Whether your summer includes a week at the beach, afternoons spent chasing your kids around the neighborhood pool, or quiet evenings on the back porch watching the fireflies, there's a good chance you'll have a book in hand at some point along the way. To help fill your summer reading list, our staff have gathered a few of their favorite recommendations for you to enjoy.

The Vision of Ephesians: The Task of the Church and the Glory of God

by N.T. Wright

In The Vision of Ephesians, N.T. Wright unpacks one of the New Testament's most profound letters, helping readers see God's grand plan for his people and his world. With clarity and insight, Wright explores themes of unity, mission, worship, and spiritual maturity, showing how the church is called to reflect God's glory in every area of life. You will come away with a deeper understanding of Ephesians, a renewed appreciation for the church's role in God's purposes, and practical encouragement for living out your faith in community.

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Eat, Drink, and Be Merry: A Gospel Call to Bold Enjoyment

by Ray Ortlund

Life is busy, life is short; yet life is meant to be lived to the fullest. Life is meant to have laughter, freedom, and even points of levity. In this short book, Ray Ortlund Jr. walks through Ecclesiastes 11:9-10 reminding us of the goodness of God, the freedom we have in Christ, and how that freedom allows us to savor the goodness of God every day if our life. From the back cover, “This book is a gospel call to enjoy (God’s) every good gift – and boldly too”.

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The Grace Marriage: How the Gospel and Intentionality Transform Your Relationship

by Brad and Marilyn Rhoads

What a helpful little book for how grace impacts the day to day of our lives especially in our marriages. When marriages seem to be in survival mode most of the time, how might the Grace of Jesus practically help us in our marriages. This book is an excellent tool for you and your spouse to walk through together whether your marriage is stuck in a rut, doing fine, or excelling. It leans into the grace of Jesus, as we learn to love one another with the love we’ve been given.

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The Narina Code: C. S. Lewis and the Secret of the Seven Heavens

by Michael Ward

With a new Chronicles of Narnia movie coming out in December, I (JT) wanted to revisit some of Lewis’ work last year. This book is utterly brilliant. For 50 years people have been wondering what the rhyme and reason behind Narnia’s 7-fold structure was. Was it the 7 sacraments of the catholic church? Was it highlighting the 7 deadly sins? Surely a mind as sharp as Lewis had some sort of structure behind it. Lewis Scholar, Michael Ward, about 20 years ago cracked the code. His dissertation was published as “Planet Narnia”. This is a condensed and accessible revision of that work. If you enjoy The Chronicles of Narnia, you have to give this book a read.

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You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Gift of Habit

by James K. A. Smith

This book offers a compelling vision of spiritual formation by arguing that we are shaped less by what we think and more by what we repeatedly love and practice. Drawing from Scripture, theology, and everyday life, Smith explores how habits, routines, and cultural “liturgies” quietly form our hearts and desires. He encourages Christians to intentionally pursue practices that direct our affections toward Christ and his Kingdom. Thoughtful, accessible, and deeply practical, this book challenges readers to consider how worship, community, and daily rhythms shape who we are becoming.

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Capable: How to Teach Your Kids the Strengths, Skills, and Strategies to Build Resilience

by Sissy Goff and David Thomas

If you are a parent, grandparent, or work with folks under the age of 21, this recent release is a must-read. In a culture where anxiety, indecision, and fear increasingly confront our children, students, and selves, Goff and Thomas carve out a biblically faithful, counseling-proven pathway for equipping the younger generation with resilience, endurance, and courage. I found this book immensely helpful for my own ministry and, even, my own heart. Goff and Thomas teach parents how to shift from "search and rescue” parenting, a mindset that tries to remove every difficulty from our students’ lives, towards a shepherd’s mindset, a parenting mindset that equips our students to navigate the challenges they will face in life. Filled with grace and practical advice, you will find this book thought provoking.

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Finding the Will of God: A Pagan Notion?

by Bruce Waltke

This book by an esteemed Old Testament scholar asks the question of Scripture, “How can I discern God’s will?” And you may be surprised by the Bible’s answer! Waltke takes a very concrete, biblically focused look at how Christians ought to make decisions and in the process reveals our cultural blinders. Filled with practical advice, Waltke centers on how Christians are not to divine God’s will but, rather, follow God’s will, asking: “How has God called me to live my life, what are my motives, what has he given me a heart for, where am I in my walk with Christ, and what is God saying to me through His Word and His people?” You will find this book refreshing, especially as you face decisions daily.

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Leap Over a Wall: Earthy Spirituality for Everyday Christians

by Eugene Peterson

If you enjoyed our sermon series on David a few years ago, this book is for you. Peterson examines the life of David from a devotional perspective, encouraging you to consider the way the Lord used David in David's joys, struggles, and failures. Peterson encourages us to reflect on the faith of David, faith which led him to write, for by my God I can leap over a wall(2 Sam. 22:30). I (Caleb) read this book devotionally, one chapter at time, and would be a great summer read.

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