors needing to read themselves through ministry.”

The Preacher as Liturgical Artist

Preaching & Worship

“Johnson, who is a fine preacher, has written a fine book for the rest of us. The Preacher as Liturgical Artist is an astute, theologically informed look at the challenges and the opportunities of preaching in a postmodern context. Trygve shows how preaching is an art that is dependent upon the miraculous, gracious speaking of God. This book can help us preachers recover our theological nerve--and also the great joy of preaching.”

The Quiet Ambition

Christian Living

“What a wise, practical, so very helpful book Ryan P. Tinetti has given us in The Quiet Ambition. He moves so gracefully from the words of Saint Paul to the stresses and strains of contemporary life, giving us practical ways in which each of us can be faithful to the use of the gifts God has given us without allowing our ambition and drive to get the best of us. In reading, I constantly said, 'This book was written for me.' I bet that you will find it was written for you too.”

The Rabbi of Worms

Fiction

“Though this is a marvelous, gripping, well-researched historical novel, somehow it doesn't seem quite right to call M. K. Hammond's book a 'historical novel.' In her narration, the eleventh century Rabbi of Worms speaks to each of us with a compelling, faithful message that challenges us today. A timely, wonderfully written novel!”

The Rhetoric of the Gospel, Second Edition

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“Clifton Black has spent his academic life loving scripture. In this book Black marvels as the creative artistry of these early Christian preachers who produced literature that changed the world. Something about the truth of Jesus Christ called for an unprecedented outburst of literary artistry. We could have no better guide through the art that is scripture than Clifton Black.”

The Secret Transcript of the Council of Bishops

Ethics, Culture & Social Issues

“Sadly, I missed this meeting of the Council of Bishops. The level of conversation is certainly more scintillating than most of the conversations I've heard at the United Methodist Council of Bishops. Wood has recorded a remarkably faithful exchange on some controversial subjects. . . . For all those in my beloved church who pray for edifying, healing, Christian conferencing, wait until you read this secret transcript!”

The Struggle to Believe

Arts & Literature

“For decades, S T Kimbrough has been teaching us that much of the Christian faith is better sung than said, relished rather than reasoned. In this fine collection of his poems, S T shows us the beauty in believing as well as the faith that admits to doubts and tensions within our faith. Wise, cheerful, hopeful, and full of delight, S T’s poems are a gift to any of us who believe but need help to persist in our believing.”

The Word Militant

Preaching & Worship

“We preachers and hermeneuts can rejoice at this compilation of some of the best of Brueggemann on preaching. . . . While he reads widely and is in knowledgeable, respectful conversation with a wide range of scholars, he always privileges the biblical text over any other. His reports of his skirmishes with Scripture never fail to stoke the imaginations of us preachers.”

Third Voice

Preaching & Worship

“Having been well-instructed by Michael Knowles in his previous books (like We Preach Not Ourselves), I expected that Third Voice would be a feast. I was not disappointed. Knowles is a master at working from biblical texts, particularly Paul’s letters, weaving in theological insights, bringing in a wide array of conversation partners, and thereby giving preachers a robust, theological rationale for our preaching. There’s not much wrong with contemporary preaching that can’t be cured by Knowles’ energetic invitation to preach as if God matters. He is so right: the ‘third voice’ in preaching is the voice that makes all the difference.”

Thy Word is Truth

Theology

“In this exciting volume George Hunsinger (our finest contemporary interpreter of our greatest contemporary theologian, Karl Barth) gathers a distinguished group of scholars to assess and interpret Barth as a reader of Scripture. Each of these essays, in different ways, offers fresh insights into the theology of Karl Barth and into Scripture as a living witness to the truth who is Jesus Christ.”

To Begin at the Beginning

Christian Living

“Martin Copenhaver has a great gift for talking about deep and difficult matters in a unique, enjoyable way. His book is a wonderful introduction to the Christian faith or an invigorating way to renew faith.”

Trinitarian Responses to Worldliness

Theology

“Heejun Yang is one of our most interesting young Christian scholars. His expansive mind, his dynamic Trinitarian faith, is just what we need to help us think about the role of the church and the Christian faith as we come up against the challenges of contemporary secular culture. Theologians, pastors, and thoughtful Christians will be challenged and invigorated by this wonderful book.”

Useful Wisdom

Church Leadership & Ministry

“Into this lovely, affectionate book, pastor and master church coach Tony Robinson pours a lifetime of insights on the joys and the challenges of pastoral ministry. Tony’s steadfast but also critical and experienced love for the vocation of church leadership shines through on every page. Offered as testimony to his daughter who is beginning ministry, Tony gives Paul-to-Timothy guidance that will be strong, realistic, faithful encouragement to anyone in ministry today.”